In the world of travel names like Rick Steves and the good people at the Travel Channel have great influence on travelers. And while I appreciate Rick Steve’s work and the information diseminated by Samantha Brown, I have come to realize that they are not your average travelers and as such the information they provide needs to be taken with a grain of salt.

First, even though they give you budget travel tips, their food and dining choices are anything but for the budget minded. Second, they are not local to the regions they travel to. As such, most places they recommend are very commercial. Third, these folks have a whole crew that either travels with them or helps organizes the travels, including accomodation, reservations and transportation. So, if you find yourself struggling to cram everything they do in the short time, or find room at the hotels they recommend, don’t beat yourself over it. Finally, networks like the Travel Channel, and authors like Rick Steves often need to obtain permits from the local governments. I wonder if some of these permits come with pre-conditions about visiting or writing about specific establishments. Is it a coincidence that both Rick Steves and Samantha Brown recommend Cafe A Brasiliera in Lisbon, where there are literally a thousand plus cafes. What’s more, this particular cafe is the most expensive one that I have ever been to in the city and I know this because I confirmed with family members who have lived in Lisbon now for over three decades.

I purchased Rick Steves’ Portugal guide to see things that my family might not be aware of. It turns out that very important things like Frangush de Guia (Grilled Chicken from Guia) and Palaccio de Mafra, which is one of the Seven Wonders of Portugal are completely missing from his book. In fact, there is no mention of what locals consider the Seven Wonders of Portugal.

Cafe Suica and Confeiteria Nacionale, both recommeded by Rick Steves are extremely over-priced and are far from my favorites. While it is possible that these places, were truly independently reviewed by Rick, and he really liked them, having people there actually tell you their favorites is an entirely different thing. In the same area as Cafe A Brasiliero, Confeiteria Nacionale and Cafe Suica, there is a place called Cafe Gelo, which has better Pastais de Natas, a better Belinhos de Bacalau and a much better Galao (Portuguese version of Cafe Latte).

Similarly, I have seen guidebooks often rate some museums very high. But to a generalist traveler who is not biased towards museums, a museum may not be worth exploring once you have seen the Louvre in Paris or the Vatican museum.

Now I am certainly not suggesting not reading, watching or following these folks, because some of the ones mentioned here truly deserve to be followed and respected, but take their suggested eateries and accomodation with a grain of salt. Focus on discovering what locals like and have your own favorites rather than trying out their’s. For those who don’t have access to local experts in the area, consider using forums on sites like Lonely Planet, Rick Steves or Boots Travels to post questions in advance. Or simply pick up a map and go it alone.

Safe travels!

First-time travelers to Europe might be in for a culture shock. Different languages from one country to another, mode of public transportation and the way of life is much different in Europe than it is in the US even though Europe is, for the most part, far removed from the cliche “Third World” often used to describe poorer economies in Asia, Africa and South America.

But despite the cultural and socio-economic differences between the US and Europe, most people would agree that visiting Europe is one of the most magical experiences a person can have. No where else has history been preserved as it has been in Europe. So here are some things you should know before you let Europe intimidate you.

Start in London. No matter what country you call home, when visiting Europe, starting in London works well despite it being one of the more expensive places in the world. The most obvious reason is language. Being in London helps you acclimate to Europe, get over your jet lag and allow you to explore some of the most historic landmarks in the continent without having to worry about language barriers. You can also get around London via the Tube, which is even easier to use than the subway system in New York.

After London, you can pretty much go anywhere. The more tourist friendly cities are places like Paris, Amsterdam, Zurich, Rome, Barcelona, Venice and Florence. As you head deeper into Eastern Europe, places like Romania, Hungary and Poland, the use of English tends to diminish quickly and you really have to seek out tourist friendly hotels, which are a little more expensive, but will have English speaking staff. One of the advantages of eastern Europe is that it is much cheaper than the west. In fact, a cup of coffee can vary from an average of $5 in Paris to $1 in Bucharest. So even though East Europe is not as accessible or travel friendly, it is much cheaper than commercialized states like France, Spain and Italy.

One more thing to keep in mind is public transportation. Both Italy and France have wonderful and relatively easy-to-navigate train and underground rail systems. But eastern European countries may not offer the same level of reliability. But this is ok since cab fare will be relatively cheaper for the same distance in Prague than it will be in Madrid.

If you are planning a trip to Europe, don’t forget to get a Eurail Saver Pass

Portugal is perhaps the only country in western Europe that is unspoiled by commercial tourism, that has not been overrun by shopping malls for tourists, that does not double your dinner check just because you ordered coffee and that does not have tourists flocking its hotels and beaches.

So I almost feel guilty writing about Portugal, that I am contributing in some way to letting a secret out. That Portugal is a country with a vast culture, colorful history and divine food. That their monuments rival the best monuments in all Europe. That the beaches are calm and pristine and that Portugal is one of the best places to visit in Europe.

It would be extremely difficult to come up with a list of Top 10 things to do in Portugal. I can tell you that simply one visit is not enough to experience it to the fullest. Lisbon, Porto, Algarve, Figueira da Foz, Fátima, Coimbra – the list of places to see goes on.

If you are planning a trip there, please make sure you give yourself enough time to enjoy all of what Portugal has to offer, including the food. Portugal is known for its culinary delights, from their simple breakfast of toast and cheese, to the fresh seafood and fine dessert wines.

Book your cheap flights to Portugal here.

Happy traveling!

Sherman’s Travel released these five tips below to find cheap vacations for summer:

Tip #1: Book a midweek getaway. Weekend travel usually carries premiums on flights and hotels. Try searching in August for the best results.

Tip #2: Avoid holiday weekends. Long-weekend holidays like Independence Day and Labor Day are in high demand — and priced accordingly.

Tip #3: Choose an off-season destination. Go where the crowds aren’t to avoid paying peak-season rates. Beach destinations in the Caribbean are particularly affordable right now, as are mountain resorts in Colorado, Vermont, and more.

Tip #4: Book flights at off-peak times. Red-eye and early morning flights are usually cheaper — and you can sleep on the plane.

Tip #5: Check departures from alternate airports. If your city is serviced by several airports, include them all in your search. It might even be worthwhile to drive an hour or two to a neighboring city’s airport when factoring in the savings.

Happy travels!

Priceline.com is perhaps one of the best online travel sites out there, pioneering the “Name Your Price” model. While the site offers discounted prices on hotels, airfare, car rentals and vacations much like competitors like Expedia and Orbitz, it distinguishes itself from these competitors by offering this unique “Name Your Price” feature.

The only catch with this feature is that once you specify your criteria, you don’t have control over what you get. For example, in Las Vegas, bidding on a 4 star hotel could land you the Tropicana, which is certainly not in the same category as the Monte Carlo or Treasure Island.

Hotwire is the only other site that comes close to offering something similar to Priceline. They offer deeply discounted prices on airfares and hotels, but don’t reveal the details until you pay.

In both cases, there is a site (well, more of a forum) that allows would-be travellers to inquire about what they might end up with if they were to name their own price on Priceline or if they were to accept a deeply discounted price on Hotwire. This site is betterbidding.com, operated by actual people and having used them myself, I can say with some certainty that they generally get it right.

Update – You can now See Winning Hotel Bids in Top Cities on Priceline.com

Happy bidding!

London is a beautiful city and the first European city you want to see. With so much to do there, take Madame Tussauds off your list. The wax figures look good but not worth the money you have to cough up and if you’ve seen one wax museum, you’ve seen them all. Make better use of your time by visiting Westminster Abbey, climbing St. Paul’s dome or simply enjoy a pint at a local pub.