“Europe is too expensive.” “I can’t afford to live in France or Spain.” “I’d love to spend time in Italy, but it will cost too much.” It’s a commonly held belief that spending any amount of time in Europe is prohibitively expensive. But it’s just not true.
Sipping cava while watching the late spring sun dip below the horizon Malaga’s harbor on Spain’s south coast…exploring the vineyards of France’s Bordeaux region, where rolling hills covered in vines stretch as far as the eye can see…climbing to the top of the Moorish São Jorge Castle in Lisbon to take in breathtaking views of the bustling city below…I’ve done all these things…and none of it cost me a fortune.
The trick with Europe is to take your cues from the locals. You simply need the inside track on the best places to go and to save. And that’s what this month’s issue delivers.
Whether you’re planning a two-week or a three-month adventure, we’ve got you covered. In this month’s cover story, we asked our on-the-ground correspondents in France, Italy, Spain, and Portugal to share their money-saving tips and tricks for spending spring in Europe on a budget of $2,700 a month (or less). They reveal all here.
One of the many great things about Europe is that it’s so easy to get around. Budget airlines and efficient train networks mean hopping from the jewel of Spain’s Costa Brava where you can rent from $450 a month to the romantic German city of Heidelberg to the Venice of Portugal is easy. And, in fact, there’s a way to explore this charming continent…without paying a cent. And all you have to do is talk to people. Marsha Scarbrough shares all the details here.
If your Europe stay will be more permanent and you’re looking for that perfect home in a picturesque French village, Stewart Richmond has uncovered bargain buys from $15,440. Sunny, sophisticated…and affordable. That’s the Europe you’ll find in this month’s issue…
When my wife Vivien and I first thought of moving to Thailand, one of the first questions we asked ourselves was, “How do you legally live there long term?” We knew there were different types of visas, but which...
It feels as though it was fate that brought Bobby Blanchard and Nan Lippard to Mexico...and to the bustling resort city of Puerto Vallarta, on the Pacific coast, in particular. “It’s the friendliest town I’ve ever lived in...
Placencia Village looks like a postcard. Jauntily colored wooden Caribbean homes, beach bars, and coffee shops abound, and little stores sell wood carvings and Mayan souvenirs...
It’s about 75 F and sunny…a slight breeze rustles the potted palm next to me. I’m on my rooftop terrace. I spend a lot of time up here to take advantage of beautiful weather and the views...
Wafts of salt and sea mix with the delicate scent of orange blossom; it’s springtime in Altea, the hidden jewel of Spain’s Costa Blanca (White Coast). The sun gently soothes the tingle of a cool breeze whispering...
Sipping a chilled glass of limoncello in the ornate Renaissance surroundings of an Italian piazza is a fine way to spend a sunny afternoon—church bells ringing out the hour the way they have since Michelangelo and Da Vinci called the place home...
Living part-time in Europe can be the best of both worlds: You can experience life there like a local…but without the responsibilities (like getting residence visas) of full-time life. And Spain offers some of the best part-time living in Europe…
Acrisis can be a prime time to get in and buy assets under true value. And that's exactly what Europe's economic crisis offered for real estate investors in the past decade in some locations. Europe’s crisis created some of the biggest real estate buying moments in history. From luxury condos to office buildings...
Rallies often happen when no one is paying attention. And that's been the case with gold and other precious metals recently. Who's buying? The world's central banks purchased almost 290 tonnes of gold in 2017. Also, investors poured $672 million into the SPDR Gold Shares ETF and $764 million into the iShares Gold Trust in just one quarter...
Last year I spent a week in the Spanish countryside. I strolled narrow cobblestone streets in a quaint medieval village. I learned to drink red wine from a bota (a goat-skin wine bag) and sampled renowned jamón bellota in a rustic bodega. As I savored the succulent, cured meat, I forged lasting friendships with fun, friendly Spanish people…and living that good life didn’t cost me a dime...