Archive for February, 2010

Berlin with Children

February 26th, 2010

Berlin has a lot to offer for families travelling with small children and its winning combination of cleanliness, free attractions and entertainment and organisation, make it a great place to spend a fun-filled, stress-free holiday with your little ones. Below you will find some tips and suggestions to help you plan your trip.

To save some money if you are planning to visit a number of sights in Berlin, you can invest in a Welcome Card which offers discounts on the city’s main attractions and museums for one adult and up to three children. The pass is available for 48 or 72 hours and also allows you to use all of the buses and trains in zones A, B and C for free. It’s probably best to work out your itinerary and the cost with and without the Welcome Card to see if the savings you can make with it are worthwhile.

The Kinderbad baths are ideal for a splash around on a summer’s day. They are little open-air pools surrounded by pleasant grassy areas where you can relax and sunbathe. You will find the Kinderbad in Monbijou-Park.

Berlin Zoo is a safe bet for a family day out with something for all ages as does the AquaDom and Sea Life Centre with all of its tropical fish.

If you get a rainy day when in Berlin, do not despair! Head to Bamboo-Land where the children can romp around this enormous indoor play centre with a jungle theme, bounce on trampolines and use up all of that energy. There are age-specific sessions, so call to get some more information or check out their web site.

Don’t forget to try a “Berliner”, a sugary jam doughnut or the city’s legendary sausages and chips – they may not be the healthiest of options but they will certainly be a hit with the kids and you can come back another time without the kids to try the swish eateries in town.

Families on holiday in Berlin are well catered for as far as accommodation is concerned too. There are plenty of apartments in the centre of Berlin which allow you the freedom of your own home and the convenience of self-catering facilities. If you’d prefer not to worry about washing clothes and dishes during your stay, you could opt for one of the many family-friendly hotels in Berlin where everything is taken care of for you.

Wherever you stay and whatever you do in Berlin, you will be pleasantly surprised how child-friendly the German capital is.

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Patying in Rome!

February 23rd, 2010

Ok, so Rome isn’t exactly world famous for its night clubs and the average visitor comes here in search of history rather than hedonism, but that’s not to say that Rome’s younger generation don’t go out and have a good time. If you want to join them, here are some tips on where to go to see what’s on in Rome when the museums close and the sun goes down over the Vatican……

There isn’t any one particular area of Rome where all of the nightlife is concentrated; it’s spread all over the city so your best bet is to read up on each area and decide which best suits your taste. There are plenty of hostels in Rome where you can meet like-minded young travellers and go exploring Rome by night together if you are feeling shy or are a lone female traveller feeling slightly intimidated by all the Italian male attention (although it’s normally just harmless fun).

If you want to mingle with the city’s student population, the San Lorenzo neighbourhood is always a good bet for a cheap bed, cheap pizza and plenty of bars where you can soak up the friendly, informal atmosphere. Many people end up spilling out of the bars and on to the streets, especially in summer, sitting on steps and chatting, which is a great option if you have little or no money to spend.

If, on the contrary, your wallet is full – head to the chic Parioli neighbourhood by taxi (or befriend someone with a car) or to the EUR district for some sophisticated dining and high class discos. But remember to dress up!

Most of the late night clubs (don’t even think about going out before 11pm!) are dotted around the Testaccio and Ostiense areas and particularly on Via di Monte Testaccio where you will find well-known joints such as Caruso Cafe de Oriente, Acab Cave and Fake. Check their web sites or local guides to find out what’s on.

If you need to be among the foreign crowd in town to feel comfortable, Campo De’ Fiori is your place. When the market place has closed for the day, all of the local bars fill up with tourists and Romans looking to meet tourists.

The most authentic and “alternative” part of the city as far as nightlife is concerned is Trastevere where you can find some really nice wine bars and cafes if you want to end your night with a glass of good wine and not necessarily go on to a club.

Rome, like all European cities, has plenty to offer in the way of entertainment. You just need to do your research.

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Madrid with kids

February 19th, 2010

As in the rest of Spain, children are well-catered for in Madrid with plenty of activities, child-friendly restaurants and budget hotels adapted to the needs of families travelling with little ones. You won’t be expected to hire a babysitter to enjoy a meal out or even go for a late night drink here; especially in the summer when the days are long and the weather warm. It’s not unusual to see children playing in a floodlit park at midnight while their parents keep an eye on them from a bar terrace enjoying a drink and some adult conversation. If you are travelling to Madrid with kids, here are some quick tips on how to make the most of this family oriented city.

First of all, you may find it more convenient to rent a self-catering apartment in Madrid where you can enjoy total freedom from curfews and not worry about your crying baby keeping other guests awake at 3am while you heat a bottle! There are plenty of options near to the city’s major parks (such as El Retiro) where you can make the most of the sunshine, free entertainment thanks to the street performers or even treat them to some fun on the boating lake.
As far as eating out is concerned, La Familia is a great family restaurant with colourful crockery, a children’s menu and a monitored play area as well as a reading corner. Ideal if you want to be able to eat in peace! Baby Deli near to Serrano metro station is another brilliant eatery for both parents and kids. It serves up nice organic food and yummy cakes as well as providing fun activities and workshops for the children.

When choosing what to see and do in Madrid with your children, you will be spoiled for choice. Parque de Atracciones is the Spanish capital’s main theme park and it has sections suitable for small and older children. Entry is free with the 72 hour Madrid Card.

The zoo and the aquarium are always a safe bet for family entertainment in any city and Madrid is no exception. Entry is pricey but Madrid zoo is considered by many to be one of the best in Europe and is definitely a place where you can happily spend the entire day.

Hopefully by the end of 2010 Madrid will even have its own urban beach; the so-called Rio Project. Watch this space!

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Off the beaten track in Paris

February 15th, 2010

There is so much more to Paris than meets the average tourist’s eye. While the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre Museum and the Champs Elysees really are as wonderful in real life as you might expect them to be and are a must for first timers in Paris, there are many other, equally charming spots just waiting to be discovered. Here are a few tips and some of my personal favourites:

Firstly, I would recommend investing in a Paris Pass for an extended stay in Paris or if you plan on doing a lot of travelling with public transport and sightseeing. This pass has many advantages; such as free entry to the best attractions, free entrance to over 55 of the most famous museums, a guide book, special offers in the big name shops and it included a Paris Visite card which gives you free, unlimited travel on the Metro, buses and RER within central Paris.

Secondly, get some decent budget accommodation sorted in Paris to cut costs and leave you with something to spend on having fun. If you are not planning on visiting all the typical sights, you can afford to book a hotel in Paris in a lesser known area by tourists and take advantage of lower room rates.

So, here are some special spots in Paris that certainly won’t be on every other tourist’s itinerary:

The Buddhist temple. You will find this place of worship in the Asian neighbourhood of Paris, strangely housed in an underground car park! It is the only large public garage in the area, so it’s not hard to find and you will find the temple as you walk in and, on the right. This isn’t a tourist attraction, it is a real, active temple so, while visitors are welcome, they are expected to be respectful and treat it as such. Worth a visit just for the novelty factor. You could also combine a trip to the temple with a meal out in one of the Thai or Vietnamese restaurants in this area in the 13th arrondissement.

Another favourite place of mine in Paris is the Musee Marmottan du Claude Monet. This attractive little museum houses a modest collection which was mainly donated by the artist’s son and contains sketches, small canvases and works by other artists that Monet had collected himself. This is a good choice if you are travelling with children as they offer guided tours of the gallery for children based around the themes of: flowers, landscapes, the seasons and the portrait.

The Parc Floral de Vincennes is a beautiful park with seasonal flower displays, located near to Chateau de Vincennes. This is a great place for a romantic picnic or a family day out as it also contains an amusement park, a pond, and a puts on puppet shows on Wednesdays, Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays in the afternoons for 2.60€. You will find a few restaurants dotted around if the weather is not too good and there are live jazz performances in the park on Sundays in summer.

Don’t strike Paris off of your list of places to visit once you’ve “done” the major sights; go back time and time again and discover the city’s more hidden treasures.

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London for beginners

February 9th, 2010

London is one of the world’s top destinations for a city break, but what makes it so special? Is it all just hype? Most certainly not! To start with, nowhere else in the world will you find such a melting pot of cultures….the Indian, Pakistani, African, Caribbean and Chinese all go about their daily business here to a quintessentially British backdrop of double-decker buses and black cabs….not for nothing has London been referred to as “the world in one city”.
But London offers visitors so much to see and do that planning a short trip to the city can have your head spinning if you are a first time visitor; so here is the lo-down on what’s hot and what’s not in this exciting, cosmopolitan city:

What’s hot?

I personally love Portobello Market on Saturdays in Notting Hill. This buzzing street market sells a variety of new and second-hand ítems, not to mention some delicious international food. A great place to do a bit of people watching too.

The Tate Modern is a wonderful modern art gallery located by the river, which means you can combine a trip there with a stroll along the Thames and take in London’s famous bridges too. And best of all, admission is free!

Camden Lock Market is a bustling web of indoor and outdoor stalls, including a great selection of food stalls offering cheap cuisine from all around the world. This is where London’s alternative scene hang out, so be prepared to see some very “interesting” people along the way. If you really want to be in the thick of things, you can always book a hotel near Camden Lock Market, that way you will feel London’s alternative vibe and the buzz of a part of town that never sleeps by simply stepping out of your front door.

Whilst very touristy, Covent Garden Market is still a very pleasant place to while away an afternoon, gawping at street performers and window shopping. It is a good alternative to Camden if you prefer something a little more polished.

Parks. London has many fantastic parks: Hyde Park, St James Park and Regent’s Park to name just a few. If you are lucky enough to be in London on a sunny day, do as the locals do and grab a picnic blanket and head to one of these lovely outdoor areas to make the most of that lush green grass!

What’s not?

There are a few things which I would recommend skipping when on a short break in London. Some of the tours for example. A trip along the Thames in a boat seems like a good idea until you are actually on the boat, sitting inside to avoid the frosty winds and trying to make out the vague outlines of famous monuments through the grey clouds!

Unless you are a true shopaholic with a lot of patience and a very strong pair of legs, I would say skip Oxford Street too. It is basically a glorified high street with terrible traffic and unbearable crowds. Why go there when there are so many nicer places to shop in London?

If there is one thing that London is not though, it’s cheap! But, with the help of some budget accommodation, low cost flights and addresses for places to get cheap eats and free entertainment, you’ll be set for a trip to London that won’t break the bank. And with these pointers you’re ready to go on that trip of a life time to the capital of England without feeling daunted by the sheer number of things to see and do. So, what are you waiting for?

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Budapest – A tale of two cities

February 5th, 2010

Budapest is one of the most beautiful cities in Central Europe in my opinion, with a rich architectural and cultural heritage that compliments the spectacular natural surroundings. This city is divided by the Danube River into two parts: Buda on the Western shore and Pest on the Eastern shore– which were originally separate cities until their union in 1873. Here is a brief guide to the two, very different parts of this impressive city:

Buda, including Obuda (old Buda), is far smaller and quieter than Pest and is famous for being the historical part of the city. The Buda area is hilly and dotted with forests which add to the charm of its old winding streets, towered over by the Castle on the main hill. Other than the Royal Palace, tourists and locals alike flock to this side of town for a spot of relaxation at the famous Turkish-style baths at the bottom of Gellert Hill. The building which houses the baths is luxurious and ornate and the complex of hot springs, indoor and outdoor pools and saunas is enough to keep you entertained for the whole day. Buda is not only a place for history and relaxation though; there are an increasing number of bars and entertainment venues that have the younger population travelling over the river to party, particularly during the Sziget Music Festival.

Pest is the larger, more sprawling side of town and suffers far more traffic, hustle and bustle. That is not to say that Pest doesn’t have its own charming, historical areas too though. Heroes Square, the Hungarian Parliament on the riverside, Andrassy Avenue and the beautiful historical centre and shopping area – Belvaros, are all well-worth a visit. The fantastic Budapest Spring Festival is another huge draw to this side of town and hotels near to the event book up well in advance so don’t miss out if you wish to attend this exciting cultural celebration.

Despite countless attacks on this capital city during the Second World War and the Hungarian Revolution, Budapest has stood the test of time and, although it bears the scars of the past, it remains one of the most impressive European cities in terms of architecture and was awarded the title of World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

Budapest is a beautiful city which is attracting an increasing amount of visitors every year thanks to its affordable accommodation options and cheap cost of living. Anyone who has been lucky enough to visit the Hungarian capital will tell you – there is no better place in Central Europe for a quick getaway with that special someone.

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The best of Barcelona

February 2nd, 2010

The first thing you should be aware of when visiting Barcelona is that it is the capital of Catalonia – a region with a very distinct cultural identity, history and language. The locals refer to themselves as being Catalan, not Spanish and, if you visit the south of Spain and Barcelona you will notice the difference. Barcelona is possibly the most cosmopolitan city in Spain and a major tourist destination. Here are my top 5 things to see and do in and around this beautiful Catalan city:

1) Combine architecture and music. If you visit the Palau de la Musica Catalana you can enjoy a concert whilst marvelling at the spectacular Modernist architecture. Check the web site for the latest concerts, but there is always something worth seeing going on.

2) Indulge your taste buds! Barcelona is a great place to enjoy seafood thanks to its seaside location. Regional specialities such as “Pan amb tomaquet” (bread, oil, salt and tomato), lamb cutlets and “Escalivada” peeled, (grilled Mediterranean vegetables) are seemingly simple but surprisingly satisfying and moreish.

3) Enjoy taking a historical walk. There are guided walks that trace the footsteps of Picasso who spent his youth in the city or walks through the gothic neighbourhood, taking in the Cathedral and the remains of the Roman city walls. Although touristy, a guided walk is a great way of exploring the city and learning something about its past in order to better understand its present.

4) Take advantage of the city’s proximity to the Mediterranean Sea! Barcelona is quite a sprawling city and it is easy to forget that you are near the Sea at times. If you book into a hotel near the Sea in Barcelona you’ll be able to start and end your day will a stroll on the beach!

5) Get out of the city. If you are on a longer stay in Barcelona, take a day trip to one of the many interesting places within an hour of the city. Hop on a train to Sitges for a day on the beach or take a bus to Alella for a wine tasting session and to get a feel for a smaller Catalan town. Equally you could take advantage of the offers for cheap stays in one of these towns and take day trips into the city for a trip with a difference.
With that dose of architecture, music, history, sunshine, good food and fine wine you’re set for a fabulous time in Barcelona, the capital of Catalonia.

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