Despite its many free attractions, museums and art galleries – from the National Portrait Gallery to the British Museum - London is a notoriously pricey city – where even a humble plate of fish and chips can cost around a tenner!
If you had just $10 (or £6.75 ish) in your pocket, what would you spend it on? We asked travellers in London for their ideas…
We’re London locals ourselves, though, so we played backpacker for the day and scoured the city for a list of great things to do when you’re staying in hostels in London on a budget. And we were pleasantly surprised at the more unusual things you can do in London with a bit of spare change…
1. Beigels in Brick Lane (£2)
In London’s now trendy East-End, Brick Lane is a popular place to soak up a bit of Brit-cool, with edgy bars and clubs, vintage clothing stores, and the infamous curry houses lining the streets. But after a night on the grimy-but-oh-so-hip tiles, London’s clubbers head to the Brick Lane Beigel Bake – perfect for soaking up the booze with a Jewish ‘Beigel’.
Cooked in the traditional way- boiled and then baked- these are the most authentic bagels you will ever eat, chewy and warm and served with all the typical fillings, from Smoked Salmon and Cream Cheese to Pastrami. Open 24 hours a day, a plain Beigel is only 15p, and the classic Salt Beef is only £2. At these prices, you’ll have change spare to squeeze in a slice of cheesecake, or any other sugar-soaked pastry, for around 60p…
2. Full English Breakfast (£5)
If the Beigel wasn’t enough to prevent that hangover, spend a fiver on a traditional English Breakfast – otherwise known as ‘the Builder’s’ or the ‘Fry-Up’ . As it’s loving name suggests, this British ‘delicacy’ (just like fish and chips, pie and sausage and mash) is heavy with cholesterol and calories – but who cares when it tastes this good!
For an authentic but cheap English breakfast, forget the skinny lattes and croissants of more upscale breakfast venues and look out for a ‘Greasy Spoon’ Caff – the plastic tablecloths, wipe-clean booths and gruff builders downing cups of tea are all part of the charm. Each ‘Full English’ varies from place to place, but expect a greasy mash-up of bacon, eggs, sausage, beans, fried tomatoes and mushrooms, fried bread or hash browns, black pudding, and toast with lashings of butter, all washed down with a strong cup of tea. Dakin’s (under London Bridge) and The Other Side on Pentonville Road (by King’s Cross) are just two of the traditional joints where you can get all of the above for £5!
3. A Monu-mental View (£3)
The Monument is one of London’s most underrated tourist sites – just over from London Bridge, this tower (built to commemorate the great Fire of London in 1666) offers dizzying views of the city. It’s just reopened, so pay the small admission fee and brace yourself for a 61 meter climb to the top.
4. The ‘Bard’ in Action (£5)
Shakespeare is one of England’s most famous residents, and the esteemed playwright’s works are on show on the South Bank from April to October every year at The Globe Theatre. A recreation of a traditional Tudor playhouse, it comes complete with open roof and space for the ‘groundlings’ (that’s people standing to you and me). Standing tickets start from just £5, so if the weather’s nice, you can pay only peanuts to see the famous plays performed by the Royal Shakespeare Company.
5. The Opera (£4)
If Shakespearean dramatics are not your thing, the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden also offers budget-friendly deals; it’s £4 for a last-minute standing ticket, which is perfect if you have high-class taste and an empty wallet!
6. A Bag Full of Records
From the Beatles at Abbey Road to the birth of Punk, London has long been famous for its music scene. With the demise of the traditional record shop, and even chains like Zavvi and Fopp going under, there seem to be less and less places to score some bargain beats. Luckily, Cheapo Cheapo records (53 Rupert Street) is still around – a real one-off and a chaotic Aladdin’s Cave of second-hand records, CDs and DVDs. Open from 1pm until the owner decides to close, this tiny shop in Soho is a ramshackle mix of old cardboard boxes crammed with vinyl and bags of rubble… Rummage here for a few hours and you can get a decent bag of goodies for your 10 bucks – but you’ll find yourself elbowing DJs out the way in search of an awesome bargain.
7. Art – And the Prettiest Corner of London? (£5)
Dulwich Village is an affluent part of South London, populated with gourmet delis, flower shops and shops selling trinkets and designer goods for yummy mummies. There’s a glorious park and beautiful old college, as well as some impressive houses, but the Dulwich Picture Gallery is the cultural gem worth heading south for. There’s an outstanding collection of 17th and 18th century art by masters such as Rembrandt and Rubens, housed in a mix of historic and ultra-modern buildings. Three times a year the Gallery hosts fascinating exhibitions, such as the ‘Age of Enchantment’ (illustrations for Fairy stories).
8. Take to the Water in Hyde Park
Hyde Park is beautiful all year-round, and when the weather warms up there’s nothing better than taking a pedalo ride across the Serpentine Lake, with glorious views of the gallery. Half an hour’s Pedalo Hire is £5 – double up for a romantic and leisurely lake ride.
9. Ride the Dodgems (£2)
For a more hectic ride, hit the dodgems at County Hall, by Waterloo Station. The ‘NamCo Experience’ is like an indoor fairground, with video game arcades, bowling and pool, but the hectic indoor dodgem rink is the best way to unleash your inner child.
10. Offbeat Nights Out
There’s loads to do on a night out in London, but once you veer from a cheap pub towards a club, prices can skyrocket. That’s why Shunt, a unique lounge bar and ‘performance space’ underneath the arches of London Bridge, is so refreshing – entry is only £5 to guarantee a quirky evening’s entertainment. Get there early (queues on a Friday often snake around the block) and prepare to witness an assortment of dancing, theatre, music, art shows and other oddball delights.
Looking for more inspiration on what to do in London? Check out our cheap day out in London, or 48 hour city break with just £48… It’s also fun to research other blogs from expats or frequent travellers who have moved to the UK to see London through the eyes of visitor rather than us cynical locals. Try Singapore in London which has some great tips about unique events and Emm in London’s adventures!
For our next 48 hour city guide, our guest blogger Nikolas Tjhin goes far east to hectic Hong Kong, an island city combining colonial charm with ultra modern skyscrapers and a traditional taste of the Orient…
Day One
Visitors to the island of Hong Kong always agree that this place is hectic! People are always rushing off somewhere, all while grabbing a snack, talking on the phone or catching up on the latest news and gossip. But even in the hustle and bustle of this metropolitan city, one can still enjoy a relaxing trip to Hong Kong on a backpacker’s budget, and there are plenty of Hong Kong hostels to crash in after a tiring day on the city streets.
City Tour on the Tram: For a cheap city tour, minus the guide, board the double-decker city trams on the North Coast of Hong Kong island. This Hong Kong icon takes you through various places of interests such as the Western Market, Causeway Bay, Happy Valley and finally ends at Shau Kei Wan, all for a mere HK$2 (US$0.20)!
Lunch at SOHO East: At the end of the tram line is the MTR station Sai Wan Ho. Walk along the tourist trail through to SOHO East, an area overlooking the coast with a wide variety of restaurants and cafes. This is a great place to enjoy a relaxing lunch accompanied by a gentle sea breeze and the peaceful sound of crashing waves.
Catch a Ferry and see the Symphony of Lights: After exploring Sai Wan Ho, go back to the Star Ferry terminal and hop on the ferry towards Kowloon (HK$0.50) at around 7:45-ish. This way you’ll get to enjoy the daily laser light show from the best possible seat, on the ferry at sea! The free show, the Symphony of Lights, is the world’s largest permanent light and sound show. The ferry drops you off near the Avenue of Stars, so take a leisurely stroll along Hong Kong’s version of the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Dinner at Mongkok: Mongkok at night is always crowded with people, but if you know where to go you’ll be able to keep yourself from being crushed by the throng of bargain-hungry shoppers. Parts of the street in the area is closed at night, and turned into street-side make-shift restaurants serving various local delicacies. Hong Kong has hundreds of unique local dishes to choose from, but try the drunken clams, hot-pot rice and oyster eggs!
Nightlife at Lan Kwai Fong: Finally, if you still have the energy, hail a cab and head towards Lan Kwai Fong, a hip hangout spot for both locals and tourists. You’ll find various pubs, cafes, bars and nightclubs in the area, playing anything from live music, hip hop and R&B to techno and trance.
Sleep Well: When you’re all partied out, head to Nathan Road’s Golden Mile – not to hit the stores and shops, but to bed down in the Lucky Hotel. Situated in Chung King Mansion, this hostel is slap bang in the center of Hong Kong, close to Victoria Harbor and the Star Ferry Terminal, and the beds are said to be the chicest and comfiest in the city…
Day Two
Street Side Breakfast: Breakfast is my favorite part of the day, and Hong Kong’s version is undeniably sweet. A serving of egg-tarts with an order of teh-peng (tea with sweetened milk over ice) is a great way to start the day. Add to that an order of hot and sour soup to go – sea cucumber, roasted duck, and pig’s blood all mixed in a flavorful broth.
Explore Lantau Island: For a fresh perspective of Hong Kong, head towards Lantau Island for a day of hiking and exploration in this island getaway. Start with a 30-minutes cable car ride towards the cultural village at Ngong Ping, before heading towards the Giant Buddha Statue by the Po Lin Monastery. For the more fit and adventurous, there are also various nature and hiking trails that lead you to mesmerizing scenic views of Hong Kong Island!
A Sweet Pick-Me Up: After a day of hiking and trekking, head back to the comfort of Hong Kong Island to enjoy the sweet and tasty treats at one of the many desserts stalls around Hong Kong (the famed franchise Hui Lao Shan is extremely popular with the locals). Try the Mango Sago with Pomelo for a quick pick-me up, and perhaps grab an extra order to go!
Stanley Town: End you day at Stanley Town in South Hong Kong Island, and while away the evening in the fine restaurants. Near the area there is also Stanley Market, a large open-air market that is similar to Mong Kok, but nowhere near as crowded. It’s a great place to find that last-minute souvenir for friends and relatives.
There’s loads more things to do in Hong Kong, of course, but I think you’d need an extra week to fit all the sights in…
Nikolas Tjhin is the editor of UnearthingAsia, a travel blog-zine focusing on culture, lifestyle and attractions all around Asia. When not Twittering away, he reads, writes and dreams about travel!
Recession? What recession?! It seems the backpacking crowd aren’t the type to let something as little as a global economic crisis get in the way of their travel plans.
In fact, travellers are more than just out there on the scene – they’re still searching for that new, unique, exciting destination to jet off to next…
This weekend, the Observer ran a piece on hot new backpacking spots with Albania as the new ‘number one’ on the scene. (Ed. – We’re all over this one – check out the five reasons to visit Albania we put together last September!)
Cheap, unspoiled and now beginning to rejuvenate after years under a hard-line dictatorship, Albania certainly has the credentials to be this year’s top backpacking “secret” in Europe. A decent travel infrastructure is also developing to complement its attractive beach/culture combination. Accommodation may still be a bit hard to find in more rural areas, but there’s a decent range of hostels in Tirana which make a good starting point for exploring Albania.
The Observer’s other tip-offs include Namibia, Laos, Malaysia and Bolivia… which have all managed to stay somewhat under the radar on their respective backpacking circuits.
It’s hard to pick a favourite sight amongst these… there’s Malaysia’s futuristic capital, Kuala Lumpur (or ‘KL’ as it’s rather snazzily known), or La Paz, Bolivia’s capital, which sits high up in the valleys of the Andes… Then there’s the stunning natural landscapes of Laos (think Thailand before Starbucks arrived), and the Skeleton Coast of Namibia…
And in case you’re still not quite decided whether 2009 is the right to moment to head off on an adventure, Nomadic Matt (who’s in Thailand right now, incidentally…) has put together his thoughts on why, far from being a bad year to up and leave, now is actually the best time to travel!
The moral of the story? You just can’t keep a traveller at home! Once you’ve got that travel bug, it’s all over… Izuno Travel clearly can’t keep still, either – here’s their ten reasons why a backpacker just can’t stay home for long!
What’s your top tip for 2009? Have your travel plans been affected by the recession, or has the doom and gloom of home inspired you to head out into the big wide world? Let us know… AW
We continue with our list of ‘10 things to do for $10′ in Sydney – one of the most popular spots in the world on the backpacking scene and full of great Sydney Hostels!
You can do some awesome things for $10 (or 13 AU$) in this sunny Aussie city, and we don’t just mean lounging around on the beaches, chugging cocktails or surfing…. in fact, there were so many amazing things that you could do with an extra $10 in Sydney that we found it difficult narrowing it down!
Here’s our favourite ten, but feel free to let us know if you have any other top tips for $10…
1.Manly (AU$10)
This northeastern suburb isn’t strictly in Sydney, although the long golden beaches and excellent surfing make it well worth the trip. Ditch the bus and use your change to take the Manly Ferry, which only takes 30 minutes. This scenic sail across Sydney Harbour boasts views of the National Parks, Harbour Bridge and the Royal Opera House.
2.Fish and Chips
Aussie Fish and Chips are a Sydney staple, and there’s no better way to enjoy them than watching surfers and the sunset from Manly beach. The Barramudi Boy’s Manly Fish Cafe is a bit of an institution in Moreton Bay, with a fresh seafood market next door.
The best budget option is to get your fish and chips to go, and then sit on the beach. The takeaway service is open ’till late if you get the munchies in the evening. A serving of Cod costs just AU$6.90, five pieces of fish are AU$4 and a scoop of chips for one costs AU$3. If you’re feeling extra peckish, you can chow down on a Queensland Barramundi for AU$9.90…
Those with more refined tastes can head to the famous Fish Market at Pyrmont, and you can buy a bag of 12 Oysters for AU$12.
3. Possum Spotting (AU$11)
Yes, you heard us right! Check out one of Sydney’s cutest cuddly creatures on a Twilight Spotlight Prowl in Centennial Park. Get your cameras ready as Rangers point out the nocturnal inhabitants.
4. The Harbour Bridge (AU$9.50)
You can tackle the Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb from ‘The Rocks’ – Australia’s oldest European settlements, but it’s hideously expensive and tiring! The easiest and cheapest way to see Sydney from the Harbour Bridge is at the Pylon Lookout. Walk up the 200 steps of the South-East Pylon and you’ll be rewarded with magnificent sights from the viewing platform.
5.Top Sighteeing Tips
It may seem cheesy, but the Sydney Monorail is both iconic and an easy way to spend a day sightseeing in this sprawling city. A AU$9.50 ‘Supervoucher day pass’ allows unlimited travel. Start at Cockle Bay Wharf, jump off at Paddy’s Market, then board again at the Chinatown stop and head back to Darling Park. If you’d rather see Sydney from the streets, you can download a walking tour guide of Sydney here for your ipod for AU$9.95, and make your own way around the city.
6. TV and Radio (AU$7.50)
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, or ‘ABC’, hold weekday tours at 9.50am and 12.20pm. You can see the set of famous shows such as Play School, or take a peek into a live radio studio where 702 Sydney hosts sometimes invite guests on-air for a quick chat.
7. Become a Poet (AU$10)
Located in the heart of bohemian neighborhood Glebe, the Friend in Hand pub is a cool and quirky place to have a pint. On the first Tuesday of every month, the pub hosts a poetry night called WordinHand where wannabe bards bravely compete for attention with word slams over an open mike. The pub hosts a whole range of kooky events, though, from Crab Racing on Wednesdays (buy your own crab for about AU$2 and join in with the fun!) to Life Drawing Classes on a Monday night.
8. Bowl Bare Foot? (AU$10)
Fancy yourself a skilled bowler, but don’t like the sweaty shoes? The Waverley Bowling and Recreation Club (163 Birrell Street) runs Sunday barefoot bowling sessions, at midday and 4pm. Even if you aren’t likely to get a strike, it’s a fun way to spend a lazy Sunday afternoon bowling on a lawn.
9. Gorge on Ice Cream
A much less competitive way to cool off is to head to Gelato Messina in Darlinghurst, where Italian style ice cream is made fresh on the premises from real ingredients – you won’t find your average Mr Whippy or Cornetto in this gourmet parlour! With over 40 flavours of gelato to choose from (with flavours like apple pie, yogurt, cassata and blood orange), picking a scoop can be intimidating – luckily they have a five scoops for AU$10 deal so you can sample a few that take your fancy!
10. Clubbing in King’s Cross
King’s Cross is one of the liveliest areas for nightlife in Sydney, and the King’s Cross Hotel’s six floors of bars, lounges and clubs is renowned for its great club nights. Kick off evenings on a Tuesday with the AU$4 ‘Beers and Burgers’ event- that’s a drink and dinner sorted for AU$4 a piece!
In the Main Bar on Thursdays, meanwhile, AU$10 will get you dinner and five rounds of ‘Tranny Bingo’ – it’s basically bingo hosted by ‘Miss Penny Tration’ (dressed in drag, in case you hadn’t guessed that).
If you’d rather burn it up on the dancefloor, special events at the Copperlily club and lounge only cost around AU$10 for entry – ‘Copperlily Saturdays’ play a mix of electro, indie and ‘party hip-hop’, with recent events ranging from trance to funk.
What would you do with that 10 bucks? We asked travelers in London how they’d spend $10 in Sydney…Get in touch with your ideas!
We love a good competition, and when we heard about this one from our friends over at TokyoTopia, we thought we’d let our readers know about it too!
This ones for all you budding film-makers….If you’ve been to Tokyo recently and captured it on film, then you could be in with a chance to win some great prizes!
TokyoTopia are running a video competition, looking for original content that will help both first time visitors and seasoned travelers get the most out of their time in Japan’s capital.
And you’ll be handsomely rewarded for your skills. First prize is an H.I.S. Experience voucher worth ¥40,000 – which you can use on the tour company’s extensive list of Japanese cultural tours and excursions, from a bullet train around Mount Fuji to Samurai Sword fights. There’s also a whole host of runner-up prizes, from an Asia Travel pack from the Indie Travel Podcast to a downloadable ‘Gmap’ of Japan for your iPhone.
You’ll get a whole load of publicity as well – the winning video will be featured on the homepage of TokyoTopia and on Indie Travel Podcast, recent winners of Best Travel Podcast in the Lonely Planet Travel Blog Awards. All in all, it’s a great opportunity to showcase your own Tokyo story!
The competition is open until July 31 2009, and the winners will be announced on August 10 on the site – so you’ve got bags of time to get creative with the camera.
Inspired to hop on a plane to Tokyo right now? This buzzing city is a jumble of slick ultra-modern skyscrapers and old-world traditions, where you can find designer boutiques, zen-like gardens and plates of sushi all in equal measure. It may have a reputation for being pricey, but it’s still possible to see this awesomely futuristic city on a budget, with plenty ofTokyo hostels to choose from…
Don’t you just love it when a bit of extra cash comes your way?
You may have already heard that HostelBookers have been found 4.2% cheaper than their next largest competitor in an independent survey of hostels from 20 popular destinations. That’s around £6.75 – or $10 (and €8 Euros) for all you non-Brits out there.
Naturally this got us a little excited, so we started to think…what would we do on holiday in our favorite destinations with that extra money?
First we asked travelers in London; if you had $10 in Amsterdam, how would you spend it?
And here’s our top ten ideas for what you could do when staying in Amsterdam hostels with that 10 bucks in your pocket…
1. The Anne Frank Museum (€7.50)
The Anne Frankhuis is a deeply moving museum and an Amsterdam must-see. Tour around the famous annexe where Anne Frank lived in cramped conditions during the Nazi regime and recorded every detail in her intimate diary. There is also a moving exhibition hall detailing the Holocaust and promoting racial tolerance.
2. The Museum of Hash (€7)
Despite its beautiful architecture, fascinating history and cultural sights, most people end up coming to Amsterdam to smoke copious amounts in a coffeeshop. If you’re going to spend most of your trip in a hash-induced haze, you could at least learn about the stuff, too! The exhibits give a detailed history of the use and cultural significance of Hemp throughout the ages, show smoking devices from around the world, and even explain how cannabis has the potential to become ‘one of humanity’s most valuable renewable energy resources’… fascinating, eh?
3. A Water-Taxi Tour Along the Canals (€8)
Amsterdam is characterized by its canals and waterways, and one of the best ways to really see it is to take to the water. The tourist boat tours are usually expensive and crowded, so head to Damrak Street and hop on a water taxi, which will take you on a one-hour tour of the canals for much less.
4. A Clandestine Church in the Red Light District (€7)
Yep, there is actually a holy church in the seediest corner of the city but, this being the Red Light District and all, it was an illicit place of worship. Back when Amsterdam wasn’t so tolerant and fiercely Protestant, Catholics resorted to secret worship in this hidden church. Today, the Amstelkring Museum (or ‘Our Lord in the Attic’) is well worth a visit for its beautiful church, tucked away in the attic of a historic house, as well as period rooms from and magnificent collection of paintings, sculpture and silver which provide an overview of Catholic history in the city.
5. Drink Beer in a Windmill
Only in Holland…! The Brouwerij ‘t IJ (Funenkade 7, 1018 AL) is a micro-brewery and pub housed in a historic windmill. Tours of the brewery are free every Friday afternoon at 4pm, but the pub is open every day from 3-8pm serving delicious local and organic beers. At around €1.90 a bottle, you can afford to sample a couple. Just don’t blame us for the hangover!
6. A Historic Canal House (€6)
The scenic houses along the canal come in all shapes and sizes and, whilst they are very pretty to look at on an afternoon stroll, you can learn far more about Amsterdam’s history by stepping inside. At theMuseum Geelvinck Hinlopen Huis (Keizersgracht, 633), you can wander around the immaculately preserved gardens and themed rooms – the ‘Red Room,’ ‘Blue Room’ and ‘Chinese Room’ show how the Dutch lived in style in the 17th century.
The Museum Van Loon (Keizersgracht, 672) is a double-sized canal house which dates from 1672 and is now a museum of Amsterdam life in the 19th century. The first resident was the painter Ferdinand Bol, one of Rembandt’s most famous pupils, and the (amusingly named) Van Loon family, many of whom were mayors, moved in in the 1800s.
7. Rent a Bike (€6.50)
The most entertaining and healthy way to get around the winding alleyways of the city is to make like a local and hop on a bike – and it’s a great way to cover a lot of ground if you don’t have much time for sightseeing. Because so many people cycle in Amsterdam, there are heaps of cycle lanes and safe places to park your bike. You can pre-hire a bike online or turn up to Damstraat Rent-A-Bike (Damstraat 20-22, 1012), and it will only cost you around €6.50 for 3 hours (€8 with insurance) – perfect for a lazy afternoon ride.
8. A Taste of Suriname
Suriname (in South America, known as Dutch Guiana) is a former Dutch colony - which has led to many Surinamese emigrating to Holland, bringing a unique cultural tradition and delicious cuisine with them. Suriname is a cultural melting pot in itself, so the food is a mix of Indonesian, Indian and Creole dishes. Restaurants are popping up all over Amsterdam, especially in the ‘Pijp’ area – and Warung Malon (1e Van der Helststraat 55, Wed – Mon 11:00 – 20:00) is one of the best.
For a cheap and authentic dinner out you couldn’t do better – a main meal will cost you around €7.50, the staff are friendly and the restaurant is bright and bustling with native Surinamese tucking in. Dishes to try include roti (an Indian dough pancake served with curry) and bakabana, a huge piece of fried plantain served with peanutty sauce.
9. Dutch Cheese
One of Holland’s most famous exports besides Heineken is cheese, and it’s easy to find a good slice of Gouda or Edam in Amsterdam. The city’s high temple of cheese is the gourmet deli De Kaaskamer (Runstraat 7, The Canal Ring, Amsterdam), where you’ll find a cavernous and well-stocked shop, the walls lined with huge wheels of 440 cheeses, as well as a range of breads, cured meats and pâté to pair them with. At lunchtime there are massive queues for the excellent sandwiches, but €10 will buy you a more than hefty wedge for a snack!
10. Bulbs to Take Home (€5)
The Bloemenmarkt, or Floating Flower Market, on the Singel Canal is one of the prettiest sights in Amsterdam. Holland is famous for its beautiful tulips, with hundreds cycling the ‘Tulip Route’ every spring to catch the colourful flowers in bloom. Tulip bulbs make a great souvenir; you can buy around 12 bulbs for around €5 at the market, so take a big bag to grow at home, or just buy a bunch to enjoy right away!
What would you do with that extra $10 in Amsterdam? Let us know!
Next on our top hostel reviews, we journey to the glamorous French Riviera to the Villa Saint-Exupery – voted the top hostel in France, it’s also been in the world top ten 5 times in 5 years…
This former Carmelite Monastery more than lives up to the hype – it’s a sociable and stylish hostel with exceptionally friendly staff, a legendary all-you-can-eat breakfast and a picturesque setting.
On a hillside in Nice, the hostel is surrounded by a lush park of olive, pine and carob trees and boast a scenic view of the Mediterranean sea. You’re within easy reach of the glitz and glamour of Cannes and St Tropez, but you’re far from slumming it in this bargain villa; the historic buildings have been renovated into charming dorms and private rooms, and romantic gardens of flowers lie in every corner. But the rooms are still thoroughly modern, with free internet, plus fridges and bathrooms in the fancier suites.
The welcoming family who run the hostel have tried to keep the monastery’s original features whilst adding their own unique touches – the lounge is housed in a beautiful chapel with stained glass windows, and the glass Atrium kitchen serves cheap Provencale style meals and delicious home-made pizzas.
Best of all, you can enjoy a royal spread of fresh French bread, juices, coffee and cereals for leisurely breakfast outdoors on the patio. Evenings are best spent lazing in the bar where you can score drinks for a Euro – you won’t find prices like that on a night out in Monaco!
The location is idyllic, but it’s the care and attention to detail that really makes this a world-class hostel. There’s a free pickup service from the airport and train station, and a tram service that runs every 6 minutes to downtown Nice almost 24 hours a day. There’s a huge calender of events, and the hostel will organize a whole host of activities, from scuba-diving to sailing trips.
From only €18 per person per night, this hostel offers such incredible value for money for a chic stay on the French Riviera that it’s no wonder half the guests try to extend their stay!
Next up on our whistlestop 48 hour city tours, guest blogger Anil Polat takes us around the towering mosques and bustling markets of Istanbul…
Day One
Find a bed…There are heaps of hostels in Istanbul, but to sleep somewhere a little more interesting, try the Chambers of the Boheme, a restored historic building in the lively Taksim quarter, the heart of the city’s nightlife. The rooms live up to the extravagant theme, with decadent furnishing and antique mirrors in the rooms, and a Cafe Boheme in the basement for espressos and smoking Shisha after hours.
Take A Ferry Across The Bosphorus…The locals use the multitude of ferries crossing from the European and Asian sides of Istanbul to get to work and visit friends during their daily lives but it’s an essential for any traveler to Istanbul. The ferries offer a great view and introduction to the city, including the Süleymaniye Mosque (Sultanahmet) to Topkapı Palace. The entire trip will take about 15 minutes.
Catch some culture…Make a beeline for Hagia Sophia (Ayasofya). A church constructed around the year 550 A.D, the building was converted into a mosque after the Ottomans conquered the city 900 years later. Aside from the impressive 15 meter main dome, you’ll see paintings from the original churches that are currently being uncovered by researchers. The lines vary, but expect a visit to take from 1-3 hours.
Brush up on your bartering…Spend an afternoon shopping at The Grand Bazaar (Kapalı Çarşı), the oldest covered market in the world. Every shop is unique with many hidden treasures (you can find Ottoman relics tucked away in corners being sold for nothing if you look hard enough). Brush up on your bargaining skills and don’t be surprised if the shopkeeper offers you a cup of tea.
Feast your eyes (and your belly) on Turkish cuisine…Once you’ve worked up an appetite scouring for bargains, grab some dinner at traditional Turkish restaurant Mikla. Turkish cuisine is a blend of dishes left over from the Ottoman Empire, but the owner Mehmet Gurs has added his won Swedish influence to the Turkish Menu. Offering one of the most varied and interesting menus in Istanbul, the view from the restaurant, overlooking the Asian side of the city, is breathtaking. Enjoy a lazy evening grazing for several hours over a 12-course meal.
Day Two
Visit A Turkish Bath (Hamam)…After a quick breakfast at your hostel (Free at the Chambers), start your day with a spot of pampering. These bath houses were social meeting places in the days of the Ottomans and are an experience that is uniquely Turkish. Don’t be intimidated by the Hamams, the process is fairly straightforward (most have separate sections for men and women). Don’t be shy either, you’ll be naked for most of the time, until you get a towel to dry off. Get a scrub and massage, and move back and forth between the hot and cold sections of the bath. The easiest Hamam to navigate and most popular in Istanbul is the Çemberlitas Hamami. Enjoy some tea after a steam and scrub.
Sail Away… An extended version of the traditional ferry, hop on a designated ‘Bosphorus Tour’ all the way from Eminönü on the European side to Anadolu Kavağı on the Asian side (close to the Black Sea). Make time in the afternoon so that you can stop by one of the many restaurants on the shore serving freshly caught fish and Turkish appetizers. You can hop on and off the boat at each stop as you please, but if you take the entire trip (with lunch) plan on spending about 6 hours. (Drink some of the Turkish Raki and add another 2 hours to the trip!)
Go To A Soccer Game… If you’d rather stay on dry land, try and catch a football match in the afternoon. Not for the faint of heart, a football match in Istanbul is surreal. With a hectic atmopshere, the stadiums have been named ‘hell’ by many visiting European teams, and 3 of Turkey’s major football clubs call Istanbul home. Tickets may be hard to come by but go online and you can book in advance for a Galatasaray, Besiktas, or Fenerbahce game, to witness a sea of fans chanting and cheering for their home team. Take the local’s advice on staying safe at an international football game before you go and enjoy the experience.
An Evening in İstiklal Caddesi, Beyoğlu…Istanbul is loaded with lavish bars overlooking parts of the city and you’ll be able to find one easily on Istiklal Caddesi. The main street is loaded with tourists but hop off the beaten path to one of the side streets and you’ll find a number of small cafes, pubs, and nightclubs. Have a night of drinks and wash away your hangover by picking up a ‘greasy burger’ on your way back to your hostel. These after hours snacks are delicious, despite their dubious nutritional content.
Guest blogger Anil Polat is the creator of foXnoMad where he writes about his life of traveling and tricks he picked up along the way so you can travel smarter.. Istanbul is his favourite city in the world.
Even more exciting news from the HostelBookers HQ – to celebrate the results of EyeforTravel’s research (Ed – have you heard? HostelBookers are cheaper than their largest competitor!) and the launch of their lowest price guarantee, HostelBookers are giving away 50 prizes…
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If you’ve been dreaming of escaping all this recession chit chat and taking in a few continents over a few months – or perhaps you fancy jet-setting right around the world in a two-week holiday of a lifetime – get yourself over to the HostelBookers competition page and enter now..
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‘Recession’ is the word on everybody’s lips – but how will it affect your travel plans this year?
It seems the idea of a holiday isn’t being abandoned just yet, but hunting out the best budget deals and keeping costs to a minimum is becoming rather fashionable….
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With summer on its way (and recession still the flavour of the month), this is great news for backpackers and holiday-makers looking for the cheapest deals guaranteed to keep them traveling!
In London’s now trendy East-End, Brick Lane is a popular place to soak up a bit of Brit-cool, with edgy bars and clubs, vintage clothing stores, and the infamous curry houses lining the streets. But after a night on the grimy-but-oh-so-hip tiles, London’s clubbers head to the Brick Lane Beigel Bake – perfect for soaking up the booze with a Jewish ‘Beigel’.
If the Beigel wasn’t enough to prevent that hangover, spend a fiver on a traditional English Breakfast – otherwise known as ‘the Builder’s’ or the ‘Fry-Up’ . As it’s loving name suggests, this British ‘delicacy’ (just like fish and chips, pie and sausage and mash) is heavy with cholesterol and calories – but who cares when it tastes this good!
If Shakespearean dramatics are not your thing, the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden also offers budget-friendly deals; it’s £4 for a last-minute standing ticket, which is perfect if you have high-class taste and an empty wallet!
Hyde Park is beautiful all year-round, and when the weather warms up there’s nothing better than taking a pedalo ride across the Serpentine Lake, with glorious views of the gallery. Half an hour’s Pedalo Hire is £5 – double up for a romantic and leisurely lake ride.
For a more hectic ride, hit the dodgems at County Hall, by Waterloo Station. The ‘NamCo Experience’ is like an indoor fairground, with video game arcades, bowling and pool, but the hectic indoor dodgem rink is the best way to unleash your inner child.
Catch a Ferry and see the Symphony of Lights: After exploring Sai Wan Ho, go back to the Star Ferry terminal and hop on the ferry towards Kowloon (HK$0.50) at around 7:45-ish. This way you’ll get to enjoy the daily laser light show from the best possible seat, on the ferry at sea! The free show, the Symphony of Lights, is the world’s largest permanent light and sound show. The ferry drops you off near the Avenue of Stars, so take a leisurely stroll along Hong Kong’s version of the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
This northeastern suburb isn’t strictly in Sydney, although the long golden beaches and excellent surfing make it well worth the trip. Ditch the bus and use your change to take the Manly Ferry, which only takes 30 minutes. This scenic sail across Sydney Harbour boasts views of the National Parks, Harbour Bridge and the Royal Opera House.
It may seem cheesy, but the 
A much less competitive way to cool off is to head to 
