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!
Sunday, 21 September 2008
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.
Saturday, 23 August 2008
St Petersburg
Accommodation:
The Pushka Inn is a great hotel with a fantastic location near the Hermitage. Its singles are around 4,000 RUB in high season.
Food & Nightlife:
Restaurant Restoran (traditional Russian), as is Aquarel (fusion, on a floating location). For bars on the off nights (Sun-Wed), the strip near Church on Spilled Blood (Depeche Mode, Bubble Bar, etc) are usually lively and friendly, but the crowd can be very young.
The Pushka Inn is a great hotel with a fantastic location near the Hermitage. Its singles are around 4,000 RUB in high season.
Food & Nightlife:
Restaurant Restoran (traditional Russian), as is Aquarel (fusion, on a floating location). For bars on the off nights (Sun-Wed), the strip near Church on Spilled Blood (Depeche Mode, Bubble Bar, etc) are usually lively and friendly, but the crowd can be very young.
Thursday, 14 August 2008
Moscow's Golden Ring
Transport:
A car and driver is an extremely good way to explore this region, which may cost around $200/day, inc. car, plus fuel. Else car rental, train, or tours are an option.
Accommodation & Restaurants:
The Hotel Sokol in Suzdal is a clean, new, and extremely well-located place for approx $90/night. The eatery inside the Kremlin has good food, and “Salmon & Coffee” has great ice-cream.
A car and driver is an extremely good way to explore this region, which may cost around $200/day, inc. car, plus fuel. Else car rental, train, or tours are an option.
Accommodation & Restaurants:
The Hotel Sokol in Suzdal is a clean, new, and extremely well-located place for approx $90/night. The eatery inside the Kremlin has good food, and “Salmon & Coffee” has great ice-cream.
Friday, 8 August 2008
Kazakhstan
ALMATY
Nightlife:
Gas/Petroleum have a good party on Wed nights. Da Freak, Crystal, Most, Fashion, Grand Opera are great clubs on weekend.
Nightlife:
Gas/Petroleum have a good party on Wed nights. Da Freak, Crystal, Most, Fashion, Grand Opera are great clubs on weekend.
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