London has been getting a lot of attention lately thanks to the Olympics and the Queen’s Jubilee. After the tragedy and the chaos of the riots it has found its way back into world news in good light and it’s likely that tourism will boom as a result.

But when the tourists flock to London in their droves they are likely to visit mostly the same places – the sights and streets of London that everyone knows about, the brand cafes and restaurants, and maybe spend some time on one of the tour busses. That’s all fine and well, but it’s not quite getting the most out of the trip – not when the most exciting and unusual things that London has to offer aren’t quite so out in the spotlight. Here are some tips and some things to seek out if you want more than just the average night in London and if you want to avoid the pitfalls that most tourists make…

How to Do a Night Out in London

First of all if you want a great London experience then you should aim to go out early – around 6pm. The reason for this is that firstly you will be able to get happy hour prices everywhere, of course saving yourself a lot of money. At the same time though this also means you can see all the socialites and bankers drinking after work on a Friday, and it means that you can get an earlier night back – possibly even on the tube saving yourself a lot of money (and you’ll be fresher the next day for sight-seeing).

The Most Exciting London Nightlife

Here are just a few things worth doing in London that aren’t in all the travel guides…

A Room for London: This is an amazing one-room hotel – that’s right one room – that is in the shape of a boat and perches around London. 2012 is sold out, but keep an eye out for 2013 because it’s only £100 and it’s a completely unique opportunity that is highly romantic to boot. You can only stay one night, so it’s an ideal way to round off your trip.

Adventure Bar: Adventure bar is a great little bar in Covent Garden that has an amazing atmosphere. It’s under ground – literally – which right away makes it a bit more exciting, but it’s the staff who really make it; regularly setting fire to things and taking their tops off and generally turning it into an unforgettable night.

Foundation Bar: Foundation bar is within walking distance of Adventure Bar and offers a different type of night out – a chilled evening in an incredibly stylish bar (complete with very exciting booths and a saxophonist on the dance floor) drinking some of the most unique cocktails you’ll ever find.

Medieval Feast: This is a brilliant place to come and drink and eat while being entertained. It’s a Medieval theme as you can imagine, and they really pull out all the stops. When you want another drink just bash your glass on the table and shout ‘whench’!

Dans Le Noir: Dans Le Noir is a completely unique concept in dining, inviting you to eat in complete darkness served by an entirely blind staff. The idea is that the darkness heightens your other senses and particularly your taste and smell. But if nothing else it’s a completely unique way to spend the evening in London!

 

Posted under Europe, Travel

Europe is a highly popular holiday/travel destination and somewhere that offers a range of diverse cultures, climates and scenery. However the very diverse nature of Europe is also what ensures that there are also some bad spots to travel. Over such a great expanse of land, not every destination can be a winner, and while these places will of course offer something too, they aren’t the best places to stay and might leave you coming away feeling dissatisfied, a bit anxious or out of pocket. Here are some of the least popular places to go in London according to the denizens of the web.

Geneva: Looking around forums to see which areas in Europe get the worst reviews, Geneva seems to pop up fairly often. The complaint seems to be that despite being a very expensive city, it doesn’t have much to do and has its share of prostitutes and beggars.

Sunny Beach: Sunny beach in Bulgaria is a cheap holiday destination and if you’re going there to drink and know what to expect then it’s fine. However it’s also still very much being developed and most of the area is filled with nothing but half-built hotels (those mountains that beckon in the distance – not so fun up close). Many of the clubs are half empty and speaking of prostitutes here you will literally have to bat them off with a stick.

Dublin: Dublin is hailed as a great city full of history and Irish charm. However it’s also very expensive and one of the more costly places in all of Europe for a tourist in fact. At the same time the drinking can get a little rough if you’re there with young children. There is also quite a lot of unrest in the area which can come across during your stay there (many of these same arguments apply to Greece, especially at the moment , but at least Greece has a nice climate and great food).

Moscow: Moscow is surprisingly expensive and is well known for being rather hostile in terms of its weather and in terms of its attitude to tourists. It’s a rather bleak place and while there is beauty to be found, you’ll have to spend some time looking. That said it’s undoubtedly a fascinating place – just don’t expect Disney Land…

Portsmouth: Portsmouth in England is starting to promote itself as a tourism destination, but don’t be fooled. While the docks are actually quite nice and there’s a good nightlife to be found, it’s also incredibly industrial, very run down and grossly overpopulated everywhere else.

Bratislava: Another area that gets reports of having little to do on forums. It’s also where they filmed ‘The Hostel’ and you’ve got to think there was some reason for the choice of destination…

The Outskirts: Every major city has areas where it’s best not for tourists to head and if you go there this can often be quite rough and run down. If you are going to any major city – be it Rome, London, Paris or Athens – make sure that you do your research and that you stay somewhere central that caters for tourists and that does the city justice.

Of course though this is all a matter of opinion, and every village and town in the world has something to offer if you know where to look. Really a visit anywhere is what you make of it, so don’t judge any book by its cover…

Posted under Europe, Travel

Travel in Europe is highly popular and the continent is a fantastic place for anyone to visit who’s looking to see a range of different cultures, climates and scenery. As there are so many different and diverse countries all on one land mass, it makes the perfect place to go backpacking or to explore by train.

So if you’re among those who are planning to travel to Europe, how do you know what to take with you and how do you prepare? Here we will look at the things to pack for European travel.

 

Phrase Book: A phrase book is one of the top things to pack for European travel, and can help you to get by when it comes to ordering a drink, asking for directions or just saying thank you. Making an effort to speak the local dialect will make a big difference to how the locals treat you, and there are many things it can be useful to know how to communicate.

 

A Mix of Clothing: Europe has a wide mix of climates and while you can relax on the beach in the sun in Spain, you’ll be cold in Poland and probably wet in England. Single countries too can have a variety of weather and you can find it dry and warm one day and then cold and wet the next. Make sure then that you take a wide variety of clothes to suit any eventuality. Sun lotion is also a good idea to prevent burning.

 

A Smart Phone: These days a smart phone is one of the smartest things to take when traveling anywhere (hence the name?). They are particularly great things to take for European travel as they’ll let you make calls, use apps like translators, currency converters and local area guides; and perhaps most importantly use GPS for finding out where you are and how to get to your destination. Make sure to look into your data roaming to make sure that it doesn’t cost you the Earth. Looking up details online is also highly useful.

 

Maps: Even if you have a SmartPhone with Google-Maps, good old fashioned maps are also still a good idea. This is important in case your phone should become lost or you should lose your internet connection.

 

A Good Bag: Some bags are better than others as things to pack for European travel. Some areas of Europe can be prone to pick-pockets and you can risk having your wallet stolen unless you have precautions. A bag with an inside pocket that zips up is a good idea, as is a bag with multiple straps which makes it harder for someone to slit them and run off with your possessions. In terms of practicality a padded bag that can be used as a rucksack is useful.

 

If you are coming from United States of America you also need to bring the most important thing ever: electrical plug adaptor. Keep in mind that all electrical plugs are different in Europe and European electricity runs at 220 volts instead of 110 volts American.

 

Travel safe !

Posted under Europe, Travel

Europe is filled with interesting and exciting places to visit and many of these could make a great holiday. Among these European destinations however, there are some top favorites and Rome in Europe is certainly one of them, filled as it is with history and famous landmarks.
If you decide to visit Rome in Europe then you will likely be interested in seeing some of said landmarks and these are likely to include the coliseum, the Roman forum, the Vatican city and many more. These are all very worth seeing and it is highly recommended that you do tick most of them off if you do go to visit. Some tips are to try and visit some of the sites in one go – such as the Trevi fountain and some of the famous plazas. Get a map and plot a route that allows you to walk through the city visiting several in one go – many of the sites such as the Pantheon do not need more than a few hours to enjoy and will be very near to some of the other landmarks. A great experience that many people miss in Rome in Europe is to visit the Vatican museum at night – this is a fascinating museum anyway, but at night it has a romantic glow about it as does St Peter’s square which has a very different aura when it’s less busy.
But there is much more to do in Rome in Europe other than just historical sites. The simple fact that you’re in Italy means that there is plenty of great food to try as well as good shopping and warm weather. Just exploring Rome in Europe and heading into small restaurants and looking at the shops and architecture is enough to have a great day out. When exploring the area though make sure to use the Metro system which is a cheap and very useful underground service that can drop you right by all of the best locations. While exploring make sure also to visit the Ice Club de Roma which is a club that is made entirely of ice – all the way down to the glasses.
Other tips are of course to take plenty of Euros (the currency of Rome in Europe) and to remember that you are visiting a busy capital city where you will encounter queues and jams and where you will sometimes encounter frustrated commuters. The crowdedness though is only a symptom of what a great place to visit Rome in Europe is, so if you prepare well you are sure to have an amazing time.

Posted under Europe, Travel

Europe offers many different cultures, sites and environments to look around and explore when you go on holiday, and not all of these are completely foreign. Just like the US for instance, Europe has plenty of zoos to offer and if you’re a fan of animals then these can make for a great day out that all the family can enjoy. Here we will look at some of the top zoos for you to look around and explore. If you’re nearby and on holiday, then be sure to drop in and look at the wildlife.

Berlin Zoo:

Berlin is one of the top European zoos and one of the top tourist destinations in Berlin itself. This is the oldest German zoo, and also one of the world’s very largest. Here you’ll be able to look around at 15,000 animals – an impressive selection by any standards.

Zoo De La Palmyra:

Created in 1966 this is one of the most highly recommended zoos in Europe. This is also one of the top European zoos thanks to its commitment to introducing the animals back into their natural habitats. The animals are also interactive and you can even feed the Giraffe.

Barcelona Zoo:

Another of the top European zoos that offers activities and interaction with the animals. Among other things you can enjoy dolphin shows, picnic areas, pony rides and more.

Longleat Zoo:

Longleat in England is more safari than zoo, which makes it a different entry on our list of top European zoos. This one lets you drive through enclosures of lions and wolves, and lets you get out to feed reindeer and other animals. It also has rides and activities, a maze and more making for a great day out. It’s worth visiting too as it’s located right by stone henge which is another point of interest for tourists coming to Europe.

Prague Zoo:

Prague zoo is another top European zoos and a well known entry. With a vast selection of animals of course, as well as various shows and events and children’s zone (containing a children’s Zoo filled with safe animals for kids to play with and feed), there’s plenty to do for a whole day. At the same time this is one of the top European zoos because it offers more than just animals – also letting you see a selection of exciting fauna in the ‘Indonesian Jungle’ and ‘Monkey Island’ pavilions.

Posted under Europe, Travel

The Statue of Liberty is one of the most iconic images in the world, and one that is completely synonymous with America… which is why it’s strange for many to learn that there is a second Statue of Liberty in France. In fact there are several more statues of liberty in France, and the Statue of Liberty herself in the US is actually called the ‘Liberty Enlightening the World’ or ‘La Liberté Éclairant le Monde’. The statue was given to the US as a gift from the French people and was designed by a French man named Frédéric Bartholdi – so it’s no wonder that they would have a second Statue of Liberty for themselves… or several (interestingly the statue is also of the Roman Goddess of Freedom – Libertas – so it is actually quite multicultural in origin).

In fact, what might be truly surprising for many to learn is that the second Statue of Liberty is not technically a European statue at all – but rather the American statue in New York Harbor. That’s right – the first Statue of Liberty was actually in The Luxembourg Gardens in Paris meaning that in a way the more famous New York statue is the second Statue of Liberty.

The statue in the Luxembourg Garden, or the Jardin du Luxembourg as it is known there, is a far smaller statue that was used by Bartholdi as preparatory work for the larger scale New York statue (as reads a bronze plaque on the statue). It was given to the Luxembourg museum in 1900, and later moved to the beautiful and serene park in 1906, A stroll through these gardens is a great way to spend a day in Paris and this European Statue of Liberty is one of several attractive statues to be seen there.

A second Statue of Liberty located in Paris is by Grenelle Bridge on the Île Aux Cygnes – an island in the Seine. This Statue of Liberty is 11.50 meters high and  and looks Southwest down the river. This statue reads two dates – ‘IV JUILLET 1776′ (the United States Declaration of Independence) and ‘XIV JUILLET 1789′ (the storming of the Bastille).

While these two statues and the ‘main’ Statue of Liberty are considered the only ‘true’ Statues of Liberty, there are many other replicas and aspects that can stake a claim to being the ‘Second Statue of Liberty’. These include the original plaster that Bartholdi used to make the New York Statue, which is now visible at the Musée des Arts et Métiers, Paris; a full sized torch called the Flame of Liberty at the entrance to the Pont de l’Alma; and others outside of France such as the 35 meter copy at the Heidepark Soltau theme park in Germany, the small replica in Visnes in Norway where the copper for the New York statue was mined, the sitting Statue of Liberty in the Ukrainian City Lviv and a 17 foot tall replica on top of the ‘Liberty Shoe Factory’ in Leicester in England.

Posted under Europe, Travel