Ten destinations. Same plain-English format.

Lisbon · the Algarve

Honest prices for a flat in Lisbon and a quiet cottage in the Algarve — what a one-bedroom actually rents for, the Lisbon airport transfer prices, the scams that hit the first-time visitor, and the right neighborhood for a slower trip.

Madrid · Andalusia

Honest prices for a Chueca flat and a Santa Cruz / Albaicín hill-town cottage — what a one-bedroom rents for, the MAD / SVQ airport transfer ranges, the Sol cobblestone reality, the Plaza Mayor 'uneven-floor' wristband-collector shake, and a paced nine-day walk anchored by one AVE Madrid ↔ Seville rail leg and a Córdoba day-trip on the Andalusian cap.

Rome · the Amalfi Coast

Honest prices for a Prati flat and a Fornillo cliffside cottage — what a one-bedroom rents for, the FCO / CIA / NAP airport transfer ranges, the Piazza di Spagna cobblestone reality, the Piazza Navona 'uneven-floor' wristband-collector shake, and a paced nine-day walk anchored by one trenitalia Frecciarossa Roma ↔ Naples rail leg and a Positano harbour cap.

San José · the Pacific coast

Honest prices for a San José flat and a Pacific surf town — what a one-bedroom rents for, the Juan Santamaría airport ranges, the pharmacies that handle U.S. prescriptions, and a paced two-week itinerary.

Athens · the Peloponnese · Crete

Honest prices for an Athens flat and a Chania holiday-let — what a one-bedroom rents for, the ATH airport flat-rate band, the Plaka cobblestone reality, the Acropolis scam, and a paced two-week island walk that hinges on one domestic flight.

Copenhagen · Aarhus · Helsingør

Honest prices for a Copenhagen flat and an Aarhus holiday-let — what a one-bedroom rents for, the CPH airport flat-rate band, the Indre By cobblestone reality, the Strøget "spiked-receipt" trick, and a paced two-week walk that hinges on one DSB S-train leg to Aarhus.

Stockholm · Gothenburg

Honest prices for a Södermalm flat and a Haga holiday-let — what a one-bedroom rents for, the Arlanda / Landvetter transfer ranges, the Gamla Stan cobblestone reality, the Drottninggatan 'uneven-floor' charity shake, and a paced nine-day walk anchored by one SJ Stockholm ↔ Gothenburg rail leg.

Ljubljana · the Julian Alps · Piran

Honest prices for a Stari trg flat and a Bled lake-edge holiday-let — what a one-bedroom rents for, the LJU airport transfer ranges, the Stari trg cobblestone reality, the Stritar jev obroč 'uneven-floor' charity shake, and a paced nine-day walk anchored by one Arriva Ljubljana ↔ Bled coach leg and a Piran salt-pans day on the Adriatic cap.

Oslo · the fjords

Honest prices for a Grünerløkka flat and a Bryggen harbour-side holiday-let — what a one-bedroom rents for, the OSL Flytoget / Flybussen ranges, the Bryggen wharf cobblestone reality, the Karl Johans gate 'uneven-floor' street-sign charity shake, and a paced nine-day walk anchored by one NSB Oslo ↔ Bergen rail leg and a Tromsø Arctic-window cap.

Helsinki · Tampere · Turku

Honest prices for a Kallio flat and a Finlayson holiday-let — what a one-bedroom rents for, the HEL / TMP / TKU airport ranges, the Senate Square cobblestone reality, the Senaatintori 'uneven-floor' wristband charity shake, and a paced nine-day walk anchored by one VR Helsinki ↔ Tampere rail leg and a Turku riverfront cap.