GRANADA
Accommodation: The Hotel Terrasol is a delightful, well-located and reasonably price (~$30) hotel near the centre run by Victor and Katya (no, not Russian).
Tours: Local tour operators are not a bad way to see the sights, many of which require boats and or long day trips. Tierra Tour seems to be the dominant local player, but I also had a good experience with "Va Pues".
Food: The best meal I had was at Jardin de Orion, but "Imagine" looked to have fantastic food (& great margaritas). I found the recommended "Tercero Ojo" to be very disappointing.
Tuesday 18 November 2008
Friday 14 November 2008
Belize
BELIZE CITY
Transportation: The taxi from the airport to Belize city costs a whopping US$25. You can negotiate this down a little, but be prepared.
The Caye Caulker Water Taxi Association runs a brisk and professional service to Cayes Caulker and Ambergris for ~$8 from the Marine Terminal in Belize City.
If you can avoid it, don't spend more time in Belize City than you absolutely have to.
CAYE CAULKER
Accommodation: Manuel runs the delightful Lena's south of the ferry pier, and has cute self-contained (no A/C) rooms for ~$25/night, right on the beach. For more glamorous digs, the Seaside Villas and the Seaside Cabana's both looked pretty nice.
Food & Nightlife: I had truly exceptional meals at Don Corleone's, and the Jolly Rodger cooked up a great lobster. Femi's is overrated, and I heard Agave has great (but expensive) food. It's hard to go wrong if you go to any place that looks like they cook their seafood fresh. I&I has a good rooftop bar (with nice breeze), and Oceanside is the only place for partying after ~11.30pm.
Transportation: The taxi from the airport to Belize city costs a whopping US$25. You can negotiate this down a little, but be prepared.
The Caye Caulker Water Taxi Association runs a brisk and professional service to Cayes Caulker and Ambergris for ~$8 from the Marine Terminal in Belize City.
If you can avoid it, don't spend more time in Belize City than you absolutely have to.
CAYE CAULKER
Accommodation: Manuel runs the delightful Lena's south of the ferry pier, and has cute self-contained (no A/C) rooms for ~$25/night, right on the beach. For more glamorous digs, the Seaside Villas and the Seaside Cabana's both looked pretty nice.
Food & Nightlife: I had truly exceptional meals at Don Corleone's, and the Jolly Rodger cooked up a great lobster. Femi's is overrated, and I heard Agave has great (but expensive) food. It's hard to go wrong if you go to any place that looks like they cook their seafood fresh. I&I has a good rooftop bar (with nice breeze), and Oceanside is the only place for partying after ~11.30pm.
Thursday 6 November 2008
Guatemala
ANTIGUA
Accommodation: Casa Cristina offers reasonably priced ($20-$30) clean and well-appointed rooms in a good location.
TIKAL
Accommodation: Jungle Lodge provides the most luxurious accommodation within the park, but be prepared to pay over $100/night for a room.
Guides: Antonio at Jungle Lodge is a fantastic guide who has been around the ruins for ever. He's approx. $10/person for a group.
Accommodation: Casa Cristina offers reasonably priced ($20-$30) clean and well-appointed rooms in a good location.
TIKAL
Accommodation: Jungle Lodge provides the most luxurious accommodation within the park, but be prepared to pay over $100/night for a room.
Guides: Antonio at Jungle Lodge is a fantastic guide who has been around the ruins for ever. He's approx. $10/person for a group.
Sunday 21 September 2008
Wales
CARDIFF
Accommodation:
We were happy with the Park Inn in Cardiff City Centre (90GBP), but again, no included wireless.
Nightlife:
Cardiff gets inundated with hen's parties and other debauchery along St Mary's St, wade into this at your own risk, but it is pretty entertaining!
Accommodation:
We were happy with the Park Inn in Cardiff City Centre (90GBP), but again, no included wireless.
Nightlife:
Cardiff gets inundated with hen's parties and other debauchery along St Mary's St, wade into this at your own risk, but it is pretty entertaining!
Friday 19 September 2008
Ireland
BELFAST
Accommodation:
Jury's Inn (69GBP) was another decent hotel with a good location, but no included wireless.
Tours:
We had a fantastic taxi tour of the West Belfast (previous warzone) area with Harpers Taxi Tours (Ken) for 25GBP: 9074-2711.
SLIGO
Accommodation:
Pearse Lodge (70E), was a fantastic B&B near the city centre. High quality accommodation and great service.
Food & Nightlife:
We had our best meal of the trip at Coach Lane, with a fantastic menu and excellent service.
GALWAY
Accommodation:
We had a perfectly adequate stay with a great location and free wireless at the Galway Arms Inn for ~80E.
Food & Nightlife:
We went a few miles out of town for a superb seafood dinner at O'Grady's on the Pier in Barna, which was worth the trip!
DINGLE
Accommodation:
The lovely couple at Kirrary provide a friendly, homey service for about 70E.
Food & Nightlife:
The various bars around the town that double as shoe or bike repair shops, etc, are a blast, and have a great crowd of locals singing and blarneying the night away.
CORK
Accommodation:
The Victoria Hotel (90E) is well-located and reasonably priced in the heart of the city.
Food & Nightlife:
We needed a break from Irish, but Gino's has mean pizza & gelato!
DUBLIN:
Accommodation:
The Maldron Hotel Parnell Square was our favourite hotel of the trip. Business-quality hotel with free wireless for 90E
Food & Nightlife:
We had a fantastic meal at Gruel, and enjoyed the Temple area, although there are certainly trendier places to be found.
Accommodation:
Jury's Inn (69GBP) was another decent hotel with a good location, but no included wireless.
Tours:
We had a fantastic taxi tour of the West Belfast (previous warzone) area with Harpers Taxi Tours (Ken) for 25GBP: 9074-2711.
SLIGO
Accommodation:
Pearse Lodge (70E), was a fantastic B&B near the city centre. High quality accommodation and great service.
Food & Nightlife:
We had our best meal of the trip at Coach Lane, with a fantastic menu and excellent service.
GALWAY
Accommodation:
We had a perfectly adequate stay with a great location and free wireless at the Galway Arms Inn for ~80E.
Food & Nightlife:
We went a few miles out of town for a superb seafood dinner at O'Grady's on the Pier in Barna, which was worth the trip!
DINGLE
Accommodation:
The lovely couple at Kirrary provide a friendly, homey service for about 70E.
Food & Nightlife:
The various bars around the town that double as shoe or bike repair shops, etc, are a blast, and have a great crowd of locals singing and blarneying the night away.
CORK
Accommodation:
The Victoria Hotel (90E) is well-located and reasonably priced in the heart of the city.
Food & Nightlife:
We needed a break from Irish, but Gino's has mean pizza & gelato!
DUBLIN:
Accommodation:
The Maldron Hotel Parnell Square was our favourite hotel of the trip. Business-quality hotel with free wireless for 90E
Food & Nightlife:
We had a fantastic meal at Gruel, and enjoyed the Temple area, although there are certainly trendier places to be found.
Saturday 13 September 2008
England & Scotland
MANCHESTER
Accommodation:
Hotel Britannia (39GBP) provided clean, cheap accommodation with free wireless in the heart of the city.
Food & Nightlife:
Yeah right. All I can say is don't arrive in the city after 9pm and expect to be fed. There's an area called the Printworks that has tons of drunk university students and cheap drinks.
EDINBURGH
Accommodation:
The Ibis (96GBP) had a fantastic location, but really limited amenities.
Food & Nightlife:
We had a fantastic steak dinner at SmokeHouse. Surprisingly, Gordon's Trattoria on the Royal Mile also has great food. Opallounge has a good late-night scene, as does Shanghai.
Accommodation:
Hotel Britannia (39GBP) provided clean, cheap accommodation with free wireless in the heart of the city.
Food & Nightlife:
Yeah right. All I can say is don't arrive in the city after 9pm and expect to be fed. There's an area called the Printworks that has tons of drunk university students and cheap drinks.
EDINBURGH
Accommodation:
The Ibis (96GBP) had a fantastic location, but really limited amenities.
Food & Nightlife:
We had a fantastic steak dinner at SmokeHouse. Surprisingly, Gordon's Trattoria on the Royal Mile also has great food. Opallounge has a good late-night scene, as does Shanghai.
Friday 29 August 2008
Greece
SANTORINI
Accommodation:
We stayed at the Galaxy Suites in Imerovigli, which I can’t recommend enough for a quiet romantic getaway (less so for a party weekend- stay in Fira). Their modern suites are perfect, each with private (well, not completely private) jacuzzi, room 17 is the best.
Food:
For walking distance of Imerovigli, we had great meals at Skyros Taverna (ask for table on lower level), and Blue Note. Kapellino’s has great pizza.
Activities:
Santorini is a perfectly managable size to rent a car, scooter, or 4-wheel bike & just cruise around the island. There are zillions of tavernas, villages, wineries, beaches, and churches to keep anyone occupied. We loved Red Beach for its amazing colour & clear water, and of course Oia is famous for its sunsets. Skoros Winery has a great caldera view.
Accommodation:
We stayed at the Galaxy Suites in Imerovigli, which I can’t recommend enough for a quiet romantic getaway (less so for a party weekend- stay in Fira). Their modern suites are perfect, each with private (well, not completely private) jacuzzi, room 17 is the best.
Food:
For walking distance of Imerovigli, we had great meals at Skyros Taverna (ask for table on lower level), and Blue Note. Kapellino’s has great pizza.
Activities:
Santorini is a perfectly managable size to rent a car, scooter, or 4-wheel bike & just cruise around the island. There are zillions of tavernas, villages, wineries, beaches, and churches to keep anyone occupied. We loved Red Beach for its amazing colour & clear water, and of course Oia is famous for its sunsets. Skoros Winery has a great caldera view.
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