Hotel price comparison and special offers
Stephanie
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Best Free Things to Do in Rome
Sep 13th
Be neighborly: Take a stroll in the neighborhoods near your hotel. Or check out the old Testaccio district. This ‘hood dates back to antiquity and is becoming a popular bar hop spot for a young crowd while many restaurants feature delicious Roman era cooking. Trestevere is also a unique place to walk, as most of the narrow alleyways lead back to the Piazza Santa Maria, one of the city’s oldest places of worship.
Pantheon: One of the most iconic structures in Rome. The Pantheon was renovated by Hadrian in 120AD which is one of the reasons why it is so well preserved. It is open from Monday – Saturday 8:30 am – 7:30 pm and Sunday from 9 – 6.
Vatican: The most highly regarded place in the Catholic faith. Skip the costly entrance fees and go for free the last Sunday of each month. You can also see the excavation sites beneath the structure for free too.
Trevi Fountain: Sure it’s just a fountain. But ancient legend boasts that by throwing a coin into the Baroque fountain, you’re guaranteed to return to the Eternal City. Jeez, it’s that easy?
Bocca della Verita: In similar fashion to the Trevi Fountain, this olden sewer grate has a myth of its own. If you place your hand inside, it will be bitten off if the grate deems you a liar. Beware!
Appia Antica: This ancient road that led away from Rome is closed to all vehicles on Sunday allowing for a peaceful journey. There are also free tours from 10 – 3 by signing up at the Parco Dell’Appie Park office.
Spanish Steps: The steps with a view. After climbing to the top, the city sprawls out before you. Plus, they’ve just been renovated in 1996, so they are safer than ever.
Piazza Navona: This marketplace is one of the liveliest places in Rome. You can just explore or eat a good meal relatively cheap here.
Here are a few budget hotels to make your stay a fun yet affordable one.
Photos via Rolf Süssbrich and Diliff
On-the-go Packing Tips
Sep 3rd
If you’re always traveling for business or even picking up at a moment’s notice for pleasure, here are some great tips to pack when you’re on the fly.
Universal Adapter: Have a universal adapter charged and at the ready always.
Airport Advantage: Know everything there is to know about your home airport. You might be surprised at the hidden gems you find. For example, a check out desk that is not jam packed just because it’s down an additional flight stairs. Say hello to people you see there often too. You never know when you might need a buddy to eek you by in a rush.
Toiletries: These are also a hassle to pack and something always manages to get missed every time. Go to the $1 section of your local grocer and pick up enough mini bottles to makeup 3 – 5 little kits that you can easily store in large freezer ziplocks until they are needed.
File: Make a file on your phone or laptop that has the details (account number, phone number, etc.) of every single service you’re hitting along the way including hotel, car rental, and airline.
Cash: In a world of credit cards, cash is a rarity. However, when traveling it is smart to just keep a couple of bucks handy for tips (remember buddies are good!) or a last minute quickie meal.
Clothes: Pack lightly. Be efficient. Bring one pair of work shoes and one pair of casual in neutral colors so they go with everything. One pair of jeans with a variety of tops also works for casual events and one suit with a variety of ties works for business meetings.
Photo via babygear.net
Witchy Woman
Aug 7th
Though considered evil, witchcraft is a fascinating subject to most. Though most witches were most often people who simply worshiped the sun and moon while tripping off of natural herbs, in ancient times they were connected to demonic activities like orgies, sacrifices, and even vampirism. Quite a thing to be condemned for!
Many Spanish towns were full of mysticism and witchcraft in the 16th and 17th centuries. During these times witches were accused of worshipping the devil, casting spells on people, and where often burned at the stake.
The town of Zugarramurdi is one such town where hundreds were accused of sorcery in the early 1600s. Today the town takes travelers on captivating tours of the “Infernuko Erreka” which is a small natural tunnel made from a streambed that leads to caves where the witches did their thing hundreds of years ago. On the Saturday before St. John’s Day, a recreation of the witches’ sabbot takes place while on August 18, a feast is held in the Great Cave while old tales of witchery are told. Nearby, on the Discovery Route that connects Zugarramurdi to Urdax and Sara – towns with more witchy debotchery – visitors can visit other hauntingly beautiful sites like the air condition caves of Ikaburu.
Another location full of intrigue is the Route of Moncayo. The route is along the highest mountain in the Zaragoza region, which is full of mysteriously strong winds and curious stones. Here you can follow the route to the Monastery of Veruela, the city of Tarazona, and the village of Trasmoz. Trasmoz’s castle is one of imagination, so much so that Spanish poet Gustavo Adolfo Becquer, made it the focal point of his fabled stories which were filled with, what else but witchcraft.
To see the Zugarramurdi caves try these hotels:
2 Star Posada Del Rio
3 Star Hotel la Era
5 Star Villa Padierna Thermas de Carratraca
To see the Route of Moncayo try these hotels:
2 Star Avenida
4 Star Goya
5 Star Melia Zaragoza
The German Riviera. Get there.
Aug 2nd
What? Germany has a Riveria? On an island?! It’s true! The island of Sylt is a place you probably never knew existed until right now. It is stretched along 36 square miles of bliss and is known for its quaint beach cottages, fields of heather, and nudity. There are also to die for dishes at many of the celebrity frequented restaurants as well as designer shopping. Or to get away from it all, on the northern most point is the Alter Gasthof Inn. The inn has been serving regional dishes for over 200 years.
So why aren’t you there yet?
Sylt is about 5 hours from Berlin or 3 ½ from Hamburg. It’s a great weekend break if you’re on a weeklong vacation in a major city or an incredible place to spend an entire holiday.
Spains gets spicy
Jul 21st
A hot trend in travel is to go somewhere and well, do something… something of value that is. You can go green, do some volunteer work, or take a crash cooking course. Since we love food that’s finger lickin’ good, we’ll take the latter please!
Spanish cooking is a huge international trend too. It’s long been known that some of the best restaurants on the globe are located in the country, particularly El Bulli, which has held the title of world’s finest restaurant for three years running.
Though you may not come out as fine a chef as El Bulli’s Ferran Adria, you can give Spain’s gastronomical gems a whirl at one of Barcelona’s GoLearnTo schools that offer crash cooking courses. Half a day is £48 while a lesson that includes a visit to the Boqueria market is £57. We say shell out the extra £10 and get a private lesson with an English speaking Spaniard chef.
So when you come home and everyone says, “What’d you do? What’d you see?” You can reply back, “Why don’t you come over and have a taste?” That’ll certainly throw them for a loop!
Try these Barcelona hotels that are conveniently located near the schools.
3 Star Hotel Jazz
3 Star Hotel Montecarlo
4 Star Hotel 1898
Operation Jellywatch
Jul 14th
Some animals like to hang in packs but none more so than the mauve stinger jellyfish. These slimy critters have been seen massing in millions for miles on end. In recent years, they have been making their way inland to Spanish beaches and are now slowly but surely heading for France and Italy.
What is causing these jellyfish to go from the ocean to the beaches? The rising ocean temperatures and over fishing have seen a decline in the number of jellyfish eating animals like sea turtles causing a population explosion. And this year the Cote D’Azur, particularly the beach of Darse, has also had near perfect weather for the mauve stingers to breed causing them to invade.
The jellyfish are easy to distinguish. They are bright purple by day and glow yellow by night. They have eight tentacles that can grow up to six feet long each. These tentacles can wrap themselves and invoke a powerful, painful sting that can bring on asthma attacks and sometimes heart failure.
In order to keep these unwanted creatures off the beaches and in the ocean, city’s like Cannes have put up floating barriers while Italy’s coast has launched an off shore program called Jellywatch.
Want to check out this uncanny sight? Check out some of these coastal hotels for a closer look… but not too close!
2 Star Alexandre III in Cannes, France
4 Star Beau Rivage in Nice, Italy
4 Star Parador in Aiguablava, Italy
World’s Worst Travel Scams
Jun 30th
Ah, not again! You’ve been duped by another phoney baloney scammer. It’s something that’s sure to put a doozy on your good time. That being said, many of the biggest scams today can be easily avoided with a little thing called common sense. Let’s check it out.
Free trip to Florida: Your phone rings and the voice on the other end tells you to select 9 and you win a free trip to Florida. What!? You quickly pound in the 9 and listen to a schpeal about a $500 holding fee. So excited about your win, you quickly agree to give up your credit card number for “verification purposes” not even realizing that the entire holding fee was instantly deducted from your account until after you hang up. Bummer. After trying to call back and getting in the vicious circle of nowhere, you give up while wistfully repeating the phrase, “Nothing in life is free.”
Common sense: If you are winning a contest you never entered, you might want to think twice about the prize. If it’s the free Florida trip, log onto the fraud help hotline www.800helpfla.com immediately to report the crime.
Card Milling: An email arrives shouting “Become a travel agent and save up to 75% on flights in 15 minutes!” Sign me up! You shell out a few hundred bucks for you travel savvy ID card that’s going to get you discounts galore as you see the world. We can see how this one gets people because you get tangible proof of purchase by way of a little ID card. You slap that baby down on the counter at your first destination and try to explain that you’re a “travel agent” with a “discount card.” The reception shoves that card right back with a smirk that says, “Sucka!”
Common sense: Get a real job the real way. Visit www.abta.com, www.monster.com or other esteemed job websites. on innocent traveler’s who have stars in their eyes to visit their favorite country. They’ll either under or over insurance and will just explain “highlights” of the policy while leaving out all of the additional fees.
Common sense: Come 2009 (hopefully), the government will be monitoring
Over and out: Probably the oldest one in the book, this scam is one we’ve all heard time and time again – “Company takes millions from customers, boards up, and swiftly leaves town.” And of course the owner’s are long gone spending everyone else’s hard earned cash.
Common sense: Make sure that your travel insurance covers airline and operator closure. If it’s a valid company, it will.
Speaking of insurance: Many insurance companies, whether legitimate or not, find it all too easy to pray travel agents via the Financial Services Authority. Until then, read the fine print, ask questions, and make sure they are all answered – in full, no bs – before you get off the phone.
Receptionist or no?: Man, now they try to get you while you’re getting your beauty sleep? Yes, sir. These scams almost always happen in the wee hours of the morning when a receptionist calls claiming a flub happened while processing your bill. Of course they need you at the front desk or you can just read your card number over the phone for a more painless fix. Riiiight.
Common sense: Don’t give out your credit card number to anybody ever! Oh and also, make sure you get a receipt when you check in when the real receptionist swipes your card the first time.
Covert conversion: Many times when you hand your credit card over to that lovely person across the counter in a foreign land, they will automatically change the currency to their own, while also adding additional fees like an exchange commission – all without asking your consent or telling you what they’ve done.
Common sense: If you find yourself in this situation, you will also want to make sure you tell the vendor you are using your home currency. It’s also wise to change currency over once before your trip so you don’t get duped doing it numerous times over seas. Try to use your card for large purchases only from a trusted vendor.
Stop! This is the police! Well sort of… : You meet your new “best friend” at the local bar. You talk, share a couple laughs, and more than a couple of beers. He genuinely enjoys your company so he gives you a literal “token” of his appreciation – a baggie of marijuana. Like any normal person you take it to your hotel room to examine the goods. That is until you are stopped short by two brawny policemen that ask you to empty your pockets… or give them $200 a pop and they’ll turn a blind eye.
Common sense: Didn’t your mom ever tell you not to do drugs? If this happens, it can be a tricky situation. You may want to just stash the hash and pay up; get rid of it ASAP and make a run for it; or do the right thing and get the police involved. The police will want some evidence of this mystery friend (since you are the one illegally holding the dope) so make sure to ask people around you to stay and be a witness if possible.
Another “best bud” situation: You meet a nice friend while on holiday. He buys you a few rounds then nonchalantly slips you a drug like Rohyphnol. You stumble around; he takes your money and runs. It’s called burundanga and it happens a lot in South America and Thailand.
Common sense: Jeez how many times have you heard these ones — don’t take drinks from a stranger; don’t let anyone handle your drinks except you; don’t leave your drink unattended. The list goes on and on. It’s also a good idea to travel in pairs so at least one of you is coherent lest something like this happen.
Taxi, taxi!: An Austrian couple on the trip of a lifetime (round the world that is) got sick of waiting for a taxi at the bus terminal. They hopped into an unlicensed taxi in Bolivia, were kidnapped, held captive for five days, robbed, and then sadly killed. True story. Don’t let it happen to you. 
Common sense: Only use official, licensed taxis. Know before you go and figure out which cab companies are valid in the area. Or just wait for a bus or train. Also, do not let the cab driver pick up or take other passengers while you are in the vehicle. They could easily turn out to be gang members and you’ll be put in a similar situation as the Austrian couple.
Metal Detector Dance: You calmly put your bags on the conveyor belt and while doing so, a man flies past you, apologizing about the rush he’s in. He does the same as you’ve just done – emptying pockets, putting bags on the belt, and running off… with your bag too. Apparently metal detectors don’t detect thieves.
Common sense: Never let your bag out of your sight for a second. If you yell out “He’s got my bag!” one of the nearby guards will surely go all knight in shining armor for you… or be your superhero if you’re a dude.
Bus fraud: This one verges on hilarious and if you agree to it, there might be something slightly wrong with you in the first place! The story goes, you are approached at a bar by someone who swears up and down you’ll get a thousand bucks if you get the bus in the morning. The bus of course will be rear-ending someone along the way (the government employed driver is agreeing to this obviously too) and all the passengers will get a generous cut of the insurance check. All you have to do is give your special friend $300 for a fixer fee and you’re golden. The next morning you hop on the bus, arrive at your destination, and damn… no accident… and no special friend.
Common sense: Wow, if you fall for this, you have no common sense so always travel with a buddy.
Beer Cities of the World
Jun 26th
That title is like sweet music to our ears and soon to be sweet beer to our lips. After researching with those who have tested, tasted, and gotten wasted we’ve come up with the best beer cities in the world.
10. Mexico City: Corona, oh how we heart you! The most perfect summertime beer known to man is produced in Mexico City. Not into a lime wedge in your drink? No problem. The locale is also noted for their smooth, dark Negra Modelo lager, Dos XX golden lager, and Bohemia pilsner lager. Una cerveza por favor indeed!
9. Portland: Home to the some of the oldest breweries in the U.S., Portland takes the cake for having the most breweries in a U.S. city. All 28 of them ensure that there is plenty of beer to go around.
8. Sapporo: Japan? Beer? What the… Yes it’s true. Sapporo loves beer so much that they even have vending machines that line the streets chock full of the stuff. There is also a beer garden next to the Sapporo beer museum where a daily barbeque ensues. Man, who knew the Japanese were such party animals!
7. Montreal: The Canadian’s are known for two things – hockey and beer. Quebec is home to Labatt and Molson while Montreal is home to many renowned brewpubs like Le Cheval Blanc. The Canadian’s have gotten a little tricky and differentiate their beer by color rather than classification. Ie: “I’ll take a blonde,” instead of saying “I’ll take a lager.”
6. Brugge: Belgium is known for many of the finer things in life like lace, Godiva chocolates, and – beer. Brugge offers hundreds of varieties of brusky, more than 500 to be exact. Plus it’s chock full of drinking history with the well preserved 1515 Café Vlissinghe and the 1455 De Gouden Boom Brewery that has been getting the fine people of Brugge sloshed for centuries.
5. Prague: If beer had its own Miss Beer of the Universe pageant, Prague’s would win every time. The brews are just tip top quality yet surprisingly as easy on the wallet as they are on the eyes. U Fleku, the world’s oldest brewpub, is also located here and the Pilsner factory is only an hour away.
4. Burlington: Just north of Boston and south of Montreal (two other big time beer drinking cities) Burlington gets the best of both brewing worlds. Plus it’s a collegiate town with a four block pedestrian zone that just begs for stumbling feet. Not to mention beer keeps a belly warm while skiing in the blustery Vermont winter.
3. Dublin: When Irish eyes are smiling… that probably means their good and drunk at a pub in Dublin. It’s also home to Guinness and you can find a pub crawl to join any day of the week. Need we say more?
2. Amsterdam: Did you think that a magic mushroom was all Amsterdam was good for? Think again! The Dutch also brewed up some of our favorites like Heineken, Grolsch, and Amstel. Wanna get to a local spot away from tourists? Ask to be pointed in the direction of the nearest pils.
1. Wait for it…wait for it…. Berlin: Surprised you, didn’t we? This city gets all the props with its version of the famous Munich Oktoberfest, hosted in a 1.2 mile long beer garden. This festival is celebrated around the world by the young and old. Even when we were at the virginal Disneyworld in Orlando, Epcot’s Oktoberfest was going strong. A little weird but nonetheless a smack down win for Berlin.
Check out these hotels next time you’re in Europe. They’re right where all the beer drinkin’ action is.
Berlin: Amstel House
Amsterdam: Xavier’s Happy House
Dublin: Temple Bar Hotel
Monaco Expands… on Stilts?
Jun 2nd
Monaco is small – really small. Its entire population is only 33,000 but that doesn’t stop it from being the most sought after spot in the world by the rich and famous. It is one of the most expensive countries to live in as well as one of the most lavish. And it’s about to expand, thanks to good old stilts technology.
Now when we think stilts we think clowns swaying to and fro over us at a carnival. Well yes, it will go something like that minus the clowns and the swaying (we hope!). By using extensive oil rig technology, the annex will include room for yacht docks, shopping, and more living space.
Though many environmentalists are extremely concerned, including the ruler, the eco-friendly Prince Albert, the wealthy who call this place their playground want more Monaco no matter what the costs.
The expansion is to take place over nearly a decade but only time will tell who will win in the battle of eco-maniacs vs. the snobs.
If you want to see the before and after shots of Monaco book a stay at the Ambassador or Tulip Inn Monaco Terminus now, and then in about 15 years to see the post work.
Try the:
Best UK Beaches
Jun 2nd
The United Kingdom is known for its coastal variety. Some beaches are sandy, some are worn down and windswept, and others offer majestic cliffs. According to The Independent online newspaper, there are 50 beaches in UK that are primed and proper for your use. Though we won’t cover the entirety, we will give you a taste and a brief suggestion of where to stay so that you can practically dig your toes in the sand from your room.
10. Sennen Cove, Cornwall
Sennen Cove is picturesque with its sandy beach, crystal Sea, and striking locale. It is also a great place to surf, especially at sundown.
9. Lowestoft Beach, Suffolk
Lowestoft has clear, calm water, soft sounds, and plenty of lifeguards on duty, making it an ideal place to bring family. There are also two piers and a promenade with many activities and shopping.
8. St Bees, Cumbria
St Bees is the starting point of the famous 300km coastal walk that goes all the way to Robin Hood’s Bay in Yorkshire. It is also one of the most popular public beaches and has a great historic village to explore.
7. Saundersfoot, Pembrokeshire
Saundersfoot oozes charm and is known for its family friendly atmosphere. There are shops that sell anything including toys, delicious local foods, and surf boards to catch the good waves that break here.
6. Barafundle Bay, Pembrokeshire
This is a lesser known protected beach that remains largely unspoiled by the public. It has pristine sand dunes, rocky headlands, and to die for cliff top views.
5. West Sands, Scotland
West Sands is one of the most bustling beaches in the country. It has a large, sandy beach, a great university historic town to explore, and an internationally celebrated golf course. It also has perfect conditions for many extreme water sports – fun for the whole family!
4. Bigbury-on-Sea, Devon
This unique beach is located on a sand spit. It has clean, soothing waters and a ferry service to the Bantham Beach on the other side of the estuary.
3. Llanbedrog, Gwynedd
A 16km hike from Chwilog to Llanbedrog is part of the much larger 146km from Caernarfon to Porthmadog. Regardless, this protected beach is a gorgeous stopping point for tired bodies to sink into the sand.
2. Blackpool Sands, Devon
This private beach is ideal for families with its safe swim areas, lifeguards, and on point beach patrol. It is made mostly of fine pebbles though sand has been dumped in several areas to create a more comfortable beach. There is also a freshwater pool – perfect for even the smallest of children.
1. Bamburgh, Northumberland
A majestic castle overlooks this pristine strip of golden beach that makes up one of the most beautiful places in the UK.
Photos via Wikipedia.org and Andrew Easton
