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Nicolas Inn is a b&b near the Roman Forum. We highly recommend staying here because of the excellent location, friendly service and comfortable rooms. It is run by an Italian and American couple that do a superb job of helping their guests enjoy their stay. I will post other recommendations for restaurants that they passed on to us.
Great hostel in Dubrovnik Old Town. Best location on the Pile Bay: 20m from the beach and only 80m from the historical street Placa. They offer both shared and private rooms.
Marco, the owner, also offers luxury apartments in the city center of Dubrovnik.
We had a family apartment for five which was spotlessly clean, secure, with all amenities.
The staff is very helpful and extremely hospitable.
We had the best recommendations for restaurants, things to do and they also helped us with car rental.
We would definitely stay again the next holiday.
Od Tabakarije 19
20000 Dubrovnik
+385 (0) 91 739 75 45
www.hostelsdubrovnik.com
hosteldubrovnik@yahoo.com
You may enter this hostel in Buenos Aires thinking you have just stepped into one of the city’s fancy hotels. Neutral colors, comfy sofas and a fireplace make up the fantastic lounge area and the staff are fantastic. Located in downtown Buenos Aires, close to popular bars, eateries and attractions, this hostel offers a clean, safe environment in which to stay. With a range of spacious dorms, sharing between 4 and 6 people, the modest prices also include free breakfast, towels and bed linen, while other fantastic facilities include Wi-Fi internet, kitchen and currency exchange.
This service allows curious travelers to be paired up with local residents who want to share the hidden attractions and treasures within Buenos Aires. Each tour can be catered towards your particular interests, perhaps museums, coffee shops or arts performances, and the tours are available in a number of languages. This is a brilliant way of getting to know the capital through the eyes of someone who lives and breathes the city, cannot recommend it enough.
This cool district is located by Buenos Aires’ waterfront, once a busy port in the early part of the century. A major regeneration project has now transformed the area into luxurious homes, apartments, office blocks and hotels. The port has a selection of stunning residential high-rises and office blocks that look amazing at night when lit up, and makes for a perfect evening of strolling should you find yourself close to the docks.
Just came back home after staying in one of Praha Expert's holiday apartments. Everything was exactly as promised, the airport transfer was on time and the driver very friendly. I even got help directly from the owner of the company, when I wasn't able to make "my" washing machine work - which was because I had made a mistake. Everything with a smile
www.praha-expert.eu
tel.: +420 776 819 223 (Czech)
US phone: +1 866 781 7022
UK phone: +44 0870 4953677
Young, trendy, euro-trash Irish style pub (although they seem to display a flag for every nationality). Large screens show French and international football during the day with a chilled atmosphere and after-dark funky DJs host what may be the only indie night in Paris. Certainly the cheapest - it's free and runs 'til 5am! Drink prices are student-friendly, and what's more, they play regular host to 'after-shows' for the likes of Bloc Party, Interpol and other massive bands.
12 Rue Feydeau. Nearest Metro is Bourse (line 3)
Tucked away on a narrow street just yards from the Ramblas and Placa Reial, Cullertes is not only one of Barcelona's finest restaurants, but one of its most historic, and best value. Its traditional Catalan interior of dark wood features is entirely authentic - Cullertes is over 200 years old, and remains atmospheric. The food is traditional catalonian fare, with a strong emphasis on game, pork and seafood, and despite what you might expect for the quality and location, the prices are extremely reasonable. The food is, it goes without saying, delicious. But it does get very busy and only has limited evening opening hours so booking is advisable at weekends and in summer.
www.culleretes.com/
Calle d'en quitana, 5, 08002 Barcelona, Spain
+34 933 176 485
Google map: bit.ly/nUXRzs
For the first time ever, my husband and two kids decided to try a self-catering apartment recently on a trip to Barcelona. I was worried it wouldn't seem like a holiday if we were having to shop and do the washing up etc. However it was excellent, and with two small young children it was easier than being in a hotel. With our own space we were far more relaxed and we saved a fortune on our food bills.
The apartment was gorgeous too!
The company we booked through were very helpful and ensured everything went without a hitch. Will be going self-catering again in the future.
Barcelona, Spain
www.friendlyrentals.com/en/apartments/barcelona/apartment-775-1.htm
Last week I've been in Rome for 1 week with my family and I've booked with a last minute deal a large apartment near Spanish Steps . The price was very convenient and the apartment was wery appointed and equpped . If you are going in Rome this season I suggest you to don't miss the Giulio Cesare exhbition at Chiostro del Bramante www.chiostrodelbramante.it
Via della Vite 32 , www.romesweethome.it , +390669924833
Justly, one of the world's most popular tourist destinations, with its endlessly rich heritage of art, architecture and archaeology, not to mention fantastic food and wine, Rome is a city that everyone wants to visit. It has a massive range of accommodation for all pockets, and if you're on a tight budget, you could do far worse than the Hostel des Artistes.
Less than a 10-minute walk from the city centre's main arrival point, the Termini station, Hostel des Artistes is located in an old apartment building on a quiet backstreet. It isn't luxury, but it is extremely cheap, and for your money you get security, good standards of cleanliness, impressively large bathrooms, and a lovely roof terrace.
It may not be in the Centro Storico but its transport connections are fantastic - you can get to almost anywhere in the Eternal city easily by bus or metro from the nearby Termini. There are also a handful of cheap eateries and minimarkets nearby for bargain breakfasts, pastries, or to make a packed lunch.
Hostel Des Artistes, Via Villafranca 20, 00185 Rome, Italy.
Metro: Castro Pretorio is right around the corner, or Termini is less than ten minutes walk. From the Termini, buses connect to the heart of the city, and trains to the airport and the rest of the country.
Alongside all the usual high street culprits, Leeds' compact city centre has a fantastic range of independent boutiques that really set it apart from many other shopping destinations. While long-time bastion of alternative and independent retailing, the Corn Exchange, is now being transformed into a luxury food emporium (there are a clutch of tempting little foodie stores in the intimate basement level), the surrounding streets of the Exchange Quarter are thriving. Blue Rinse, on Call Lane, is an old stalwart of Leeds retail and continues to be one of the best, and most reasonably priced vintage shops in the area. Newcomer Best Vintage, round the corner on New Market St really does what it says on the packet, with high quality and interesting pieces. Next door is fantastic organic minimarket Out of this World, and one of England's four fabulous Pop Boutiques selling bargain priced retro-style fashions (both new and vintage) is diagonally opposite on Central Road. Along Duncan St-Boar Lane from the Corn Exchange are several independent stores including ever popular streetwear shop Ace and poster/wall art mecca Off the Wall, amongst others. While down Lower Briggate is one of the city's biggest vintage emporia, Ryan Vintage, crammed to the ceilings with one-off finds.
Further up Briggate, opposite the opulence of the Victoria Quarter, are Queen's and Thornton's Arcades. They might not be as spectacular as their designer-filled counterparts across the street, but are still lovely examples of Victorian architecture offering rain-free environments in which to explore a wealth of mainly independent shops (and several high-end hair salons). Accent, award-winning White Label Clothing, Sugar Lump and No15 Boutique are amongst the many treasures to be had here. A personal favourite - though not really a shop - is Pickle & Potter, a delicatessen and café that not only offers a huge and mouth-watering selection of sandwich fillings but is home to what many - myself included - hold to be not only Leeds' but the world's best chocolate brownies.
If you tire of the hustle and bustle of the city centre but aren't quite done scouring the indie boutiques, a twenty minute walk (or 5-10 minute bus) journey away up Woodhouse Lane is Hyde Park Corner. Here you will find a small but brilliant clutch of stores and eateries, including vintage couture and evening wear at the Final Curtain, and best of all, the temple of vintage and antique treasures that is Retro Boutique. Two floors of clothes, jewellery, furniture, antiques and anything else you can imagine, immaculately laid out so that it ressembles something between a home you wish was yours and Aladdin's Cave, Retro Boutique is perhaps the zenith of Leeds' independent shopping experience, yet somehow is never as crowded as you might imagine.
All over Leeds city centre, particularly around the Corn Exchange (Call Lane) and Queen's and Thornton's Arcades, between Briggate and Lands Lane; Hyde Park Corner is at Woodhouse Lane/Headingley Lane, a mile and a half north-west of the city centre. Bus no1, 28, 95, 96, 97.
The best hostel I have EVER stayed in anywhere (and I've been around...)
Amazing in every way possible; really cozy, clean and comfortable hostel in a beautiful listed building on the doorstep to everything and the staff are so friendly and welcoming and really want to help you explore and enjoy a city that they love.
If you're a single traveller or small group who really wants to have a great time in Budapest (day and night) then this is the place for you.
Here we are, stuck in Hendaye because of a storm and this sweet little hotel has come to our rescue. Wonderful people, comfortable rooms and Hendaye is a really sweet little place. Rooms are 50, 60, and 75 euros for one, two, and three people respectively. We are super lucky to have found this place and would definitely recommend it for a longer visit.
Hotel de la Gare
1, Rue Déportes
64700 Hendaye
05 59 20 81 90
The Art Academy B&B in Dorsoduro, Venice is a truly wonderful little gem. Tucked away by the side of the Accademia bridge you couldn't wish for a nicer to stay whilst exploring the marvels of Venice. The hosts Barbara and Mara were friendly and welcoming - despite our delayed 1 am appearance due to fog and an un-expected route via Trieste!
The rooms are immaculately clean and bright and spacious with simple furnishings. Some rooms have views of the Grand Canal..... the thrill of opening the shutters in the morning and seeing it all before you cannot be beaten.Rooms are available with en-suite or shared bathrooms, we opted for the latter and it was all perfectly fine.No queues or drama, perfectly nice bathroom with all the usual facilities. A lovely Italian breakfast is served in a room with views of the Grand Canal - so not much talking over breakfast but plenty of gawping!
Trust me, I have been to Venice before and places to stay that are as good as this, as centrally located and with such friendly & helpful hosts can be counted on the fingers of one hand. If flashy and fancy is your thing, then this isn't for you, but if you want to see and experience the friendlier side of Venice then do go and stay! Tell them Emma sent you!
In desperate need of a break from the credit crunch doom and winter gloom and conscious of our pledge to pull in our purse strings, with a little organizing and shrewd spending we had a fabulous time in Le Marche, Italy.
We saved loads by booking a weekday flight with Ryan Air to Ancona and heading into the beautiful province of Macerata, just outside the beautiful Sibillini National Park.
To keep costs down we stayed at some excellent self catering apartments that cost under £20pp a night, and shopped locally for food. Prices for some items in the supermarkets are no cheaper than the UK, but if you shop ‘Italian’; wine, parmesan, mascarpone and bread, you get good value and good quality. The weekly markets in most towns are full of fresh, seasonal produce for creating a fantastic meal. If you want cheaper wine, buy it direct from the local cantinas. We found one in Tolentino called Il Pollenza where we bought some lovely Rosso Piceno for €1.40 per litre.
We like to go walking, and this place was ideal for short walks around town or longer, more challenging hiking in the mountains. The owners of the villa where we were staying had walking itineraries and maps we could use. We stayed in the lower snow free foothills as higher up the local ski resort was in full swing, and although we didn’t ski, at our holiday villa they had a few skis and a sledge available for guests.
One thing we did cotton on to was the fabulous bar snacks that are free if you turn up to the bar just before midday and have a small glass of Verdicchio or an aperitivo with the locals. If you drink what the locals are drinking you can save on your bar bill (beers in Italy are not cheap).
We did splash out a couple of nights on dinner. There were plenty of local places to choose from. We had the best pizza ever for €5 and another night we went to a great osteria "Scherzi parte" that served up regional Marche dishes. As we had had our free ‘starter’ at the bar before hand we skipped antipasti and had a two plates of pasta between us, which was just right, and then tucked in to the tasty grilled meats and salad. We drank the house wine at €5 per litre and finished off with a light, creamy, home made pannacotta. The bill was just over €60 for four.
www.villasanraffaello.com
Ancona airport
Edinburgh can be an expensive place to stay, but there are some budget options available. Rooms-in-Edinburgh have over a dozen hostels that have beds from £12 a night. There are also several budget hotels which have great city centre locations and are only £50 a room.
Away from the tourist-orientated boutiques of the Barri Gotic, the high street stores around Placa de Catalunya and the high-end designers of l'Eixample is Barcelona's coolest district: the Raval. The district's charming mix of historic architectural styles in varying degrees of dilapidation and lower rents than most of central Barcelona have attracted young and up-and-coming artists and designers; they and their fashionable friends have transformed the Raval into the sunny, Catalan equivalent of Shoreditch. Like Shoreditch, the northern parts of Raval, close to the sleek modern art gallery, have been intensely regenerated and now draw the tourist crowds to what was once the 'wrong' side of the Ramblas. The southern reaches of the neighbourhood are still definitely on the seedy and even dangerous side, but somewhere in the middle is a genuinely cool and intriguing maze of streets peppered with achingly-hip bars, little galleries and a clutch of fantastic, independently-owned shops. The zenith of this is Carrer de Riera Baixa, a colourful street that might just be the best place to shop in Barcelona right now. It is neither pricey nor generic, and the mix of vintage and cutting-edge and unique new clothing boutiques makes it an irresistible stop for the cool young things of the city. Join them before the rest of the world finds out and the independent stores are forced elsewhere.
Carrer de Riera Baixa, El Raval, Barcelona. Less than ten minutes walk from Liceu metro on the Ramblas.
If you're looking for gifts or souvenirs which are uniquely spanish but not tacky or generic you must visit El Arco Artesano on the Plaza Mayor. A whole range of prices and everything beautiful, handmade and local. I got myself a gift of some earrings and a beautiful scarf; a perfect reminder of this place with out having to have "Spain" or "toro" written all over it. Lots of accessories, homewares, decorative items etc. Fantastic.
El Arco Artesano
Plaza Mayor 9 (in the corner tucked in beside Ben and Jerry's icecream)
Madrid isn't necessarily the cheapest city in the world in which to eat out, and if you're on a budget, and fancy hitting the town too but don't know how you can afford to do both, this is the answer: do as the Spanish do and drink and snack all evening in the multitudes of Tapas Bars throughout the city. Placa Santa Ana is one of the liveliest and most celebrated places in which to do this, though prices can be higher than in more up and coming districts such as Chueca or Lavapies - though both these areas have a wide range of trendy places serving quality food and drinks. Avoid the Placa Mayor and its immediate environs as you pay vastly inflated prices which don't equate to value for money. If you're not sure which bar to choose, just check out the menus and prices, ask one of the (usually friendly and helpful) locals or as a rule of thumb head for somewhere that looks busy. Not only are you eating and drinking for far less than a restaurant or cocktail bar, you are getting a real taste of what Madrid life is all about. Enjoy!
Across central Madrid
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