Citytrips-Highlights.com

Archiv für Oktober 2013

Venice is a romantic city in northern Italy where a lot of films and videos for songs were made. The city is also well-known for its typical masks which have been worn during the Carnival of Venice. This carnival has existed since the Middle Ages, but it came into its own in the 18th century.

However, not only the ball in Venice is magnificent. Standing in the middle of piazza San Marco is an experience in itself. St. Mark´s basilica, often seen as the living testimony of Venice´s links with Byzantium, Doge´s Palace, once Venice´s political and judicial hub or Torre dell´Orologio, a clock tower which was built between 1496 and 1506 are not just the square’s but some of the city´s main attractions.

Being in Venice you should not miss getting around in a gondola. This will be for sure an experience of lifetime, especially if you share this with someone you really care for.

Venice is a city where you can eat seafood you have never seen before. The lagoon city has a long and glorious culinary tradition based on fresh seafood. Going with the flow of “la cucina veneta” requires a certain spirit of open-minded experimentation. Not everybody has eaten “granseola” which is the spider crab or “garusoli”, the sea snails. However, Venice is the right place where you can try these.

If seafood is not your cup of tea, then you can try a delicious gelato. The best one is served in Boutique del Gelato. However, be prepared to be patient because there is always a huge crowd waiting to be served.

Accommodation in Istanbul covers the full range of lodgings, from luxury palace hotels through charming, historic inns to simple, but clean and cheap pensions and hostels or even rental villas and apartments.

Five-star hotels offer luxury and all services, especially when they are connected with worldwide chains. However, they are more expensive than the local chains which offer a bit less class but better value. Breakfast is definitely not included in the normal rates and costs for them may be amazing in many cases. On the other hand breakfast can be included into package deals.

Four-star hotels are very comfortable, mainly local hotels which are actually independent or small Turkish chains. The staff is usually multilingual, they have nice restaurants, bars and offer very good breakfast.

Three – star hotels often offer rooms with satellite TV, minibars or even swimming pools and nightclubs. They can be rather found in smaller cities and resorts.

Two or one star hotels are very simple, homey very often like a European pension. They do not offer a lot of services. However, Wifi Internet, TV in the lounge, clean rooms with private shower and simple breakfast may be found there.

It is recommended to book a room in advance especially if you travel to Istanbul in spring and autumn as they are the busiest times. Have in mind that several months in advance are not too early to reserve. At this time you also have to expect higher prices.

The best way how to accommodate is to reserve at least the first night or two of your stay as the day you arrive will be confusing and time-consuming enough without having to look at several hotels to find the room you want at a price you want to pay. Even when it happens the hotel you booked is not what you want, you can always find another one and you do not have to search for it the first night you arrive when you are tired and totally unfamiliar with the new place.

Hotels in Rome offer a lot of services from renaissance palaces to guest houses. The hotels in the centre are more expensive thanks to their position and the services often do not respond the price. It is better to book your accommodation in advance and stay where you can simply walk out your door into the heart of the city. The most vibrant area to stay is the half-mile stretch between Piazza Navona and Piazza Barberini. Some of the rooms are pricey but you can also find a lot of small guest houses nearby.

Being hungry is a problem for no traveller as the city is overrun with good places to eat. The busiest are is between Via del Corso and Piazza Navona. Most of them have outdoor seating and offer similar menus which include pasta, pizza, veal, chicken and a sew seafood dishes. The food is simple, fresh and delicious. If you are not sure where to go for eating, then choose according to what you would like to look at while enjoying the food. For instance, the Piazza della Rotonda contains several cafés which face the Pantheon and Piazza Navona is completely circled by restaurants which offer vies of its numerous fountains.

Remember that Rome is one of the cities where a restaurant´s house wine is usually excellent. It is also strongly recommended to learn at least a few phrases in Italian language although waiters usually speak English. Secondly, during summer Roman restaurants are open also after ten in the evening.

You should also have in mind that there is no one-scoop, two-scoop nonsense in real Italian gelaterias, just small, medium, Lartet and very large cones and tubs. Therefore do what Romans do – order the smallest and ask for two or three flavours. One of the best Roman gelato emporiums right now is Gelateria del Teatro where all ingredients are natural and the ciaccolato puro is dark chocolate heaven.