Where to stay in Rome

There are 3 good types of places to stay in Rome, depending on the type of person you are and how much you're willing to spend.

A great option, specially for the nature lovers, with a good quality/price relation is camping.
We dettach Plus Camping Roma, where for low prices you can relax and has great hygiene and cleanliness conditions that normally don't exist at campings.
Here you can rent a tent, houses, cabins or you can bring your own equipment (tent or caravan) and pay between 10€ to 25€ per person per day.


This camping has also a nightclub (in case you don't want to go to the centre of the city), barbecue, volleyball camp, 2 swimming pools and 2 jacuzzis.
It also has many bathrooms with showers and laundry and are always very clean.

In front of these camping there's a supermarket, Panorama, where you can buy the ingredients for your meals and maybe, if you want, buy some meat to do a barbecue!
Right in front of the camping there's aso a bus stop that allows you to get to the centre in less then 15 minutes (when there's no traffic because during the day this journey can take up to 1 hour just to travel the 6km that separate the camping from the centre). But if you want a quiet journey then you can choose to buy for 1,5€ per day a ticket to the private bus provided by the camping. It departs from the camping every right hour and takes about half an hour to get to Cipro Station (where you can catch the underground).
The only problem of choosing this camping is that it's not walking distance from the city centre ( it's situated after the west line A - Batistini), so if you want to enjoy the roman nightlife the only way of coming back is by taxi as the public transports end at midnight.

Plus Camping Rome also provides private transportation from the airport to the camping for only 10€ per person (it's a good choice for those who don't know the city), you just need to make a reservation by email 48hours prior to your arrival and show to the driver when you get there.



If you prefer the comfort of a bed, Alice in Wonderland offers you that and much more.

Extremelly well situated, just a few minutes walking from the Coliseum, it's in the last floor of a XVIII building recently renovated and with a fantastic decoration.

For 45€ per person you can have cable tv, mini bar, wireless in the bedroom, private bathroom, ar conditioned and breakfast.
The common area has a pleseant fireplace for the colder days and in the hotter days you can use the balcony where maybe you can tan!
It's also possible to rent a bike or a motorcycle right in the hotel.
We dettach the extreme cleanliness and the safety.


A more economic choise and also a very good one is the Arcadia Hotel, a 3star hotel, situated near the Anagnina Metro station (Line A) and it's only 20minutes from the centre.

A double room is priced between 50€/60€ (depending on the time) per night and per room with breakfast included.
It's in a commercial area and very easy to find.
It has a 24hour reception so you don't have any problem if you arrive late for check-in.

We suggest that you stay away from the hotels or hostels near the Termini station and always say no to the rooms that people are renting on this sation way out as this is a zone a bit dangerous and the lack of quality and hygiene are not very present in this area.

How to move in Rome

In Rome the best way to move is by foot!
Althought the underground is clean, very simple (there's only two lines - A and B), fast and modern it's not very near the famous places that Rome is known about.
It's not that the Romans don't try to have better and bigger underground lines it's just that Rome has 2 cities - one above and one down under. Everytime that they try to open the ground to start new lines they find artefacts and the old roman city that by it's historical importance is not allowed to build on.
The buses are usually over crowded and take the double of the time that you'd take if you had went by foot.
Even so it's a cheap solution for those who have the time.
The tickets for the underground and buses are together, wich means that for just 1€ you can travel for 75minutes (after the first validation) in any roman transport.

There's daily tickets that cost 4€ and allows you to travel for 24hours and have unlimited journeys. They are validated the firts time that you use it and afterwards you don't need to do it, just have to show it in case they ask you.
If you go to Rome only for the weekend then it's best for you if you buy the 3day travelcard for 11€.
In case of a longer stay then choose the 7day travelcard for just 16€ that allows you to travel in any public transport for the whole week.


The tickets are sold in any stand and even in the Termini Station don't bother to look for an official seller as they don't exist.


Another good option is to rent a Vespa!
It's a great way to know the city, specially on those hot summer days, allows you unlimited flexiblity, you can get to know all the famous places and also allows you to know places that only by foot or by two-wheeled transports you can get to. But the most important is that is easy to park without having to circle around the block to find a spot.

The daily rental of a scooter costs around 35€/45€, depending on the motorcycle (if it's for one or two persons), and the insurance, helmets, travel assistance are included on the price and has no mileage limit.
The most days you rent the cheaper it gets.





But even so if you prefer the car option then rent online and choose the Sixt rent-a-car that allows you to rent a Smart for only 5€ per day and with 100km included.







If you get scared only by thinking of walking don't be as is a great way to burn the calories gained on the excelent roman meals and don't forget that all the ways gets you to Rome.

How to get to Rome

Now you can travel to Rome for less then 150€ by choosing the low cost airlines, like Ryan Air, Easy Jet, etc.

Rome is served by two main airports: Ciampino and Fiumicino. Both are relatively near the city centre - Ciampino is 15km and Fiumicino 30km – and have easy access although you can take about one hour to reach the centre due to the caotic roman traffic.

Ryan Air only flies to the Ciampino Airport.

The Fiumicino, or Leonardo DaVinci airport (as is also known) is the main roman airport. It has great connections to the city centre, mainly by the railroad tracks. There’s the “Fiumicino Express”, a service that puts you in less then 30 minutes and for 11€ in the Termini Station in the roman city centre.
This service departs and arrives daily on the 27th track.



Ciampino is considered, althought is most central then the Fiumicino airport, a secondary airport from whom travels the low cost airlines and the private jets. When you land you will see dozens of luxury jets parked in the airport hangars.
Once in Ciampino, the transportation to the city centre has to be made by taxi or by bus as the airport isn’t served by any railroad or metro services.
There are many options to travel the 15km from the Ciampino Airport to the Termini Station (the most important roman rail station and the biggest of Europe).


But from the many options available we detach the Terravision company.
It’s about 8€ one way or 14€ round trip. You can buy online. There’s a bus every 20 minutes prior to plane arrivals and there are always buses untill everyone is served. The buses are parked on the airport way out and it’s easy to see them.
The way back in the Termini Station is always made on the same place that you are left in. Even if you have an early morning flight is better for you if you catch the 7.30pm transfer. After this hour you only have late at night but we don’t recommend it as the Termini zone is a bit dangerous by night.





The other option is the cheapest way. There’s the Cotral company that charges you 1€ (yes, only 1€) and takes you from the Ciampino Airport to the Anagnina metro station and there you can buy your simple ticket to the Termini Station (+1€) or you can buy the ticket most appropriate to your stay (a seven-day ticket or a three-day ticket).
The Anagnina Station is 20minutes travel untill the Termini Station.
This company has connections form the airport to the centre daily untill 11pm.
After this hour the only way to get to the centre or to the airport is by taxi.

A cab takes about 30 to 45 minutes to arrive during the day. By night this service takes about half the time as there is no traffic but even so the service is more expensive. This option costs abou 45€/50€.

Pay attention when you choose the taxi option as there are many illegal ones that offers you their services. Try to always catch an official roman cab.
They’re white or yellow and don’t try to discuss a price, try always to be taxed by the taximeter.
Even so if you think that you are being fooled get the name of the taxi driver and the number written on the exterior side of the door.

In Italy you have to be very carefull as this wasn’t the mafia country.

Eating in Rome

Rome is, in our opinion, the best gastronomic capital of Europe. Since pizzas, pastas, lasagnas, you can eat all this in lower prices that you've ever dreamed of.

Definitly the cheapest zone in Rome to eat is Trastevere (a quiet area, with almost no traffic as the streets are too small for cars and the tourists don't usually go there, as is not on the books). In this place the most difficult part is to pick the restaurant as the prices are all alike between them.
Our suggestion is to stay in the first one that you find a free table (wich can be more complicated between 12.30am/ 2pm and 7.30pm/10pm).



The restaurants in Rome are just like the movies show, and this zone is not an exception.
Square tables for 2, chess like towels, candles and flowers and if you're lucky you may find an acordeon or violin player to set the mood.
The prices are very cheap.

You can have lunch with an entry (salad, soup or garlic bread), first plate (lasagnas, pizzas, pastas, cannelonni, ...), second plate (chicken, fish or meat) and a dessert at your choice, for just about 8€.
This restaurants also have this option for dinner but the price is about 10€.
Don't forget that, if you eat outside you have to pay 1,5€ for the service, but it's a simbolic fee as you've just had a great meal with an excelent service.


If during the day you prefer not to stop for lunch, then eat something in any roman corner.
It's very easy to find a trattoria where you can buy squares of pizza (in Italy the pizza slices are not triangles but squares and are paied by it's weight).
After being cut, the slices are wormed and believe us, that you won't tell they're not fresh out of the hoven.
Go inside and if you don't like any (wich is very hard) don't worry that 100m ahead you'll find another trattoria.
Try not to go into foreign trattorias (specially the chinese ones, and yes they now make pizzas) because the ingredients are not that good and the prices are absurd for their low quality.


Besides the famous food, the italians make great desserts.
The tiramisu lovers won't find it hard to delight themselves and the icecreams are one of the best italian temptations.
Buy one as they have an outstanding taste, from the best that you'll ever try in your life.

Any icecream store is excelent, even those who are in turistic spots like Piazza di Spagna where you can eat a giant 6 flavour icecream for just 6€.

Rome has lot's of piazzas full of animation, things to buy and where to eat. However they usually have over the top prices.
We suggest that you buy an icecream and sit on the pavement and watch the street actors show.

But if you want to eat something else or just relax a little bit please stay away from the Ai Tre Tartufi cafe in Piazza Navona.
The bathroom's are the filthiest that you've ever seen in your life, they make prices based on the appearance of the tourist (even thought the prices are listed on the menu) and the waiters are extrely unpolite. Go to the one in front of these restaurant.


Of course there's fast food in Rome, but the famous McDonnals and houses alike aren't just around the corner like in London, for example. If you're missing that burguer then look very well as you're not going to find that easy (there are only about 20 McDonnalds restaurants in all Rome).



In the Vatican, opposite to what says in the books, you may also make menu meals just like in Trastevere for less then 10€.
So if you took the morning to stay in line to the Vatican Museum, don't worry, on your way out you'll find good restaurants with good prices.

If you're staying at Plus Camping Rome you'll find in front of it the Panorama Supermarket and a few meters ahead you'll find a McDonnalds and a Pans and Company restaurants.
The supermarket prices are low, and they too make home made pizzas, but nothing alike the ones made in the old part of the city.

If you usually loose weight when you go on vacations, forget it because in Rome certainly you will gain some weight as is almost impossible to stop eating.

Rome

Rome is the eternal capital of Europe. It's head to head with Athens in terms of most historical cultural capital, as it can be seen by the dozens of ruins and renaissence monuments spreaded around the old part of the city.
While London is the european capital with a bigger number of population, Rome is the european capital with the biggest dimensions.
In Rome it's also sitted the Vatican, a city-state, with it's own government and is also the oficial residence of the Pope.
Rome is a caotic city whose population is dominated by italians, as it doesn't happens in other european capitals.
In Rome be prepared to delight yourself with the best food you've ever tasted and with best prices.
If you want a cultural european vacations, with the best food in the middle, then Rome is the place to go.

Eurodisney

Eurodisney doesn't need any presentations.
Everybody has already heard something about this Parisien theme park that enchants both grownups and children.
It's a world appart that everyone dreams of going someday in they're lives.
Being the first or just one more time that you're going to Disneyland Paris here are some tips for you.


Getting to Eurodisney it's not very difficult, although the park is not in Paris as everybody thinks it is. It's in Marne-la-Vallee, a town situated about 40km from Paris centre.

If you're already in Paris and thinking of going by train the best solution is going through Gare du Nord, one of the biggest and the most central station of Paris that contains many trains to various destinations, including the TGV to London.

The train ticket between zones 1 (Paris centre) and 5 (Marne-la-Vallee/Chessy) costs about 12.30€ and it's called Mobilis as it doesn't have travel limits for that day.
The trip takes about 50 minutes but it has the compensation of stopping right in front of Eurodisney. Just go up the stairs and welcome to the enchanted world.

If you're thinking of going by car think twice as it can be very tricky to get out of Paris center and at the same time you're wasting precious minutes in the company of your favourite Disney characters.
However there are many informations of how to get to your destination.

The ticket to Eurodisney for 1 day costs 47€ - adult ticket and 38€ for childrens between ages 3 and 11.
The ticket for 3 days for an adult costs 126€ and for childrens beteween 3 and 11 years old 104€.
The tickets can be bought online.
Don't think of buying at the door as for sure you're going to find a huge line.
You can also buy the ticket in some stores in Paris as you can find it cheaper then buying it online but if you don't know the town very well it's better to buy it online.



Next to the main park there's another one, the Walt Disney Studios
But if you only have one day to visit this magic world then choose the main one.
However if you're planning an extended trip then go take a tour to the Walt Disney Studio, but pay attention that you need another ticket that you have to buy in separate.

Eurodisney is open everyday between 9am and 8pm, depending on the time of the year.
If you'd like to know the schedulle of the parks to a specific day check the calendar.



The main park is divided in 5 themes: Aventure Land where you can climb a huge tree house, sail by the Pirates of the Caribbean seas or experiment the exciting Indiana Jones russian mountain; Frontier Land where you can get to know Pocahontas village, travel in a vapor boat and get to know the corners of the old faroest; Fantasy Land where you can live the disney fairytales and get to know the Sleeping Beauty Castel; Discovery Land where you can travel in a rocket in the dark, where you can travel in time and space or watch a 3 dimensions movie where a dog will sneeze right on your face; and the Main Street U.S.A, a main square designed in an old victorian style where you can buy all the souvenirs that you want and even go around in an electric car.


When you enter is given to you a map in a way not to get lost and to better plan your day at Eurodisney.
All the diversions are included in the price of the ticket, once you're inside you won't pay any ride and you can repeat it as any times as you want.
The main problem of the park are the gigantic lines that some of the attractions can gather.
It's almost impossible to know the all park in just one day but if you plan your day very well and if you don't stop for lunch (bring your own snacks and sadwiches and stop to eat for about 15 minutes) you can pretty much know the park very well.
A meal for 2 can be made for about 12€ but you loose too much time in line.

Try to stay away from Eurodisney on wednesdays as the french kids don't have classes on that day of the week and the lines on that that can be bigger then on other days.
The characters that we grew up with can be seen on the park but if you don't want to be looking for them in the map that is given to you in the entrance says the times and places that they are so you can take a picture with them or even, if you buy it on the Main Street, a little autograph book where you can ask them to sign it for you.



Everyday at 4pm takes place the Fenomenal Parade with alegoric cars, dancers and all the characters that you have misses.
During the 60 minutes it's almost impossible to loose it as it goes around all the park and with loud music and an impressive animation.
It's a lovely show worth watching.

A weekend in London

If time doesn't appear often on your schedulle then 2 days will have to be enough for you to feel the real London vibe.
The truth is that one month is not enough to know london but the most important things, if you're stong at will, can be seen in just 2 days.
If you find it difficult to choose between the hundreds of options then take our suggestions in the way to have 48 fantastic hours.



Start your journey by taking the underground untill Edgware Road Station and head towards Marble Arch.
Trough this 5 minute walking you'll find many middle east shops where you can find the best exchange rate for your euros. There's no cheaper place in London then in this street.
Drink a hot chocolate down at Starbucks (they're the best, there's dozens of stores everywhere and they're worth the 5 € you pay for it).

Once you're in Marble Arch go through Oxford Street (one of the biggest commercial streets in the world) and be amazed with the London style.
In Oxford Circus catch the underground to Notting Hill Gate and follow the signs to Portobello Road (saturday mornings just follow the crowd to see that you're in the right direction).

With some pounds less and the hands full of stuff go back to Notting Hill Gate station and catch the underground to Green Park (you have to change line at Bond Street).
Once you're in Green Park, follow the signs and go down the park untill you arrive at Buckingham Palace to watch the change guard (daily at 11.30am).




Five minutes from there and after you cross St James Park go to the Horse Guards
and take a picture with the Queen's horses.
At the same time you're heading to the famous 10 Downing Street (the oficial home of Britain's Prime Minister),at the right of the Horse Guards.

Stop to eat something in the neighbourhood and with some energie gained you can see at the bottom Big Ben. Take a good look at him and take as many pictures as you can.
Right in the corner there's the Westminster Abbey, the place where Lady Di said goodbye to this world.

Go back to Big Ben and get in one of the many turistic boats (the ticket costs about 7 €) and go till the Tower of London. There enjoy Tower Bridge and the interior of the Tower of London (it takes about 3hours to see it).
In the way out get the underground at the Tower Hill station and go to Leicester Square (you have to change line at Embankment).
Have dinner and enjoy a bit of the London nightlife.
2 minutes from there shines the big publicity panels of Picadilly Circus.

The next day start your journey in Warwick Avenue and visit Little Venice and see how many of londoner's have a different lifestyle living on boats. There catch a bus to Camden Market. You're going to need about 3hours to watch the latest and unusual trends that exist there.

In Camden catch the underground to Hyde Park Corner (you have to switch line in Leicester Square) and eat something in Hard Rock.
With full stomach it's easier to walk down at the giant Hyde Park. Take a rest and head west toward Harrods.

Loose your head and buy some souvenirs there and right at the door there's the underground station (Knightsbridge) and head to Covent Garden.

Enjoy the street shows and eat something in the neighbourhood.
If you still have the time and energie use them in a night walk from Waterloo to Tower Bridge that is absolutely gorgeous at night.

Have a good weekend!

Sightseeing London

London has a lot to give.
Once you're in town you may feel a little bit confuse with so much offer that is given to you that you don't know where to start.
If you like to be in touch with nature you may start by the many green spots around the city.
London is known by it's fog, by it's high level of pollution and by it's caotic traffic but it's very easy to abstain from that because of the existence of dozens of parks and gardens right in the heart of London.
The londoner's usually spends his weekend, or even that lunch hour break in the parks with the children, walking the dog, having lunch and even play some football with the friends.
The biggest and the best known is Hyde Park, with more than 350 hectars, 4000 trees and a horse track.

Every sunday it's possible to watch some political debates or just some opinions of people passing by in the Hyde Park Speaker's Corner. In 2003 about 1 million people gathered there to protest against war on Iraq. Get off at Marble Arch and follow the signs drafted on the floor of Hyde Park to find Speaker's Corner.
Don't miss the Serpentine, a huge artificial lagoon that was ordered by George II to show off his love to his wife Caroline of Ansbach, where you can roll around with your bike or skates and to pedal in boats down on the lake.
Hyde park is also the stage of many benefit concerts or the stop point to some of the biggest bands in the world.



If you continue your walk down at Hyde Park you will get to Kensington Gardens, and it's good to be prepared with some cookies as you're arriving to Royal Albert Statue you will find dozens of friendly squirls that will get to you if there's something in exchange.



Princess Di loved to walk around in this park as her palace is situated in Kensington Gardens. Visit the memorial dedicated in her memory and take a picture with the Peter Pan statue.




Another best known park is Regent. It's in a sofisticated neighbourhood as it's situated in a high class residential area. It has about 30.000 roses. If you like to play sports, this park has a lot to offer you, since tenis and golf courts, a place to play some hoquei, jogging tracks, 2 rugby fields, 4 to play some cricket and 14 football fields.
Through the top of the garden it's possible to get to London Zoo.

If you go to Greenwich to see the meridien then you have to cross the Greenwich Park where you can run, take a walk, do a picnic or roll down the hill. In the top of the park you'll find the astronomic observatory and there you'll enjoy the breathtaking view of London that certainly you will never forget!


Back to the city centre, straight to Buckingham Palace, the oficial residence of Queen Elizabeh II, stop at St James Park and feed the many ducks, pelican, goose and pigeons that live there.
Sit down and relax at the many chairs displayed in the middle of the garden.


Museums

If culture is your big passion then you came to the right place.
If you want to got to one of the best museums of the world then catch de underground to Russel Square and head to the British Museum.
Here it's possible to make a trip to past cultures, with special focus on the egipcian. The entry is free of charge and you'll only pay if you want to visit special exhibitions.
It's open daily between 9am and 6pm althought some days it will only close at 11pm.



If you always liked the time when dinossaurs ruled the world then you can't miss the Natural History Museum. Here you can see real size replicas of this "monsters", know a little bit more about there lives and get carried around with de pre-historical vibe that circles around the museum. It's a must go place both to children and adults. It's open daily and the entry is also free of charge and the last permitted entry is at 5.30pm.


If you didn't cross with any famous star,
then let yourserlf be photografed with some of the celebreties down at the very famous Madame Tussaud's.It's in Baker Street near the Planetarium. You can buy both tickets togetether if you like so. The ticket price is not very appealing, 25£ (37,5€) but you can't miss this place. Take a picture with the eternal Lady Di, walk trought the many USA presidents, ask for the pope blessing, help building Mourinho's ideal team, remember the famous white dress of Marilyn Monroe and sing with Michael Jackson.
If your ticket includes the Live Chaimber, a special wing of the museum, then prepare yourself to feel the rush watching Joana d'Arc being burned alive or Louis XVI being decapitated. Jack the ripper and Adolf Hitler are also there between many others.
The way out is in a trolley car and where you can wath the antique London.






If you like arts and is addicted in The Davinci Code then you certainly want to go to the National Gallery. It's in Trafalgar Square, near the Nelson's column. here you can see the real Madonna of the Rocks and the Caravaggio colection, aong other works of art.
The entry is free of charge and it's recomended and amall visit.
If you want you can leave a pound to manintain this museum free of charge.





On South River Thames it's possible to visit Tate Gallery. The entry is free and the nearest underground is Pimlico. It's the modern art museum of London. It's collection is so vast that the board decided that it was for the best that the pieces of art would be renovated 6 to 6 months.
It's open daily and it closes at 5.50pm.


Landmarks

Anyone that goes to London goes to see the Big Ben.
Big Ben is not the name of the famous clock in Westminster as everybody thinks but it's the name of it's bell.
When you get to London make sure that this is going to be the first thing that your're going to see. You'll be impressed with it's dimension and for sure that you will set your clock by him.


London Eye is right in front of Big Ben. For those who don't know what that is, it's a giant wheel, with numerous capsules that can gather about 15 persons each.

It was opened in the year 2000 and in the present about 10.000 people travels every day in the eye.
Inside each capsule you can take fantastic pictures and in clear sky days you can see for about 40km distance (you can even see the Windsor Castle). If you'd like to impress or even pop the question you can rent a private capsule.


Go to Trafalgar Square, one of the most beautifull squares in the world, where it's the National Gallery, Nelson's Column and it's where usually the londoners celebrate a big football victory and where the chinese celebrate they're New Years.

Visit Tower Bridge and try to find out the schedule that the bridge is open. In the top of the bridge there's a special glass where you can take fantastic pictures of the London sights.

You can see right next to the bridge the Tower of London, a fortress that in the present is the repository of the Crown Jewels and in the past was a castle and a prison.
It's almost one hundred years old and it's still imaculated. On the inside you can see numerous crows whose wings were cut so that they won't fly away. The brittish believe that if they fly away from the Tower the monarchy will fall.
Don't miss a visit to this place that is well worth the 15£ (22,5€). Students, familiar and retired people tickets are cheaper.

Go to St Paul's Cathedral, where Prince Charles married Diana and was built after it's predesessor was burnt during the big London fire of 1666.
If you want to reach the top you have to pay and will have to climb about 500 stairs.

If you're a Beatles fan or just a curious one go to Abbey Road and see the studio where they recorded, take a picture in the famous zebra walking wich was the cover of a Beatles album and sign the wall. It's very near of the centre and you can catch a bus in Oxford Street to go there.

Also go to Westinster Abbey, the stage of the english crowns and the same place where Pincess Diana saied goodbye to the world.

If you have a free afternoon then visit the Greenwich Royal Observatory where it's the first world meridien. It's situated in a pretty and colourful village that marks the spot known as GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) that sets the time in every clock in the world.
The ticket is free but you have to get in line to get one and the last entrance is at 4.30pm.
And if you're there visit Cutty Sark, a historic english boat that was used as a way of transportion of tea.

If you'd like to know one of the places where was filmed The DaVinci Code then go to Temple Church. Get off at Temple Station. It's close by between Fleet Street and River Thames. It's a bit tricky to find it as it's in a very quiet area.
It was built in the XII century and in the floor you can see the Templars tombs (they built this church). Free entry.

As you're near the river get to know HMS Belfast, a ship that was used in the II world war and in the Normandie landing and it's now open for exhibition near the Tower Bridge.
Children 'till 16 have free entry and adult tickets go around 8.5£ (13€)


Relax

In London you have dozens of places where you can have fun.
One of the best clubs in the world is in London. It's the Ministry of Sound, it's near the city centre and you can go there by getting off at the Elephant & Castle underground station.

If you like more calmed spots then go to Leicester Square area. Go to Hippodrome that has that student vibe.
Go to Tantra Club, in Soho. A very cool bar with style and glamour. The vive looks like an MTV videoclip. One of the best bars is the West End area.
If you like theatre then go watch one of the many musicals that play in London.
One hint, go to the Half Price Ticket Booth in Leicester Square (there are lot's of false booths but the only one that is real is the one in front of the Capital Radio of London) but it only sells tickets for that day.
Watch the famous Phantom of the Opera, or Cats or even enjoy the Queen musical. You can even buy your ticket online.

If you like to see famous people there are many world premieres in London where you can see the famous Hollywood stars or even the royal family that so many times marks they're presence in these events.

If you'd like something more romantic then have a dinner boat Cruise in the Thames River. It costs about 80£ (120€) per person but you'll have a night that you wont' forget.

If your trip is finnishing and would like to get rid of that damn pennies that the britts usually throw away, go to the Trocadero Shopping in Piccadilly and use them in the pennies machine. If you're lucky maybe you'll win some money for a future trip.

Shopping in London

London it's a good, if the not the best, european city to do some shopping and to find the cheapest and rarest things.
The best markets are Portobello Road and Camden market.
Portobello market takes place in Notting Hill and is on every saturday morning.


In this market you can find such things as fruits, vegetables, fresh cakes, clothes, trifles, knick-knack and that very rare vinyl that you can't find elsewhere but here. It has things and styles for all tastes in a very good price. It was also here that was filmed the Notting Hill movie with Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts, among other movies.

Camden market take place everyday but the best day to go is on Sundays. This market is dominated by the punk theme. This is the place to do that piercing and tattoo that you always wanted.
In case you're hungry you can always try, for free, the food offered by the shoutting ladies in the food department.
Don't miss the orange juice, lemonade and garlic bread sold in the market entry!

You also have the Petticoat Lane Market (near Aldgate Station) where you can find the best leather clothes. It's held on Sunday mornings.
Brixton market the most musical market that exists in london. As brixton is the borough of the black community there's no wonder that this market is full of they're culture.

Then you have the Covent Garden market, whose main products are crafs, but it's main attraction are the street performers that are there all day long just to entertain people who are passing by.


Stores
Beside the markets there are many stores around London that you can find the best prices. Some of those are the Sports World store (Oxford street and St Paul's Cathedral) and Lillywhites(Picadilly) who have special promotions all year long.
If you love shoes then go to Office store, that you can find in Bayswater and Covent Garden. They have the special promotion of buy 1 get the 2nd one for 1/2 price.


And we can't forget the Harrods store. The biggest one in the world, and where you can buy from an elephant to a olive.True!!!
There you can find really everything that you can imagine. It's a bit expensive but you can always buy a souvenir pen at the dutty free department. You can't miss the Diana and Dodi Memorial (we can't say in which floor it is because the place is so big that we´ve always get lost in there!)



If you go to London don't forget to take some extra cash as it might be impossible to get out of there whithout new stuff on the bag!

How to get to London

Nowadays it's possible to arrive in London, by airplane, for about 60euros round trip, with taxes included, in less then 2 hours.
The company that made this possible is the irish Ryanair that allows us to make reservations online saving time and money on the tradicional tickets (as they give us the reservation code that we have to show at the moment of the luggage check in). Even thought, ryanair lands in secondary airports, it's always a good choice.
You can get the lowest fares, by buying online with about 3 weeks in advance (choose the find the lowest fare link).

London has 5 airports Heathrow, Luton, Stansted, Gatwick and City.


Ryanair lands in Luton and Stansted Airport.
If you land in the Stansted airport, that is 50km from the city centre, you have 2 options: the train or the bus.
If you choose the train you can get to the city centre in 45 minutes with the "Stansted Express" and the ticket costs about 25£ (37,5€) round trip. They have departures every 15 minutes.
If you choose the cheapest way then you're going with the "Terravision" buses that can get you in the centre in about 1 hour and 15 minutes for only 8£. Make your reservation online so you can get discounts and save time.
The trains depart on the lower floor of the airport (-2) and the buses leave in the -1 floor.

London

London is the biggest european capital with about 7million people and at the same time one of the most cosmopolitans of the world.
It's also on of the most fun cities. Everyday, anytime, anywhere you can find the most diverse events and don't be surprised if you find someone famous just around the corner.
Anyone that goes to London must be open minded as there's many different people, cultures and styles...

Where to stay in London

Another big thing about going to London is where to stay. It's better if you make reservations online or you can have lot's of trouble finding one when you get there.
There's lots of good hostels in London where you can meet many different people and cultures in wich we detach by it's hygiene, security and location the "Adamotel" and the "Globetrotter Inn London".
If you're looking for fun then go to the "Generator Hotel".


But whatever you do PLEASE stay away from the "Smart Hyde Park Inn".
The prices are around 20 to 30euros per person, depending on the time of the year.
If you're going to London with your family then a good option is the Royal National Hotel. It's great located (3 minute walking the Brittish Museum), has a good staff, nice rooms and an excelent quality / price relation.
It's in Russel Square and a double room costs about 85£ (130€) with breakfast included.


If you're a natureze person and prefer to stay outdoors the Crystal Palace Caravan Club is a good option with a 5£ daily rate. It's near the centre and has direct bus connection to Piccadilly.

How to move in London

Althought there's lots of ways to go around London city the best way is definitely the underground.
With the "travelcard" for zones 1 and 2 (where all the action happens) you can use the underground in both zones, all the buses with no zone limit and the DLR (a transport similar to the train that goes around all the London docklands) and you can even get a 1/3 discount on the river boats down on the Thames River. The travelcard allows you to have an unlimited number of rides on the transports.
The London Underground is very practical, secure, clean and is the fastest way to travel around the city (there's a metro in every 1 to 2 minutes).
There's the 1day, 3 day and 7days travelcards that you can by online or when you arrive at London in any station.
The bravest, can go around the city by car but be careful with madness that is the London traffic and don't forget to pay the congestion charge. You can also rent online in the "Sixt" rent a car webpage, a Smart car for only 5 £ per day.

Eating in London

Eating in London is not that much expensive as everyone thinks it is.
For those who like to cook there's many supermarkets just around the corner such as Tesco, Sainsbury and Sommerfield (and in zones 3 - DLR Prince Regent station - there's Asda and Lidl). In these supermarkets if you go around 7.30/8pm you can find many products that are made for eating in that day with 50 and 75% discount.

In London there's many All You Can Eat restaurants like the Deep Pan Pizza (metro stop Notting Hill and Bond Street), where you can eat all the pizza, pasta and salad that you can handle, for about 6pounds (about 9€).
"Pizza Hut" does that promotion too at lunch time for 5,49pounds.
For those who like chinese food,there's many All You Can Eat chinese restaurants, in China Town (Soho), for about 4/5pounds (but pay attention, that many of those restaurants a few months ago where closed for lack of hygiene!!).
In Edgware Road, the best place to find the beneficial rate for exchange, you have lot's and lot's of libanese restaurants where you can eat this different food for about 7 to 10pounds (10/15€).
And if you like portuguese food or is curious about it you can go to Stockwell where you can find the best portuguese dishes for about 4/5pounds.

About Us

 

 

We are portuguese youngsters that love's to travel and we are starting by knowing Europe. Our blog is set to give you some tips that the books don't tell and at the same time to demystify what they say about the costs that you have while travelling. We usually don't travel with big big budget and that's not a problem to know many european cities and have lot's of fun. Feel free to send us some tips also. Enjoy!