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GP is a new place on the Waikiki Beackwalk which reminds me of the sports bar/deli setups shown in some of the USA TV series. Plenty to eat, drink and lots of large plasma TV screens to watch baseball, basketball, soccer or whatever ESPN is showing. A good place for a quick snack (the pizza is very good). GP serves breakfast, lunch and dinner from early 'til late. Service is good and the waiters chatty.
227 Lewers ST
Waikiki Honolulu
ph 808 923 2100
www.giovannipastrami.com/index2.html
One of the islands which make up the Hawaiian chain is Oahu, home of Honolulu and Waikiki. One of the thing all tourists should do is get a trip around the island, whether clockwise or anti-clockwise. The best way to do this is to hire a car (you can do it by public transport) but with local car hire rates very cheap ($39/day for us) a car is the way to go. Do not try this via scooter though, they are not allowed on the freeways or highways. The advantage of a car is you can stop when and where you like, to take a break, take a picture or grab something to eat. Driving also gives you access to the famous surf beaches on the top side of Oahu.
Oahu, Hawaii
Big Burgers? yes
Big Cheeseburgers? yes
Big bowls of chips? yes
Onion rings? yes
Salads? yes
Never ending glasses of Coke? yes
If you are hungry when you go upstairs to the latest Cheeseburger restaurant in the Hawaiian Islands, you won't be when you leave!
Upstairs in the new Beachwalk area in Lewers St, Waikiki a few steps beachside of the Kalakaua/Lewers Intersection (entry via the escalators)
Phone: 808-924-5034
cheeseburgerland.com/Users/Cheeseburgerland/Home.html
Noisy, crowded, great food, good service, excellent MaiTais and a view to kill for.
located on the beach in the Outrigger Waikiki Beach hotel
Kakakaua Ave
Waikiki Beach
Honolulu Hawaii
This is genius. I camped next to a family last year at Glastonbury who seemed to have bought everything with them but the kitchen sink: portable loo, mini fridge and enough food to feed the entire site. The first thing they did when they arrived was build a family size dining table out of the fire wood. I don't think they ever left their camp, all they seemed to do was eat and drink. When it came to packing up they pulled out their workmans loading trolley, stacked up all their stuff and wrapped the whole lot up in clingfilm, firmly securing it for the long walk back to the car. The only thing they had to carry was their packed lunch for the journey home. Brilliant!
When taking the family to festivals don't forget the fancy dress outfits. I was so glad we took our two girls fairy outfits last year as most young children had some sort of fancy dress. You could buy outfits at the festival but they were expensive!
To fancy dress or not to fancy dress?
Some people just aren't that into fancy dress. As one of those people, I didn't see why I should do it at Bestival. Yes, it's a festival that celebrates one of the largest fancy dress parades in the country, but once a disbeliever in stupid outfits, always a disbeliever.
BIG MISTAKE!
As one of only three people at the whole of the festival sporting normal, casual attire, I can honestly say I've never felt like a bigger idiot, ever. Bestival is a time to supress your dislike for the 'wacky', it's a time to swallow your misplaced pride and adorn something stupid. You'll feel much better for it ...
Robin Hill, near Newport, Isle of Wight
It is a good way to see how a weekend festival will pan out. Great for children of all ages. If the kids hate loud music, big crowds and mud maybe wait a few years.
Bring picnic, water bottles - lots of wet wipes and waterproofs!
For younger children ensure they have your mobile number on their arm, or on a sticker.
When you have children and your portable hotel, it is essential to find the best camping spot on site and the last thing you need is to walk to your car/van a thousand times. Further to this, the barrow doubles up as a push chair for those late night walks around the site with sleepy children or fill it with goodies that you want to sell or what you have bought. The barrow is an esential.
1) Teenagers - to keep them busy and happy they need an earner. Despite your parenting most 14-year-olds are complete capitalists who have no qualms about putting 100% profit onto the cost of a pot noodle.
2) Toddlers - no matter how many clothes you pack for a three-year-old prepare to be rubbing the dried mud off Friday's tights by Saturday evening. A helium balloon of choice (in our family it's usually batman) tied to the back of a toddlers dungarees can help to prevent the panic of a lost child at a busy festival (rope could even be lengthened at larger venues!)
Drum into children that they must not purchase chocolate cake /truffles off anyone, especially if salesperson is barefoot!
Finally remember there is no such thing as a free lunch. Arranging to work at a festival may seem like a shrewd money saving option, however there is nothing more depressing than wearing a stewards waistcoat and being 3 fields away from your friends/family who are probably down the front at the main stage.
Festivals abound these days, but most of them cost lots of mone. This one is free. Held in a beautiful field surrounded by the River Evenlode (great paddling for the kids), some great bands play in an idyllic and completely chilled out setting. This year it is held on Saturday 20 (12-10) - Sunday 21 June (12-8) 2009.
Two minutes from the Charlbury train station - which is north of Oxford on the Paddington-Oxford-Hereford line operated by Great Western. For more information: www.riversidefestival.charlbury.com/Home.html
Good for families, it's a small festival with great loos. Take snacks and drinks for the kids with you so you have more dosh for the yummy pies and thai currys, swedish food etc.
Three days of merryment including the kids but beware of the loos! Take empty milk cartons/washing liquid containers for a private pee in the tent. Windbreaks are great to form a barrier for small children to stop them wandering off.
Frome sommerset
One of the last blue\brown collar communities in Nelson City, Victory Square is a 10 minute walk south of the city centre. The early signs of gentrification are just starting to show with an excellent cafe and sushi bar opening recently and some of the formerly run down colonial period homes being tastefully refurbished. The Square itself is a cricket pitch/ football field and is rumoured to have been location of the first rugby game in NZ. There is also a brand new children's playground.
The popular fish and chip shop serves a good meal for five bucks and the local pub (the Pickled Parrot on the Park) is a great place to meet some of the local characters (don't worry they are friendly!).
An annual Multicultural festival is also held in Victory Square.
A slice of real Kiwi life.
On the way to Bug backpackers, past the industrial wastelands and New World supermarket.
A music festival that is totally eclectic and surprisingly kiddy friendly! One minute you can be dressing up in a dressing-up tent and doing a fashion show, then having a ride on a ferris wheel, then grooving to some funky beats on the main stage, then making wooden spoon puppets with your kids, then watching a wicker statue burn while drumming and chanting round it - and that's all in just one field!
If you have kids, I would recommend this festival. It's fun, vibrant, colourful and pure entertainment. My top tip is to get some of those mini hi-vis vests - in a dayglo neon colour like pink or orange, and write your mobile number on it. This is for your children to wear, so if they wonder off slightly, as they tend to, you can a) spot them and drag them back and b) if you don't see them, someone else will and they can call you to collect! Have Fun!
Eastnor Castle, Ledbury
A short 2.7 km family walk in beautiful Alto Alentejo countryside along ancient pathways with olive groves and cork oak trees.
Starting at the typical Alentejo village of Barretos, along cobbled roads which merge into ancient pathways only wide enough for donkeys and carts. As you look up you will see the dramatic, imposing town and castle of Marvão on the mountain rage of the "Serra de São Mamede". Continue and you will pass through the little sleepy hamlets of Vale do Milho and Fonte Salgueiro de Cima and finally returning to the village of Barretos.
This is a short walk recommended for families where there is an abundance of flora and fauna, from farm animals, including sheep and pigs to the wonderful Alentejo countryside of wild flowers and trees. Plenty to keep the kids occupied.
...walking along Southbank is one of the most beautiful ways to see various sites of London.
Starting from the London Eye, overlooking the Thames, Houses Parliament and Big Ben.
The Royal Festival Hall in particular, is an excellent meeting spot and place to chill... sometimes you get art or music for free in the foyer :) and there's a cafe and bar for refreshments!
There are plenty of tourist-friendly/child-friendly restaurants around here, big chains such as: Waggamama, Strada, Giraffe, also a pretty big "eat" (with great sandwiches, juices etc,.) a bookshop and music shop too... plus a regular book market outside the BFI, in the summer various free events outside, well worth checking out this area and just walking, walking, walking...
This lovely festival returns to Burjassot, just a short metro ride north of the city, for its fifth year. Music, theatre, dance, clowns and jugglers make up more than 30 mostly free performances throughout the ten days. There is also an excellent medieval fair that winds through the plaza Ayuntamiento and up to the Patio. Absolutely not to be missed!
Burjassot is about a ten minute journey on Line One (Yellow) of the Metro from the city centre. You'll find much more information on this and other great events - including restaurant reviews and listings for bars, clubs and restaurants at www.thisisvalencia.com
Cute little hostel, run by the nicest staff. Very conveniently located within walking distance from Santa Tereza’s hottest spots, while very near to downtown Rio. Excellent advice on local day tours, nightlife, and other things to do while in Rio. Just sorry the weather was too chilly to enjoy the terrace, pool and the patios!
Casa Mango Mango, Rua Joaquim Murtinho 587 - Santa Tereza, Rio de Janeiro
These super-stylish self-catering apartments are only five minutes away from the Acropolis, and are spacious enough for families on a budget, groups of friends, or couples who want a bargain alternative to backpacker hostels.
The open-plan studios are styled with funky furniture and modern art on the walls, and fully equipped with a kitchen, free internet, a flatscreen TV, bathrooms, and air conditioning - a welcome respite from the intense summer heat and city smog.
The bedroom and sitting room both have their own balconies, or you can head up to the rooftop bar for a breathtaking view of the Acropolis as the sun sets. The perfect accompaniments are a well-priced cold bottle of beer and Sheesha Pipes in every flavour from Coca-Cola to Vanilla.
There's also a happy hour from 7-8pm every night with half-price cocktails-the Parthenon Passion is a must!
If you want budget accomodation but aren't quite ready to bunk down in a hostel dorm, the Athens Studios allow you to tackle this frenetic city at your own pace.
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