Food & Dining
Finding a Portuguese weekday lunch menu
Look for prato do dia or a lunch menu, then ask exactly which courses and drinks the price includes.
Article reviewed 8 Sep 2026
Travel writer and destination journalist
William Bernard
William Bernard writes about European destinations, rail and overland routes, and the costs and connections involved in planning an independent trip. He is based in Lisbon, Portugal.
- Based in
- Lisbon, Portugal
- Languages
- English, Portuguese, Spanish
Background
Before becoming a travel writer, William spent six years in logistics and supply-chain analysis in Manchester. A three-month trip through the Balkans led him to investigate an outdated bus timetable in Bosnia and publish the corrected route information.
Over the following decade, he travelled through Europe and Southeast Asia, often returning to the same regions in different seasons. His destination research includes Portugal, Spain, Italy and the Balkans.
What he covers
- European rail and overland travel
- Trip budgets
- Destination planning
- Transport logistics
- Slow travel
How he approaches a guide
William looks at how the whole trip fits together: stations, connections, booking choices, daily costs and seasonal changes. His guides favour time in fewer places and routes that avoid unnecessary backtracking. Prices and schedules can change, so readers should check the sources and review dates beside the relevant information.
Guides by William Bernard
Budget Strategy
How free walking tours work
Understand the tip-based model, check the route and budget for the guide before joining a city walk.
Article reviewed 11 Sep 2026
Things to Do
Rome or Florence for a first trip to Italy?
Choose Rome for ancient sites and a larger city stay, or Florence for an art-focused visit with more of the main sights close together.
Article reviewed 11 Sep 2026
Food & Dining
Eating at Swiss supermarket restaurants
Compare the local branch's set meals and buffet prices, then count drinks and extras before deciding it is the cheaper option.
Article reviewed 11 Sep 2026
Accommodation
Where to stay in Brussels for your plans
Compare the city centre, Sablon and Saint-Gilles by the walks and train connections you need, rather than a neighbourhood ranking.
Article reviewed 11 Sep 2026
Packing & Prep
Choosing shoes for cobblestones and long city walks
Wear the pair that fits your feet and your itinerary. A week of sightseeing is a poor time to discover that new shoes rub.
Article reviewed 8 Sep 2026
Things to Do
Free walks and views in Prague
Choose a river walk, a hilltop park or the grounds of Vyšehrad, with enough time for the climb and the journey back.
Article reviewed 11 Sep 2026
Things to Do
Free things to do in Madrid at an easy pace
Choose a park and a neighbourhood walk, check Debod's booking rules and leave the closed Crystal Palace out of your indoor plans.
Article reviewed 11 Sep 2026
Things to Do
Liechtenstein from Sargans: a day trip or overnight stay
A practical guide to choosing a day trip or an overnight in Liechtenstein, arriving from Sargans, seeing the best of Vaduz and understanding LIEmobil tickets.
Article reviewed 13 Sep 2026
Things to Do
San Marino’s towers: choose the walk and museum ticket
San Marino's towers are best enjoyed as a choice of viewpoints and interiors, not a compulsory three-stop march. Guaita and Cesta are the First and Second Towers in the state-museum circuit. Montale, farther along the ridge, is an exterior stop rather than a third ordinary tower interior on that ticket.
Article reviewed 14 Sep 2026
Food & Dining
Can you drink the tap water on a European trip?
Check the local supply and any current notice. A country's reputation does not tell you whether every fountain or rural tap is drinking water.
Article reviewed 8 Sep 2026
Budget Strategy
Getting a VAT refund on European shopping
Check eligibility in the shop and finish the export paperwork before departure. The refund is usually smaller than the headline VAT rate.
Article reviewed 8 Sep 2026