by monstermunch99

The idea of the tour is for local residents to give me the insider lowdown by either showing me around themselves, or making suggestions on places I should visit. So if you’d like to show me your neck of the woods or make some recommendations to me, check out my itinerary below and please contact me.

Birmingham 22 – 24 July 2009

I’ll be in Birmingham from late evening on Wednesday 22 until the afternoon of Friday 24 July.

Birmingham Canals by pembroke dave

Newquay 24 – 26 July 2009

Then it’s on to Newquay in Cornwall arriving at teatime on Friday 24 July and leavining late evening on Sunday 26 July. I’ll be staying at the Pure Shores Lodge.

Newquay Cliffs by PabloPM

Manchester 26 – 28 July 2009

I touch down in Manchester very late on Sunday 26 July and back to the airport for an afternoon departure to Belfast on Tuesday 28 July. I’ll be staying at the Abode Manchester Hotel.

Manchester Cathedral from Blackfriars Bridge by Coradia1000

Belfast 28 – 30 July 2009

Belfast is next on the itinerary, I’ll be there from teatime on 28 July until early evening on 30 July.

Belfast by lyng883

Cardiff 30 July – 1 August 2009

Cardiff, the capital of Wales is the final stop on the UK Blogging Tour. Arrival in Cardiff is late evening on Thursday 30 July and I fly back to Edinburgh early on the morning of Saturday 1 August. I’ll be staying at the Parc Hotel.

Cardiff library by Rob Gale

The UK Summer 09 Blogging tour is going to be a great adventure for me which I’ll be sharing with you on the Europe a la Carte Blog and on Twitter.

• The 80s Movie Flashback. Find out what’s happened to your favourite 80s stars. Not ticketed, first-come first-served basis.
• The Absolute Best of Absolute Beginners. What I love about comedy like this is that even if it’s cringeworthy it’s still a right laugh. Not ticketed, first-come first-served basis.
• Absolutely Free Live Music. Not sure what the difference is between absolutely free and just free but love Whistlebinkies and the vibe here during the festival is great. Check it out. Not ticketed, first-come first-served basis (but this is a bar, not a venue, so just jump in with the crowd!)
• The Accidental Dog Detective. A film noir puppet show. Not kid friendly. Not ticketed, first-come first-served basis.
• Tom and Brody are So Comedy! A hot item from the Laughing Horse Free Comedy Festival.

For more tips about free Edinburgh Fringe things to do, check out the schedule at The Stand Comedy Club, Laughing Horse Free Comedy website, or PBH’s Free Fringe.

Happy Festivalgoing!

Photo courtesy of Dick Penn

Chillies West End, Glasgow

The restaurant is billed as a contemporary Indian restaurant serving “small portions of exquisite food”. The idea is that you can sample a wide variety of dishes. You should be aware that the restaurant operates a no alcohol policy.

Between 12.00 to 15.00 and 17.00 – 18.30 (tables must be vacated by 19.30), there is the option to select three little dishes from the day menu for £9 to include either nan bread, rice or a tandoori roll. We chose:

1 Machil Nariyal Masalah – mixed seafood

2 Gosht with Mint & Yoghurt – lamb

3 Chooza Goan – chicken with honey

4 Tarka Dall – lentils

5 Saag Paneer – spinach with cheese

6 Gosht Karachi – lamb with peppers

Chillies West End, Glasgow

Chillies West End did live up to its promise of exquisite food. The dishes were much lighter than you often find in a Indian restaurant, with subtle flavours. The restaurant has a pleasant ambience, with dark wood tables and red chairs to echo the chilli theme. The toilets are very clean and had lovely scented soap.

I’d recommend the restaurant, especially at lunch time or early evening, when it’s excellent value for money.

We had teenagers in tow and when we spotted the rickshaws at the end of Unter Den Linden, the boulevard that runs down to the Brandenburg gate, it seemed an ideal opportunity to get there without exhausting ourselves. However, rather than just take us down to the Brandenburg gate, the rickshaw guides suggested that for a little more, they take us on a round trip of some of the beautiful old buildings and important sites on the way.

The cost was around €18 for each rickshaw, and the tour which lasted about 45 minutes was really enjoyable, with the guide explaining each of the sights and at some places leaving us time to get out and wander round for a few minutes. My friend and I went for the hippy chic style where the poor guide had to pedal as well as explain and answer questions, whereas our teenage girls chose the sleeker electrically enhanced rickshaw.

We relaxed as we were taken down Unter den Linden, admiring the beautiful buildings, then stopped at Bebelplatz to see the underground memorial of empty bookshelves, to commemorate the spot where the Nazis organised a burning of ’subversive’ books in 1933. Then it was onwards into Gendarmenmarkt, the old marketplace where the twin churches of Französischer Dom and Deutcher Dom stand facing each other. Afterwards we reached Checkpoint Charlie, and got out to read about the Berlin Wall on the information boards, then along a cobbled road passing a stretch of the wall that still remained. We passed Potsdamer Platz, the complex of modern public spaces, shops and offices, on past the stone blocks of the Holocaust memorial and ended at the Brandenburg Gate.

Although it was a whistlestop tour, it was a good way of getting our bearings and seeing a lot in a short time, which allowed us to decide what we would like to go back to, to explore in more depth. And a great way to rest our weary feet.

Photos by Heather on her travels on Flickr

After wandering through the park you’ll come across the castle on the shore of Edsviken which leads out to the Baltic Sea. Built during the 1600s, Ulriksdal Palace was once used as a country residence for the royal family. However, the palace has been accessible to the public since 1986. Unfortunately, the palace is only open to visitors during the summer months (June, July, and August in Sweden), but the grounds are open year round.

Various buildings dot the area, most of which are museums open to visitors. I stumbled upon a beautiful old church that, unfortunately, did not seem to be open to the public. Every last door was locked. I checked.

It is Ulriksdal Palace though that is the draw in terms of buildings. But I have to confess, I did not go into the palace. I was distracted by the beautiful natural setting and slowly made my way through the park. I was not alone. Scores of people were out and about enjoying the weather, the view, and the park. Wasting away the afternoon in the best possible way.

If you’re looking for an easy get-away from Stockholm, Ulriksdal Palace allows you to escape the city without having to go too far.

When I did a little research, it turned out to be no surprise that it reminded me of Bojnice Castle, because these two buildings were both actually owned by the Palffy family at some time. Sadly, the Smolenicky Zamok is actually not the original building – the 14th century version was destroyed by fire and what you find there today is an early 20th-century replica – but it’s still gorgeous, and is set in lovely grounds.

Interestingly, as well as being a famous wedding photo venue for Slovaks, it’s also home to a conference centre so you might be lucky enough to wind up there for business purposes; if not, the general public can visit the castle only during July and August. But it’s a great romantic-looking destination for a day trip from Bratislava, and I’m planning on taking a picnic lunch out there next time I’m in Slovakia.

They park is spread over a large area and represents the life’s work of famous Norwegian sculptor Gustav Vigeland. Not only was he involved with the park’s architectural setting and layout but he also created a set of 212 full-sized sculptures that tower over the park today.

The park’s magnificent wrought-iron gates and bronze and granite sculptures are designed in clusters across six sections. These massive, detailed structures depict the various stages of the human life cycle, representing different moods and ages, life and death. The most popular sculptures here include the Angry Boy, the Monolith and the Wheel of Life.  If the art in the park impresses you, be sure to head to the Frogner Museum. Situated within the ground perimeter, this museum stocks up on some of the sculptor’s other well known works.

Along with a number of sculptures, the park is also known for its many visitors. On any given sunny day you’ll find it teeming with locals and tourists alike. Small picnic basket set up within no time; kites and footballs make for common accessories; and little kids run around in wild, jubilant circles, climbing and hanging from the sculptures with glee.

“It’s hard to find what I’d call “genuine value” in London hotels. This is because the city has year-round demand and a structural shortage of hotel rooms. Even in the recession, London hotels have suffered less of a dip than elsewhere. A recent survey by TRI Hospitality Consulting showed that London was the only major European city to show annual growth in occupancy in May.

Tower Bridge London

This tight market can often lead to poor quality at the cheaper end, with a few noteworthy exceptions like Travelodge with rooms from £19 on their Saver rate.

But the Holy Grail is finding a decent London hotel which offers good service and nice rooms which is still at a reasonable price. It’s what I rather clumsily call “medium price/high quality”. After all, you sometimes need a hotel for a special occasion or hassle-free business trip. You might also need a decent restaurant, a good breakfast or perhaps a gym (all probably beyond a budget hotel) but without breaking the bank.

Everyone has a different definition of reasonable pricing in this context. But I’m assuming realists want the above for around £100. I’m also assuming you want to be near central London.

So I began to scour the Tripadvisor hotel rankings to find hotels in its top 20 that do not cost several hundred a night. I used various search engines to see if it was possible at least “sometimes” if not “most of the time” to get a room under £100. And I came up with the following 3 medium price/high-quality gems for you:

1. The only reasonably-priced hotel in Tripadvisor’s top 5 for London is the Apex City of London Hotel near Tower Bridge, it’s sleek, modern and friendly. This good-value hotel and has just been reviewed on my blog. It is possible to find a room at the Apex city of London for around £100.

2. Base2stay in Earl’s Court actually does what it says on the tin…and more, offering a mix of boutique hotel and apartments at a very reasonable price They give you free wi-fi and even a mini-kitchen. The hotel ranks 13 out of 1152 hotels.

3. Ranked a respectable 14 out of 1152 hotels, you might also consider Luna & Simone Hotel near Victoria. It’s clean, family-run and offers great value.

The Apex City of London probably has the nicest rooms of the three options above, but you shouldn’t go too far wrong with any of them.

Occasionally, even highly-rated 3 or 4 star hotels have flash sales and special offers.”

Regular readers of the blog will know that I have a bit of a bee in my bonnet about the lack of provision of public toilets when travelling, so it makes a change to have some light relief on the topic.

“One of the best family destinations in Europe is Dublin, Ireland. Anyone looking for family vacation ideas should strongly consider a trip to Dublin. The city of Dublin is rich in culture and offers a delightful experience for travelers at every age. There is something to do for everyone!

Temple Bar, Dublin by Australia photos

Temple Bar:
Temple Bar is the cultural hub of Dublin. This is where the hustle and bustle of the city occurs. There are many restaurants and activities to choose from in this area. Take the family and stroll through the area to get a good feel of what the locals love in Dublin.

Ghost Bus Tour:
Interested in getting spooked? Dublin is a haunted city. The Irish are known for being incredibly superstitious and they believe strongly in the influence of the afterlife on the world. Purchasing tickets and going on the Ghost Bus Tour will give you an insight to haunted Dublin. You will travel to the school and home where Bram Stoker, the author of Dracula, conjured up the story of a murderous vampire. You will visit a graveyard and learn about grave robbings in the medieval times as well as see the untouched sites where witches were burned at the cross. Taking the Ghost Bus Tour might be a little spooky for young children, but teenagers will certainly enjoy the ride.

Take a Day Tour:
There are a few tours to take during the day that will give a great overall impression of what Dublin is all about. One of the most recommended tours to take is the Wild Wicklow Tour. For a reasonable price, their full-day tours will take you on a short city tour, a gorgeous costal drive, a visit to Glenalough (an older Irish city), a view of mountain lakes and an opportunity to eat lunch in a traditional pub and shop in a nearby craft market. Taking a day tour is the perfect opportunity to discover the overall feel of Ireland.

Dublin Castle by infomatique

Visit a Castle:
Go back in time and visit an old, Irish castle. You can start with the Dublin Castle, which is located in the heart of Dublin. See the interior of the castle, but be sure to spend time in the beautiful gardens that resemble a maze. If you and your family enjoyed the visit to the castle, know that there are hundreds of other castles to visit in Ireland. It is possible to spend an entire trip to Ireland just visiting the beautiful, historical castles the country has to offer.

Visit a Pub:
A night out for the adults should consist of pub hopping. Dublin offers some of the most impressive pubs in the whole world. Try different brews that have been created all over Ireland. It will be especially fun if you are a connoisseur of beer!

Howth by infomatique

Take a Ride to Howth:
Howth, Ireland is a gorgeous costal city that really gives visitors a different feel of Ireland. Walk the Irish cliffs and view the blue water. Each fresh fish and chips and be sure to order the “catch of the day.” Explore the marina area where there are old fishing boats. The locals in this city are kind-hearted and love to help visitors find their way around.”