Europe

Traveling to Europe in Summer

Summer is a great time to travel to Europe. However, you need to be ready for the high temperature and the huge tourist crowds.

Summer is a peak season for tourists, so the travel and accommodation fees can be more expensive.

Planning and preparing your travel documents and baggage ahead of time can help you save money, time, and effort.

Preparations Before Your Trip

When you are too excited for your vacation, you may forget to prepare and bring some necessary travel documents and materials.

This can cause delays and unnecessary problems in your trip.

Here is the list of things that you should do before engaging on your European tour:

Have a Valid Passport

Before travelling to foreign countries, you must make sure that you have a valid passport.

If you do not have a passport yet or your passport has just expired, you need to get a new passport at least 4 months before your trip.

This would ensure you that you will get your new passport in time.

Check Visa Requirements

Each country has its own Visa requirements.

Check for the tourist visa requirements and travel advisories of the country that you want to visit at least 4 months before your trip.

Purchase Plane Tickets

Purchasing your plane ticket ahead of time can help you save money.

Plane ticket prices usually increase a week before the flight date so you should not opt for last minute fares.

There are three ways to get plane tickets.

You can choose to book a flight from a travel agent, purchase tickets online via travel websites, or buy them directly from airlines.

It is recommended that you purchase your ticket around 3-4 months before your flight.

Book Accommodations

The quality and safety of the place where in you choose to stay can greatly have an effect on the outcome of your trip.

Booking accommodations early can help you weigh your options and make the right choice.

There are many available accommodations in Europe which may range from five-star hotels in Paris to cosy Danish inns, from overnight stays in old Ireland castles to night camps in the Alps, and from skyscraper condominiums in London to houseboats in Holland.

You must carefully research the available accommodations in the country that you are visiting.

There are many hotel reviews online that can give you insights if the place provides good service and is located in a safe environment.

To save money, you must choose accommodations that are near the airport or your travel destinations.

There are some hotels that offer travel service from the airport and straight to the hotel.

Also, you need to decide if you would choose accommodations with complimentary food deals.

Do a Research on the Country that You Want to Visit

Researching about a country is now easy due to the available online resources.

You can research about the culture, language, food, mode of transportation, currencies, and best tourist destinations in the country or countries that you want to visit.

Language

Knowing basic foreign language phrases can help you have a better trip.

You should at least know how to say common greetings, ask for directions, introduce yourself, and seek help.

Food

Food menus in restaurants may be written in foreign languages so you need to know at least the famous food and cuisines of the country.

If you are game for an adventure, you can also try the exotic food in the region.

Mode of Transportation

It is quite expensive to rent a car or ride taxis all the time.

In order to go from one travel destination to another, you may take a bus, train, or even a boat ride.

You can also rent bicycles if your destinations are near each other.

Currencies

It is better to pay in local currencies.

Although many European countries use Euros, other countries have their own currencies so make sure that you would use the correct one.

Most of the time, you can only use your credit card as payment on big establishments.

This is why you should change your money to local currency as soon as you arrive in the country.

Famous Tourist Destinations

Each country boasts iconic tourist destinations, but if you want to avoid the crowd, there are also some beautiful yet not famous tourist spots that you can visit.

If you would conduct a thorough research, you may be able to find unique destinations.

Prepare Your Travel Bag

Preparing your bag early can help you make sure that you would bring the necessary items and avoid excess baggage.

Before packing your bag, you must check the allowed package weight with the airline.

You must also make a checklist of the things that you should bring.

Listed below are some of the things that you need to include in your bag:

Clothes

Do not bring too much clothes. Just pack clothes that are light and easy to wear.

Also, make sure that the clothes you bring are fit for the weather.

It is better to roll your clothes instead of folding them.

This can help you save space.

Travel Shoes

Instead of bringing fancy shoes or high heels, you should bring comfy travel shoes that you can wear all day.

This should be light but durable.

Hygiene Kit

Instead of bringing large bottles of shampoo, toothpaste or other hygienic products, you should bring sachets or small pouches to save space.

Medical Kit

If you are taking any prescription drugs, make sure that you bring them along with the doctor’s prescription.

You can also bring small bandages and other emergency over-the-counter-medicine.

Do’s and Don’ts of Traveling to Europe

As a tourist, it is important to know the things that you should do and the things that you should avoid doing in the country that you are visiting.

Listed below are some of the general do’s and don’ts that you need to remember if you plan to visit any country in Europe:

Traveling to Europe Hacks

Speak courteously and try to use as much local language as possible.

Learning a few basic phrases won’t hurt.

It can actually help you easily locate your destinations and gain new friends.

Bring your prescription drugs especially if you need to drink it several times a day.

Engage in conversations with locals and try to make new friends along the way.

This would enhance your travel experience especially if you are touring alone.

Bring emergency money in case of theft, lost of baggage, or other unexpected expenses.

Use local currencies. As stated earlier, some stores do not accept credit cards or foreign money.

You can get a currency converter application in your mobile phone to compare the prices when you buy products in local currencies.

Travel light and carry only the things that are needed for the day.

While touring, just bring a small bag with your wallet, camera, umbrella and other necessary items.

Come on time.

you would attend parties, meetings and planned tours on museums and other iconic locations, make sure that you come at least 5 minutes earlier than the appointed time.

Follow the basic street rules of the country.

would not to spend your vacation in the police station.

Don’ts’ When Traveling to Europe

Speak too loud especially in public places or transportation services.

Europeans do not talk to each other loudly in public.

Talk about religion, politics, sexuality, and other controversial topics to avoid arguments.

Spend money like there is no tomorrow.

You should spend your money wisely for it to be enough for your whole trip.

Rely too much on credit cards.

Using credit cards too often would make it more difficult for you to control and monitor your expenses.

Arrive late.

Europeans are mostly strict in their schedules so you should never come late.

For example, if a train is set to leave exactly at 10am, it would not wait for you even if you arrive at 10:01am.

Throw trash or cigarette on the street. You may pay a huge fine for littering.

Carry huge or heavy items.

You would get tired easily if your bag is too heavy.

Be carry or be involved in any illegal drug possession or smuggling.

Travelling to European countries can be both a rewarding and challenging experience.

However, if you follow the tips and guidelines in this simple intro to traveling in Europe, you can have a safe and hassle-free holiday.

Best cities to visit in Europe – Traveling around the Baltic’s I found a new part of Europe that fascinated me, I was amazed how I could be brought up in a neighboring country like Sweden, and yet never give these countries a thought, and I know I wasn’t the only one – in fact I knew nobody who had actually been there.

For some reason these little gems of Latvia and Lithuania are forgotten not only by most of the world but even its own neighbors, despite the impact the Swedish people once had in these countries.

In the Baltic countries I found both a new culture and a new cuisine that I didn’t know existed.

Best Cities to Visit in Europe

Riga Latvia Taste Of The Baltic

Riga was the city in which we found the best examples of traditional Baltic cuisine.

Riga is the Capital City of Latvia, and has many fun activities to offer.

Lido, a network of 8 restaurants in the city, was a great place to sample traditional food for a cheap price.

The food was stable and hearty, but unlike German food there were some surprising spices and flavors to the cuisine.

The Baltic food is no-nonsense kind of food – they put little effort on the presentation, but it tastes damn good and it fills you up, which is what a meal should do.

I was hesitant to try the food at first, but once I got over myself and tried that purple, slushy, cold soup I trusted that the people knew what they were doing and went with it – they even made cabbage and buckwheat actually taste good..!

I found some new favorite foods there, and the home made Kvass drink which we found people selling on every street corner is a drink I will really miss.

The infamous Kvass which we loved so much was once banned for many years but was back on the streets again in 1998 and is today the most preferred drink in the country.

If you ever visit, don’t miss out on trying this so called “bread drink” made from fermented black bread!

When it comes to food, Riga topped all the other Baltic countries in quality, it was cheap, there was an abundance, and it was really good.

But when it comes to attractions and beauty, I have to be honest and say that Riga wasn’t as fortunate as its neighboring capitals Vilnius or Tallinn.

A lot of tourists come to Riga on a cruise ship and the city is great at marketing itself – advertising cheap holidays online and promoting Riga as “a mixture of both Tallinn and Vilnius”.

This is partly true – but to really get the best experience from this area, you must visit all 3 cities and go to Tallinn for the beauty and its friendly people, go to Riga for the great food and visit Vilnius for the interesting attractions.

Riga Latvia Capital City in the Baltics

If you ever visit Riga, don’t miss out on trying this so called “bread drink” made from fermented black bread called Kvass!

When it comes to food, Riga topped all the other Baltic countries in quality – it was cheap, there was an abundance, and it was really good.

But when it comes to attractions and beauty, I have to be honest and say that Riga wasn’t as fortunate as its neighboring capitals Vilnius or Tallinn.

To read more about our time in Riga, make sure you check out:

We’re in Riga, the capital city of Latvia.

Riga has so many different cultures, from Russian, German, to Swedish, so I think it’ll be a really interesting day.

We’re at the Freedom Monument, which is a memorial to all the Latvian people who died during the Latvian War of Independence.

It’s a really majestic monument, and I love the detailed statues there as well.

Today, it’s a really important symbol of freedom for Latvian people.

Behind me is the another lovelock bridge.

We’ve seen quite a few of these around Europe, and while Nathan doesn’t really see the point, I think they’re really romantic.

This is, by far, my favorite one, and if I would’ve know this was here, I would definitely have brought a little lock and written our names on it.

We’ve had a great morning checking out Riga.

Now we’ve bought some traditional Latvian food.

What do we have? We’ve bought some pancakes.

We’ve bought some potato pancakes and pancakes with cheese.

Well, that’s the cheese one obviously.

Very cheesy.

It’s very good.

Very fatty.

After lunch, we’re going to check out the rest of the Old Town.

That’s so nice.

We’re standing by the Swedish Gate which was built by the Swedish in 1698 when they occupied the city.

I think it’s a really cool structure, and they’ve got these red flowers above the gate, and I personally think it’s in memory of the executioner who lived above the gate and hung a red rose out the window on the days he was going to kill somebody.

Kind of creepy, but kind of cool as well. Behind me is the House of the Black Heads.

It’s pretty hard to miss, and it’s also one of Riga’s most photographed buildings, and I can see why; it’s absolutely beautiful.

It used to belong to German bachelors who used to host lavish parties here for the rich and famous. Kvass.

Sofia just bought me some of this stuff, it’s called kvass, and she’s forcing me to drink it.

It’s made from yeast.

[drinking] Pretty cool, the girl poured it out of like a beer barrel.

It’s non-alcoholic, smells interesting.

Ah, it’s actually pretty good.

I expected it to be pretty disgusting.

It tastes pretty nice.

It’s really good actually.

Mm, strange…We’ve had a great day walking around Riga.

It’s been really fun to see the different styles of architecture.

You can really tell the Germans used to live here, the Russians and also the Swedish.

So we’re going to finish the day with some Latvian Ice cream.

We hope you enjoyed our Riga video, next stop Vilnius, Lithuania!

Chill Out & Relax In Budva Montenegro

Budva, our destination in Montenegro, has many nicknames: Balkan’s St Tropez and Montenigrin Miami to name a few of them.

It was different from most of the other places we had been during the Europe Train Challenge, both in nature and in experiences.

With Budva’s chill vibe and scorching heat, we soon found ourselves falling into the rhythm of the town, and it became ok that we didn’t do very much.

The heat lay like a veil over the city during the day – everyone was at the beach or in the shade resting.

We’re not the ”sunbathing and swimming” holiday-making types, so hanging out at the beaches and in the sun all day long is not really our (especially Nathan’s) idea of fun.

But if there is one thing these holiday makers are experts at, it’s knowing how to chill out and do nothing.

In places like this more than anywhere else – people forget about time and keeping track of must see and do attractions.

You’re here to enjoy, to spoil yourself and let yourself do as much or as little of anything you like.

So we walked and talked and sat and did nothing for a few days – just enjoying the ocean breeze and church bells which rang every half hour.

The Old Town of Budva was one of the cutest we’ve seen, and if we would have had more time we probably would have traveled around the the other old towns and beaches as well, but you know how it is with time at places like this – it just slips between your fingers, and before you know it – it’s gone.

We weren’t the only backpackers influenced by the slow pace.

Travelers here came to stay for a few days but ended up staying for weeks, only to leave when they started feeling bad for having stayed at the same spot for too long.

This is where we met one of the funniest and craziest people ever: Julia.

Shortly after having met she sat down in the window and did an improv ”Tango singing performance” for us, and five minutes after that she had already scribbled down numbers of ex-boyfriends and artist friends we could get in touch with at our next destination in Belgrade.

For some reason the travelers here were more social with each other than anywhere else we’d been.

Maybe it was just random, or maybe it was the relaxed atmosphere, that Budva vibe which helped these travelers loosen up a bit.

Whatever it was, I really enjoyed myself in Budva, and if it wasn’t for the Europe Train Challenge, it’s very likely that I would have ended up staying there much longer than we had intended.

Budva Montenegro

Budva Montenegro has many nicknames: Balkan’s St Tropez and Montenigrin Miami are a few of them.

Budva was different from most other places we had been during the Europe Train Challenge, both in nature and in experiences.

The Old Town of Budva was one of the cutest we’ve seen, and we really wish we could have spent a few more days exploring the neighboring towns and beaches.

We hope you enjoy our Budva video, Next stop Serbia and Sarajevo Bosnia!

Bosnia & Montenegro: Europe Train Challenge

This week we traveled further into the Balkans, and have noticed a difference with quite a few things compared to Western Europe.

Countries This Week: Bosnia, Montenegro. 

We started the week by taking a night train from Zagreb to Sarajevo.

The girl at the ticket office busted into a full laugh when we asked for a bed compartment, as though that was the silliest thing she had heard … so we got a seat for 10hrs.

After a long night train without much sleep we arrived in Sarajevo early the next morning.

Sarajevo was from the beginning to end a place with mixed experiences.

It was a beautiful, but rough and severely damaged city.

The old town was very cute and picturesque, but almost like an ”epic” bubble outside the rest of the city.

When you walked through the city it was hard to believe that the war had ended 15 years ago, it seemed much more recent than that.

There were bullet holes in every building, rundown houses everywhere and even some that had collapsed by bombs but not been removed since.

Everywhere you walked, the streets were full of holes and marks from mortar shell explosions (something they today call ”Sarajevo roses”).

It seemed to us as though the people are trying to move on, but everywhere around them are scars and leftovers which make it difficult for them to leave the past behind and move forward.

The city and its people were rough on the outside, but their toughness and straight-forward manner was quite charming when you got used to it, and the mountainous nature in the Bosnian country-side was simply breath-taking!!!

why is no-one talking about it?!

Montenegro, our second country this week – was a whole different experience.

We went to Budva, a town with many nicknames: The Theatre City, Balkan’s St Tropez, Montenigrin Miami etc.

It’s one of the touristic pearls of Montenegro – beautiful nature, sunny, and relaxing.

Many tourists stay in Budva for a bit longer to participate in a few of the different adventure tours like rafting, hiking and paragliding.

The old town, where we stayed, was really cute, with so much history – and the fact that it had 17 beaches close by – wasn’t too bad either.

The nightlife was lively and it lived up to most parts of a typical beach and party destination, with some cool culture and history on the side and the old town hadn’t been ruined or exploited at all, but was really well preserved.

After relaxing here for an extra day we headed off on an overnight train to Belgrade in Serbia, where our 6th week of the challenge begins!

Sarajevo Bosnia – A City Stuck In The Past?

Our visit to Sarajevo was a very unique experience, and while we had these sobering impressions, we also had some really nice experiences there.

Bosnia is a beautiful country – full of amazing untouched nature, wild scenery,  with some amazing rivers and cute villages.

It’s a part of Europe like no other, and we saw things there we haven’t seen anywhere else in Europe.

We hope you enjoy our Sarajevo video, and stay tuned for at least 1 new video every week – Next stop Montenegro!

Like I mentioned in our Europe Train Challenge: Week 5 Update – Sarajevo was a city which from beginning to end, was a place we had many mixed experiences with.

The old town was so cute and cozy that nobody would be able to resist it – from morning to evening you heard the constant tapping from pots, carafes and plates being decorated by hand in the Turkish quarter – the fragrance of freshly made Turkish coffee making its way through the winding streets, and everywhere around you people were more busy relaxing in a corner cafe than actually working.

The people here are quite different – walking along the streets you see many facial expressions which are hard to define:

was it anger?

resentment?

hopelessness?

Some people here looked really tough, the type of people you wouldn’t want to mess with – and if you looked around yourself, past the small cute Old Town, you got a feeling that these cold stone faces had their story deeply stuck in the surroundings.

The remnants and signs from the Yugoslav war 15 years ago were still everywhere

collapsed bombed houses, bullet holes by almost every window and holes from mortar shell’s explosions deeply embedded into the foot path.

It felt as though the people were still living in their past, but who could blame them?

It must be hard for the people to move on when they are totally surrounded by their past, constantly being reminded of what happened.

Was this the reason to why everyone was smoking non-stop 24/7?

I’m not exaggerating when I’m saying this – the amount of people smoking really was insane:

public transport, train stations, tourism offices, clothing shops, restaurants – you couldn’t get away from it – once we were told off by a lady for opening a window on the bus, as we gasped for some fresh air. 

remnants and signs from the Yugoslav war

I heard more dry coughs and broken voices from chain smoking than I’ve ever heard before, maybe it is a result from all the pain and stress the people have gone through.

Perhaps we felt the pain even stronger since we were there when Ratko Mladic, also nicknamed “the Butcher of Bosnia” – a Serbian leader during the war who was responsible for a massacre of 8000 Muslim men and boys – finally was caught.

Our visit to Sarajevo was a very unique experience, and while we had these sobering impressions, we also had some really nice experiences there.

Bosnia is a beautiful country – full of amazing untouched nature, wild scenery,  with some amazing rivers and cute villages.

It’s a part of Europe like no other, and we saw things there we haven’t seen anywhere else in Europe:

Old men and women hitchhiking their way to town from their houses in the middle of nowhere, shepherds walking their sheep to the next green field in the forest and cows hanging out freely on the road side.

All in all we had a great time in Bosnia, and we found that although many people looked tough on the outside, deep down if you gave them some time they where warm and hospitable on the inside.

Sighisoara Romania – Europe Train Adventure VIDEO

The next morning we were off on yet another train to Sighisoara.

Within 37 hours we had traveled on trains for 30 of them – but it was so worth the extra time it took getting to Sighisoara!

Sighisoara, being one of the best perserved mideval towns in Europe, was SO quaint.

The houses looked like they were cartooned, with uneven sides and roofs, many painted in the brightest of colors, and old hunching ladies with scarves over their hair walking down the steep cobbled streets.

After spending 30 hours on trains within 36 hours to get from Turkey to Romania – we headed towards a small town called Sighisoara, which is known as the birthplace of Dracula.

The scenery in Transylvania is very special, and waking up to look outside the window and seeing the thick misty clouds slowly move over the hills and thick forests, mountains and small villages – you realize that if vampires really did exist, this would be the perfect place for them to reside…

To read more about our time in Sighisoara, make sure you check out:

We hope you enjoyed our Sighisoara video.

It’s about 10 pm, we’re about to jump on this train, take the overnight train from Istanbul, Turkey to Bucharest, Romania.

It’s a 20, 24 plus hour train ride.

We arrive in Bucharest tomorrow around 7, 8 pm, so, should be interesting.

We’ll see how it goes.

It’s crazy, I am sweating so bad.

The air con is broken.

We’ve been sitting here for over 20 hours.

I’m absolutely exhausted.

We have a small little window, poking our head out the top just to get a bit of fresh air.

The conductor, I have no idea where he is, we have no idea where we are.

It’s meant to be there a few hours.

I don’t think so, it was running pretty late.

It’s about 4 pm now.

We’re running out of food, so I hope we get there soon.

It’s crazy.

We made it.

We’re in Romania.

A crazy last few days from Istanbul here.

The train travel was a pretty interesting experience.

Yeah I think we travelled about 30 hours on train out of like 37, but we’re here in Sighisoara.

It’s a village famous for being one of the best preserved medieval villages in Europe, and also for being the birthplace of Dracula.

So we’re going to start the morning by walking along the streets and making our way to the Citadel.

It’s so cute here.

Yeah it’s gorgeous.

It’s amazing.

Looking around this place, you realize just how old everything is.

It’s so well kept and it’s so pretty.

It’s listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, and people still actually live here.

That’s pretty cool.

We’ve just walked through into the Citadel, and in the entrance is a 60 meter clock tower which welcomes you.

It’s a really detailed, artistic-looking clock tower.

It stands in the city as a symbol for justice.

The Citadel was located on top of a hill which overlooks the New Town and gives you a great view over the city and the mountains.

I’m standing by the Covered Staircase.

It’s a really old staircase dating back to 1642, and it’s covered the whole way up.

There are 175 steps, so it’s really high, but there used to be 300 steps, so I can’t complain.

One hundred thirty-five—it’s really dark in here.

Really dark—one hundred thirty-eight, thirty nine, forty.

Seventy-five.

One hundred and seventy-five steps.

We made it!

Whoo!

That’s a good workout.

This is the birthplace of Vlad Dracula.

I’m sure you’ve heard of the novel Dracula.

That wasn’t a true story, but it was based on the prince who lived here.

He was a bloodthirsty prince who had over a hundred thousand people killed.

Dracula also means “son of the devil.”

When we arrived yesterday in Romania, you could really get that feeling, that eerie, gothic feeling.

Yeah, mysterious, the mist was coming over the mountains and you could actually picture Dracula living here.

We found this really cute café selling only cakes.

That’s so nice.

Yeah so we chose this traditional Romanian apple cake.

Sighisoara is the perfect place to come for a day, especially if you’re based in Brașov, which is the most popular place to visit in Romania.

Unfortunately, we haven’t got much time here since we’re catching the overnight train to Budapest tonight.

Another train ride.

Sighisoara, Romania – Exploring Draculas Home Town

After the longest and most painfully boring train ride I have ever taken, with the electricity broken the entire 30+ hour journey and trapped in a small sauna-like bed cabin grasping for air through the small window that wouldn’t open up properly, we finally arrive at the train station in Bucharest.

The train from Istanbul to Bucharest turned out to be longer than it was supposed to, in fact, it turned out to be the longest and most uncomfortable train ride we’ve taken so far …

We were the only people taking the train the whole way to Bucharest, and after some time we realized why…

The supposedly 20 hour long train ride turned out to be 25 hours, stopping in the most random places, back tracking half the time and taking the longest way to reach the final destination.

25 hours is long but it would have been OK if the power in the train carriage and cabin wasn’t broken.

But yes, the power was OFF, meaning it was pitch dark at night, and since there was no fan or air con working and the windows could barely open up, it was like a sauna in the day.

Having no power makes you realize how reliant you are on it, and with dead laptops you sit there rolling your thumbs while the hours feel longer and longer.

We are the only ones left to get off at the final station in Bucharest – hungry and exhausted we pass out at the closest hostel.

We thought we had made the biggest mistake ever to have planned another train journey already the next morning – but we stuck to our plan, and soon later we were so grateful that we did.

The train ride from Bucharest to Sighisoara, Romania

Which was our final destination in Romania, turned out to be one of the most beautiful routes I have ever traveled.

The landscape was breathtaking with alpine mountains, unexplored valleys, lonesome forts and castles and animals grazing on the green
fields.

Many of the villages we passed looked like they had not changed for hundreds of years, with a charming medieval architecture and rural
locations.

Sighisoara has made a name for itself for being one of the best preserved medieval villages in Europe.

It was truly a quaint place and it made us really want to go back to Romania to explore more of the country side and villages.

The first interaction we had was with a woman handing out flyers at the station – she was advertising ”Gypsy tours”, which included a tour to a ”real Gypsy village”.

I think it’s strange and wrong to make a tourist attraction out of what in this case was poor people living in misery, many of them spending their days begging in Sighisoara’s streets and at the train station, but apparently this tour was very popular.

However, the reason most people go to Sighisoara wis not ”Gypsy tours”, but to visit the old part of town and cemeteries.

This is the town where Dracula was supposedly born.

Dracula was named and inspired by the notorious blood thirsty prince Vlad III Dracula, who was born in Sighisoara and lived in Transylvania during the 15th century.

Known as Vlad the impaler, he killed up to 100,000 people – mainly by using his favorite method of impaling them on a sharp pole.

It really was like stepping back into the past, and walking around the little town you could imagine exactly what life must have been like in the mideval century.

The scenery in Transylvania is very special, and waking up to look outside the window and seeing the thick misty clouds slowly move over the hills and thick forests, mountains and small villages – you realize that if vampires really did exist, this would be the perfect place for them to reside…

Luxembourg Impressions From The Well Designed Toy Village

We only had one and a half days in Luxembourg, which according to Laurent, our guide – was the average length of a stay there.

Our time in Luxembourg can be summed up with one word = RUSHED!

We arrived at 12pm, met our city guide at 3pm, went to bed at 10pm and caught the train to Paris 8am the next morning … and somehow managed to film this video episode at the same time…

There really was so much to see in Luxembourg, and we left really wishing we had at least 2 more days to see everything.

Luxembourg is a small city, so it’s not a big surprise that people don’t give it more time, but I’m sure that those who have been there for a day, leave wishing they would have had another few days to explore.

When I researched Luxembourg city, someone wrote in an article that if you’re not looking for a job, there is no point in visiting Luxembourg.

This was yet more proof that you shouldn’t always believe what you read online.

Luxembourg is a beautiful city, and the country is full of fairy tale castles.

Our time in Luxembourg can be summed up with one word = RUSHED!

We arrived at 12pm, met our city guide at 3pm, went to bed at 10pm and caught the train to Paris 8am the next morning … and somehow managed to film this video episode at the same time…

There really was so much to see there, and we left really wishing we had at least 2 more days to see everything.

We hope you enjoy our Luxembourg video, and stay tuned for at least 1 new video every week – Next stop Paris!

Being there for one day still left a big impression on me, and here are my thoughts:

Everything is So Well-Designed

Pretty much every building established in the 20th century is designed by some world famous architect – there are also many little houses built in 17th century, but the newer ones stand out in all their glamor.

Like Laurent said, if the banks can afford hiring I. M. Pei (the guy who designed the Louvren glass pyramid) to design their bank building, then go ahead.

Even the supermarket was designed by some world class designer!

You’re Living In Luxembourg Toy Railway Village

Look around yourself, and you’ll feel as though you have shrunken into a little toy figure, living in a miniature village in a kid’s toy railway set.

The bright green fluffy trees, the little river running along the frumpy little cottages in a valley, and high stone bridges where trains come passing every five minutes.

It’s almost unreal in some places!

The Tiny City Feels Huge

Luxembourg only has 90,000 inhabitants, but every day the city nearly doubles in size when people come in to work from out of town.

Many people who work in Luxembourg come in every morning from France, Belgium and other nearby countries, so during rush hour the streets are crammed with people and cars.

Luxembourg was a city of contrast: you could get the impression of a big city or small town depending on WHEN you were outside and WHERE you went.

The old town is quiet, small and quaint, while in the new area you saw high rise buildings, European institutions and men in suits.

The Country Has A Longer History Than You Think

The country has a history dating back almost 1000 years, and although the remainings from the fortress give the city a romantic look today, it was far from romantic for the people who lived there when the fortress was in use.

Luxembourg used to be surrounded by three big stone walls to protect themselves from attack, this made it extremely difficult to get inside the city, but also very difficult to leave.

History is everywhere in Luxembourg, and the people want to keep it that way.

It’s nice to see how they have kept the beautiful old houses and historic buildings, and then have put the modern designed skyscrapers a good distance away from the old town.

What Is The Best Way To Visit Europe

Poll on our site asking how our readers would travel if they had ONLY 2 months to travel Europe.

The alternatives were:

a) I would try to see as many countries I could within 2 months

b) I would travel to fewer countries but stay in each longer

c) I would visit one country and really get to know it

d) I wouldn’t go to Europe in the first place

We put the last alternative more as a joke, but surprisingly we got a vote even on that one. who was it?! :p

Well, I guess we all want different things in life… Myself I don’t see any reason not visiting Europe at least once in your lifetime if you’re interested in and have a passion for traveling.

The one that got the most votes was b) traveling to fewer countries but stay in each place longer – and to be honest with you, I think I would have to agree with you guys.

I’m a time optimist, but 2 months isn’t a very long time, and I’d prefer getting to know the places I go to on at least some depth before I leave, rather than just seeing the highlights before moving on.

When you actually take some time to explore a country, it starts to show you a different side you first didn’t see.

Plus, after having scraped the surface I want to see what’s really underneath… the *real culture!

However I do understand those who want to see it all in 2 months, that’s part of the beauty of Europe.

Everything is so close that you can literally visit three countries in one day without any rush.

Having all these countries with their very own specific culture and language right by your doorstep is SO exciting, and it’s hard to stay away from wanting to see what’s behind the next corner.

I am from Europe, so I guess I have the opportunity to travel one country at a time without worrying about Visa’s or anything like that, but I have also traveled a lot in Europe the fast way.

It’s awesome but a completely different experience, and I also kind of like leaving a country with the feeling that you want to come back again soon for more.

Me and Nathan have both traveled to many countries in Europe, but only a few together and haven’t done a Europe round trip yet.

After a quick trip through a few countries in Europe last summer, we got a taste of the different countries and what they had to offer, and which ones we would like to come back to for a second round and explore in depth – maybe even a bike around every country in Europe trip 😉

The way you decide to travel is very individual, and whatever way you choose to travel is right for you, but I do find it interesting to see how most people like to travel, and now I’m interested in why you like to travel the way you do?

Both for you who voted as well as you who didn’t, I’d love to find out how you like to travel and why, share it with us in the comments below!

Luxury Hotels in Europe – How Much Will It Cost Me?

You reach a certain point in your life when you say I’ve had enough of roughing it as a backpacker and instead want to enjoy some of the finer things in life.

It’s my 30th birthday at the the end of November, so for this guest post I have chosen 5 hotels in Europe that I would love to go and visit for for a night.

I have worked out what it would it would cost to stay in each of them and including travel expenses.

So let’s see if my budget will fit. PS – prices were correct at time of writing this article – they may have changed since so I would take them with a pinch of salt

Hotel Splendido in Portofino, Italy

Voted as the best European hotel in the 2010 Conde Nast Traveller Readers’ Awards, Hotel Splendido in Portofino, Italy attracts a loyal clientele of the internationally rich and famous.

Pictures of the star-studded cast of those that make up the hotel’s celebrity guestbook adorn the walls of this sixty-four roomed hotel.

Perched on the hillside above the picturesque natural harbor of Portofino, the hotel commands a grand view over the bay.

From the hotel, a winding pathway leads down to the village and the hotel’s sister hotel, Splendido Mare.

This intimate retreat has sixteen rooms and suites and shares facilities with the larger hotel up the hill.

Genoa is the nearest airport for visiting this luxurious hotel on a dramatically scenic part of the Italian Rivieria.

Budget Damage – £583 per night

Hotel Arlberg in Lech, Austria

Moving from Mediterranean glamour to traditional Alpine charm, the Hotel Arlberg in the quaint Austrian village of Lech, is a quintessentially Alpine retreat offering some of Austria’s best skiing.

In the center of the village, the family-run hotel offers traditional alpine comfort and is renowned for a superlative level of service.

The hotel boasts all the comfort of a modern luxury hotel, with a wood-beamed bar, a choice of two restaurants, and the acclaimed ‘Senses Spa’.

The spa facility includes an outdoor whirlpool, two saunas, steam room, solarium, relaxation lounge and suites offering a range of massage and beauty treatments.

The two gastronomic restaurants are ‘La Fenice’; the hotel’s signature fine dining Italian restaurant, and ‘Die Stube’; offering Austrian specialties in a traditional setting.

For skiing, the hotel is perfectly situated by the slopes for a choice of lifts, and is also popular in summer when the picture-postcard village of is Lech is surrounded by a panorama of Alpine meadows.

Damage – £215 per night

Four Seasons Provence, France

In the countryside of southern France, Four Seasons Provence, Terre Blanche is a resort of self-contained suites and villas surrounded by rolling valleys and mountains.

The style and architecture of the resort takes its inspiration from the local landscape, built from natural wood and stone, and decorated with a palette inspired by the bright sunshine and flowers of the region.

The secluded individual accommodation each has separate living rooms, bedrooms and terraces looking out over the tranquil countryside.

The resort has a large pool, tennis courts, a range of fitness facilities including a large spa extending over two levels; the nearby Terre Blanche golf club has two excellent golf courses.

In the surrounding area are mountains, pretty Provencal villages, vineyards, and the spectacular Gorges du Verdon.

Just inland from the Côte d’Azur, the resort is less than an hour from Nice airport.

Damage – £329 per night

Chewton Glen – Hotel, Health & Country Club, UK

Swapping countryside and ‘rivierias’ from the French to the English, Chewton Glen – Hotel, Health & Country Club, is situated in green and rolling Hampshire countryside not far from the beaches of the South coast and the New Forest National Park.

Just two hours from central London, Chewton Glen is a historic country house dating back to the early 18th century, with decor of antique furniture and fabrics to retain the traditional style in a sophisticated manner.

Traditional English activities such as croquet, shooting and archery are on offer to guests, as are traditional breakfasts such as a gourmet incarnation of ‘the full English’, and Kedgeree or Kippers.

Fine dining for other times of the day are served in the Marryat Restaurant.

The resort spa offers something for everyone, including exclusive beauty and body treatments, fitness, pool, and sauna and steam room facilities and the estate grounds have a golf course, tennis courts, and an outdoor swimming pool.

Damage – £303 per night

The Augustine Hotel in Prague

Similarly, The Augustine Hotel in Prague gives new purpose to an ancient building.

This new hotel is located in the heart of the city, close to Prague Castle, and has been created from a complex of seven buildings including an ancient monastery.

The hotel is carefully designed to preserve the features of the old buildings, including cloistered terraces, vaults and stone arches, and incorporates courtyards and elegant garden squares.

The hotel has 101 elegantly-designed bedrooms including 16 suites with views over the courtyards, monastery or castle.

All rooms feature decor inspired by early 20th century Czech cubism, with designer chairs and chaise-lounges.

For relaxation, the hotel’s spa has four treatment rooms, and a special hammam for heat treatments.

Damage – £234 per night

OK – so the grand total for my 5 nights is £1,664 but of course I need to factor in travel costs as well. Doing a *very rough* calculation I have worked this out as 1468km (912miles) for the whole trip.

Obviously my preferred mode of transport must reflect the caliber of my hotel selection therefore I’ll travel by helicopter 😉

I’m not up 100% familiar with the cost of hiring a helicopter however from my research it seems £15 per mile is a realistic cost.

Taking this into account my travel costs come in at £13,680 – oh what a birthday! 🙂

The Outcome.

Ok so the outcome of this is that the total cost for this luxury trip will cost me £15,344 or £3068.80 per night – I think I’m worth it.

Unusual Hotels Around The World

(photo credit: 1 – 2)

The Algarve is a stunning region in southern Portugal which is blessed with excellent weather all year round.

It is a popular holiday destination for tourists and locals and there are more than thirty million visitors to the area annually.

Because of this, there are plenty of holiday homes and villas in the Algarve which are in great locations and are perfect for family holidays, romantic retreats or group holidays.

Here are 5 great places that you should definitely visit in The Algarve this summer.

 The Algarve

Lagoa

Lagoa is a municipality in the Portuguese region of Algarve and it is known for its beaches, cliffs, tunnels and great nightlife.

Visit Praia da Rocha to indulge in its popular fish and chips and enjoy the great nightlife of this vibrant and lively resort town.

You should visit Praia da Marinha which is considered one of the most beautiful beaches in the world and has clear turquoise waters and rocks and cliffs formed from orange limestone.

Be sure to visit Benagil, a fishing village in Lagoa that is the home of the popular Benagil caves which can be accessed only by a boat, kayak, paddle boat or by swimming.

Be sure to spend a day at the Slide & Splash seasonal water park which offers slides, pools, falconry, bird and reptile shows.

Go for a stroll at the Algar Seco where you will find caves, stunning views of the sea and rock formations, and a fabulous restaurant that is perched upon the rocks by the sea.

Tavira

Tavira is a city that straddles the Gilao River which flows to the sea through the inlets of Ria Formosa Natural Park.

Tavira attracts flamingos, spoonbills and other birds which makes it a great place for bird enthusiasts.

Be sure to visit Igreja de Santa Maria do Castelo, a national monument that houses the tombs of seven knights that were killed by the Moors.

You can walk to the bell tower and watch the spectacular scenic views of this beautiful city around you.

You should also visit Cabanas Beach which is accessible only by taking a boat ride through one of the inlets.

The beach is known for its pristine surrounding and it has basic amenities available.

Make sure that you visit Tavira Castle where you can see stunning views of the city, stroll along flower lined paths, and relax in serenity.

Be sure to visit Salinas, a complex of salt pans and salt processing facilities where you can learn the process of salt preparation and see salt pyramids.

There are lots of great restaurants in Tavira serving authentic food, but be sure to book in advance as they are in high demand.

Vilamoura

Vilamoura is in the central area of the Algarve in Portugal and it offers golf courses, a casino, sandy Vilamoura beach and a large marina.

You should visit Praia da Rocha Baixinha a beach known for its cliffs that is a popular location to sunbathe or swim in clear waters.

Be sure to explore the Roman ruins at the Cerro da Vila, the remnants of an historical Roman villa.

You can visit the Family Golf Park which offers two 18-hole mini golf courses with an ancient Roman theme, restaurant and bar.

If you are visiting with children, renting a villa might be the best option so you can cook meals for the family to make sure there is something everyone likes.

Oliver’s Travels have lots of villas throughout the Algarve area, especially in Vilamoura, so that is a good website to check out.

Whilst in Vilamoura, be sure to visit the Water Sports Center, Nauticdrive, to indulge in activities such as parasailing, jet skiing, water skiing and other water activities.

You should also make sure that you visit popular Praia de Vilamoura, a beach that is known for its golden sand and stunning views of the marina to the west and Quarteira harbour to its east.

Faro

Faro is the capital city of Portugal’s Algarve region and is known for its cobbled streets, beautiful neoclassical architecture and sandy beaches.

You should visit Ria Formosa Lagoon which is a system of barrier islands that connect to the sea through six inlets.

The area is popular for viewing sea horses and you can go scuba diving or snorkeling to see these unique animals. B

e sure to visit Quinta do Lago, a residential estate and a golf resort that also has a beach, shopping centers and is a great place to enjoy bird watching.

Explore the stunning Cathedral of Faro that has a modest exterior but a stunning opulent interior that will leave you awe.

You should visit the Castle of Silves which is a hilltop castle with Moorish architecture that has spectacular views of the city and also offers a cafe if you wish to relax after the journey to the top.

Be sure to visit the Garden of Alameda João de Deus a quite place to relax and have an up close encounter with peacocks that walk freely with no worries about the people around them.

Spend some of your trip at Praia de Faro, a popular beach that is lined with restaurants, cafes and inexpensive beachfront hotels that offer up a fabulous view.

Portimão

Portimão is a port city in southern Portugal that is popular for its many beaches, the old quarter and a busy marina.

Cruise ships often dock here, as it is such a lovely place to visit.

The popular Praia da Rocha is a great beach to visit that has a good nightlife scene and tasty fish and chips.

Três Irmãos is a stunning beach area which has many large rock formations to walk through as well as caves and tunnels that you can explore.

The area of Vau Beach is a great place to stay and it has several beachfront hotels, and restaurants that offer spectacular views of the stunning beach with rock formations.

If you wish to spend your time playing golf in a luxury resort you must book a stay at the Penina Golf and Resort which has three golf courses, a spa and four restaurants.

The Museu de Portimão is a museum that you should visit to get a glimpse of the history of the sardine fishing industry and the canning traditions of Portimão.

Be sure to visit Fort of Santa Catarina at dusk to enjoy a beautiful sunset with views of the ocean.

Be sure to book a boat trip and enjoy different tours conducted by marine biologists.

You can enjoy dolphin watching trips where you can learn more about these magnificent creatures and even interact with them.

Let’s face it when you think of best surfing towns in Europe does not jump to mind as a hot surfing destination, you’d probably think of Hawaii, South Africa and California but believe it or not Europe does have some worthwhile surfing towns.

Best Surfing Towns in Europe

Bundoran, Ireland

This surf town made it onto the National Geographic’s list of top 20 surfing towns in the world!

The water may be cold and it may rain a lot but seasoned surfers love to take on the challenge of this surf town’s sea. Surfers call it “Europe’s cold-water Indonesia” and a “surfer’s paradise”.

Swells come in from the North Atlantic and crash onto the beaches, reefs and rocks of this ancient fishing village’s rugged coastline.

One of the waves that swells here even has a name – The Peak and the coast offers stretches of beach suitable for experienced, intermediate and beginner surfers.

Mundaka, Spain

Situated in the Biosphere Reserve of Urdaibai at the foot of Mount Katillotxu, Mundaka in an ancient port town in the Basque country.

The town is renowned for its surfing as high waves roll in from the Bay of Biscay and hit the town’s rocky coastline.

Many surfers and travelers take ferries from UK to Bilbao, and either base themselves in Bilbao and take day trips to Mundaka, or continue from Bilbao with the bus to Mundaka.

There is a direct car ferry between Bilbao and Portsmouth, and here are the Bilbao Ferry Timetables and Prices.

There is a natural sandbar that is formed by the estuary of the Errekatxu stream flowing into the sea, this makes hollow waves, perfect for adventurous surfers.

The World Championship Tour of Surfing has been held here and world names in the surfing world have surfed here like Bobby Martinez and Kelly Slater.

Biarritz, France

Another town which is on the National Geographic list and often called the “birth place of European surfing”.

In the South West of France the water is thought to be the warmest in Europe and there are two favorite surfing beaches – La Cote des Basques and La Grande Plage.

There are a number of annual surf competitions here as well as the Biarritz Surf Festival.

The quaint town has a blend of French elite culture and laid back surf culture.

The town is famous for Napoleon III’s visit in 1854 and the palace he subsequently had built here. Today the palace is a fancy hotel facing the sea.

September to November are the best months to surf here when the swells rush in from the Atlantic but the surf is more suited to intermediate surfers rather than experienced pros.

San Sebastian, Spain

Another surf town on the National Geographic list of top surf towns of the world.

The romantic town has many cozy restaurants and bars, it is in the heart of the Basque country and has a reputation for cultural events and venues.

There is a beautiful Old Town and a gourmet food culture.

The town at the mouth of the River Urumea is surrounded inland by mountains and forests.

The best time to visit is from June to November when the water is warmest and the waves high.

Within convenient distance from northern Spain’s ferry ports, you can easily reach San Sebastian by taking one of the many ferries to Santander or Bilbao, and then continue by bus to the surf city.

There are many benefits with ferries to Spain – book a ferry to Spain and chances are you can bring more surf boards along than if you fly, sometimes without any extra cost!

San Sebastian’s best known beaches are the centrally located 2km long Concha Beach in Concha Bay; La Zurriola is the most popular with surfers and Zarautz Beach which is a long stretch of golden sand.

Newquay, England

The famous beaches of Newquay are at the foot of rugged cliffs, there are eight beaches within walking distance of the town.

Watergate Bay Beach gets large swells rolling in on the 2 mile long beach; Mawgan Porth Beach is wide and popular with families and surfers; Holywell Bay Beach can reach a mile long at low tide; Towan Beach is centrally located and is best for beginner surfers, these are only a few of the many beaches in the area.

There are world class waves at Little Fistral near Pentire Head and North Fistral has some of the best waves in the country.

Not-So-Touristy Surf Spots Around The World

Taking a vacation to a beautiful and semi-remote surf spot seems dreamy and often out of reach for most of us inland boarders.

While it may seem more possible to take frequent trips to the local coast to catch weekend waves during the season, there are actually a few lesser-known “swell” spots that are more accessible now than ever before.

Trade in a couple of regular weekend road trips for a week or two at one of these outstanding and affordable vacation wonderlands.

Check out these three not-so-touristy wave rider dream destinations for a peek at new culture, new terrain and most importantly, new adventures for you and your board…

Hongo Reef, Nicaragua

Hongo Reef, also called Puma Reef, is a short ride from the town of Gigante.

Because of current economic conditions, U.S. visitors can find flights to this area of Central America for very low rates.

This reef is for experienced surfers and SUP boarders only, so amateurs beware.

You can live or vacation here for about 10 U.S. dollars per day, if you plan and budget carefully, and spend most of the day riding beautiful swells and eating homemade Nicaraguan cuisine.

Water in this area is swimmer-friendly year-round, so venture here when your local water is too cold. Spanish skills are a major plus!

Bundoran, Ireland

This is Ireland’s surf Mecca. Your most serious expense here will be a plane ticket (unless you live in Europe); however, it is a small price to pay for cheap lodging, cheaper surf and SUP equipment and a chance to ride some of the greatest year-round waves in the world.

The best boarders visit Bundoran because, while it may not be a palm-tree-typical tourist paradise, the wave conditions are supreme.

And if you already speak English, you will be able to communicate with the locals.

Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic

This North Coast surf spot is best from September through March.

The water is warm and you can find plane tickets to the Dominican Republic during these months for as low as $100.

A-frame reef waves range from 100-300 meters, so more experienced boarders can feel free to bring their novice riders along to learn on the smaller waves.

Vacationing in the Dominican Republic can range from super-budget hostel living to full-service resort accommodations, depending on your budget and style.

Also enjoyable and nearby are Sosúa and El Batey, short rides from Puerto Plata, for more intermediate-level waves.

One of the easiest and cheapest ways to travel with your board is to purchase an inflatable SUP board.

These boards are made for traveling, are lightweight, and can roll up into a compact bag, not to mention extremely durable.

Treat yourself and take a trip to some of the world’s most breathtaking spots with your best board at your side.

3 of Ireland’s best surfing destinations

When it is time to choose a surfing destination, the mind often wanders to faraway lands, often in the distant southern hemisphere.

However, you don’t actually need to travel that far in Europe to enjoy great surfing conditions, not even in places that feel a world away from surfing.

Here are 3 of Ireland’s best surfing destinations, which, depending on where you live in Europe, could be just under an hour away by plane.

Bundoran

The best surfing in Ireland can be found in and around the north western coast – after all, last year’s Eurosurf competition was held in the area, and for very good reasons.

Bundoran is the country’s prime surfing sport – at Bundoran’s beaches, waves are consistent, offshore wind conditions are excellent, and the swell height is almost always over a metre high.

The average sea temperature stands at 10°C, so you would need a full-body wet-suit to last more than a few minutes!

Bundoran is a laid-back town geared towards surfers, where those looking to take lessons can choose from a surf academy and a considerable number of schools offering everything from beginner lessons to improver weekend courses.

If you want to stay in Bundoran during your surfing trip you can reduce your accommodation expenses by taking advantage of the many surf lodges in town that offer discounted “surf and stay” packages.

Easkey

Located in the north west of Ireland, the village of Easkey is blessed with some dramatic geological features, and is a stunning place to stop for any reason, but particularly popular for surfing in Ireland.

Easkey is also unique in that it has two reef breaks: Easkey Right and Easkey Left, just under a mile apart from each other.

The waves break over the rocks at both, providing surfers with a swift sea surf.

Nonetheless, most people agree that Easkey Right is more challenging.

Easkey’s fully exposed beaches and continuous offshore winds create the perfect conditions for a demanding yet rewarding surfing practice.

Swell heights easily reach 2 metres (7 feet), and heights of 3 metres (10 feet) are not unusual.

The Irish Surfing Association recently chose Easkey as its permanent base, so if you happen to be in town, pop into their premises and check the many events they organize throughout the year, they also offer surfing instructor courses, typically during the spring months.

Inishowen

Close to the border with Northern Ireland lies the peninsula of Inishowen.

Since the peninsula is encircled by the Atlantic Ocean, the existence of appealing surfing spots is guaranteed.

Buncrana, the largest town in the peninsula, is home to a fully insured surfing school that makes the most of Inishowen’s superbly consistent waves.

Buncrana’s main beach is Lisfannon beach, a 3 mile-long stretch of sand which has blue flag status.

Twenty miles to the west of Buncrana you will find Culdaff beach, a favourite among surfers and other water sports lovers.

Here you can expect wave periods of up to 16 seconds, and an average swell height of 1,5 metres (5 feet) – these conditions make of Culdaff an ideal beach for beginners looking to go surfing in Ireland.

Before you decide on where to go surfing in Ireland, remember that having comprehensive insurance during your surfing adventure is as important as choosing a location – shop around for an insurance provider that guarantees medical cover, board damage and personal liability.

(photo credits: 1 – 1 – 2 – 3 – 1)

Explore Marbella on a Budget, Marbella is known for being a hub when it comes to glamour and excess but that doesn’t mean you can’t experience luxury for less.

With this in mind, we’ve put together the ultimate guide to exploring Marbella on a budget.

When to go for the best deals to Explore Marbella on a Budget

The time of year can affect the price of your holiday significantly and so if you want to get the best deal, a bit of careful planning is in order.

One way to save money on your Marbella holiday is to avoid peak travel times.

Flight and accommodation prices sky rocket around the months of July and August, not to mention the Easter holidays.

The sunny climate boasts 320 days of sunshine each year, so you can visit in the cheaper months of June and September without compromising on the beautiful weather.

Where to Stay in Marbella on a Budget?

Accommodation is a cost that you can’t avoid, but that doesn’t mean you have to pay over and above to stay in Marbella.

The great thing about this luxurious hotspot is that despite the glamorous reputation, there is truly an option for every budget – from affordable hostels to budget friendly self-catering villas, there is something for everyone.

If you are travelling in a large group, a private villa may be the most cost-effective option as you can divide the cost of the accommodation evenly between you.

The larger the group, the bigger the saving.

If you are happy to cook for yourself, you can make huge savings by stocking up on pocket friendly ingredients from the local supermarket, rather than spending money on eating meals out.

If you are a solo traveler, you may want to consider a hostel with kitchen facilities as this will work out far cheaper than a hotel, and you can choose to save money by cooking for yourself throughout your trip.

You might be lucky and score a night at a hostel that is only steps away from the beach.

The best money saving option will depend both on your group size and your personal preference.

A top tip – just by changing the dates of your stay to the shoulder months, rather than July – September, you can save more than half the price on accommodation!

For example, you can get a beachfront private villa that sleeps 4 people, for £34 a night in April.

In August, this same apartment gets bumped up to £83 a night!

Things to Do on a Budget in Marbella

Experiencing all that Marbella has to offer doesn’t come cheap, especially with entry fees for most nightclubs sitting at around the €20 mark.

However, there are plenty of ways to save money while enjoying this town to the full.

Marbella is home to some extraordinary beaches (23 in total) that don’t cost a penny to explore.

Although, a sun lounger and an umbrella on the Golden Mile will set you back around €6 per day.

Why not go for a stroll around the city? Head to the charming Old Town and see the sights.

Explore the side streets and you will find row upon row of unique boutiques, so why not take some time out to window shop with friends?

No visit to Marbella is complete without a trip to Alameda Park where you can while away the hours, people watching as you stroll through the grounds without spending a penny – only stopping to marvel at the spectacular fountain.

Sightseeing is an affordable way to keep the cost down during your trip, so why not explore the nearby town of San Pedro de Alcantara?

If it’s art you’re after, there are a number of free art galleries to explore including The Municipal Exposition Gallery, The Bonsai Museum and the Casa Grande.

However, you don’t have to visit an art gallery to soak up the culture.

You can see a plethora of street art – as well as multiple statues by Salvador Dali – on the Avenida del Mar.

If you do want to spend the day at a luxury beach club, Plaza Beach is by far the most affordable with beds available from €20 which is a lot cheaper that the €100 price tag that Ocean Club offer.

Pocket Friendly Places to Eat in Marbella

Eating in fancy restaurants can quickly demolish your holiday budget so try to opt for restaurants and cafes that are located off the seafront.

One way to save money on food is to seek out restaurants that locals flock to as opposed to tourist hotspots.

For the cheapest eats, head to the Old Town.

Here you will find excellent tapas and Spanish cuisine that won’t make your eyes water when you get the bill.

La Taberna del Pintxo is a popular choice for its unique ordering options.

Waiters walk around with trays of small bites, each one with a price tag – a novel way of monitoring your spending.

Although it’s not always advertised, a three-course ‘menú del dia’ (menu of the day) is offered in most cafés and restaurants for lunch.

So be sure to ask the waiter for it! You’ll be able to bag a three-course meal – usually with a drink – for under €15!

Budget Friendly Marbella Nightlife

Marbella is a party town and if you want to mingle with the A-Listers, you will have to pay for the privilege.

Yes, going to a nightclub isn’t cheap but a night on the tiles doesn’t have to break the bank.

One great way to save money is to visit your local supermarket and stock up on spirits to drink in your villa or hostel before you go out.

If you are prepared to go out early, many nightclubs including Tibu offer free entry for guests that arrive before a certain time.

Some bars in Puerto Banus have no entry fee, such as Linekers.

So, there you have it, if you are travelling to Marbella on a budget, these tips will help you to make your money go further.

La Manga Spain Be a Good Sport

La Manga is a major sports and leisure resort town on the coast of Murcia, eastern Spain.

From golf to go-karting, stuffing yourself with tapas, or simply lounging on the beach, there’s something for everything in this coastal town.

Sporty types should be sure to check out La Manga Club.

Golf, cricket, football, rugby, and tennis are all popular activities here, and there are classes for adults and children alike.

Golfers will particularly enjoy the club’s three, 18-hole golf courses.

The club also offers extensive spa services – perfect if you’ve overdone it on the field!

 Catch a Wave

Given La Manga’s coastal location and its temperate Mediterranean climate, water sports are extremely popular here, which include sailing, kite boarding, windsurfing, kayaking, and jet skiing. Go Skiing in Andorra

Most resorts offer rentals, as do many companies located along La Manga strip.

La Manga Del Mar Menor, or the Little Sea, is actually a huge saltwater lake that runs along the length of La Manga strip.

Its waters are also reputed to have healing properties, and staying at a nearby resort is the best option for visitors seeking relaxation and recovery.

Go Fish

Divers can enjoy spotting tropical fish, and many dive companies also offer snorkeling and wildlife tours.

Fishing expeditions can also be chartered through your resort or through operators located on the strip.

With 300 days of sun a year, Murcia is known for its beautiful beaches, and they make for great day trips out from a resort.

Get Festive

Check the calendar to see if there are any holidays or fiestas scheduled – these processions and parades are not to be missed.

Shopping in a local market is a fun way to practice your Spanish, but remember that they are usually only open in the morning.

There are also several musical festivals throughout the year.

Dine Out

There are many excellent options for dining out in La Manga, and the marina area has a high concentration of restaurants – the short walk out to the marina is usually pleasant and balmy.

Stopping at a cocktail bar before or after dinner and enjoying the fiery sunset over the Mediterranean is highly encouraged.

From sports to spas, La Manga is a great place for kicking back.

(Photo 1, 2, 3, 4, 5)

Things To Do In Scotland – With over 20 million visitors per year, Scotland is a popular destination with visitors from all around the world, and with so many things to do in Scotland it comes as no surprise.

The capital city of Edinburgh is the most visited city in the UK outside of London.

With such a small country having such a vast number of visitors each year, it can be hard to escape the tourist trail and experience Scotland off the beaten track.

As both a local girl, and a travel writer, I thought it would be useful to combine my knowledge of my home country and experiences as a traveler, and give you my top things to do in Scotland.

Things To Do In Scotland

Visit Stirling Castle

Every year, thousands of tourists visit Edinburgh Castle, and from the outside it is really a stunning sight, but trust me when I say the 14 GBP entry fee is really not worth it!

The inside of Edinburgh Castle is mediocre at best, and the fact that you can gain free and/or cheap entry to most of Scotland’s other more beautiful castles is as good a reason as any to venture elsewhere.

Stirling Castle is only 31 miles from Edinburgh city center, and is simply stunning!

Remains were also found in Stirling Castle recently of an old Scottish Knight, and the Castle continues to provide much of an insight in the history of Scotland.

Go Skiing in the Cairngorms

Scotland is by no means a warm and sunny country!

In most cases this would be a huge downside, but what it does provide is some great opportunities during winter to do some skiing in the Cairngorm Mountains, and National Park.

Aside from just being a beautiful place to visit in the Scottish Highlands, and situated near to the picturesque town of Aviemore, the Cairngorm mountains also offer some black slopes for some of the most experienced skiers.

Eat some mince ‘n’ tatties!

One of the popular things to do in Scotland is to try out some local Haggis.

Internationally it is the one dish signified with Scottish culture, but in reality, most local people only eat Haggis on Burns Night (Robert Burns Night) or on a special occasion.

If you want to try a dish that Scottish people eat regularly then try some traditional mince ‘n’ tatties! Mince ‘n’ tatties is a dish that families in Scotland have eaten for hundreds of years.

It’s basically just mince, potatoes (tatties), and gravy all mashed up.

It may be basic, but I literally don’t know any Scottish people (apart from vegetarians) who don’t have this in their top 3 meals of all time!

It’s the kind of thing your granny or mum would serve you!

Visit the Tunnocks chocolate factory

Tunnocks is a company that has been around in Scotland since before war time, and I can honestly say they produce the best biscuits/cakes in the world!

Tunnocks tea cakes in particular are simply yum, and the wafer biscuits are also good too!

They are unique to Scotland, with one large chocolate factory based near Glasgow.

Waiting lists to get a tour of the chocolate factory are over a year long, so its unlikely you will get to do the tour if you are only here for a little while, but most shops in Scotland sell the biscuits so be sure to give them a try!

Drink some Irn Bru!

Like Tunnocks, Barr’s Irn Bru has been around in Scotland for over 50 years!

For those who don’t know, Irn Bru is the only soft drink (except from a beverage in Mexico) which outsells both Coke and Pepsi in its homeland.

It’s something which is very unique to Scotland, and is regarded as Scotland’s national (non-alcoholic) drink.

Most locals love it, and most tourists hate it, but it’s something I definitely recommend you try, and that is unique to Scotland.

Visit the Isle of Skye

One of the things to do in Scotland that just can’t be missed are the Scottish Highlands.

You can’t come to Scotland and not take in the breathtaking scenery of the Scottish Highlands.

In particular, my favorite area of Scotland and offering some of the most beautiful scenery is the Isle of Skye.

To describe Skye would be an injustice to its beauty. The best thing I could say is just to see it for yourself.

Places to Visit in Scotland

Just a hop, skip and a jump from Bristol, after a night at one of the many Bristol Airport hotels and you will find yourself in Edinburgh to start your journey through some of the best places to visit in Scotland.

Here is a list of 10 awesome places to visit in Scotland:

One of the many cathedrals and chapels of Edinburgh, particularly Rosslyn Chapel, made famous, perhaps mostly by The Da Vinci Code novel.

The Abbey and Palace of Holyroodhouse, a royal residence that is host to the Queen’s Gallery which contains art from the Royal collection.

One of the top places to visit in Scotland for nature lovers is to walk up Arthur’s Seat, an extinct volcano that offers a incredible panorama of the city from the summit.

When it comes to festivals, one of the very best places to visit in Scotland is Edinburgh, especially in the summer.

Home to over ten festivals during the summer, including the Fringe Festival, the International Festival, the Military Tattoo, and the Edinburgh International Film Festival to name just a few, Edinburgh is often called the city of festivals.

The Tall Ship, or the Glenlee, which was built in 1896 and is one of the only five Clydebuilt sailing ships left in the world that are afloat and restored.

It is now berthed at the Riverside museum which is part of Scotland’s Museum of Transport and Travel.

You can explore the Tall Ship and of course the museum as well.

If you love animals and zoos, you’ll love visiting places like the Edinburgh Zoo, particularly to watch the Penguin parade.

Take a walk along the Glasgow Green which was founded in 1450 by a royal grant and is home to Nelson’s Memorial, The Peoples Palace and The Doulton Fountain which is the largest terracotta fountain in the world.

If you want several places to visit in Scotland in a short period of time, take a ride on the West Highland Railway, where you can go from Glasgow to Crianlarch and back.

One of the most beautiful train rides in the world, you’ll see castles and meadows and the River Cylde, you’ll pass under Erskine Bridge.

The train ride also takes you past Loch Lomond and Locklong.

A short day-trip from Glasgow, the Isle of Arran is often considered to be Scotland in Miniature and allows you to enjoy gardens, Brodick Bay, a castle and a variety of archaeological artifacts that are around the island.

This is one of the best places to visit in Scotland if you want to experience the essence of the country.

Visit the city of Stirling which is considered the spiritual home of Braveheart, you’ll also want to check out the castle while you are there.

To make your return trip easier and less stressful, stay at one of the Edinburgh Airport hotels and get a good rest the last night before an early morning flight, but if you’re sleeping at one of the Glasgow Airport hotels  be sure to call ahead to ensure your reservation is completed correctly.

Quick Guide To Inverness, Uk

Known as the capital of the Scottish Highlands, Inverness is a lively city which has much to offer visitors and makes the perfect destination for a short break.

The city has a real ‘buzz’ about it with fabulous places to eat and drink, excellent shopping opportunities and a real sense of history.

Attractions in Inverness

Inverness Castle is a stunning building, which today functions as the Sheriff Court.

The sandstone structure was built in 1847, replacing an earlier building which was destroyed by the Jacobites in 1746.

Inverness Museum and Art Gallery has a wide range of exhibits including wildlife, Pictish stones and a display of weaponry.

Places to Visit

Inverness makes an excellent base for those who want to explore the Highlands as some of Scotland’s most spectacular landscape is within easy reach.

Don’t forget that no visit to the Scottish Highlands would be complete without an excursion to Loch Ness to search for ‘Nessie’ the Loch Ness Monster!

Restaurants and Night Life

Kitchen provides good quality, locally sourced food in stunning surroundings: the glass-fronted building has spectacular views over the river.

The Castle Tavern has a good selection of real ales and an outdoor terrace.

G’s is a popular nightclub with a 3 am licence, playing commercial tunes on Friday and Saturday nights.

Accommodation

There is no sign of the twee tartan décor once synonymous with Highland hotels in the Rocpool Reserve Hotel, where rooms are named Hip, Chic, Decadent or Extra Decadent and come with their own coffee machines and hot tubs.

A previous winner of the title of Top Boutique Hotel at Scottish Hotel of the Year Awards, the Rocpool doesn’t come cheap, but is well worth splashing out on for a real treat.

Those on a budget may want to investigate the Premier Inn, which is central and provides excellent value for money.

Getting To Scotland

Inverness airport is 8 miles east of Inverness, with excellent transport links into the city center.

The airport serves the main UK airports and an expanding number of international airports.

Flights from Inverness to Gatwick leave regularly making Inverness a convenient destination for those travelling from the South of England.

There is also a train station in the city center, with direct services to Edinburgh, Glasgow and London from the south and Aberdeen from the east.

It’s also worth checking out the bus operators CityLink, Megabus, National Express and Stagecoach Bluebird that also do routes in and around Inverness.

Take a Tour of Bristol, UK’s Most Beautiful Churches

Getting in touch with the history of a city is often times easiest when viewed through a stained glass window – if you’re looking for an escape from the hustle and bustle of the High Street, then take a tour of Bristol, UK’s most ancient and awe inspiring churches …

Bristol, UK St Mary Redcliffe Church

Described by Queen Elizabeth I as ‘The fairest, goodliest, and most famous parish church in England’, the gothic splendor of St Mary Redcliffe Church cannot be over stated.

The first church on this site was likely constructed during Saxon times, when Bristol first became a strategic port city.

As its name might suggest, the church is situated atop a red cliff above the River Avon.

In medieval times, its towering presence was a comfort to seafarers who said prayers to the Virgin Mary upon departure and gave thanks upon their safe return.

The present building is likely the fourth or fifth church that has been built on this site, and parts of the existing church date back to the early 12th century.

Temple Church

Unfortunately this once beautiful church (with a rather colorful past) was heavily bombed during World War II.

The ruins of Temple Church now stand in rather stark contrast the surrounding contemporary architecture.

However, Temple Church is probably best known for hosting the sensational 1778 exorcism of George Lukins, who was said to be possessed by 7 demons.

Nonetheless, a walk among the remaining walls allows visitors to take step back in time to the world of the Knights Templar who founded the church in the mid 12th century.

Bristol Cathedral

Open tours are given on Saturdays for those interested to learn a bit more of the history of Bristol Cathedral, which dates back to 1148 when Robert Fitzhardinge founded it as the Abbey of St. Augustine.

The impressive cathedral is most certainly worth a visit, if for no other reason than to hear its beautiful organ, originally built in 1685.

Pop in on any Tuesday during term time for a free lunchtime recital and a chance to hear the stunning acoustics of this grand Cathedral.

St James Priory

It was illegitimate grandson of William the Conqueror, Robert Fitzroy, who founded the Priory of St James in 1129.

Local legend has it that every 10th stone brought from Normandy to build the great Norman castle was set aside to build the Priory, making it Bristol’s oldest building still in use today.

This modest priory has continuously served as a place of worship for nearly 900 years.

Church of England Mortuary Chapel

Located in the idyllic Arnos Vale Cemetery, this Grade II listed neoclassical chapel is certainly a peaceful place of rest on the cemetery grounds.

While wandering amongst graves may not be everyone’s cup of tea, this gorgeous green expanse just outside of Bristol is a favorite among dog walkers, ramblers and history buffs alike.

While you’re strolling past the many graves in a state of picturesque disrepair, don’t miss the opulent Tomb of Raja Rammohun Roy.

And if you’re looking for a hotel in Bristol this winter, consider a stay at the Holiday Inn Bristol Filton hotel for a convenient, great value accommodation option.

Scotland – Moody Weather & Amazing Scottish People

We knew Scotland would be beautiful even before we stepped off the plane – just from what we saw 2000 ft in the air was enough to know that this spontaneous trip would give us experiences of a lifetime.

We decided to leave the backpacks behind this time and travel with roller bags instead, just to see how we felt about it.

We don’t like to see ourselves getting comfortable with only one way of travel, but want to try out different styles all the time.

Although we have been traveling mostly in a backpacker way I wouldn’t mind experiencing a bit more of that luxury travel style, and although we are not the typical hikers we don’t mind trying that out either.

The only thing is that we are just never prepared for it – although we have become better over the years, like don’t go hiking in flip flops in the Austrian Alps anymore, we still looked like the odd ones out, and in Scotland, once again we were not prepared …

The Moody Weather

I have never seen such a moody weather anywhere else in the world.

The weather can change from sunny to rainy, windy to calm, freezing to warm – in a matter of hours!

Sometimes it seemed as though it did all that at the same time, and without any rain gear things got a little complicated… but I guess it’s the weather that has contributed to the amazing nature in Scotland.

The Amazing Nature

The scenery in Scotland is simply breathtaking – the highlands is a dream landscape, with mountains, lochs and glens, and the vibrant autumn colors just made it even better.

The grey stone cottages along the roads just enhanced the scenery – these cottages were built for sitting in front of the fire, sipping tea and dipping short bread all day, the perfect situation for cozy Autumn luxury holidays – but the one thing that struck me the most about Scotland, what changed my whole perspective on things – were the people we meet.

The Friendly People

I always used to believe that the way the people acted was a reflection on how the weather was – the people from northern Europe like Scandinavia are in general very quiet people whom are difficult to get to know.

You won’t see them start conversations on the bus stop or street with strangers, you will notice that they prefer having an empty seat next to them on the bus etc.

During summertime, that changes a little, and the people become more outgoing.

So I used to think that it had to do with the weather.

But when I arrived in Scotland, I was proven to be terribly wrong – Scotland has the strangest weather in the world, mostly quite miserable – yet the people are among the warmest and friendliest I have ever met.

Nowhere else has it been so easy to meet people and strike up conversations with strangers.

No matter where you were, on the bus, walking down a street or in a supermarket, people from all ages would talk to you.

It’s all in the little things.

In many ways Scotland reminded me of Vanuatu, where people laughed and smiled more, and where rather than giving you a strange look when talking to them, they actually tarted talking to you.

It will take some time to let all our impressions sink in, but I will write more about Scotland and our experiences – and I will be back, for sure …

Stirling Loch Lomond Scotland Travel VIDEO

When Rabbie’s Tours offered to take us around Scotland for a few days we thought a 1 day tour to Stirling and Loch Lomond would be perfect.

The first stop was Stirling Castle, one of the most important castles in Scottish history.

You could actually visit the chamber and dining halls of the Royal family who used to live there.

We also made a quick stop over to check out Doune Castle where “Monty Python and the Holy Grail” was filmed!

Day Trip To Stirling & Loch Lomond Scotland

Squeezing as much as possible into a travel itinerary is not ideal, so if you want to see as much as possible of Scotland in a short period of time, it’s best once you have arrived and after the right currency exchange rate has been checked to either rent your own car or go with a great tour company so they can take you to the best places.

So when Rabbie’s Tours offered to take us around Scotland for a few days we thought a 1 day tour to Stirling and Loch Lomond would be perfect.

The Guide And The Tales

The tour began at 9 o clock in the morning, and after an amazing cup of mint hot chocolate from Chocolate Soup (thanks for the tip Anthony!) we met up outside their office on the Royal Mile.

The guide, Mac, dressed in kilt, t-shirt and calf high socks in tartan material wrapped with leather strings, was a charismatic guy who had such a strong passion for Scotland.

During the long drive passing stunning scenery on selected off the beaten track roads, we sat with our ears and eyes wide open and took in the scenery while listening to the crazy stories and tales of Scotland’s history and the people who made it what it is today.

Mac shared the history behind the many famous thieves, and royalties who shaped Scotland, talked about how life used to be for the people in this land, and the reason why there are only 5 million Scots in Scotland and about 20 million around the rest of the world.

Scotland’s history is brutal but so fascinating, we learned about everything from the most important events in the country’s history to small details like how the word black mail and mailbox derives from historical events in Scotland.

The Route

The first stop was Stirling Castle, one of the most important castles in Scottish history.

You could actually visit the chamber and dining halls of the Royal family who used to live there.

We also made a quick stop over to check out Doune Castle where “Monty Python and the Holy Grail” was filmed!

If you have seen the movie, you would recognize the castle in the movie more than once, as they pretend the castle was several different castles when it was in reality just one castle, filmed from 3 different angles – you have to love their solutions to budget and convenience..!

We then drove through the Trossachs, often known as the ”highlands in miniature” because of its beautiful scenery with mountains and glens.

The final stop was Inversnaid, a secluded little place north of Loch Lomond, Scotland’s largest loch (lake).

We climbed up many narrow wooden stairs and walked through the green nature which is so distinct to Scotland, and a few minutes later we were facing a powerful, beautiful waterfall.

Usually waterfalls seem to disappoint me due to their weakness, and small size but this one (on the right —>) was actually one of the best I’ve ever seen.

We really enjoyed our tour with Rabbie’s, the guide was amazing, he taught us so much more about Scottish history than we could have imagined – and it really was a great way to spend a day in Scotland.

Fort William Scotland Travel VIDEO

About a week ago we decided that it might be fun to take a trip to Scotland – it was a very spontaneous thing, which seems to be the way we do things these days.

We will be spending about 9 days exploring different parts of Scotland, from Edinburgh to Fort William, Glasgow and Stirling – but besides being a spontaneous trip, Scotland really is a place we can’t wait to explore.

The highlands seem amazing, and there are so many places we want to see that it has been difficult trying to narrow it down and make it fit into our trip.

It seems to be very popular taking one of those Caledonian travel tours, and see a large part of Scotland in one day,  or we might take one of those for a day as well – but in the meantime our our itinerary looks like this: Edinburgh, Fort Williams, Glasgow and Stirling.

Fort William is promoted as the adventure capital of the UK and the nature seems amazing, for some awesome mountain biking action & Boat Cruises so we can explore the beauty of the highlands from the water.

I’ve never thought of Scotland as a place to live, but now that we’ve been looking into it – it seems to have everything you could want:

Amazing scenery, adventure outdoor things like skiing, mountain biking and even surfing – plus Edinburgh seems like a great city.

We stayed in Fort William, known as the gateway to the Highlands and the adventure capital of UK.

Sitting at the foot of Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in UK, and at the head of Loch Linnhe, a sea loch, the beauty surrounding this town is unmistakable.

When asking the locals in Edinburgh what their favorite place in Scotland was, they all said with dreamy eyes that nothing beats the highlands.

Fort William, Scotland – The Adventure Capital Of UK!

After three days in Edinburgh, with the most amazing summer weather and getting the most out of our press passes from VisitScotland, we headed further inland to one of the most beautiful parts of Scotland – the Highlands.

We stayed in Fort William Scotland, known as the gateway to the Highlands and the adventure capital of UK.

Sitting at the foot of Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in UK, and at the head of Loch Linnhe, a sea loch, the beauty surrounding this town is unmistakable.

When asking the locals in Edinburgh what their favorite place in Scotland was, they all said with dreamy eyes that nothing beats the highlands.

And then, finally, when it was right before my eyes, I could see why – the scenery spreading out far into the distance was absolutely stunning.

Muddy Mountain Biking

But walking down the main street in Fort William one thing became very clear to us: everyone else must have known something which we did not, as they were all fully equipped with enough gear and clothing to go mountaineering for days, ready to tackle any weather.

Sure enough the next day, the weather had switched. It was cold, rainy and windy, and the mountains were hiding behind the mist.

We were going on our first adventure: mountain biking.

The Ben Nevis range is world famous for its great mountain biking, and Nathan who loves mountain biking talked me into it.

We grabbed some bikes and when we arrived at the start of the mountain bike track the weather suddenly changed again. The mist was gone and the sun came out.

But many of the tracks were still muddy, and with no experience whatsoever I was up for quite a challenge.

At first I actually walked down with my bike (pretending to having biked down to Nathan) because I was so scared of the steep hill, but then I pulled myself together and decided that I was going to do this, falling and hurting myself or not (which I eventually did), I would not chicken out.

And like I’ve said before, if you try something you’re scared of you might actually find that you like it.

Fast forward 10 minutes later and all I could say was WOW – it was so much fun, and the track was awesome.

With many hills going down and not so many going up, it was less challenging for the condition and more for the skills, but it was still hard not to look away from the windy road to appreciate the green forest and the river running next to you.

The View From Aonach Mor

We finished the day by taking a gondola up to Anoach Mor, a big mountain with incredible views over Ben Nevis, the Great Glen and the Inner Hebrides.

While seeing the landscape from below is great, seeing it from above was definitely the best way to truly appreciate it.

The view you see is that of the first picture in this post.

Cruising The Loch

The next day we went on a cruise on Loch Linnhe with Crannog Cruises.

The morning started out windy, and the sun and clouds were fighting each other for attention.

It was quite spectacular to see the patches of sun and shadows playing over the smooth rolling hills around us, and with the sea being everything but calm, the little boat was up for a bumpy ride.

Having been in Fort William for only three days, I had quickly understood why everyone else had so much gear with them – the weather could change from one moment to the other, and we actually experienced three seasons in one day..!

The Most Scenic Train Journey In The World?

We left Fort William with some awesome experiences, and took the West Highland Line to Glasgow, which was voted the most scenic train journey in the world on Wanderlust magazine. So, was it true?

To tell you the truth, the scenery was definitely one of the most beautiful I’ve ever seen, and since the Europe Train Challenge we have been on a lot of trains..!

Most of the time the landscape was very remote and it kept changing all the time, which made it very interesting.

This is a great way to spend a few days in the Highlands and I would love to go back and see more.

Exploring Edinburgh, Scotland Travel VIDEO

One of the reasons I love Europe so much is because of its amazing history, or more precisely how easy it is to experience part of European history even today.

In Europe, history is all around us, and Edinburgh was no exception:

The Auld Reekie (smokey city), like it was once called, was a city bursting with history.  VisitScotland

The black stains on the buildings in the Old town marked the evidence of just how polluted the city once was, and the narrow closes (alleyways), leading the curious visitor into a labyrinth of small streets, are still there preserving the town’s medieval layout.

Edinburgh is often referred to as the most haunted city in Europe, perhaps because around every corner there is a story to tell.

I don’t think I have ever learned so much about a city’s history through stories and tales as I have of Edinburgh.

And the fact that the city has preserved so much of its medieval architecture and style made it easy to imagine what it must have been like living back then. Attending the Edinburgh Fringe Festival is an unforgettable experience

Edinburgh Scotland History

Edinburgh is often referred to as the most haunted city in Europe, perhaps because around every corner there is a story to tell.

I don’t think I have ever learned so much about a city’s history through stories and tales as I have of Edinburgh, and the fact that the city has preserved so much of its medieval architecture and style made it easy to imagine what it must have been like living back then.

But Edinburgh brings the past even closer than that – in fact there are even streets and rooms that have remained untouched since then: a close called Mary King’s Close.

Mary King’s Close

Mary King’s Close is a warren of underground streets and spaces, a place which has remained frozen in time since the 17^th century when it was open to the skies and full of life.

It was amazing to see how everything was still there, how the narrow street where people used to trade their goods was still intact, how even the wooden toilet of one of the families who used to live there was still standing right where they had left it, some 300 years earlier.

The ceilings in the rooms were covered in plaster made of horse hair and the ashes of human bodies who died in the plague, and in Mary King’s Close plague was so common that they had to quarantine the close, which is now the most haunted place in Scotland!

It gave you a very real impression of life in the days when people threw their waste out on the streets and had to walk barefoot in it themselves because they were too poor to afford shoes.

The Edinburgh you see today is a mixture of the best, it has the same cozy atmosphere, but cleaner and safer, and with some incredible green gardens and family villas to escape to as well.

We left Edinburgh with a fascination of the city’s past, but so happy to be there in the 21st century..!

Our trip through Scotland was in general filled with stories from the past, of how Scotland came to be, of William Wallace, and the Scottish pride and shame.

The Scotts seemed to love their tales, and like the Scottish proverb goes ”a good tale never tires in the telling”.

It’s been great to see so much of Scotland and get to know its history.

Next time I’m back in the UK I’d like to do the same with England, visit the “heart of England”, indulge a bit and stay in one of those traditional thatched luxury Cotswold cottages and learn more about the stories and tales from England, which make it what it is today.

Staying In Edinburgh With Roomorama

After a busy week traveling around Scotland, we were exhausted and in need of a place where we could just sit back and relax.

It doesn’t matter how cozy a hostel dorm is, if you’re sharing a room with strangers you simply don’t have the freedom to do whatever you want, when you want.

So instead of staying in Glasgow for the day, we hurried on to Edinburgh to enjoy the most of the apartment we had booked with Roomorama for 2 days.

It was the first time we had stayed in an apartment booked online via Roomorama, but they made the booking process easy, with many apartments to choose from and “checking in” to the apartment without a reception or someone to meet you was a breeze.

The apartment itself was amazing.

We stayed in Leith, a district in northern Edinburgh, with its own distinct character and once we had settled in – we felt at home right away:

The 2-bedroom apartment was luxurious and stylish but without losing that cozy touch –  the kitchen had everything you could possibly need for cooking, and the living room was spacious and light with large sliding balcony doors in glass, a comfy couch and flat screen TV.

In the hallway there was even a workout area for those wanting to work out, but we took the opportunity to use the high speed WiFi to catch up on work while enjoying a nice glass of red wine instead.

Edinburgh is a fantastic city with so many amazing things to see and do, but for one night we allowed ourselves to do nothing at all, which is somewhat of a luxury when it comes to traveling the way we normally do.

It’s amazing how great you feel after a good meal, a hot bath and a bed with plush pillows, and the next day we got up early, watched the sunrise and headed out on a new adventure to take a day tour to Stirling and Loch Lomond.

Edinburgh, Scotland

Edinburgh is in our opinion one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, and while the weather might not always be the best with the cold winds and rain – there are so many things to see and do there in any type of weather so it doesn’t really matter when you visit.

Some highlights on a trip to Edinburgh is to stroll around the narrow cobbled streets of the old town, visit Greyfriar’s Kirk, check out Mary King’s close and the Edinburgh castle.

But there are many more things to see and do, two good places to warm up in and escape the cold are the Camera Obscura and the Botanic Gardens – the first is both fun and interesting, with the oldest tourist attraction in the city.

The Botanic Gardens has a huge glass house area where you can explore flora and fauna from all over the world, from the desert in Australia to the Amazon jungle.

 

(photo credit: 3 – 1 – 2 – 3 – 4 – 5 – 1 – Victoria Reay – DaveBleasdale – timo_w2s – Full On Adventure – ILoveMyPiccolo)

Basel Switzerland is a very picturesque city with old buildings, narrow streets and a lot of interesting history.

It is known as an European culture center with over 40 museums, 25 theaters, operas and ballet and countless art galleries.

If you’re interested in that kind of thing you could easily spend a few days here going from museum to gallery to museum.

If this kind of thing doesn’t interest you, there are still quite a few things to see on your trip to Basel.

You can also find many outside art sculptures spread out all over the city, and it’s nice to just walk around the city stumbling upon them.

Basel in general is a really nice city to walk around in, especially in the old town.

It is one of those cities that are nice to look at from afar.

The  best way to do this is to walk over the bridge to the other side (new town), where you can walk along the river, have an ice cream and take some awesome pictures.

Then you can take the little ferry back to the old part of town again.

City Guide – Basel Switzerland

We recommend when staying ANYWHERE in Switzerland to use a rental home.

There are many great choices here for rental homes in Switzerland.

Switzerland Quick Facts:

Location: Switzerland
Language: (Swiss) German
Currency: Swiss Franc
Short History: The earliest documented citation of Basilia, the city at the bend in the Rhine, dates from the year 374.

Basel’s heraldic animal, the basilisk, is certainly of more recent origin.

It is a mythical creature, part cockerel and part dragon, which appeared for the first time around the year 450.

The Basilisk holding Basle’s coat of arms can be traced back in heraldry to a monument reminding of the fatal earthquake in 1356 that completely destroyed the city.

Things To Do In Basel:

Town Hall – Rathaus

This is an amazing building, it really stands out with its vibrant red color, and the hundreds of years old painted details are pretty cool.

It’s been there since the 14th century.

Münster Cathedral –

Brings you back to the old days yet another time.

You will find a great viewpoint of the canal from there!

Take the cable ferry across the Rhine river

These little boats taking you across the river have been going for hundreds of years and are still today very popular and widely used.

The boats are attached to cables so that they won’t get pulled into the strong currents.

The ferryman actually puts the boat on a special angle so that the current pushes the boat across.

Going To The Three Corners Of Basel – Switzerland, Germany & France In One Day?

The borders of Switzerland, France and Germany come together at the Three Countries Corner in Basel.

The thought of being able to stand with one foot in Switzerland and the other in France is a pretty cool fantasy, but not that amazing in reality.

We decided to take the chance of going to all three countries in the same day (Switzerland, France and Germany), but after the disappointing arrival in France we didn’t even bother to cross into the German border.

No parades, no ‘Welcome’, no pass port check – nothing.

Also I think we ended up in the most boring suburb of France ever, maybe if you would drive a bit further in to a nicer city it would be better.

Yeah, it would have been cool to say that you went to three countries in one day, but the place we ended up in on the French part across the border was just SO dull!

I think it would be awesome to go to France for a croissant breakfast, Germany for a typical German lunch (a descent bratwurst if you like), and dinner in Switzerland.

And I bet I’m not the only one who thinks so, but all we found on the French side of the border was a Chinese restaurant, and back on the Swiss side the first (and only) restaurant around was an Indian one.

The only main difference really was that the houses looked very different, not at all like in Switzerland, and everyone spoke French – all the sudden the prices had also changed from Swiss franc to euro.

Top 10 Things To Do Next Time You Visit Switzerland
What To Eat In Switzerland: 5 Foods Beyond Fondue

WARNING Note:

Nearly everything (shops, supermarkets, cafes etc.) is closed on Sundays in Basel (and Switzerland).

The only supermarkets which you will find open are the high-prices ones in the central train station.

Even the restaurants are closed, however you will find that the street-side Kebab shops are still open, thank god.

Swiss people work like maniacs during the week but when it’s the weekend, they take it seriously.

The same goes with their lunch breaks.

Every day between 12 and 2 p.m the shops close and the staff has a two hour lunch break, and they don’t reopen a second early – just so you know! 😉

Getting Around:

There are trams going basically everywhere, and like everything else in Switzerland they’re very punctual.

Mobility Pass:

All hotels in Basel, including the youth hostels, offer each registered guest a free “Mobility Pass” upon check in.

This gives free unlimited travel in Basel and suburbs (including to and from the airport) for the duration of their stay.

This is easily worth the price of a lunch every day you stay.

If you have written confirmation of a hotel reservation you can also use this to travel from the railway station or airport to your hotel.

At least one respected hotel in Basel advertises this fact on their web site.

This saves you 8 franc per day.

Getting There:

The Swiss train system is the best I’ve ever experienced.

The trains are fast, smooth and punctual, and all the stuff that is usually difficult when traveling by train is easy here.

It can be really expensive traveling with train in Switzerland, but they have countless of great deals and bargains, so you can actually get around really cheap if you ask them about it or read more on their website.

There are two train stations in Basel, the German station (Badischer Bahnhof, BBF) on the northern part, and the Swiss/French (SBB Bahnhof) in the city’s south.

If you get to Basel with a national train it stops at the southern station.

From there trains to Zurich and Geneva leave every hour.

Euro Airport works as the airport for all three corners, both Basel (Switzerland), Mullhouse (France) and Freiburg (Germany). The budget airline Easy Jet flies from here.

Where To Stay – Youth Hostel Basel City

Pfeffingerstasse 8, Basel, Switzerland 4053

The hostel is a part of HiHotels, so for those who are members the rooms are cheaper.

If you’re not a member you have to pay 6 franc extra.

It’s in a great location, only 3 minutes away from the train station, the rooms are clean, you get free linen, free towels and they offer a descent free breakfast, which is good since eating out is expensive in Switzerland.

Enjoy your stay in Basel!

European cruise – The open fjords, the lava caves and the breath taking and continental cities of Europe make it a top destination for cruises.

Europe’s collection of countries differ greatly, not just in terms of language, but landscape too.

If you’re on a European cruise, there are some must-see destinations, which demonstrate the diversity of this small continent.

Relics from ancient civilizations make for sites of interest both visually and archaeologically.

To look at some of the best European cruises, head over to Bolsover Cruise Club and hunt for the best itinerary, including at least one of these gems.

Best Places to Visit on a European Cruise

European Cruise to Barcelona

With some of the most impressive architecture, stunning miles of beaches and a vibrant food market in its center, Barcelona is a European city that has it all.

Including a port, which enables it to be easily accessed on the cruise circuit.

Soak up the sun and the quirky entertainment as you stroll down Las Ramblas or visit Gaudi’s Parc Guell, with its impressive views of the city and cascading bougainvillea.

Getting lost in the backstreets of Barcelona and uncovering some of its quirky restaurants, bars and galleries are all part of the fun.

Like a living gallery, everything in Barcelona is covered in fantastic street art, and the beaches often boat impressive sandcastle structures.

Rome

Sprawling and cosmopolitan these days, Rome is home to the impressive ruins of the Colosseum and speaks of its history in almost everything you see.

Whilst it is vast, there is a lot of Rome you can see on foot and its impressive history lives through its monuments.

Offering some of the most incredible experiences, Rome is a must-not-miss place that frequently crops up on European tours.

From shopping to culture and history to contemporary, Rome has a slice of something for everyone, and of course pizza!

Norwegian Fjords

A million miles away from the cosmopolitan cities and resplendent architecture of the other two destinations, a European cruise with a difference takes in all of the incredible Viking history and dazzling archipelago that make up parts of Norway.

Slowly moving through these deep crevices in the landscape and imaging our Norse forefathers’ fleet maneuvering through them is nothing short of majestic, and is the kind of once in a lifetime experience that a cruise should be.

Offering unrivaled scenery, Norway cruises are a unique way to connect with history.

Visiting Helsinki

Arguably Scandinavia’s most naturally picturesque capital, Helsinki is an energetic seaside city compromised of beautiful islands and vast green parks.

Any one of the 300 islands that compromise its archipelago are worth a visit and none get too crowded although Pihlajasaari is only a short ferry ride from the heart of Helsinki and has all the forest and wildflowers you’ll need to enjoy an authentic Finish experience.

The design scene in Helsinki is also widely regarded as one of the most advanced in the world today, with the boutiques, workshops and galleries that make up its design district contributing to its 2012 status as the World Design Capital.

Dubrovnik

Located in the extreme south of Croatia, Dubrovnik is a stunningly beautiful city with a rich history as well as great modern cultural significance.

Otherwise known as ‘the pearl of the Adriatic’, Dubrovnik became a Unesco World Heritage Site in 1979, largely because of its majestic Old Town.

Although severely damaged by an earthquake in 1667 much of the city’s Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque churches, palaces and statues remain and provide the perfect architectural base for King’s Landing in HBO’s epic fantasy series Game of Thrones.

Filming tours now take place in the old town and offer fans of the show a unique chance to see the buildings that inspired the television version of the Red Keep, Blackwater Bay, Great Sept of Baelor.

Athens

Often regarded as the birthplace of Western civilization, Athens was a cultural hot spot for tourists before many modern-day countries even came into existence.

Today, Greece’s capital is a perfect mix of ancient and contemporary with two thousand five-hundred-year-old buildings standing side by side with state-of-the-art tower blocks.

Home to well over 3 million Greeks, construction for the 2004 Olympics did much to help alleviate the pollution and overpopulation that had become heavily associated with Athens during the twentieth century.

New Metro lines and improved roads helped alleviate traffic congestion and a series of newly constructed pedestrian-only streets help network the city’s most revered and historical sites

Istanbul

The city where East meets West, Istanbul is the point at which Europe and Asia touch.

One of the few places on earth, you’ll see almost as many as holy Christian landmarks as you will holy Islamic landmarks, Istanbul has an embarrassment of historical sights of interest.

Everywhere you visit in the city, you’ll find museums, palaces, grand mosques and churches that attest to the city’s magnificent history as the capital of the Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman Empires.

No trip to Istanbul is complete without visiting the vibrant and busy Grand Bazaar, located at the heart if Istanbul’s Old City for centuries.

Starting as a small vaulted warehouse, built in 1461, it grew to cover a vast area of neighboring shops and is now the countries’ largest covered market.

Lisbon

Portugal’s busy capital city offers a perfect combination of history, culture, modern architecture and natural beauty.

Its hilly landscape will have you wandering from quiet courtyards overlooking gothic quarters to modern terraces offering magnificent views across the whole city.

Saint George’s Castle is the landmark most commonly associated with the city and can be seen from anywhere inside Lisbon’s perimeter.

The Lisbon locals are renowned for their nightlife so why not join them for sunset shots of traditional ginjinha (cherry liqeur) in their unrivaled cultural hot spot, Bairro Alto, where revelers hit the street to chat, drink and dance before heading to the city’s riverside mega club Lux.

Marmaris to Fethiye Blue Cruise

As if the crystal clear turquoise of the Mediterranean were not enough to convince you that a blue cruise is the ideal way to spend your next holiday, read below for more reasons including discovering historical gems, enjoying luxurious mud baths, and finding romance in a lighthouse at sunset.

EXPLORE THE ANCIENT CITY OF KAUNOS

On your cruise from Marmaris to Fethiye, one of the historical highlights is the ancient city of Kaunos.

According to ancient myth, Kaunos was named after King Kaunos who was the son of the Carian King Miletus and Kyane and the grandson of Apollo.

His twin sister, Byblis, developed a deep love for him, and when she told him of her feelings, he fled elsewhere to settle down with some of his followers.

Byblis, crushed with sadness, tried to commit suicide.

The myth claims that the Calbys river is a product of her tears.

Later Kaunos developed into a major port between Lycia and Caria.

Guests can take a river boat trip to see the ancient Lycian tombs, the resting places of Kaunos kings, built high in the rock face.

Overlooking the sea and the delta area, the key things to see include the Acropolis surrounded by city walls, four temples, an agora, a theater, the baths, churches and a cistern.

Even if you are not a history buff and there is much more to this part of the trip than archaeology and old ruins.

Take the trek up to the top and soak in magnificent views of the surrounding scenery.

RELAX AT THE DALYAN MUD BATHS AND TURTLE BEACH

On to Dalyan to take a mud bath and/or relax on Turtle Beach, a protected beach for endangered sea turtles.

Caretta Turtles (logger head turtles) still lay their eggs there.

Dalyan is a city with a lot to offer in and of itself, but one of the most unique and exciting attractions is the famous mud baths and sulfur hot springs.

The mud baths in Dalyan are famous for their medicinal benefit to your skin due to the rich nutrient content of the mud.

It feels very much like the Dead Sea in Jordan as the bath is so densely concentrated with salt that you just float effortlessly on top of the water.

Let the mud dry and enjoy the feeling of toxins being extracted from your skin.

After you’ve had your fill of caking it on, take a quick dip in the lake to wash it off and enjoy your freshly detoxed skin!

Added bonus: If you suffer from Rheumatic diseases, arthritis, eczema or any other similar conditions, the mud is said to relieve symptoms!

Having cleaned yourself up, it’s time to move on to a smelly sulfur bath. Likewise, the sulfur bath is known to relieve rheumatism, hypertension, gout, liver disease, and a host of other ailments.

As the natural spring is loaded with sodium, chloride, sulfur and calcium and sits at a piping 39°C (102°F), try to relax into the healing element and not think too much about the smell of spoiled eggs filtering through your nose.

Extremely fragrant, but a really cool, different experience!

REENACT HISTORY AT CLEOPATRA BAY

A favorite spot for many of the guests on the cruise is Hamam Bay where you can swim among the ruins of a Roman bath called the Cleaopatra Bath.

In this special cove, the volcanic structure of the natural hillside supports theories of the previous existence of a crater lake, which provided warm water to the bath in ancient times.

Cleopatra is said to have ordered shiploads of white sand to be brought here from Egypt to create her own secret paradise.

It’s rumored that Cleopatra herself came here to bathe in the bay and came with Marc Antony especially for their honeymoon.

Another main attraction is the monastery ruins, most of which are located underwater.

Unlike many other sites, Hamam Bay is yet to be protected so it’s possible to totally immerse yourself in the sites and surroundings while snorkelling over the ruins.

The shoreline is lined with a stunning display of pine trees, and, if you hike up Yavansu Hill, you will discover the remains of Lydae Ancient City which includes the ruins of a mauseoleum, cisterns, temple walls, Corinthian columns and inscribed tablets from the Roman and Byzantine periods.

As this area cannot be reached by land or road, and daily boat tours don’t visit this site, Cleopatra Bath was very exclusive to the Marmaris Blue Cruises.

DISCOVER ROMANCE AND BEAUTY AT THE RED ISLAND

Of the group of 12 Islands, one of the most stunning experiences to be has is on Kizil Ada (Red Island).

Here you can enjoy swimming in the crystal turquoise waters, and discover the rocks for some diving fun.

There are small and large rocks alike for the ultimate diving experience. This is one of the best areas on the cruise for diving.

The Red Island is covered in small red pebbles hence its name.

There are many small private coves that you can seek out to enjoy some quiet, personal time.

This is the ideal place to be at sunset as the sun lights up the red pebbles on the beach.

The glowing effect is reflected all over the stones and into the surrounding water creating a breathtaking effect.

Once you have had your fill of swimming and diving in the beautiful waters, head on shore to the lone lighthouse that is the outstanding structure overlooking the beach.

At the top is a restaurant where you can indulge in a gorgeous seafood dinner as you overlook the sunset and glowing stones and sand on the beach while sipping on some wine or raki.

Red Island is known to host some spectacular weddings and it’s hard to imagine that it can get any more romantic than this.

Cruise Ships A Worthwhile Way To Travel

The first time we actually started seriously thinking about taking a cruise was in Norway last week.

We had never taken cruise ships before and hadn’t really considered it an option, until we thought of what an amazing experience it would be to cruise down the whole Fjords in Norway, all the way from top to bottom – or to be honest, any way really, as long as we could experience the Fjords.

After having spent countless of hours on trains through Europe, we thought it would be nice with some change – and the best way to experience Norway seems to be on the water.

We left Oslo with a promise – to return one day soon and take a cruise down the fjords.

As it happens, a few days later, we hopped on our first cruise ship ever, not through the Fjords, but from Stockholm to Helsinki (with the InterRail Global Passes you get a pretty hefty discount).

The ship criss crossed between the islands on the huge Sweden archipelago, and after so many train rides it was really fun to see the nature sweeping past in a different way (you’ll be amazed of how many Swedish people live on tiny rural islands 4 hours away from mainland!

I don’t know how they do it…)

Although we only went for one night, it made us curious to try out a real cruise lasting for a week or more.

Unless you’re working on cruise ships, taking a cruise is far from the typical backpacker style of travel, but who cares?

Travel is travel, and I would like to try every angle of it – you never know what something really is like until you’ve tried it.

So we’re thinking of testing it out, either in the beautiful Norway with its many harbor points, woolen jumpers and beautiful nature, or somewhere south where it’s nice and warm and you drink over-sweetened cocktails all day long, perhaps one of those many Mediterranean cruises.

I’ve always liked the idea of doing some island hopping in Greece, so maybe cruising between the islands would be an idea.

But then we have the typical problem that I always have at one point: Where do I want to go?

Sometimes you wish there weren’t so many options to choose from, things would be so much easier then.

Opening your mind to something new is always overwhelming, it’s like a jungle of cruise options out there.

How do we avoid the Hawaiian shirts, line dancing and karaoke cruises?

Can they be avoided?

What kind of cruises do younger people take?

What would a cultural cruise be like? … Choices, choices, choices …Romantic cruise???

What Can You Do On a Cruise?

Cruise holidays may have once been the choice of the older generations and travelers with a passion for bingo and ballroom dancing, but today there is a cruise holiday to suit every kind of adventurer and explorer.

Cruising has experienced something of a makeover in recent decades and modern cruise ships are more like floating resorts than the antiquated vessels of the past.”

Here is just a taste of what you can experience when you book a cruise holiday.

Ice-skating

 If you are looking for activities to cool off, then don’t forget your ice skates!

Voyager of the Seas, operated by Royal Caribbean, offers ice skating to guests and produces professional ice skating shows for entertainment.

The ship also features a plethora of eateries plus a wide choice of super-stylish bars.”

Don’t take our word for it though, check out the rave reviews of this vessel, written by fellow travelers to help you pick the perfect cruise for you.

Visit a Botanical Garden

If you want to surround yourself in luxury, a Celebrity Cruise is a great option.

Since its launch in 2001, the Infinity ship has given the industry a few ‘cruising firsts’ – namely the beautiful botanical gardens.

You can escape the sea breeze at the Celebrity Infinity conservatory, which is filled with a myriad of flowers, trees, gardens and fountains to enjoy both day and night.

 Watch a Broadway show

After a hard day glacier trekking in Alaska or snorkeling in the islands, you can relax watching your favorite Broadway musical.

Creative ship designers at Royal Caribbean, for example, cater to all tastes with their built-in theater productions.

Here you can experience Hairspray, Chicago, or Saturday Night Fever on-board your cruise liner.”

Other Cruise Lines also produce first class shows and entertainment, as well, ranging from the Blue Man Group to Cirque.

With so many liners raising the standards of cruise holidays beyond all previous experiences, the industry is enjoying a fresh influx of younger singles, couples and families.

Top 5 Cruises Around The World

Have you dreamed of seeing the world without having to unpack?

Maybe you’re expecting a nice rebate from filing your taxes or thinking about a nice summer vacation for the kids.

Cruises are a great way to travel without having to become a nomad.

With careful planning, it is possible for you to cruise away and circumnavigate the world.

Cruising is a cost effective way to see magnificent vistas and experience the rich cultural life at the many ports of call whilst having the highest level of service and amenities available at your convenience.

Cunard Queen Mary 2

This highly rated liner needs no introduction and with its reputation for grandeur and elegance you will enjoy a truly remarkable world cruise.

Discover the unique charm of Asia by visiting Bangkok and Saigon, then spend time in beguiling Hong Kong.

Next stop is Shanghai before heading down under to the rugged coastlines of Australia and New Zealand.

Take in the spectacular scenery of Africa and the Mediterranean and gaze in awe at the natural beauty of the Americas.

Cruising across four breathtaking continents will leave you with lasting memories of your amazing world cruise journey.

Crystal Serenity

Take a journey of exceptional discovery with all-inclusive value.

Complimentary fine wines, premium spirits and gratuities for staff are all part of the Crystal package.

The 74 day cruise is broken up into four exhilarating segments.

Visit Europe, Africa, the South Pacific, the USA and everywhere in between on this exceptional and luxurious cruise.

Regent Seven Seas

Take advantage of your free airfares when connecting with your grand voyage.

As part of your six star luxury cruise you will enjoy complimentary shore excursions, complimentary beverages plus much more.

Cruise to exotic destinations and be spellbound by the aromas, sights and scenery of all there is to explore.

P & O luxury liners

Embark on your odyssey aboard one of P & O luxury liners.

The Azura, Arcadia or Aurora all has in-depth itineraries that will take you on an exotic journey of up to 110 days.

Your cruise will call into 32 ports within 20 different countries.

You will enjoy the classic cruise traditions such as the Captain’s cocktail party and afternoon tea plus exceptional personalised service from dedicated staff.

Holland America

Your fascinating itinerary will take you to stunning cities and intriguing places, whilst enjoying a level of comfort that is only available on a luxury world cruise.

Explore the globe across five continents and visit many exotic ports of call.

You will also visit lesser known ports and view the spectacular scenery of nature at its best.

A world cruise is a commitment to spending endless days at sea, relaxing and enjoying on board activities and then joining in the wide range of on shore excursions. What items are a must for Traveling?

Because of the length of time you are spending on board, you can enjoy things at a slower pace.

Guests on long cruises can take comfort in the fact that they are in a safe environment.

There is no need to rush around as you would do if you were on a shorter cruise.

This type of cruising is for everyone, not just the retired.

In fact, many world cruise passengers are made up of families, retired, semi-retired and those who are still working.

Some people work and then take their long service leave so they can live their dream of ‘a world cruise’.

Stereotypical Britain – Many people living outside of Britain hold a certain image to the country and its inhabitants. It would be incredibly dismissive to quash these visions as untrue for outside visitors – but they’re definitely all not true for all parts of the UK.

They say you should never meet your heroes as you will only be disappointed – the same should be said for places you love.

The last thing you’d want is to go to England only to see that what everyone says isn’t true.

It would be cruel to ruin the dream, so here are the best places to go to experience the English stereotypes that you hold dear to your heart.

Now, all you need to explore the land of the Brits is a good camera, a car, a comfortable pair of shoes and maybe you can pass the Life In The UK Test

Where To Find The Stereotypical Britain

London

This is the capital for a reason – you’ll find thousands of traditional stereotypes living and breathing here.

Visit the East End for cockney pubs and jellied eels, then travel to the center for a completely different culture.

Seeing past the busy workers power-walking past on angry phone calls, it’s easy to experience the tradition seeped in England’s capital.

In Westminster you can visit the Houses of Parliament and have a peek down Downing Street – and from politics to royals you can visit Buckingham Palace.

And then there are the skyscrapers, big red buses, the London eye, China Town, the Thames, the West End, Hamleys and Harrods, along with so much more.

York

The best word to encapsulate York is ‘quaint’. With winding, cobbled streets, tea rooms and stone walls, this is a very typically English city.

It has old sweet shops and dusty second-hand book shops, as well as The Shambles – one of best preserved medieval streets in the world.

It is filled with tourist shops, tea shops, and aromas of fudge and chocolate…awesome things to do in York!

Lake District

With breath-taking peaks, quaint countryside towns and Wordsworth’s grave, the Lake District gives postcards of England their pictures.

With around 15.5 million visitors per year, you won’t be the only one chasing traditional England…

Make sure to visit Keswick for traditional English pubs and cafes.

Scarborough

When people think of Britain, they think of fish and chips – whilst the food horizons of many Brits may have broadened, this is still the go-to Friday evening meal for many households across the country.

Scarborough, the largest holiday resort on the Yorkshire coast, is the ideal place to visit for seaside traditions – as well as fish and chips, you’ll find arcades, donkey rides, candy-floss and a nice freezing cold, British sea.

Yorkshire Dales

The county of Yorkshire has strong stereotypes attached to it – and they can all be found in the popular holiday destination of the Yorkshire Dales.

Talkative strangers, farmers, lots of sheep and an abundance of pubs – any village in the Yorkshire Dales will make you feel at home in England.

What is your favorite stereotypical place in Britain?

Peak District Walking & Outdoor Festival

Spring has arrived, and in Peak District, England, they’re preparing for the upcoming annual Walking & Outdoor Festival later this month.

The festival begins the 23rd of April and continues to the 8th of May, and over 100 events and competitions will be held during the festival.

For those who don’t know, Peak District is known for having some of England’s absolute best places for hiking, with many great trails with beautiful views.

The Peak District is the UK’s first national park, and the festival highlights and showcases the best of the area; the lush landscape, picturesque villages and the rare flora (which includes orchids during spring and early summer).

The festival will be fun for everyone who loves the outdoors, but you really don’t have to be an expert; guided tours, climber lessons for beginners and navigation lessons for beginners are just a few things for those who are like me, and want to try the outdoors sports for a bit without any real experience.

Another fun way to enjoy the natural park is to do it with an ‘artistic’ focus.

There are specialized photography walks and a photography competition (the theme this year is ‘fire and light’) going on.

During the guided walk in the district you’ll learn heaps of history about the area, with all from railway heritage walks to plague village walks.

If you’re interested in visiting The Peak District, I think this is the best time of the year to do it.

Many people have planned their Peak District holidays for months in advance so it might be a bit tricky finding some place to stay in the some of the closer villages.

One way to get around this would be to spend your nights in one of the many pretty Ambleside cottages.

Ambleside is as beautiful as the village in the main Peak District area, and then you can just drive to the festival for a lovely day trip.

There are many nice villages around Lake District as well, In Keswick, renting out one of the traditional Keswick cottages is very popular for weekend holiday makers, and if you find it too far to drive to Peak District from there you’ll find that the nature around these villages is pretty amazing in itself.

If this is a bit short of time to plan, don’t worry, since there are festivals in Peak District all year round, the next one, National Forest Walking Festival, begins already May 21st to June 1st, and then there is another autumn festival in September.

So basically, whenever you plan to go here, check out what festival is going on in the near future and go then, a festival always brings out the best of places!

London Travel VIDEO Discover a Wonderful City

We felt like London was a small town which had exploded with people, the buildings were cute, everything was close and we really felt at home even though everyone around us was sprinting around, stressed out of their minds.

The fact that London had so much nature within the city, really gave you a chance to sit down and relax even with all that chaos around you while on your vacation in the UK.

Incredible Capital Cities

What To Do In London – So you have a ticket to London, now what?

London is a city that basically has it all, but for many it’s often hard to know where to begin.

It has great shopping, beautiful architecture, awesome nightlife, parks, markets and lots of UK Celebration!

A weekend in London will be packed with stuff to do

Getting Around London:

Many of the places of interest are concentrated in one area so you can walk between them, however, the public transport is quite good and by using the subway you save a lot of time.

A day pass is a good idea to get, it costs 6£ and is valid from 9.30 am and lasts all the day until 4.30 am the next morning – you can use the pass both on subways as well as buses.

Things to do London:

Parks And Speakers Chair

London is full of beautiful parks to hang out in on a nice day or stroll along the green alleys, so take some time to slow down the pace in the parks between shopping.

St James park and Hyde park are two big parks located right in town which are both very nice.

In Hyde park they have something called ”speakers chair” every Sunday, where  people stand on a stage and talk about whatever they want in a microphone for whoever wants to listen.

If you have the guts, you’re welcome to get up there yourself! St James park is a beautiful park to check out after or before a visit to the Buckingham palace.

Changing of the Guard

The changing of the guard at Buckingham palace at 11.30 every morning is a big tourist attraction.

Don’t hold any high expectations on the actual ”show”, especially not in bad weather (which isn’t too rare here), but it’s worth a look just to experience the crazy crowds.

London Eye

The London eye actually gives a great view over London, and it’s especially beautiful at night.

But even the area itself is worth a tour, there is a pretty cool area full of Graffiti art right nearby.

The best view of Big Ben is from the Westminister bridge going between the London eye and Big Ben, and who doesn’t want that iconic photo shot?

London Shopping

Oxford street is the place for shopping. There is something for everyone here, and for most budgets.

But for an actual experience, head to Harrods.

Perhaps buy something really small as a souvenir from this place, or just window shop around this historic, exclusive shopping complex.

London Markets

London has HEAPS of markets; Small, big, famous and unknown.

Camden market is one of the more popular ones, and it’s a fun place to buy things from local unknown designers.

Covent garden also has a market, and after some shopping you’re likely to see some awesome street performers on the square.

This is the square where famous street performers do their acts.

London Nightlife

For a beer at a cosy pub with good atmosphere and intimacy, The Cittie of York on High Holbourn is a good choice.

The pub has a very traditional design, and you sit in little wooden booths.

For the cheapest beer in town, Ye Olde Cheesire pub on Fleet street is the place to go.

The pub is the oldest in London, and they brew their own beer out of town.

For a real club experience, Cafe  1001 is a cafe and DJ bar on a side street in Brick Lane which we got a tip about from a local guy.

Many tourists don’t know about the place, but it’s a huge hits among the people living in London.

Where And What To Eat in London:

It’s almost more “typical” to eat international food than the traditional British food in London.

Cuisine from all corners of the world can be found here, so make the most of it!

Restaurants that are located a bit out of the central areas are of course a lot cheaper.

The smaller streets around Kings Cross have some good deals, but chances are that you will be in the center for lunch.

There are a lot of  “all you can eat” buffets spread around the city center in London, especially Chinese cuisine, but also a lot of Indian restaurants.

For good Mexican food, Chilango is a great Mexican eatery located at five different places across the city.

We ate at the one in chancery lane 6, and the burritos and nachos were awesome.

Where To Sleep in London:

We recommend Clink 78 hostel, a hostel right next to Kings Cross.

It’s located in a nice area with a village feel to it, with small streets and cozy cafes and pubs.

The staff at the hostel are very helpful and informative, and more than happy to share their local tips and favorite spots around the city.

Ask them anything and they will know, if not they will check it up for you.

You get a big breakfast buffet included in the stay, and they also have a pub downstairs which is very popular with the guests.

If you want to cook your own food there is a big kitchen there as well.

A pretty cool detail about the hostel is that it’s actually a restored 200 year old Courthouse with a few authentic prison cells. and a courtroom used as an internet room.

Get out: Take the scenic train to Wales, and experience the Welsh culture only a few hours away.

And since London is, well, London, cheap flights leave the airport every minute!

(photo credits: Trodel – _dChris)

Weekend in London UK in the Capitals Coolest Spots

When you think of London, you probably think of Big Ben, red buses, Buckingham Palace, shopping at Oxford Street and the many theaters of the West End. But this is only just the beginning.

London is a vibrant and fascinating city, steeped in layers of history and culture.”

Like any international city it’s also constantly changing, and finding the newest spots can tricky for a visitor.

So if you’re keen to scratch beneath the surface of this captivating city and have an extra insight into all the coolest happenings, check out some of our suggestions:

Where to Eat in London

A decade ago London’s King’s Cross was one of the city’s biggest problem areas with drug addicts and prostitutes working the streets and bringing an unwelcoming feeling to the area.

Today though, this has all changed and the area has had huge sums of money spent on it.

As a result King’s Cross is rapidly becoming one of London’s most exciting new places to hang out and amongst other things is now home to a whole host of fabulous restaurants.

We love Caravan at the Granary Building for Mediterranean style foods, Kerb for street eats (very on trend at the moment!) and the fabulous Plum + Spilt Milk at the Great Northern Hotel, which serves up a mix of modern British cuisine in chic surroundings.

Go For Coffee in London

Hanging out in Coffee shops can be a great way to get a feel for how the locals live and Dalston, in London’s trendy East End, is undergoing a revival right now.

It’s home to many artists and creatives and as a result you’ll find plenty of funky and interesting places to go for coffee.

Café Otto, a specialist music café, is a great choice for a latte and a slice of cake and also worth visiting in the evening for one of their gigs.

Tina We Salute You makes the best cappuccino we’ve found and we also love Betty’s for a relaxed yet funky atmosphere.

Hit the Shops in London

When Olympic fever took over London in 2012 the area around the Olympic park benefitted in many ways.

One was the building of the fantastic new Westfield Shopping Centre, which makes shopping in London easier than it has ever been.

The centre has all of the major stores, as well as a few welcome surprises and basically is a whole lot less crowded that Oxford Street on a Saturday!

When you’re there head up to the top floor of John Lewis – no not for any pairs of striped pyjamas or 12 piece dining sets.

They have a special viewing platform where you get a great view over the Olympic Stadium and on to the rest of London and it’s well worth a look.

Where to Stay in London

The newly renovated Great Northern Hotel at King’s Cross Station is really topping it as London’s coolest hotel right now.

This gorgeous luxury hotel has 91 rooms, all wonderfully chic and beautifully designed and the hotel itself has many quirky reminders of its railway heritage.

There’s a replica train carriage acting as a corridor from the main stairway to the loos and the beds in the most compact size of guest room evoke the classic continental railway sleeper carriage.

All rooms have USB charging points, free in room entertainment and there are pantries on every floor where you can help yourself to home-made cakes and the day’s newspapers. It’s a fun twist on the traditional railway hotel and we love it.

For Drinks in London

Stoke Newington is rapidly becoming one of the coolest ‘villagey’ places to hang out this side of well… Clissold Park (Stokey’s lovely green space).

Church Street, the main street there, has many nice watering holes ranging from English Pubs, to smart cocktail bars and beyond.

Try the Baby Bathhouse, the Jolly Butchers and Auld Shillelagh.

A night out there is always fun, can be unexpected and you won’t be far from your lovely hotel when you want to jump in a cab home.

Has this article tempted you to take a few steps off the tourist trail on your next trip to London?

Or do you know of any great up and coming spots that we haven’t mentioned?

Please feel welcome to get commenting – we’d love to know!

Visit London for the Street Food Scene

It would be fair to say that in the last year or so, street food has officially become a ‘thing’ when it comes to travelling.

Going to Goa?

You won’t want to miss out on the samosas, chicken and cool drinks from the street vendors on the beach.

Jetting off to Vietnam?

It’s all about Banh mi sandwiches.

Visiting the big apple?

Well, while you’ve pretty much got your choice of anything, you’ll definitely want to sample a serious hot dog or two.

What about London?

The street food scene in London has taken off in the last year or so.

Everywhere you look, people are selling food from market stalls, vans and open air bars.”

So, if finding fabulous places to eat on trendy streets and at pop up stalls galore is what you’re craving, London could be your perfect travel destination.

There are loads of places to try, but a few top picks include:

London Kerb

Kerb is a street food collective based at Kings Cross – perfect if you’ve just arrived from somewhere else in Britain, or hopped off the Eurostar at St. Pancras.

Kerb rotates its traders, so even if you visit every day of your stay in London, you’ll be able to try something new each day!

Check out the selection here.

London Broadway Market

As the coolest East London weekend hangout around, Broadway Market in Hackney is home to some well-established food traders.

Try the quintessentially British bites at Eat My Pies and the beautiful handmade chocolates and cakes at Cocoa&Me to start off with.

Real Food Festival

Once you’ve hit the London Eye, strolled along the river bank and caught a show at the National Theatre, check out the plaza behind the Southbank Centre (a couple of minutes’ walk from Waterloo station).

Feeling flashy?

Go for lobster and chips from the Whitstable Shellfish stall, or, if you’ve had quite enough fish and chips, try a tiny taste of India at the Horn Ok Please van.

A trip centered on street food really makes you feel like a local, so check out some short stay London apartments and sort yourself out with your very own crash pad.

That way, when you come back laden with cheeses, breads and other treats from all the amazing markets you’ve been to, you’ll have a fridge to put them in.

Plus, no one will judge you when you decide that a midnight snack really is a great idea!

Things to do in London for free

London has become the most visited city in the world – whether for business or pleasure, London has a lot to offer any traveler, although it’s not always that easy to figure out what things to do in London. 

As famous as Buckingham Palace or its iconic black cabs, London is also known for being a little pricey.

However for those who would like to visit on a budget, you’ll be pleased to know that there are a fair few things to do in London that are completely free.

Staying in London doesn’t have to cost a pretty penny either; there are many London city hotels to choose from that keep prices competitive and wallet friendly.

Things to do in London

London Artwork

London has a range of different museums and art galleries, and you’ll be forgiven for thinking that these prime collections of antiques and modern artwork will cost you a few pennies to visit, however in fact almost all of London’s art galleries and museums offer free entry all year round.

There are many available to suit almost every audience, whether you’re interested in modern art, there’s the Tate Modern that displays pieces from 1900 onwards and changes its displays every 1 to 2 years.

For those looking for a little of world history, and more things to do in London, then pay a visit to the British Museum, which is home to over 7 million antiques.

The world famous British Museum has been open to the public since 1753 and to see all the exhibits would take you around a week.

There are many more museums and galleries in London that are free to visit, so it’s worth exploring to see what history this famous city has to offer.

London Ceremony Of The Keys

The Tower of London is the resting place of the Crown Jewels, and is usually open to the public during the day (£17 for adults and £9.50 per child) however in the evening; the Tower of London’s gates must be secured.

This ceremony has been tradition for over 700 years, free to the public, and is performed by the chief yeoman in his red tunic.

If you apply in advance you are able to escort the warden to the gates.

The Open House Weekend London

In London there are around 700 different sites that aren’t usually open to the public, including sites such as the City Hall, the BT Tower and the Bank of England.

Every September, Open House London gives you the great opportunity to explore these sites completely free of charge.

There are a few places that require pre-booking, so be sure to check which sites these are before you go.

With all the available sites and great things to do in London, there will be a professional or amateur enthusiast willing to guide you around the premises.

Each volunteer will have a recognition badge to determine which sites they can gain access to.

Some of the available buildings may also have their architect on site, ready and willing to give you information about the building itself.

The Simple Outdoors

If you happen to visit London while the weather is nice, then a pleasant and cheap alternative is to visit one of London’s many parks.

The available parks are of course free top explore and offer a great place to enjoy a walk, a picnic or some family sports.

Many have their own lakes and wildlife, Greenwich Park is the oldest royal park, and is used as the starting point for the London marathon.

This park is also home to the royal observatory and was formerly used by the royals for hunting.

There are many parks in and around London that are guaranteed to offer their own unique experience.

If you’re one for bargain hunting, then London is the perfect place to be, with a collection of markets selling everything from second hand clothes to antiques, London’s markets are great for exploring and are free to roam.

The markets will give you first hand experience into such a vibrant culture.

To visit many of London’s attraction would cost you on entrance fees, however why not see London on foot, and see the city while enjoying a leisurely walk.

The majority of London’s major attractions are within walking distance of each other, and with many free self guided tour guides available, you can sight see around the city without reducing the weight of you wallet.

Also if you take a walk along Regent’s Canal, you’ll also be able to see some of London’s zoo animals for free, including giraffes, okapis and red river hogs.

Big Ben

Known to be the most accurate clock in the world, Big Ben or the Great Bell as it’s officially known by is London’s most iconic landmark.

If you’re a UK resident you know what to do: book in advance you can take advantage of a free tour around the clock tower.

Tours take place Monday to Friday at 9:15, 11.15 and 14.15 with a maximum of 16 per tour.

To get a place on the tour you must request to visit through your local MP 3 to 6 months in advance and you must be over the age of 11.

So, now you know a little more about the city and what to do in London once you’re there.

Discovering London – What to Do and Where to Stay

Some destinations are so packed with must see sights that it’s virtually impossible to select which ones to visit.

London is an excellent example of such a destination.

It’s an ancient city that successfully blends a lot of modern glamour alongside venerable locations.

Experiencing it all would require several lifetimes.

That’s why the Discovering London Tour is such an amazing idea and can lead to an awesome UK Celebration.

Rather than being overwhelmed by the prospect of “doing it all” in London in a short space of time, the Discovering London Tour helps tourists get acquainted in a personalized way, and just maybe you might experience the stereotypical London

It just might be the best value for visitors who only want to hit certain highlights or who want to see what London is like beyond the guidebooks.

Each Discovering London Tour is hosted by Peter Berthoud, an expert on the city’s history and culture.

Every tour is unique and tailored to the visitor’s specifications.

That means no scripted dialog and no inflexible routes.

In fact, people who book a tour have final say as to all the stops that the tour will make.

That’s because each tour is for a small, select group.

They choose which sites they want to see and which sights should be left out.

Moreover, because groups are limited in size, many more destinations within the city are able to accommodate them.

Being able to enjoy a professional tour guide without the hassle of a massive group is definitely a major advantage.

With the help of their guide, visitors can craft a few hours or even a few days of superior sightseeing.

All of the major London attractions can be placed on the itinerary.

Alternatively, people who are looking for a more behind the scenes look at the city can request to be taken to places that are off the beaten path.

The result is a highly personalized experience that no one is likely to forget.

As an expert guide, Peter Berthoud can provide visitors with an insider’s view of London.

He shares stories that most people are unfamiliar with, and his conversational style immediately puts people at ease.

Each tour is conducted at the pace the participants request.

That means being able to stop for breaks or allow for a detour if a sight that’s not on the itinerary catches someone’s eye.

These are authentically customized tours that are designed to save the traveler time, money and energy.

For anyone who is unfamiliar with London, these tours can be a lifesaver.

Chances are good that time in the city is limited, so a Discovering London Tour is the best way to maximize the experience.

However, these tours are also beneficial for locals who are hoping to discover a new side to their city.

Peter has spent years developing familiarity with all of London’s twists and turns, and he loves sharing his knowledge with others.

Discovering London Tour

Whether you are a first time visitor or have lived in the city for decades, a Discovering London Tour can be the ideal introduction to a fascinating destination.

London is full of life, vibrant and busy with amazing festivities for all ages.

Discovering London With many cultural events to explore for little or no cost, you can visit art museums such as Tate Modern, the Florence Nightingale Museum, the National Theatre, and take the kids on Harry Potter Tours or spend a day at the London Sea Life Aquarium or the new London Dungeons.

All situated on the South Bank and Bank Side on the Thames River, great hotels, restaurants, pubs, boutiques and markets await those who visit London.

Take in the Art is a Great Way in Discovering London

The Tate Modern, one of the most famous museums in London, is located on South Bank.

Offering a fantastic blend of modern and contemporary art, view artists work by Picasso, Warhol, Pollock, Mattise and Dali.

For nearly 2,000 years South Bank has been home to artisans, entrepreneurs and lovely architecture.

All within walking distance from your hotel, are great restaurants, shops, pubs and beautiful walking paths on the Thames.

Bring the Kids

South Bank is alive with activities for children as well. They will love the Waterloo Carnival, the Sea Life Aquarium, Harry Potter Tours, the Reptile House at the London Zoo and the great underground London Dungeons with rides and shows for all.

In the summertime the streets are filled with activity, particularly festivals with food, amusement park rides and more.

Drink Up!

Just across the Waterloo Bridge on Bank Side, a wonderful busy and vibrant area of London, are pubs once frequented by Charles Dickens- The Rake and The Anchor.

You may also enjoy wine tasting at the Vinopolis, a visit to the Borough Market, an outdoor produce market, and artists shops and book stores for easy browsing.

Catch a Show

Theatres reign in this unique area of London so be sure to take in a show, whether it be Shakespeare or something a bit more contemporary.

Leaving the South Bank area, a stop at Abbey Road where the Beatles made their last album cover is an interesting feature- the Zebra Crossing.

London offers tours of the London Rock and the Beatles Site Tours for all Beatles fans.

Without a visit to the many delightful museums, historical sites, musicals, plays, famous parks, shops and restaurants in London, your holiday would be at a loss.

To locate a place to stay in the area of London you’re visiting,

Stay at one of the amazing hotels in London, this city as much to offer and you can find easily find the perfect room that is just an easy stroll to pubs and restaurants.

Memorable sites such as Tate Modern, the Thames River’s South Bank and Bank Side are sure to catch your breath with history dating back thousands of years.

Top Three Day Trips from London

Day trips from London has plenty of sights and scenes to keep any tourist busy.

If you have the luxury of exploring the city for a week or more, you may want rent a London apartment to create a home away from home.

A longer stay will also grant you the opportunity to explore both the city and some great places a short distance outside of the capital city.

Here are three cities you should check out to get a better feel for what all England has to offer:

Bath

The big draw in Bath is the Roman Baths, built around 2000 years ago.

With interesting exhibits and stunning architecture, the only drawback to this attraction is that you can’t actually jump in!

A better idea is to head just across the street where you can try the unique experience of soaking in Britain’s thermal waters at Thermae Bath Spa, a four story day spa that includes a rooftop pool with sweeping views of the city’s Georgian architecture.

Other famous attractions include the Royal Crescent, which is a series of 18th century houses and lawns and will give you an idea of what life was like in Bath at the time for upper-class residents.

If you’re a fan of Jane Austen, be sure to check out the Jane Austen Center while you’re there.

Brighton

Another place definitely worth checking out if you want to extend your time in London is a coastal trip to Brighton.

A stroll along the beach and the pier offers a breath of fresh air.

The city is also home to the world’s oldest working aquarium.

North Laine and Kensington Gardens are great places to find vintage and flea market treasures, and Brighton’s independent record shops are renown among music lovers.

Of course, one of Brighton’s biggest attractions is the extravagant Royal Pavilion.

It was built for the Prince of Wales, who later became King George IV, with construction beginning in 1787.

The interior design is striking and borrows heavily from Chinese and Indian design and architecture — a stark contrast from the rest of the city.

Oxford

This city is known for the “Dreaming Spires” of its ancient university and medieval churches.

Bibliophiles should head straight to the Bodleian Library, while sporting fans should try their hand at punting — steering a wooden boat down the river with a pole.

If you visit in late March/early April, you might even catch the University Boat Races and witness one of England’s greatest college sporting rivalries between Oxford and Cambridge.

There are also several museums worth visiting and if you love theater, make sure to check out some of the professional theatre productions and amateur student shows.

A great way to spend an afternoon in this scholarly town is to peruse the shelves at Blackwell’s Books and the Oxford University Press Bookshop.

5 Money-Saving Attractions In London

There’s never a dull moment for tourists wanting the best of what London has to offer.

With plenty to see and do during the day and London nights out ranging from a cultured evening at the theatre to a full-on night on the tiles, it’s very easy for sightseers to quickly lose track of how much they’re spending during their time in the English capital.

Fortunately, there are a plenty of options available to anyone that wants to stay in London on a shoestring budget.

Here are five money-saving attractions well worth checking out:

Camden Markets

Head down Oxford Street, which is Europe’s busiest shopping street, for a spot of retail therapy and the chances are high that you can spend an absolute fortune in no time at all.

Down at Camden Markets, though, there are bargains galore and all in one of London’s most diverse and interesting boroughs.

Peruse the many shops and stalls or just watch the world go by in one of the vibrant cafes, bars and pubs.

Cost: Nothing, unless, of course, something catches your eye in one of the boutiques.

Covent Garden

More glamorous than Camden Markets, Covent Garden is renowned for the street performers that work day and night to thrill the visitors that head there to be entertained as well as wined and dined in style.

If this is not your cup of tea, then just walk around the former fruit and vegetable market, which is now home to many charming and curious independent shops.

And put time aside to watch the artists, jugglers and musicians that line the surrounding streets looking to wow the crowds.

Cost: Free, but you may feel compelled to donate a bit of loose change if one of the street artists impresses you.

Science Museum

An ideal place to head to if you’re holidaying with children or if you’re still a big kid at heart.

Learn all about space travel and more at the Science Museum, where the various hands-on exhibits bring the museum to life.

The Natural History Museum, which is also free, is literally next door and Hyde Park is a short walk away, meaning this particular corner of London is easy on your wallet and fun at the same time.

Cost: Zilch.

Tate Modern

Arguably the best of London’s ‘free’ museums is the Tate Modern, which is located right on the banks of the River Thames over the Millennium Footbridge.

The exhibits will divide opinion and provoke healthy debate in a way no other attraction in the city will.

From the beautiful to the outright bizarre, the Tate Modern has it all.

Cost: Free, although you will have to pay if you want to see the major exhibitions.

The Monument

A hidden gem in London is the Monument, which offers a stunning vista of the city and was built to commemorate the Great Fire of London.

Well, ‘hidden’ is probably not the best word to describe it seen as though it was constructed nearly 350 years ago and is actually the tallest isolated stone column in the world.

Yet it’s commonly overlooked by people that want to see London’s skyline.

However, climb the 311 steps up the mesmerizing spiral staircase and you’ll be greeted by incredible views.

What’s more, it’s a bargain when compared to the fact it costs nearly £20 for an adult to make a revolution on the nearby London Eye.

That’s virtually six times the price for pretty much the same view and by scaling the Monument you also get a bit of exercise thrown in as well, so it’s altogether more rewarding.

3 ways to unwind in London

Given the hustle and bustle of life in London, it’s easy for visitors and locals alike to feel overwhelmed.

Here are the best ways to treat yourself after a hard day’s work or a long day of sightseeing in London:

 Secret Gardens

While not under lock and key, these gardens are lesser known and less well-traveled than some of London’s other parks.

You’ll feel as if you are stepping into a period drama as you explore the Eltham Palace Gardens, with stone bridges over meandering rivers, shady trellises, and great expanses of green lawn.

Isabella Plantation at Richmond Park can only be accessed by foot, and the grounds are stunning when the rhododendrons and azaleas are in bloom.For a bit of green space within in the city, pop into the Saint Dunstan in the East Church Garden; after the medieval church was bombed out during the Blitz, it was filled with climbing shrubs and a fountain that drowns out the sounds of traffic — a perfect green oasis.

 Tea Time

Nothing is more British — or more soothing — than a proper cuppa tea.

Make reservations well in advance for afternoon tea at Claridge’s for attentive service and meticulous attention to detail, or opt for a homier visit to the Tea Rooms in Stoke Newington, renowned for their scones.

Fortnum and Mason offers tea service on the fourth floor of its Piccadilly store, and visitors can pick up scrumptious treats and sumptuous accessories for relaxing at home.

Spa Day

A spa day is a refuge from the big city – and there is no shortage of places to get pampered in London.

Catering to locals and visiting spa goers from around the world, London is also a great place to try out one or more unique spa treatments:

Synaesthesia treatment – uses music, color, aromatherapy, and massage to promote relaxation.

Herb-based apothecary treatments, with optional courses on natural remedies

Thai Massage treatment – combines massage with assisted stretching

Futuristic pod treatment – float in ultra-salty water kept at body temperature.

The concept here is complete sensory deprivation.

After turning off the light in the pod, guests feel as if they are floating in mid-air.

Most find it relaxing, although those with claustrophobia should stick with a more traditional spa!

Thoughts From A Visit To London

The train ride from Holyhead in Wales to Euston station in London was absolutely stunning.

The country side of England is really special; the stone houses, never ending green hills, golden fields with Rape Seed crops, and farmland with cattle and sheep was a sight far from a bustling world cosmopolitan city like London.

out it wasn’t all that far, since the countryside is only a 20 min train ride away.

But no matter how close it was, stepping off the train in London made that part of England feel very far away.

We didn’t have much time in the city, but only after a few hours we were full of impressions and thoughts about it.

Here is a brief sum-up of how we felt about London and the impressions we got:

The Sprinting People

”Woah, he was in a hurry!” Was the first thing that slipped out of my mouth as we stepped out of the train station and on to the street.

A man in suit and running shoes ran past us as though he was practicing for a marathon – running late for work, I suppose.

Right afterwards, a woman in high heels came running towards us in the opposite direction from the man, I quickly had to jump to the side to give way for her.

What were they running for at this time of the day?

It was neither rush hour, nor lunch time – but everyone seemed to be in a hurry.

Men and women in suits running for their lives to catch a bus or subway, not stopping for anyone.

Many weren’t stressed, but they were still walking really fast and it seemed as though they did everything faster than normal.

In London people simply seemed to live life at a higher pace than what I’m used to.

It’s a contagious thing, and by the end of the day I was walking twice as fast as normal without even noticing.

Small Town Feel

At the same time London really felt like a small town which had grown in size – it didn’t have the feel of big cities like New York with sky lines and organized streets.

The buildings were from all sorts of ages, dating back all the way to 17th century, and the streets were all over the place – it looked I guess exactly what it was: a small city which suddenly had exploded in size and population.

Places To Breathe

If it wasn’t for all the large parks where you can escape the London people would certainly go mad.

But fortunately, London is full of green areas that are well worth a visit, walking down the green alleys around St James park is also a great stroll, and for a moment you forget that you’re in the middle of a cosmopolitan city.

I realized here just how much more of a nature person I am than a city girl.

Big cities stress me out, but as soon as I walk along a green alley, I’m centered again.

Everything Happens Here

For travel, party and fun, I could think of no better place to base yourself in Europe than London.

This is the place you’re likely to find the best travels deals ever.

This is the place where they hold all the awesome concerts and shows.

The locals say that they’re used to it and get very picky, but for a visitor you see all the great opportunities here.

In all, London has it all, but there are consequences.

If you want the awesome nightlife, the many opportunities – you will have to share them with another 8 million people.

London vs New York Which Offers the Better Experience

In the great debate over London vs New York, one concept that many can agree upon is both cities offer experiences unlike any other city in the world.

In essence, each city is a gem, but one may have the upper hand.

London vs New York: The Arts

You couldn’t visit all the museums and theaters in a trip to either city.

To start, if you’re visiting London, you should visit the Tate as well as the National Gallery, each houses exceptional works of art.

Likewise, New York’s Museum of Modern Art and Metropolitan Museum of Art should be on every visitor’s checklist.

Furthermore, if you’re interested in theatrical events, don’t forget to visit the West End in London and while in New York catch a Broadway play.

When it comes to the arts, London and New York both are winners.

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London vs New York: Outdoor River Activities

The Thames and the Hudson rivers feature big-city ports, but also the quiet splendor of an upriver setting.

You can take in the Thames or the Hudson while walking, cycling, and boating, but free public events highlight each river’s draw.

All eyes were on the Thames with the excitement of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and the grandeur of its flotillas.

Then again, the Hudson has Fleet Week, an annual tradition with visiting ships that take over the river and air shows that take over the skies.

As a result, it’s a draw with both cities taking full advantage of waterway activities.

Roundhouse – BBC Electric Proms from LondonTown.com

London vs New York: Live Music and Historical Appreciation

While rich in musical history, each city also offers live music events that rival each other. Nevertheless, the gradual loss of historically significant clubs in New York, such as CBGBs and Fillmore East, is devastating to music fans.

Although Jimi Hendrix and Pink Floyd played the latter, it’s now an apartment complex.

In contrast, the Roundhouse of North London, also hosting Jimi and Pink Floyd, did not wane into oblivion—despite its decline in the 80s.

Instead, the Roundhouse can hold up to 4,000 attendees for an event.

Moreover, it features rehearsal spaces in addition to recording and television studios for youth projects.

With this effort, London scores for rebuilding history and investing in the next generation.

If you seeking a place to stay in North London go to Hotel Direct for great options and cost.

In the end London vs New York, both London and New York are extraordinary, but the city that appreciates its history and its future is the city that wins overall.

Guide to 4 of London’s Most Haunted Destinations

If you have an interest in the paranormal and love nothing more than going in search of otherworldly encounters, London is the perfect place to indulge your penchant.

Aside from the spooky settings of the Tower of London and the dungeons, there are many more reputedly haunted destinations off the beaten track.

Bleeding Heart Yard

The cobbled courtyard off Greville Street in the historic area of Farringdon reportedly takes its names from an inn sign displayed nearby, showing the heart of the Virgin Mary being pierced by five blades.

However, another story has been reported with regards to how the area received its name; according to urban legend, the name was drafted to commemorate the death of Lady Elizabeth Hatton, whose body is said to have been found in the courtyard in 1626, with her limbs dismembered yet the heart still pumping blood.

The Langham

London’s prestigious five-star hotel The Langham is known as one of England’s most haunted hotels, home to up to seven ghosts that have been seen by various guests in the establishment’s long history.

Opened in 1865, the site of the hotel was previously occupied by a mansion owned by the third Lord Foley.

Among the guests reporting paranormal activity were members of the BBC, who occupied the building for a period of time.

Guests reported having seen a grey-haired Victorian man said to be the spirit of a doctor who killed himself after murdering his wife during their honeymoon at the hotel.

Another ghost has taken the shape of a footman in blue livery from the 18th century.

The most famous of the spirits said to haunt the hotel is the ghost in Room 333, which was seen by BBC radio announcer Alexander Gordon in 1973.

According to his report, the spirit was dressed in Victorian attire, its arms outstretched and its legs cut off.

City of London Cemetery

The Grade I-listed landscape of London’s cemetery and crematorium dates back to 1856 and is the final resting place of some of Jack the Ripper’s victims, but it wasn’t until the 1970s that reports began flooding in of locals witnessing some strange goings-on at the location.

During the decade, people in the surrounding area reported seeing a bright orange light shining out of one of the tombstones in the cemetery’s western section, but investigations have failed to pinpoint any light source outside the grounds that could account for the occurrence.

50 Berkeley Square

Located in Mayfair, 50 Berkeley Square is an 18th century townhouse that was home to prime minister George Canning between 1770 and 1827, becoming known as the most haunted house in London after being mentioned in Peter Underwood’s book Haunted London.

Legend has it that the attic room of the building is haunted by a young woman who killed herself in the building, throwing herself from the window after suffering abuse, and it is reported that she has the power to scare people to death.

Among the tales told of the building is that of a maid who spent the night in the attic and was driven mad, dying in an asylum the following day, while a nobleman who stayed in the room was pronounced dead the next day.

Another rumor suggests a second nobleman was so paralyzed with fear after spending a night in the attic that he could no longer speak, and a sailor was found dead at the property after tripping as he tried to flee.

Climbing and Scrambling for Adventure Lovers in the Lake District

The Lake District offers some of the most spectacular scenery in the UK and provides an opportunity for adventure lovers of all ages to reconnect with nature.

For those searching for holidays that include a real sense of adventure, the Lake District is the ideal destination.

You don’t have to leave Britain to have a holiday fit for even the most daring of thrill seekers.

The Lake District offers plenty of climbing and scrambling opportunities, so if you have a head for heights, don’t hesitate to get involved.

Scrambling in the Lake District for Adventure Lovers

Scrambling is somewhere between walking and climbing. Scramblers can avoid busy routes up mountains by using climbing techniques and due to the use of these skills, it can be a dangerous pastime.

If you’re a beginner, take note of how certain scrambles are graded.

A grade 1 scramble is more like an exposed walking route but as the numbers ruse, you will definitely need the support of a rope.

Scrambles follow lines of weakness in the land, so if you’re unsure of how to start a route, look for the easiest way up, and take that.

If you’re meant to be on a low-grade scramble and the terrain suddenly becomes very difficult to navigate, it’s likely that you’ve veered off course.

The correct footwear is absolutely essential so choose boots with a stiff, inflexible sole.

These must be worn for scrambling even in warm weather, as they will protect your feet when finding holds in cracked rock and when loose rock falls on them.

For grade 2 and 3 scrambles, take at least 30m of role, HMS karabiners and some eight foot slings.

Top scrambling destinations in the Lake District include Leeming Farm in Penrith and More Than Mountains, encompassing several locations around Cumbria is for adventure lovers.

Climbing in the Lake District for Adventure Lovers

There are plenty of climbing opportunities in the Lake District, and not just on indoor walls.

For climbers who wish to experience some outdoor action, it’s important to remember that most accidents occur due to climber errors.

Always check that the climber and belayer’s harness buckles are doubled back and that the knots are ‘tie-ins’, finished with backup knots. Never climb without a helmet.

It’s important to pay attention to your surroundings while climbing, as a loss of concentration can increase the likelihood of an accident occurring.

Experienced climbers should check out Little Chamonix in Shepherds Crag Borrowdale, Engineers Slab in Gable Crag and Troutdale Pinnacle in Black Crag Borrowdale.

To book your Lake District adventure lovers holiday and experience some real adventure, visit www.sllodges.co.uk

Denbighshire: Jewel of the U.K.

There is so much to do and see in the very historic area of Denbighshire.

The below Infographic is but a snap shot of places of interest and things for you to do on your visit to Denbighshire.

We encourage you to go online and download PDF’s about the history and significant places of interests within Denbighshire.

Welcome to Denbighshire!

Welcome To Denbighshire – An infographic by the team at www.digitaldenbighshire.co.uk