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A small harbour directly south from Heraklion, about two hours drive, about 30km east of Matala.
Quiet and peaceful, plenty of good quality accomodation, fantastic restaurants.
Lentas sits in its own micro climate at the foot of a mountain, there is only one road in and out, a long beach to the west, and several beautiful bays to the east with a fishing port newly built, accessed by a precipitous road from Lenas.
All in, its a place of peace and tranquility, hardly known but easy to reach.
Almosy directly south from Heraklion, head for Matala, but stay east across the plain. Its not easy to find the road over the mountain, but local people will guide you.
Google map: bit.ly/10moNjk
Just 6km north of the beautiful, sleepy fishing harbour of Gytheio on the Mani peninsular is a stunning shipwreck standing defiantly on a perfect beach. It was an incredible sunrise. With the help of a rental car, out of peak-season camping is so easy on beaches of the Peloponnese - remote and tranquil.
Hotels, tavernas and cafes are also available in Gytheio, and to the south are more unspoilt beaches, extending down the rugged but accessible 'Mani'.
Valtaki, Lakonia, Peloponnese
Google map: bit.ly/18718Yj
First tip for travelling in Greece is to go in late September/early October! The crowds are gone, the beaches are empty and the weather is still hot and accommodation/tours are about half the price of the August peak.
Milos is a lovely, lesser-known island close to Santorini but I think the people are friendlier and the island more romantic than Santorini (if that's possible.) In Milos, rent a car (Giorgio's in particular, good prices, Giorgio himself seems dependable and he actually gives receipts) and drive to all the beaches - Sarakiniko looks like the surface of the moon and looks simply surreal. Another beach Tsigrado is stunning and isolated and well worth the death-defying cliff descent. Take a day trip as well by boat to see Kleftiko, where the pirates used to hide - unmissable! Tours in October are about 35 euros (down from 70 euros in August!)
Tour boats are available all along the main pier. Milos is easily accessible by ferry from Piraeus.
Google map: bit.ly/13KnF6d
We are just back from two weeks “island hopping” in the Sporades. The price of flights being so high, we bought a two week package including flight, transfer and accommodation on Skiathos for little more than the cost of a flight, but absconded from the package tour accommodation and backpacked for part of the two weeks to Alonissos and Skopolos. Alonissos is an unspoilt island: one road, one bus (no service in school term time), and three taxis!! Village rooms on both Alonissos and Skopelos were easy to find, and we stayed at Maria’s house on Alonissos: situated in a quiet side road (they all are!), 50m back from the port in the only town Patitiri. We had breakfast every morning on our terrace in Maria’s lovely garden under the lemon trees. We paid 30 Euros a night for a spotless en-suite room. There is superb walking and swimming on Alonissos: but to get the best you will need to buy the guide “Alonissos Through the Souls of Your Feet” by Chris Browne available at www.travelleur.com. Although there’s only one main road, car hire is available which will get you to the start of walks and also secluded beaches at 25 Euros a day from Albedo Travel (abbedotravel.com) who also organise sea kayak trips.
Pension Gioula: e-mail pensiongioula@gmail.com +30 24240 65301
South Pelion has everything to offer at all seasons. Walk on ancient stone paths under plane and olive trees with glorious views of the Pagasitikos gulf or the Aegean. Swim at deserted pebbled coves or beaches with swathes of fine sand. Select from a range of reasonably priced places to stay and enjoy food in fish restaurants, small tavernas that offer regional cuisine, or more international eateries such as Casablanca in Horton. Visit traditional hill top villages with quiet, plane tree shaded cobbled squares, little fishing harbours, historical sites, tiny fresoed churches or the market in Argalasti for local produce including home brewed local spirit tsipouro. In addition you can take a trip to nearby Skiathos on board the Africana from Platania for a day or two of partying. You will certainly be glad to return to the peace and beauty of South Pelion.
www.southpelion.com/ www.friendsofthekalderimi.org/
Campsites include Louisa at Platanias (www.camplouisa.gr/en/draseis.html), hotels include Kima and Des Roses in Platanias and accommodation includes Katerina in Pelion and Valtoudi in Milina.
The Horniman Museum is a genuine secret gem in south east London. It takes an effort to find but it is SO worth it.
It's a free museum, packed with all kinds of interesting collections: from anthropology to musical history to all kinds of natural treasures.
There's even an aquarium, and a lovely park to have picnics in, weather permitting.
Take a trip to the depths of non-tube-land south east London and discover a fascinating world.
www.horniman.ac.uk
100 London Rd, Forest Hill, London, SE23 3PQ
Open daily 10.30-17.30pm (except 24-26 Dec)
Entrance to the museum & gardens is free, but there is a charge for the aquarium
Getting there: buses 176, 185, 197, 356, P4 stop outside the museum on London Road
Forest Hill London Overground station is a five-minute walk away.
Google map: bit.ly/Z7bh4d
* Lucy is our Been there local for London. You can read her profile here: www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/articles/london-local-lucy-mallows.jsp and follow her tips here: www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/travellers/LucyRM.jsp
Lovely friendly super relaxed hostel. Sit on the roof terrace, drink tinto verranos and watch the swallows dive while the sun sets over the mountains. Beautiful mountain walks, excellent bird watching and ridiculously starry skies at night. Very delicious dinners cooked by ex-chef. Quiet quiet quiet village but not far from Ronda which is classic old school Hemingway style Spain. Watch out for hidden car hire costs, be sure to get the deal where you bring the car back FULL of petrol. You can add that as an option when you search comparison sites.
www.elrefugiohostel.com/elrefugio.html
C/ del Serrillo 1, Cartajima, 29452 Malaga, Spain
+34 952 180 792
If you're looking to escape the touristy centre of Valencia (and the prices that come with it) or want to experience the 'pueblo' feel without having to leave the city, a day trip to Benimaclet would be worth your time. Benimaclet was originally its own village, separated by the river, but became merged into Valencia with the city's expansion. Despite this it has managed to maintain much of the original 'pueblo' feel, something you'd normally have to get out of the city for. The Plaza de Benimaclet is a five minute walk from the tram stop and on the way you'll probably notice many bars displaying 'tercio y tapas 1.50', prices that aren't found in the centre. Many of these bars have live music at night. Once you enter the pueblo part of Benimaclet, it's easy to forget you're in a city owing to many car-less streets lined by idyllic little houses, especially if you stumble across the Plaza de Benimaclet complete with its own church. Once you've worked up an appetite by meandering around the streets, why not pick up a paella or other traditional Valencian cuisine from an asador - the cheapest way (around three euros for a portion big enough for two) to enjoy a home cooked paella. You could enjoy your paella sitting in the Jardines del Real, the main park in Valencia only a couple of hundred metres away.
From here there are three options (not including returning to the city centre). Firstly you could follow the Turia (the old river now converted into a park) down to the City of Arts and Sciences, one of Valencia's landmark features. On the way you'll pass the Palau de la Música and walk under many bridges each with its own feature.
Secondly you could carry on out of the city to Alboraya - the Spanish hometown of horachata, a sweet, milkly, nutty drink. I'd recommend the Horchateria Toni for the best tasting and value horchata in Alboraya.
My final option is take the tram down to the Malvarrosa beach (10 minutes away) and walk along the sea front or relax on the sand in the sun.
After doing all this you'll probably be ready to return to your hostel late in the evening, although Benimaclet is worth the visit, I'd recommend staying in a hostel in the centre for travel convenience.
A tip when travelling around Valencia - beware the road sign names. In the city the road sign names are in Valencian but on many maps they are written in Castillan, they are pretty similar but don't go looking for an exact name if you have the Castillan version.
To reach Benimaclet - from the centre of Valencia take the metro (line 3, 9 minutes) or about 30 minutes on foot from Plaza del Ayuntamiento, crossing the river at Puente del Real and following Carrer de Cavanilles.
The Pueblo part is off to the right of Calle Emilio Baro (facing the direction of Alboraya)
To reach Alboraya - take the metro (Line 3, Rafelbunyol - Aeroport) to Alboraya or walk from Benimaclet (about 1km from the metro stop vía 'Calle Emilio Baro' which becomes 'Avenida de la Horchata')
This website has details of events in Benimaclet:
www.benimacletentra.org/
Google map: bit.ly/1145Enn
DON'T whatever you do decide to walk from the coach station or the train station up into Toledo. From the train station there is an easily found bus stop; from the bus station there isn't. When you get off the bus or the train find the taxi rank asap. Ask the driver for Plaza Zocodover. At the station the rank is directly outside; at the bus station it is up the moving stairs, left though glass door, immediately right and keep straight on to the edge of the building. There are not all that many taxis. I say this because the walk up the hill to the city, especially in summer, is awful and when you get to the top is the time to start exploring. You can always walk back down! Cost of taxi 6€ - well worth it! (2013)
A lively bar in the heart of the Calle Laurel gastro-paradise. Situated just south of the Basque country, Logroño's busiest street of bars offers a unique blend of northern pintxos and traditional tapas, and the selection of brochetas in Taberna de los Correos is not to be missed. Add to that the local Rioja wine at 50 cents a glass, it's easy to see why tourists and locals alike start and end their night here.
http://11870.com/pro/la-taberna-correos
Calle del Laurel Logroño, La Rioja, España
San Pedro is a tiny ancient village with Arab ruins which has been turned into a little enclave of hippie travellers using two clean springs and several solar panels and wind turbines to operate the little cafe, shops and one restaurant. A naturist's choice with a dream of a beach and no pressure to go naturist. Visitors are asked to take their litter and it seems to have worked between 1992 and 2010, the two times I visited.
Go to Las Negras, park the car and walk for 12km west along a rather rocky terrain. Not even an SUV would make it there in one piece, which gives it that special attraction. Decent shoes, hat, shades and sun block are a must.
Google map: bit.ly/11QZMjc
You can either walk or cycle the 300 miles from the French border to Santiago de Compostela by staying in the hostels every 10-15 miles which are mostly free of charge. The trip will mostly only cost you for food and drink. I have spent nearly three months in Spain on the Camino sight seeing, learning more of the language and making life long friends all for around £200 plus travel there to and back either cycling or walking.
All you need do is start your holiday in Pamplona at the Tourist Office and ask for directions and further information from there. It's easy, I've done it six times and I'm in my mid seventies!
Tapas bar near the Arab baths, nestling alongside the river below the Alhambra. Holidaying on a shoestring. A couple of beers accompanied by free mammoth tapas and you won't go hungry. Que aproveche!
Carrera del Darro, 37, Granada
Google map: bit.ly/11R8Ows
After finishing my A-levels, my best friend Lucy and I booked a girls holiday. No, it wasn't to Magaluf or Ibiza. We wanted somewhere that was both cultural, cheap and a good party. After finding flights for a reasonable price, we settled on Barcelona. For around 300 Euros, we stayed in a great hostel just around the corner from La Ramblas, just next to the Metro and within walking distance from all the best night clubs and a short ride to all of the excellent attractions that Barcelona has to offer. We spent a week in the city, beach and parks, managing to find cheap enough places to eat, drink and party. On a budget, we managed to have the best holiday and it's so easy to adapt a trip to Barcelona to your traveling style. There's plenty for families, older couples, friends, everything. I'm definitely planning on taking my parents there in the near future and my own family when I have one. Art galleries, Gaudi, food, anything you're interested in will be in Barcelona and so long as you know where to look, it can be as affordable as you like.
www.hostalcentral.net/
Ronda de la Universitat, 11, 08007 Barcelona, Spain
+34 933 42 24 20
Google map: bit.ly/11aTv05
We pack our tent in the car and go on self-guided trips around Spain’s wine and cider regions. A cheap ferry crossing from Dover and avoiding toll roads cuts costs. Susie Barrie’s wine book gives tips on the best bodegas to visit and most tours/tastings are free but we buy at least one bottle as a thank you. The following towns have campsites so you can eat out or do tastings on foot: Haro in Rioja, Penafiel in Ribera del Duero, Olite, in Navarra and Arriondas in the cider region. Budget but beautiful wines are sold at Inurrieta in Navarra and Albet i Noya in Penedes. The Priorat region is usually pricy but at Celler Cecilio they fill up plastic bottles with a great table wine straight from the tank.
Being married to a teacher means we are obliged to holiday during peak periods. Driving over to France is one way to avoid expensive flight and car hire charges. This summer we’ve booked an outbound ferry and inbound Eurotunnel for less than £100 (no extra charge for carrying bikes on the car). Inspired by the extensive network of Voies Vertes cycle trails, we’ve booked two self-catering gite apartments directly with the owners – the first on the Voie Verte des Hautes-Vosges; the second on the Voie Verte Trans-Ardennes. We’ll take our own bikes and explore the local area for free via the cycling and walking trails. In our experience, French self-catering properties are more competitively-priced than in the UK. The same goes for chambres d’hôtes – we’ve booked a couple of one-night stopovers (44 and 60 euros respectively, including breakfast). Alas, a guarantee of warm, sunny weather appears to be priceless!
For a cheap but very comfortable stay in a relatively unknown part of France, pitch a tent, book a B&B room or rent the fantastic apartment as a group at Forest View Campsite and B&B, in the beautiful Le Parc Naturel Régional du Perche. The campsite has mini-golf, a splash pool and beautiful views over the stunning countryside; Le Perche is home to picturesque medieval towns, bucolic countryside and delicious local cider. A stay in this region, part of Normandy, offers full immersion in rural French life and plentiful, impossible to resist, camembert. Heaven.
www.forestviewfrance.co.uk/index.html
L'Esperence, 61110, Dorceau
+33(0)233837855
Google map: bit.ly/1336RHo
Less well known (and cheaper) than the neighbouring Côte-d'Azur, the Côte Vermeille offers spectacular mountain vistas and a dramatic coastline, along with the highest sunshine record in France. Base yourself in Port Vendres, a more affordable option than nearby Collioure (and without the crowds). Make the most of the plentiful local produce on offer and self cater in the most well-equipped, spotless accommodation we've ever stayed in - 1A Grenache, Rue de la Liberte. Utilise the excellent local bus service (any journey 1 euro) and explore the delights of the local region.
www.homeaway.co.uk/p411669
1A 'Grenache' rue de la Liberte
Forget expensive hotels and gourmet restaurants. You can have a wonderful and inexpensive holiday with delicious meals in the region between the Charente and Vienne rivers, just north of Confolens, enjoying the outdoor opportunities.
First rent a gite, there are many to choose from. Go out of season for better prices, although you need to be between April and September for the best outdoor life. Examples we know of are www.giteswithpool.com/ and tranquillevienne.com/ both with pools, beautiful accommodation, excellent, friendly hosts and reasonable prices.
Of course you don't need a pool, you can swim for free in the many lakes and rivers - my favourite is at La Guerlie in Les Lacs de Haute Charente goo.gl/maps/0wPGj , where there are also lovely walking trails, bird watching, fishing and boating opportunities. The river near Condac goo.gl/maps/qREgU , near Ruffec is also fab and has simple safe play areas for children too.
Next, look for Marché des Producteurs (Producers Markets) usually held in the evening. Tables and benches are laid out for your use, music is provided and you wander around the stalls buying fresh local produce - sausages, meat, fish, cheeses, bread, wine, fruit (especially the melons) and then take your fish/meat etc. to the BBQ to be cooked for you. Maybe buy some frites (chips) and then sit at a table and enjoy. (You will need to take your picnic plates, cutlery and glasses with you.) You can chat to locals and polish up on your French, everyone is very relaxed and friendly. We've been to two recently, at Alloue goo.gl/maps/1FDq5 , and at Nanteuil-en-Vallée goo.gl/maps/oFNKW , and both were brilliant.
Early season and late season you might also find a Chasse (hunt dinner). You usually have to book for the meal, don't be shy, it is usually great value with everything being caught by the chasse and prepared by them and their wives. Some drinks are included too and prices around 20 euros each. Walking back to your gite afterwards is probably a good idea or definitely a 'designated driver' needed.
If you like walking you can often find a Randonneé (a walk/hike) which finishes with the possibility of a répas (meal). Last summer We went to one at Parzac goo.gl/maps/tX4EW , and there was a choice of 5Km or 13Km, cost was 2 euros and we were given a map, a guide (person to lead the group) and a drinks stop half way around. On our return, late afternoon, there was a mini producers market, stalls, répas, bar, old fashion games and singers to enjoy. We stayed long into the evening.
This spring we joined a Multi-Randonneé (walk, cycle, horseback) in Alloue (as above) with choices of 5Km, 11Km, 25Km or 40Km, cost 3 euros with map and snack at the midway point. Then there was a répas afterwards (4 course, aperatifs, wine, brandy and coffee all included) for 14 euros.
I hope you enjoy France as much as I do.
All this walking, I need a new pair of comfortable boots!
This enormous park is my favourite place to relax on a sunny Seville day. It’s a bit of a way from the main attractions – if you’re in a rush then head to the more central María Luisa park. With Alamillo Park’s wide boulevards, lakes and lawns there’s loads of space for cycling, rollerblading or just lazing peacefully with a book. There is also a large bar/restaurant. Families gather there for parties, setting up camp all day with picnics, games and wine flowing freely. There are often fairs and free concerts, and on my first trip I even happened upon a dog show taking place in one corner. The children will love the miniature railway and, if you fancy it, you can even try out cableskiing.
www.parquedelalamillo.org/
Google map: bit.ly/10i7fQG
* Eloise is our Been there local for Seville. You can read her bio here: www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/articles/seville-local-eloise-horsfield.jsp and follow her tips here: www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/travellers/EloiseHorsfield You can also catch her on Twitter at @EloiseHorsfield
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