6 Ways To Spend a Day in Barcelona

Barcelona is a fantastic European city Break, it has everything; a busy city atmosphere with the beach right at your doorstep. With so much to do in one place we thought we would share with you our 6 ways to spend your day in Barcelona- the choice is up to you!

1. Have a Picnic in Park Guell.

Park Guell is a stunning place to spend your day, with lots to see and do. There are Gaudi's house and creations, a bar, a park and plenty of beautiful landscapes. Get up early and pack a picnic! Remember to use a local supermarket to save some money and grab lots of fruit and water, in summer it can get very hot. Find a spot and settle down for a few hours to relax and people watch.

2. Relax at the Beach.

The Barceloneta Beach is within easy reach from the city centre by tram. You can break away from the bustle of the city to relax in the sun for the day. The beach is incredibly clean, the sea sparkles a lovely blue- you could forgive yourself for thinking you are on a far away island when in fact your on a city break in Europe. There are a few lovely beach bars dotted about serving mojitos so you can truly relax in style. Grab your towel and a good book and enjoy.

3. Visit Sant Josep Market.

Sant Josep Market is hugely popular with both locals and tourists alike. It has everything imaginable; delicious fresh fruit, sweets, bread and fish. You could easily do your shop for the week here! It's vibrant and bustling, if you don't like crowds we would suggest going later in the day. We visited mid-day and it was very busy, however we like this atmosphere. We ensured we had eaten our fill before buying some to take away.

4. Shop on Las Ramblas.

Las Ramblas is the Oxford Street of Barcelona. There are fancy bars and restaurants, Mcdonalds and lots of shops. Expect designer to be mixed with highstreet, Zara, Cos and more. It's every shoppers dream. Spend plenty of hours here dotting in and out of shops stopping for drinks and food at some of the bars along the way. If you are visiting in summer then expect it to be busy.

5. Catch the Magic Fountain Show.

Now technically this is an evening event but we just couldn't leave this show out. It's so spectacular and free! Yes Free! So if your a backpacker or budget traveller this is the perfect way to spend your evening. The fountains are lit up beautifully in an array of colours with music blasting out to make for an amazing way to relax and enjoy your evening. Make sure you check the times before you set off as they are every hour and last for around 30 minutes. After watching the show there are plenty of bars near by to eat and drink at.

6. Eat and Drink your way around.

Personally this is one of our favourite things to do in a new city. We just love food and drink! If it's something we haven't seen before you can guarantee one of us will want to try it. Its nice to spend the day going from market to bar to restaurant and sampling a little of everything. Our whole Europe trip was centred around sightseeing and eating and we sure did a lot of that! We recommend trying Churros, Paella and Tapas. Churros are a bit like fried donuts and often come with hot chocolate sauce. Tapas are amazing to pick at and share over a few glasses of Tequila Sunrise.. We loved the spicy potatoes.

Hope you picked up a few ways to spend your day in Barcelona, leave us a comment with how you would spend your day!

How to do Paris on a budget

It's no secret that Paris is one of the most expensive places in Europe, so how did we manage to afford it on our backpacker budget? Here are a few secrets we learnt first hand.

1. Buy a day pass for the metro. It's much cheaper to travel by the metro than any other form of public transport. If you buy a day pass it works out cheaper and you can travel all day all over Paris.

2. Stay in B&B's, we mainly stayed in hostels on our trip, however we noticed that hostels in Paris cost as much as B&B's and therefore we decided to treat ourselves to a bit of luxury.

3. Buy your own food. Try not to eat out too often whilst in Paris, the food can be quite pricey especially around the main monuments. We found a local supermarket and made ourselves little picnics everyday and ate out the odd evening. It saved us a lot of money.

4. Student Discount. If you are from the EU and under 25 you can get amazing discounts at many of the monuments, in fact entry to the Louvre is FREE! Yes that's right, FREE.

5. Choose Coffee. For some reason coffee is cheap, cheaper than bottled water! If you're a coffee drinker then you will save some pennies and have oodles of energy to see all those wonderful sights.

6. Shop around. If you are in Paris to do a bit of shopping, c'mon ladies we know you are! Then shop around, One Pharmacy may sell the product you're after for less than the one you've just been in. It's best to mooch around a few before buying.

7. Pre-book. If you book tickets online for excursions or museums you can often get a good discounted rate. We paid on the day but sometimes wished we had pre-booked to avoid the queues!

Whoever said Paris cannot be done on a budget is wrong, we proved you can and you will not miss out on anything. We ate, drank, climbed the Eiffel Tower, saw Mona Lisa and shopped the Champ Elysee all on our little budget. If we can do it so can you.

A Guide To Hostel Etiquette

During our summer backpacking trip around Europe we stayed mainly in Hostels, with either a shared room or a shared bathroom. This is a great way to meet people and also they are a lot cheaper than B&B's or hotels.

Whilst we were there we picked up on things that people did, good and bad things. So we thought we would compile a list of what we think is good etiquette when you are staying in shared accommodation.

1. Bring a Torch. If you plan on going out partying until the early hours then when you return do not turn on the main light to the room and wake the other travellers who might have an early flight or train to catch. I had the unfortunate experience of being on the top bunk underneath the main light which someone turned on at 3am when they returned. If you bring a torch it means you can easily find your bed and get in without disturbing anyone else.

2. Clean the bathroom after use. It was not uncommon to enter a bathroom after someone else to find the floor soaking wet, hair in the shower or a dirty toilet. Be considerate of others and clean up after you have used the facilities it makes for a better experience for everyone. Also to add to this take a cheap pair of flip flops to wear in the bathroom, this combats any foot problems you might pick up otherwise.

3. Be approachable. It's good to be friendly when you share a room with other people, it can make you feel more at ease and you can also make good friends from all over the world. A simple Hello on arrival is enough to break the awkward silence when you meet your room mates for the first time. Most people are out all day exploring so it may be rare you even  see your room mates

4. Be mindful of others. We had to share two showers between at least 20 people in one of our hostels, this means that choosing your time to shower was vital and also how long you took even more so. We learned to not shower first thing in the morning or after 6pm as this is when the showers were in the most demand. Also take your pj's in so once you have done in the shower you can quickly exit for someone else to have their turn. Don't get fully dressed in there as it would take far too long.

5. Share. If you over hear someone is going to where you have been don't be afraid to share any information you know, whilst in Italy we shared a flat with a lovely Canadian couple who were planning on going to the Vatican city on the day of the Pope's appearance. We warned them against going during this time as the queue the day before was extremely long and that was just a normal day. Just little tips to help out others go along way in the travelling community.

 Hostels are not all doom and gloom though, we stayed in the heart of many capitals for a budget friendly price meaning that we ate out more, drank more and did more. Losing a few creature comforts like a clean shower or a night of unbroken sleep were totally worth it for the experience we had.

What have your experiences been like in shared accommodation?

A Guide To Clubbing in Ibiza

A few years ago we went on a friends holiday to Ibiza, there were 10 of us. All we wanted to do was drink and sunbathe, not the most cultured of trips but certainly a lot of fun!

We thought we would share our tips to clubbing in Ibiza so you too can have a fun and safe trip.

1. Stay in San Antonio as this is where all the action is.

2. If you are planning to go to the super clubs have pre-drinks before hand, you can expect to pay anything upwards of 7 euro for a vodka and lemonade!

3. If your on a budget then the west end is the place to go, if your a large group then ask what deals they can offer you. We got 40 free shots in one bar- that's 4 each!

4. Do not stray from your friends, pick-pockets are rife here so leave your valuables in your safe.

5. If it's your first time to Ibiza consider joining the 18-30's tour, Just the boat parties alone are worth it!

6. If you're after a more formal relaxed evening head down to Café Mambo. The drinks are fairly expensive but watching the sun set is beautiful.

7. Don't bother going out before 11pm as this is when most clubs open, expect to stay out until 6am. It's a killer but so worth it.

8. Make the most of the day time too, there's some nice beaches and a nice shopping area to visit.

9. Get tickets to Ibiza Rocks, we saw Kasabian play and the atmosphere is electric. I think this was one of our favourite nights.

10. Enjoy yourself and be safe.

There you have our tips on clubbing in Ibiza, and a few cheeky photos of our own trip!

 

Is there anything you would add to these tips?



Make the Most of Malta

 The beautiful Island of Malta is often overlooked as a holiday destination, but with fantastic weather and lots to explore it is definitely one to add to your list. With its' scorching hot summer days, cool sea and palm lined avenues it is fast becoming a haven for those wanting to retreat to sunnier climbs.

So you want to visit Malta?

Well here are a few of the things we recommend you do to ensure you make the most of your stay.

1. Take a speed boat ride

If you're the type of person who seeks a thrill everywhere you go then you not be disappointed. Malta has some of the best water activities going including banana boats, parasailing and speedboats. We opted for the speed boat thinking it would be the least scary, however, the speeds you hit the waves at sends your boat hurtling skyward! You crash down with a heavy thud sending the spray of the sea straight in your direction. On a hot day it sure is one way to cool off.

2. Take the open top tour buses

These 'Hop on, Hop off' buses are the perfect way to see most of the island. For around 15 euro you can travel all day with the option of getting on and off as you wish. There are two routes to take, either the North Route of the South Route. With us being the exploring type we did both routes over 4 days. It makes travelling very easy and they even have audio guides in multiple languages to ensure you get the best experience of the island. It covers the capital Valetta to the Silent city of M'dina.

3. Visit the Blue Lagoon

This is one of the most beautiful parts of Malta, the Blue Lagoon. It is aptly named this due to the aqua blue colour of the crystal clear sea. You can walk out for miles here and be surrounded by all sorts of different coloured fish. This is the perfect spot to relax, put up your feet and read a good book. When the sun gets a bit too much clamber down into the cool sea to refresh.

4. Take a day trip to Gozo

Gozo is the second largest island in the Maltese archipelago and has been associated with being the home of Calypso the Nymph in Homer's Odyssey. We actually paid a taxi to give us a tour of the island in which he would drop us off at certain points and arrange to pick us up at a later time. This was perfect as we got a locals knowledge as well as being able to travel with ease in the striking heat. I would highly recommend trying this, just ensure you agree a price and that the company you go with is reputable.

If there is one thing you see in Gozo it has to be the azure window, a fantastic piece of natural architecture in which the sea has worn away the rock to form what resembles a window. It is stunning. 

 

 

5. Lose Yourself

 

Sometimes the best adventures come when plans go awry, so put away your map and just walk. Stop at local bars for refreshments, grab an ice cream and go and get lost in the beauty of Malta.

 



Here are our suggestions to make the most of your time in Malta, are there any that you think we have missed? If so we would love to hear them!

 

Follow our travels here!

 

Why Visit London in Winter

London, the capital of England. London is busy almost all year round with people flocking from all over the world to explore this historical capital. Many come during the summer, though the English weather is unpredictable all year round but most travellers hope to enjoy the summer sun that we are graced with a few weeks of the year.

So with so many people visiting during the summer, why should you visit in winter?

1. Hotels are expensive at the best of time, but you are more likely to get a cheaper room during winter.

2. Access to all the top tourist attractions is much quicker, with very short queues. We visited late November and didn't have to queue at all for the London eye

3. The underground is less crowded. At 7-9am it is always busy on the underground with local people making the commute to work, however, in summer it is likely that even after 9am it will be very crowded. In winter it is much less busy after 9am making a more comfortable journey.

4. The atmosphere is amazing. Looking over at the Tower Bridge through the mist of a cool winters day is just so beautiful. Oxford Street is a buzz of locals doing their Christmas shopping in November, they even spray fake foam from the tops of the buildings. Shops stay open until 11pm making it so much easier to take your time and enjoy dodging in and out of the stores.

5. Best time to see Buckingham Palace, without too many people crowding around the gates.

6. It's romantic. Grab a hot chocolate/tea/coffee and take a stroll with your partner through Hyde Park.

There are but a few of the reasons why you should break the mould and visit London during winter. It is a beautiful city during every season, but there is something magical about this city in winter.

Follow our travels!

5 Egyptian Excursions You Must Do

Egypt is a beautiful and historic country with so many exciting things to do.

1. Luxor .

First things first, you must visit Luxor. Luxor was formerly the ancient city of Thebes and because of this there is such a rich array of historical monuments, including the Karnack Temple and more famously the Valley of The Kings.

  A few things you must be aware of are that due to it being a very open desert space it does get extremely hot, whilst we were there it hit over 40 Degrees Celsius. You must take water, sun cream, sunglasses and a hat with you if you are visiting between May and September in order to avoid getting heat stroke.

 Another point that you must be aware of is that there are a lot of local children and men selling goods that they have made/bought near to all the major temples and monuments. If you are interested in buying what they are offering then be prepared to barter, but do not offer too low as this could be insulting. If you are not interested in what they are offering simply and politely walk by.

2. Snorkelling .

 Egypt has some of the best snorkelling spots in the world. One of these is Ras Mohamed. The snorkelling in Ras Mohamed is so beautiful it has actually been made a national park. The boats stop quite far from the coral areas and you have to swim over, this is so that there is no damage being caused to the environment. Of course snorkelling can cause some disruption to the wildlife, however in Ras Mohamed the sea life seems very relaxed to the presence of humans, with fish coming to swim all around you. We saw everything from clown fish to puffer fish.

 If you do decide to go snorkelling, keep in mind to not touch or swim too near to the coral. Not only can this cause damage to the reefs but coral is often very sharp and can cause you injury. Remember to take everything out of the water with you. Enjoy it. It's not often that you get to see a whole other type of living so embrace it and enjoy the beauty of the underwater world.

3. Ride a Camel .

 A taste of local life can be experienced through riding a camel. They are essential in helping the Bedouin tribes get there food and water supplies. We paid a visit to a few of the Bedouin tents to experience what life is like for them living in such an isolated area. There is sand for miles and miles and the sun scorches down at unbearable temperatures, yet they are not fazed by this at all which is so refreshing. That is life for them, they work and care for there families. We were offered by one of the gentlemen living in the tent to ride his camel, it's something I've always wanted to do and so happily took the lead. It's not the most smooth or comfortable mode of transport but for them it is practical.

 If you are planning to ride a camel whilst visiting Egypt then be careful where you do it. I would strongly advise against using those that are just positioned at the side of the road, they are often not looked after well and I have heard of people not being let off of the camel until they pay more money. Just be aware and do some research into where is best near to you.

4. Quad Biking .

If you are more of an extreme sports lover, than quad biking might be the best excursion for you. These made look fairly tame but you can hit some high speeds over the desert, and with plenty of dunes it makes for a very interesting drive. It is hypnotic to speed along at such a vast pace and there is absolutely nothing around you.

 Again due to  it being the desert and there is no shelter anywhere it is advisable to keep hydrated and wear a high factor sun cream, factor 50 is best. If you are really pale skinned wear a sheer cover up. Your eyes and face are protected by the helmet, scarf and sunglasses, this is mainly to avoid getting sand in your eyes, nose and mouth but it excellent protection from the sun too.

5. Naama Bay .

If you are visiting Sharm el Sheikh then you must head to Naama bay. It is a hub of energy with so much to see and do. Whilst we sat on large pillows drinking cocktails we were asked to go up and take part in a snake charming act. I must say the last thing I expected was to end up with a cobra wrapped around my head but the experience is breath taking. Enjoy your travels and do and see as much as you possibly can.

Follow Our Adventures Here!