snifferdog_ie's VirtualTourist Home Page

Thanks for clicking on the link. These are a few pages where I'll give some opinions on things, whether you want them or not!

My most recent holiday was to Barcelona. It's a great city, well worth visiting.

Here are a few tips/pointers

Get a Guide Book
Yes I know it's an obvious thing but you'll really need one here. Most people in Barcelona don't have much English and English language signage can be patchy so a good guide book is invaluable for figuring out stuff like buying tickets etc.

Arriving
The handiest way to get from the airport to the city centre is by the Aerobus outside the door (pay the driver - it only costs about 4 Euros) or by rail. Take a right once you walk out the airport doors and go up the escalator to get to the station. Buy a ticket from the automatic vending machine. The trains leave once every 30 minutes.

Getting Around
Barcelona's public transport is pretty good. We used the Metro extensively, buying a 5-day combined bus and rail ticket which cost €20.

Food
Most of the food is really nice. As in most touristy places, expect to pay inflated prices in touristy areas like Las Ramblas. Off the beaten track, real value is to be had though the menus aren't always in English (your trusty guide book is invaluable here).

Dos and Don'ts
Do check how much a drink will cost, especially in touristy areas. You could easily be charged a tenner for a beer on Las Ramblas.

Watch your bags. Even in internet cafes and restaurants. There are plenty of pickpockets about.

Don't wander too far off the beaten track on your own.

It's well worth taking an open-top tour of the city. Go early to avoid the queues and if you can, get an upstairs seat.

Don't try to take photographs in railway stations.

Visit...

Sagrada Familia Even if you're not religious, Gaudi's unfinished church is quite a spectacle. I've heard mixed opinions on going into the church. If you're interested in architecture and seeing how it's taking shape, go inside. If not, there's plenty to look at (for free) outside

Barri Gotic Barcelona's Gothic Quarter, located just off the Ramblas. Lots of winding streets with interesting shops. Be careful not to ramble too far off the beaten track though...

Park Guell Gaudi's park which was originally meant to be a fancy housing estate. Happily only a handful of houses ever got built so visitors can admire the tree-like viaducts, the snake-like park bench that goes all around a square and the quirky sculptures. Best of all, admission is free!

FC Barcelona Unless you really hate football or are a Real Madrid fan, you'll find lots of interesting things here. The tour (which you undertake at your own pace) brings you around the stadium, allowing you to visit the away dressing room, the director's box, commentary boxes and press room. The museum is also top notch.

Montserrat Not strictly in Barcelona, this one but a 50 minute train ride away. Catch a cable car ride to the top of the mountain and enjoy the scenery. If you're into hiking, there are lots of places to go to escape the crowds.

Avoid...

Poble Espanya Avoid unless you like paying to get into a shopping centre disguised as a heritage park.

The Gaudi House in Park Guell It's really not worth the hassle.

Paris is a great city. Just don't get carried away with it being romantic or anything. Anyway, here are some pointers

Getting Around
Paris has a cheap and extensive Metro system. You can buy tickets from a vending machine or, if you're feeling brave, from a ticket office. Memories of secondary school French came tumbling back as I asked for "Un carnet" (book of tickets)

The locals
The locals have a certain amount of English but aren't necessarily keen to use it. Apparently if you make an effort speaking French, they'll be more helpful. The jury's out on that one.

Eating
Eating out in Paris isn't necessarily cheap but bargains can be had. The food is generally very nice though carb counters won't be too pleased with the baskets of chopped up baguettes.

Motorists
Forget everything you ever knew about the rules of the road, and especially pedestrian crossings when you come to Paris. Anywhere else, the appearance of the green man at pedestrian crossings means it's safe to cross. In Paris, it's a signal to motorists to try and run down pedestrians.

Queues
You're not the only one who's decided to take a trip to Paris. So has 50% of the world's population. Be prepared to queue at venues like the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre.

Dos and Donts

If you're not able to walk long distances, avoid the metro. It's decidedly disability unfriendly, with lots of stairs and endless corridors. If you think the metro's not for you, take an open-top bus tour of the city.

Watch out for drunks on the metro. Some of these guys seem to spend their time riding the trains.

If you visit the Pere Lachaise cemetery (where Jim Morrison is buried), get a map in one of the shops across the road. The place is enormous.

If you're under 25, make sure to carry ID - you'll get into some places at a discount

Visit
The Eiffel Tower This goes without saying. Be prepared to queue though.
Arc De Triomphe The view from the roof is stunning. For people with disabilities, there's an escalator.
Pere Lachaise Cemetery See Jim Morrison, Oscar Wilde, Bizet, Chopin and Edith Piaf. Or what's left of them.
Versailles Not on Mondays though - it's closed
Museé d'Orsay Houses paintings from Monet, Van Gogh, Lautrec etc. in a beautiful ex-railway station

Avoid...
Montmartre ...if you're easily offended
Pompidou Centre Nasty 70s architecture

Prague in the Czech Republic is another city break well worth taking

Here are a few tips/pointers

Getting From The Airport

You can catch the subway which conveniently has a station at the airport. Alternatively, the Cedaz minibus (buy tickets at the booth in the airport's arrival hall) will bring you to your hotel much more cheaply than a taxi.

Currency

The Czechs don't use the Euro yet so you'll have to use the Koruny currency. 1EUR is roughly 28CZK, 1USD = 23CZK

Getting Around

You can easily get around Prague on foot. There are some excellent walking tours. We took one that left from the statue of St. Wenceslas at the top of Wenceslas Square.

Eating and Drinking

The food here is very nice. They serve familiar western fare alongside traditional Czech food (very nice as it happens), washed down with lashings of local beer. The most famous of these are Budvar (the original Budweiser and much nicer), Pilsner Urquell and Krusovice. They also make nice pastries....

Beware

Prague is rife with pickpockets. Just like when you're at home, use your brain (don't be fooled by bogus policemen etc.) and don't wander into places that are deserted or look dodgy and keep your valuables about your person.

Dos and Don'ts

Take a walking tour of the city. It's the nicest way to see the place and learn about its history. Most of the guides have excellent English

Get a good street map. I picked up a good freebie one from the Cedaz cab but don't know if they still do them.