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We at The City love our urban home, but everyone needs an escape from time to time. Louise Carroll explores some of the best activities on offer in nearby Wicklow.
Despite being one of the most beautiful countries in the world, the Philippines is only recently starting to attract tourists. If you are one of the soon to be visitors to this Asian paradise, read on to get tips and guidance on your route, travel options and the top activities to do while you are there.
Manila
Manila, the capital, is the easiest place to fly into internationally. One or two days is more than enough time to spend here if you are short on time. Although it does not boast the picturesque scenes you will find on the islands, the shopping is fantastic.
The Philippines has four of the ten biggest shopping centres in the world, with the third and fourth biggest located in Manila. If you are interested in getting really good designer fakes, Greenhills Shopping Centre is the place to go. Those good at haggling will get some great bargains here.
Boracay
After a couple of days in Manila I would suggest flying into Boracay. If you fly into Kalibo, the flight will be extremely cheap but you will have to drive a couple of hours to get to Boracay. Ariel’s Point tour is a must when you are here.
(Source: Kieva McLaughlin)
You will spend the day making friends, snorkelling, cliff jumping, and kayaking, with all you can eat food and all you can handle drink.
If you aren’t on a budget I would recommend staying in Azalea Hotels and Residences Boracay. The hotel’s rooms and facilities are impeccable and the staff are very accommodating and friendly. The food in the Philippines is not the best as a whole, but Boracay has a lot of beach restaurants and Spiderhouse’s view is amazing if you go at sunset. The nightlife in Boracay is very lively, so if you are into beach bars and cocktails, this is the place to go.
Cebu
I flew into Cebu from Kalibo, again the flight is very cheap so is definitely worth it. The three places I would aim to go in Cebu are; Moalboal, Bohol, and Oslob. Moalboal is very quiet at night but the day time is all about scuba diving and snorkeling, if you are into that it is definitely not one to miss, with some of the best dive sites in the whole country. While you are there I would recommend taking a trip to Kawasan Falls, it’s a little hike to a waterfall in a small rainforest.
(Source: Kieva McLaughlin)
Oslob is good for one thing – swimming with the whale sharks. This was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had and I would strongly recommend doing it. Drive down from Moalboal the night before and get up really early to be there for the whale sharks early feeding. I would recommend staying in Casa Solmar Oslob, there’s not much accommodation nearby but the owners are some of the nicest people you will ever meet. They will organise everything for you including a boat to Bohol the next morning because there are no commercial ferries.
Bohol is where a lot of the activities are situated. You can rent a car with a driver for the day who will bring you around to all the best activities. I would suggest ATVing around the chocolate hills, zip-lining, visiting the tarsier monkeys, and lunch on the Loboc river.
El Nido
The last place I visited was El Nido. Again, I flew straight to El Nido but this can be a quite expensive trip. Alternatively you can get a cheaper flight into Puerto Princesa, and get a six hour bus up to El Nido.
(Source: Kieva McLaughlin)
There are four tours in El Nido- A, B, C, and D. I would recommend doing tours A and C, you spend the day snorkelling and kayaking in loads of amazing islands, beaches, and lagoons.
Dining in El Nido is a bit better than elsewhere in the Philippines, including an amazing Italian restaurant called Altrove that does homemade pasta and pizza. Artcafe is also worth a try.
All of the beaches in El Nido are amazing but I would strongly suggest visiting Nacpan and Calitang Beach if you have time.
Coron
I did not visit here myself but if you have time left over after El Nido you can always take a boat up to Coron for a few days. It has some of the best wreck diving in the world.
Milan is Italy’s second most populated city and is the main industrial, commercial and financial centre of the country. The city is also a major world fashion and design centre, with the likes of Prada, Gucci and Louis Vuitton popping up on every corner.
But this city has so much more to offer than designer boutiques and TheCity is here to help you explore it.
One of the main landmarks is the Duomo di Milano or Milan Cathedral, the fifth largest Cathedral in the world (which seats forty thousand people). This church has been written about by Mark Twain and was actually where denim was invented. They used denim because their clothes constantly ripped on the rocks and denim was tough. Years later Levi Strauss came to Milan and bought the material to use in everyday fashion. That is why Milan has an absurd number of Levi Strauss stores. One of the best things to do is climb to the top, via stairs or elevator and take in Milan’s splendid views.
The Galleria is located right beside the Duomo and is one of the oldest shopping malls in the world, dating back to 1861. Unless you are packing serious cash you can expect to do a lot of window shopping as this is the home of Dolce and Gabbana, Valentino, Roberto Cavalli and Versace, to name but a few . You will normally see a crowd of people in the middle taking turns doing something –they are spinning on the bull’s balls for good luck. G’wan, give it a go!
Next stop, right near the Galleria is Luini (Via Santa Radegonda,16 20121 Milano), which sells panzerotti, a typical stuffed savory pastry from Puglia, brought to Milan by Giuseppina Luini in 1949. It is dough with fresh ingredients inside of it, so soft and good. It’s super cheap as well and you can make an amazing meal out of it. The line will look big but it moves quickly and is beyond worth it.
Right across the road from Luini is Cicciolatitaliani, the best gelato shop in Milan. Not cheap but so unbelievably worth it. Tip: grab a ticket to stand in line at Cicciolatitaliani before you go to Luini if the line is super long, you could be waiting up to a half an hour for your Gelato.
From there head east a few blocks (a compass may be useful at this stage) to the Rectangle of Gold. You won’t be buying anything there because it is so outrageously expensive, a shirt would set you back a mere €40,000. However, it is a really cool place to window shop.
Check out Castello Szforcesco, the home of the former Milanese Royal family. The castle has a ton of museums but if you are tight on time, you don’t need to go see them. One of them houses The Rondanini Pietà, the last sculpture Michelangelo was working on when he died.
When you walk through the Castle you end up in Parco Sempione. Don’t go after the sun sets because it can be super sketchy, but during the day it’s beautiful. Grab a cheap bottle of wine and some cheese or meat and hang out there for a little bit.
If you’re looking for the best coffee in Northern Italy, there is a street called Via Dante, which is basically packed with amazing cafés. A little tip for you is, it’s cheaper to drink your coffee when standing. One cannot visit Milan without ordering at least one shakerato – it’s Italian iced coffee and will blow your mind. Try Caffé Milano (via Dante 13/15) they do a great shakerato.
A trip to Milan is also not complete without visiting the canals. Not many people know of their existence but they were built in order to transport stone to Milan from other parts of Italy and Europe to build the Duomo. A great place to head to is Piazza Ventiquattro Maggio, it’s where several of them meet and there are great restaurants along them with seating outside, we really liked the young hip vibe you get from this less touristy part of the city.
Here around 6-9 PM you can find aperitivo which is a very Milanese tradition and I strongly suggest you do it. You buy an overpriced drink (7-10€), then you get to eat unlimited food from the buffet. My favourite place is called Spritz and is a two minute walk from the Piazza.
For night life, you can head to Colonne where everyone will be drinking outside listening to music and just having a good time. Lots of students and lots of fun. It’s also very close to the Piazza. If you wanting to go clubbing in Milan, it usually depends on the night. The clubbing scene changes based on the month, so ask your hostel or hotel for more information.
With respect to eating dinner out, anywhere that is five blocks away from a tourist trap and doesn’t have an English menu is likely to be more authentic and usually much cheaper as well.
Finally, Milan is also the home to one of the most famous paintings in the world. Da Vinci’s The Last Supper is located in the refectory of the Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie, and is incredible to see, however, you must book tickets well in advance, especially during the summer months.
So there you have it folks, now go forth and eat pizza and pasta to your hearts content… Caoi!
Cheap food, fine wines, boutique hostels – Lisbon has it all. For budget holidaymakers, it doesn’t get much better than this.
Located only 30 minutes from the beach town of Cascais, Lisbon is a great destination if you’re after a short, cultural city break and want to get your share of beach time as well.
If you can get it, that is. When I arrive in the Portuguese capital, it’s a washout, but my guide Carmo promises temperatures of up to 30 degrees during the summer.
First off, accommodation: The Independente is your best bet any time of the year.
Located near Bairro Alto (the heart of Lisbon’s nightlife), the trendy hostel is run by the three S’Eça Leal brothers. The price is very agreeable: an average night in one of the bright dorms with the cork bunk beds costs €12.
What’s more, The Independente’s restaurant, The Decadente, boasts an excellent menu and hipster-friendly décor. A three-course lunch will set you back a mere €10 and coffee costs 60c. Need I say more?
Tram 28 is one of the most popular ways of getting around the city. Or you can opt for the Yellow Bus tour, which will bring you to the usual touristy spots as well as the more off-the-track attractions. Bottom line: Lisbon is a city of seven hills, so prepare for some serious hill-walking. The tiled paths can be slippery in the heat, so good footwear is essential.
The city is relatively small, so it won’t take you long to find your feet. And besides, Lisbon is the birthplace of Saint Anthony, the patron saint of lost articles, so if you do get lost, pray to him and he’ll help you find the right path.
If you’re looking to get your fill of culture, pay a visit to the wonderful Belém district, where your first stop should be the Jeronimós monastery. It is one of the oldest structures in Lisbon and survived the famous 1531 Lisbon earthquake and subsequent tsunami and fires.
Colloquially known as “the pepper monastery”, Lisbon’s history is literally written on its walls. All the motifs that appear on the tiles that line Lisbon’s streets are here – sea monsters, elephants, lions, etc. – and the tomb of Portugal’s greatest explorer Vasco da Gama is housed at Jeronimós.
While you’re in Belém, grab a Pastéis de Belém pastry at Antiga Cafeitaria. Sprinkled with cinnamon and icing sugar, these custardy, flaky treats will melt in your mouth. But watch your timing: cruise calls bring hundreds of tourists to the café and it can get pretty full around lunchtime.
Although Lisbon is the oldest city in Western Europe, its architecture is quite diverse. Modern buildings sit comfortably alongside traditional structures.
Juxtaposed to the 15th century Jeronimós is the very modern Museu Coleçao Berardo. The Berardo collection is home to some of the 20th century’s greatest artworks. Pablo Picasso, Andy Warhol and David Hockney all find their place in the permanent collection, which is free to visit.
On the way back, stop-off at the LX Factory in Rua Rodrigues de Faria. It mightn’t look like much from the outside, but this former printing factory is home to some of Lisbon’s most unique cafés, restaurants and shops.
Around 150 companies have set up camp in the LX Factory, making use of its old warehouses, cafeteria and shops to create a trendy haven. You could easily spend half a day here, wandering around the impressive Ler Devagar bookshop-café, admiring the artwork in Studioteambox Gallery and filling up on Landeau chocolate cake.
Comercio Square in the city centre is a popular meeting point for tourists, and the Lisboa Tourist Board has given the square a revamp by renting out spaces to new restaurants and attractions like the Lisbon Story Centre. The multimedia experience takes about 50 minutes to complete and tells you all you need to know about Lisbon’s rich history.
Rua Augusta, one of Lisbon’s busiest shopping streets, leads off Comercio Square. The pedestrianized street offers the usual high street shops as well as a couple of unique design shops like Typographia, a shop that sells Portuguese themed t-shirts by Lisboan designers.
If you head away from Lisbon’s historic centre and visit Parque das Nações, you’ll find that the former Expo 98 site has been put to good use with attractions like Oceanário de Lisboa aquarium.
In Lisbon, cod is king. It’s said that the Portuguese have invented 365 different ways to cook cod (one for every day of the year). I sampled only six but can confirm that if you’re banking on cod alone during a week’s holiday, you’ll do just fine.
One of the most delicious dishes is served at Restaurante 5 Ocenaos: sea bass cooked and served in salt and a white wine.
The most exciting cod dish is the incredible bacalhau à bras with exploding olives by Michelin-star chef José Avillez. The young chef owns a string of restaurants in Lisbon, including Pizzaria Lisboa on Rua dos Duques de Bragança – a unique experience to be served pizza from a Michelin-star chef.
One of the biggest nuisances for tourists is the constant hassle from “drug dealers” at every corner in the city centre. They constantly pick on visitors to buy “hashish”. If partial to a joint, don’t be fooled: what’s on offer looks suspiciously like green tea.
Apart from that, there’s very little bad to say about Lisbon. It’s cheap, it’s cheerful, it’s a platter of culture. What more could you want?
Conor McMahon travelled to Lisbon courtesy of the Portuguese Tourism Board and Ryanair.
Whether it be a romantic getaway or some fun and frolics with friends, Christmas is the perfect time to book a weekend break in one of Europe’s cities. Stuck for ideas of where to go? Check out The City’s pick of the best European destinations, with plenty of tips and things to do.
Munich
“Ein bier, bitte!” First things first, when that plane hits Bavarian soil, you must grab one of Munich’s famous beers. The touristy thing to do is head to the Hofbräuhaus, where you can enjoy some Hofbräu beer together with some traditional Bavarian music and dance. The “Haus” also serves food, however, you can save your euros and grab much nicer bratwurst, or german sausage, on the street. Some other famous beers to try include Augustiner, Paulaner and Löwenbräu. If you’re not a big beer fan, then order a radler, a combination of beer and lemonade that’s very popular in Munich.
The Englischer Garten, German for “English Garden”, is a large public park in the centre of Munich, and is well worth the stroll. Kleinhesseloher Lake in the centre offers a nice seating area where you can grab a beer and some food, or bring your own picnic. Release your inner child and take a peddle boat out on the lake.
For the boys and their toys, a trip to the BMW museum is a must. The museum is basically a gigantic showroom, displaying hundreds of models of cars, jeeps, and bikes for you to climb into, or on. Grab a selfie in that red convertible you’ll never afford! If it’s any consolation, the museum is free. Good of them, eh?
Munich lies at the foot of the Alps, so if you have the time then hop on a train and head to the mountains. Neuschwanstein Castle, “the fairytale castle”, is one of Bavaria’s finest castles to visit, with breath-taking views of the surrounding countryside. With a nice hike up, you’ll even get some exercise in to work off that beer belly.
Prague
If you’re looking for a laid back getaway and some “good vibes”, then the Czech Republic’s capital Praha is for you. Old Town Square is a charming place to start, located in the heart of the city. The architecture by itself is pretty eye-catching, but the combination of buskers, street traders and al fresco dining in this cobbled square provides a great atmosphere.
Known for its great partying scene and never-ending supply of absinthe, nights out in Prague can get quite interesting. For those of you still yolo-ing out there, it is a must that you attempt one of Prague’s infamous pub crawls. The night starts off with a t-shirt and an unlimited supply of some lethal alcoholic mixture that’s impossible to drink. After a quick pep talk with your friends you’ll put your head down and drink it anyway, because hey, it’s free. Nobody really knows what happens after this, and then if you’re lucky you might even wake up in your own hostel the next day. Happy days!
If you can manage it, a visit to the John Lennon Wall is sure to reach into your soul and soothe your hangover blues. Bring a marker and spread your words of love on the wall, every inch of which is covered in colourful graffiti from the thousands who have come to visit before. Some guy is sure to be killing it on his guitar singing “Let It Be” or “Hey Jude”, so chill out and enjoy!
Overlooking the entire city is Prazsky Hrad, or Prague Castle, which is well worth the visit for the views alone. If you’re a history head, then the castle is the best place to learn about the city’s past. Some parts are free to the public, if you just want to have a stroll around the castle grounds, while others require a ticket for entry.
If you’re wondering what that sweet, sugary scent is in the air as you wander around the streets of Prague, then that would be Staroceske Trdlo – a chewy, cinnamon, sugar-dusted pastry. Just try it. That is all.
Krakow
Referred to by locals as “The Real Capital of Poland”, Krakow is definitely underestimated when it comes to European cities. Post-communism, it has developed into a cultural hub of excellence – from its exciting galleries and museums to its quality cafés, pubs and nightlife. The Main Market Square, an impressive 10 acre square in the centre of Krakow, is one of its main attractions. Here you will find Kosciol Mariacki, otherwise known as The Church of the Virgin Mary, where a trumpet player sticks his head out of the tower on the hour, every hour, and gives you a tune. Legend has it that during the 2012 UEFA Euros the English team, who stayed in a hotel just around the corner, blamed the trumpet player for their poor performance on the field as he “kept them up all night”.
If you like walking tours, then Krakow is top of the list when it comes to witty guides and really interesting tours. A general tour of the city will bring you to all the main attractions, such as the hilltop castle. The tour of the Jewish Quarters is particularly interesting. Like most central European cities, Krakow is steeped in WWII history, and this tour gives a great insight into the life of the Jewish community in Krakow during Hitler’s reign. Famous sites include the old ghetto walls and Schindler’s Factory. The infamous Auschwitz Concentration Camp is just an hour outside the city, and buses travel to and from the site daily.
Budapest
Hungary is famous for its thermal springs with healing qualities, and you cannot visit Budapest without a few hours of relaxation in the baths. Also known as ‘The City of Baths’, Budapest has many different medicinal baths to try. Széchenyi is one of the best public baths, with both indoor and outdoor baths of varying temperatures and medicinal qualities. If you’re visiting during the summer months then hit it’s famous bath parties for a night you’re guaranteed (not) to remember.
If you fancy some sightseeing, Gellért Hill offers the best view of Budapest and the river Danube, which separates Buda on the west bank from Pest on the east. Dohány Street Synagogue is Europe’s largest synagogue, and marking the border of Budapest’s Jewish Ghetto, is steeped in the history of World War II. If you take a stroll along the banks of the Danube on the east, you will come across ‘The Shoes on the Danube Bank’, a Jewish memorial for the jews who were ordered to take their shoes off and line up to be shot into the river. You will also find Hungary’s impressive Parliament Buildings along this bank.
The hop-on hop-off City Bus Tour is probably the best way to get around to all of the attractions in Budapest, working out about €20, the buses come around every 15 minutes and will save you time and walking on a short city break. As for the local cuisine, you cannot leave without trying some traditional goulash, a perfect dish for a cold winters day.
We all know somebody who has left Ireland for a better life in Australia, but what really attracts people to the land down under?
Despite a drop in emigration, 40,700 Irish people packed their bags and left in the 12 months up to April 2014, according to the latest Central Statistics Office figures, with 10,000 of them opting to go to Oz.
Mairead O’Connor, from Co Wexford, left Ireland in 2003 for a better life in Australia and hasn’t looked back since.
“I had travelled to Australia on holidays for three months in 1998, and fell in love with the place. I always knew I’d go back,” Mairead said.
For Mairead, the biggest factors which drew her back to Australia were the lifestyle and the weather.
“Obviously the weather plays a huge part to the lifestyle we live in Australia. Waking up early, being able to get out and about, plan days at the beach, BBQ’s, is really a great scenario,” she said, “I love being able to relax in the sun for an hour or two, after a long day at work. At weekends, it’s fun to jump in the car and head off somewhere – the country is endless, so there is just so much to do and see.”
“Life just seems easier here, and the job prospects are endless, if you are hard working, with a good attitude,” adds Mairead who now works as a Migration Officer in Sydney.
Sydney’s Iconic Bondi beach in July (Australia’s Winter)
Mairead said the hardest part of moving to Australia was leaving her family.
“The distance from family and childhood friends is tough, and it is difficult missing out on various important events,” she says. “Goodbyes never get easier, but it’s where my life is for now, and you just have to learn to live with it.
“I think it can be worse for the family back home because they don’t see what is on the other side, and the reason you are there. My family haven’t been to Australia yet, so hopefully one day they’ll come over, and then they’ll get it too,” she says.
Despite being over 17,000 kilometres away from her hometown of Shielbaggan in County Wexford, Mairead never feels too far from home.
“There is a huge Irish and English community, so it’s nice to have that around you too. Your friends become your family in Oz,” she says.
“I never say never to [going] home, at the end of the day it’s where you were brought up and where all your family are. Nobody knows what the future holds, or what circumstances could change your plans, I just take it one day at a time. I’ll only make that decision when I have to.”
Mairead feels that the lack of employment opportunities in Ireland and better work prospects abroad are undeniable.
“The departure of young, educated and adaptable people is of course a huge loss to Ireland, but we do what they have to do,” she says. “On the upside, those who do leave can always return to Ireland, with new skills and experiences that they have developed from living overseas, which will benefit them and Ireland in the future.
“Something that is predominantly negative and pessimistic, can also be positive and optimistic. It depends on how we look at it. The glass is half full.”
For Gary Traynor from Dublin, his reason for leaving Ireland was a bit different to Mairead’s. He left because he simply felt he was getting nowhere in Ireland.
“I was in a job in Dunnes Stores where I was only getting 15 hours a week and I knew people on the dole coming out with more than me after tax and travel fare to work. So with no girlfriend or kids I thought I’d give Australia a go,” he says.
After only two weeks in the land down under Gary got a job in accounts for an engineering company, which he said was a big difference to working in Dunnes Stores.
“I didn’t know what to expect when I first got here. I was very lucky at the start here because I had my mate from home and his roommate, and then I met the rest of his friends over here and I became great friends with all them.”
Unlike many Irish that travel to Australia, who chose to live in big cities such as Perth or Sydney, Gary prefers life in the countryside.
“I couldn’t live in a city over here but I’m in the countryside now on a dairy farm. I could stay here but sponsorship got knocked back,” he says.
Despite having lived a better life in Australia for the past year and a half, Gary doesn’t plan to settle down there forever.
“I will always go home to Ireland one day. I will work and travel a bit more, but Ireland is home no matter what state the government has it in,” he says.
Flinders Street Train Station in Melbourne.
Some young Irish people are just leaving the Emerald Isle to try to experience life somewhere different after finishing college, just like Muireann Flannery and Kerry Dixon from Dublin, who are both moving to Sydney.
Kerry feels that she needs time to think about what she wants in life before rushing into a job, and that travelling for a while is her best option.
“I’ve finished college and I want a break before I start a career because there is too much pressure on graduates here but also not many options for them, so hopefully by the time I get back I’ll know what I want to do with my life instead of being forced into something,” she says.
“I worry that if I stay here I’ll end up doing something that I don’t particularly want to just because it’s a job and that doesn’t sit right with me,” Kerry adds.
A recent report from Trinity College Dublin’s Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA), has found that women whose children have emigrated in recent years have had an increase of symptoms of depression and loneliness, and Kerry doesn’t think that her moving abroad will be easy for her own mother.
“I think my Mam will find it really hard, she’s already bought a puppy to replace me and has said that she doesn’t mind me leaving but if I didn’t come back it would kill her”, she said, “I’m the youngest child so I suppose they’ll all just be worried about me. I think they’ll all be fine once they’ve adjusted, but leaving just before Christmas probably won’t help.”
Sydney’s Opera House.
Muireann Flannery has always wanted to see Australia since she was a child and she, like her friend Kerry, has just finished college and wants to travel before settling down into a career.
“I want to see if Australia will bring more opportunity for a better standard of living than Ireland is offering at the moment. So really I feel I need to leave to see if there’s anything better for me over there but I don’t necessarily have to go,” she says.
“I have been looking into college courses in Australia so that is something I’m considering doing if I like it over there.”
Like Kerry, Muireann feels it will be tough for her family when she goes, and her mother has told her she can only leave once she comes back.
“It’s very scary deciding to leave and move so far away,” Muireann says, “but there is so much more in the world to see than just what’s here in Ireland and I think there’s nothing worse than being so insular about the place you live and narrow minded to the rest of the world. Broaden your horizons and all that.”
One of the best things about living in Ireland is that you are only a stones throw away from many of Europe’s main cities and with cheap flight deals always popping up, especially now in the off-season, it’s the perfect time to start planning your interrailing adventure.
For those of you that haven’t hear about interrailing before it is a rail pass that comes with two options: a Global Pass, which gives you the freedom to travel in 30 European Countries, or the One Country Pass which does what it says on the tin and entitles you to travel as much as you want in one country for a set number of days. These passes give you an amazing opportunity to see so much of Europe and believe me, you definitely get your money worth.
Having said all that I’m going to share with you some tips and tricks I learned along the way during my three weeks of interrailing.
DON’T OVER PACK
This is mostly aimed at all my fellow ladies out there. I know it may be hard to pick between the 20 t-shirts that would look so cute on a Gondola but trust me, when you’re wandering around the city at 10pm at night looking for your hostel, you will be cursing all the extra clothes you brought! Try packing stuff that can be used as both day and night wear and that is light and will dry quickly if it needs a wash. Repeat after me: YOU DO NOT NEED 7 PAIRS OF SHOES.
Book your Hostels ahead
This is key if you want a hassle free interrailing experience. There is nothing worse than traveling in high season and having to ring five different hostels every time you move location looking for a place to stay. And you can multiply the difficulty of getting a place to stay with every extra person in your group. Most hostels only charge you a small deposit when booking so if your plans change along the way, you aren’t out a whole pile of cash. Another tip when booking hostels is sometimes it pays to spend a bit more on your accommodation in certain cities. The Wombats chain of hostels are really modern and affordable and are great for meeting other travellers and won’t blow your budget out of the water. We decided to stay in a Guest House instead of a Hostel in Lake Bled which meant we were a 3 meter walk from the lake, with a stunning view. (I can’t praise Carmen Guest House in Lake Bled enough!!)
I would also recommend googling how to reach your hostel from the train station before you set out as it can be confusing once you get there.
The view from the Carmen Guest House in Lake Bled.
Roughly organise your trains
I say “roughly” because you don’t want too tight of a schedule but rather to be flexible and go with the flow. But having some plan of where you are going is better than none. This can also help you figure out where you might need to use your pass on an overnight train, instead of booking into a hostel. One thing I highly recommend is booking a bed on an overnight train… Believe me there is nothing worse than being on a seat in a cabin with six other adult for 10 hours straight on a chair…it ain’t fun.
Download helpful apps.
When travelling the one app we all found so useful was the XE Currency app. This handy app lets you see how much Euro you will get if you convert it into other currencies, which is helpful in places like Hungary, Poland and Czech Republic and it works offline too! Other apps like hostel bookers and Trip Advisor are also great for finding out the best rated attractions and accommodations in that city, and a travel guide can be worth the extra weight. And if in doubt do the old fashioned thing and buy a map, or failing that make hand signals at confused locals until they can figure out where you want to go.
Go to the SPARTY (Spa Party) in Budapest
This was one of my most memorable nights during my trip. You can buy tickets from your hostel which is recommended because it can sell out during the day. Then you are free to party the night away in heated pools, with a DJ on the deck all night- a one of a kind experience. The next day head back to the baths and chill out for the day in what will be the best hangover day ever. Nothing to cure the post night blues like a dip in a medicinal pool from a natural spring and an ice cold beer.
6. Do the touristy things
Don’t waste the day away in bed, get up and explore the city and soak up the culture of whatever city you happen to be wandering around. Take a trip in a Gondola, pose with the US Army at Checkpoint Charlie, visit the Jewish Quarter in Krakow, learn about the Holocaust at the memorial in Berlin, touch Juliet’s boob for good luck in Verona, the option are just endless. Most cities offer free walking tours where the guides work for tips instead of charging and many are of a really high standard and are a cheap way to discover a city in a short space of time. If you only have a day to cover a vast city, then paying for one of the City Tour Buses is a great way to go. Trust me, there is no point in paying out to visit all these cities to spend every day hungover because it’s likely that this will be the only time you visit these places.
Find local treasures off the beaten track
Want to taste the best Gelato in all of Milan? Head to none other than Cicciolatitaliani. Want to see Il Duomo from a great view? Head to Aperol Cocktail bar which overlooks Milans main square. The best meal in Venice for us was the slices of pizza and bottle of wine we got to take away and ate by the canal. There are so many smaller places to see off the main tourist route so take time to visit those to and sample some of the local cuisine. Eat plenty of pizza in Italy and sample the Kebabs in Berlin, but don’t forget to try the famous Bled Cake in Lake Bled. This goes for the places you choose to visit also, try pick a city that you would never fly to direct from Dublin, for us that was Ljubljana in Slovenia, a small university town which is definitely one of the most underrated travel destinations.
Explore Lake Bled by Boat and Bike
Lake Bled in Slovenia is a great getaway from all the hustle and bustle of city life when you’re interrailing.You can rent boat from all sides of the lake and row yourself out to the beautiful island in the middle. Which was a challenge at first for three Irish Girls who never rowed a day in their lives, (let’s just say there was a lot of going round in circles). After this I recommend hiking up to the castle to take in the breath taking views from above. If you have a second day, rent some bikes in town and cycle out to the beautiful Gorge just outside Bled. Make sure to take a map and get them to show you the route in the hostel before you leave so you won’t end up travelling 20 minute in the wrong direction like us!!
Do the Drunken Monkey Pub Crawl in Prague
Not much to say here…Just do it. So much free alcohol. So worth it. I promise.
10. Take loads of pictures and enjoy yourself.
You’re going to want to remember this adventure when you’re old so invest in a decent camera and snap away till your heart is content. And no, you can never take too many pictures. (I myself took 800 in just three weeks) Just enjoy it and remember whatever happens it’s just all part of the experience that is Interrailing. (Although, try and make it back in one piece.)
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