TRAVEL ARTICLES
Thursday, 20 December 2007
One Night in Istanbul
The nightlife of a city is something that almost all British tourists enjoy, but if you want something a little different than popular French restaurants or drunken Spanish resorts, then Istanbul comes as highly recommended for its night haunts. If you're thinking of heading to Istanbul, or you want to find out more about the nightlife of the world's third largest city, then this article should give you the seeds for a great night out.
Where to Eat
Arriving in Istanbul on a Saturday night with the agenda of meeting plenty of English people and getting drunk will more than likely leave you culture shocked. The summer periods are touristier than other times of year, but it's not particularly easy to find many English speakers in the popular area of Taksin. That said, it's still worth going to one of the plush Turkish nightclubs, but to begin with it's recommended to visit an area of bustling cafes located about halfway down the Istiklal Caddesi, which is the main commercial road linking Karakoy to Taksin Square. Just head to Halkbank (a Turkish bank on the street) and you'll be in the right place.
Once there you'll be spoilt for choice with packed cafes and outdoor seating filling up much of the roads. You'll also be confronted by numerous street food sellers, market stalls and bartering waiters attempting to usher you into their restaurant. Most of the restaurants are very similar, with a fish and kebab menu (around 10 YTL - £4) as the main feature, but it's worth finding one that sells beer for less than 4 YTL (£1.75), as this is a night out, after all. Once your stomach is filled, and a few tasty Efe's lagers consumed, it's time to get the bill and head across the street.
Where to Drink
For those who want a seriously sophisticated night out, then you may want to sample dinner at the 360 Istanbul, which is located close to the noticeable House Café on Istiklal Caddesi. But seeing as you've already eaten for a bargain, the 360 Istanbul is still recommended for at least one drink. They don't come cheap at 20 YTL (£8) per cocktail, but seeing as the plush bar is located at the top of a commercial block, the 360-degree view of the city skyline is spectacular.
Where to Club
Keeping in the local area is the cool night club called Roxy on the nearby Siraselviler Caddesi. It's closed during the week, but on the weekends it's a bustling hotspot for students and rich kids, while not being too offensive for British tastes. For one thing, all of the music is straight from dance floors back home! Drinks don't come cheap - at about 20 YTL a pop and entry is a whopping 40 YTL - but it's worth going here just once to get a feel for a true Turkish after hours club. You won't be disappointed by its cool demeanour.
Where to Eat
Arriving in Istanbul on a Saturday night with the agenda of meeting plenty of English people and getting drunk will more than likely leave you culture shocked. The summer periods are touristier than other times of year, but it's not particularly easy to find many English speakers in the popular area of Taksin. That said, it's still worth going to one of the plush Turkish nightclubs, but to begin with it's recommended to visit an area of bustling cafes located about halfway down the Istiklal Caddesi, which is the main commercial road linking Karakoy to Taksin Square. Just head to Halkbank (a Turkish bank on the street) and you'll be in the right place.
Once there you'll be spoilt for choice with packed cafes and outdoor seating filling up much of the roads. You'll also be confronted by numerous street food sellers, market stalls and bartering waiters attempting to usher you into their restaurant. Most of the restaurants are very similar, with a fish and kebab menu (around 10 YTL - £4) as the main feature, but it's worth finding one that sells beer for less than 4 YTL (£1.75), as this is a night out, after all. Once your stomach is filled, and a few tasty Efe's lagers consumed, it's time to get the bill and head across the street.
Where to Drink
For those who want a seriously sophisticated night out, then you may want to sample dinner at the 360 Istanbul, which is located close to the noticeable House Café on Istiklal Caddesi. But seeing as you've already eaten for a bargain, the 360 Istanbul is still recommended for at least one drink. They don't come cheap at 20 YTL (£8) per cocktail, but seeing as the plush bar is located at the top of a commercial block, the 360-degree view of the city skyline is spectacular.
Where to Club
Keeping in the local area is the cool night club called Roxy on the nearby Siraselviler Caddesi. It's closed during the week, but on the weekends it's a bustling hotspot for students and rich kids, while not being too offensive for British tastes. For one thing, all of the music is straight from dance floors back home! Drinks don't come cheap - at about 20 YTL a pop and entry is a whopping 40 YTL - but it's worth going here just once to get a feel for a true Turkish after hours club. You won't be disappointed by its cool demeanour.
Wednesday, 19 December 2007
Three Roman Adventures
Family holidays in Orlando
An Introduction to Italian Cuisine
This post has moved to An Introduction to Italian Cuisine
Three 18-30 Holiday Hotspots
If you're leaving school or University this year and want one last throw of the dice with your best friends then a summer holiday to the Mediterranean may well be on the cards. Holidays filled with sun, sand, and cold beers are extremely popular with most 18-30 year olds and there are plenty of resorts throughout the Mediterranean that are invaded by British holidaymakers looking for a good time.
In many cases, the invasion is strictly British, but there are other places that have a more cosmopolitan atmosphere. Here's a list of three popular destinations that are perfect for people aged 18-30.
Newquay, Devon
The British option is almost always the cheapest, although unfortunately the weather can't always be guaranteed. Particularly popular with school leavers and students, you won't have to break the bank for accommodation or flights, and there's quite a young vibe about the place.
Staying at a campsite is a favourite way to cut costs, while you can spend a lazy day at one of the many beaches, or, if you're feeling a bit more active, rent a surfboard and head for the swells.
Peak season is in late July through August, and you might find it strangely quiet at other times, especially if the weather is poor. Top clubs to look out for are Berties, Tall Trees, and Sailors, with regular sets from international DJs.
Kavos, Corfu
Beware: if you're looking for a holiday with any class at all, then this is not it. Kavos is a fairly dinghy looking resort on the southern tip of Corfu; the main strip resembles a kind of post modern western town with its neon lights and ranks of bars.
Despite this, Kavos is certainly a lot of fun. There's enough to keep you entertained for a week with plenty of bars and clubs, and bus loads of new holiday makers arriving every couple of nights during August.
Lads will probably find themselves gobsmacked at the lack of clothing the ladies care to wear, while there are beach parties that carry on into the morning. Go here if you don't mind disgracing yourself (preferably without being a total hooligan) and you are happy with your holiday seeming like a long, hot blur. Top clubs are Futures and Atlantis, but most of the smaller bars get packed out and flood out onto the street so it can often feel like a street party!
You can find cheap hotels in Kavos on Lastminute.com. The three star Eliana hotel is available from just £20 a night.
Ibiza, Mediterranean
Nowhere in the Mediterranean comes close to Ibiza when it comes to clubbing. This island is the undisputed house music capital of the world with a massive assortment of bars and clubs, including some super clubs.
If you're not a particular fan of house music, either you will be by the end of a stay here, or you can go to plenty of other bars and not necessarily have to listen to a constant beat. While you're nursing your hangover during the day there are a number of picturesque beaches with very clear water; while taking a scuba dive excursion is particularly recommended alternative day time activity.
Just be warned that Ibiza can get very expensive - sometimes entry for the superclubs is particularly high, with drinks costing 10 Euros minimum, and nights out can run into hundreds of Euros if you're not careful. The atmosphere is quite cosmopolitan, with people travelling here from all over the world.
Meanwhile, there is a massive range of clubs in Ibiza across a number of resorts. The most famous are Amnesia, Eden, Es Paradis, Pacha, Privilege, Space and DC10.
In many cases, the invasion is strictly British, but there are other places that have a more cosmopolitan atmosphere. Here's a list of three popular destinations that are perfect for people aged 18-30.
Newquay, Devon
The British option is almost always the cheapest, although unfortunately the weather can't always be guaranteed. Particularly popular with school leavers and students, you won't have to break the bank for accommodation or flights, and there's quite a young vibe about the place.
Staying at a campsite is a favourite way to cut costs, while you can spend a lazy day at one of the many beaches, or, if you're feeling a bit more active, rent a surfboard and head for the swells.
Peak season is in late July through August, and you might find it strangely quiet at other times, especially if the weather is poor. Top clubs to look out for are Berties, Tall Trees, and Sailors, with regular sets from international DJs.
Kavos, Corfu
Beware: if you're looking for a holiday with any class at all, then this is not it. Kavos is a fairly dinghy looking resort on the southern tip of Corfu; the main strip resembles a kind of post modern western town with its neon lights and ranks of bars.
Despite this, Kavos is certainly a lot of fun. There's enough to keep you entertained for a week with plenty of bars and clubs, and bus loads of new holiday makers arriving every couple of nights during August.
Lads will probably find themselves gobsmacked at the lack of clothing the ladies care to wear, while there are beach parties that carry on into the morning. Go here if you don't mind disgracing yourself (preferably without being a total hooligan) and you are happy with your holiday seeming like a long, hot blur. Top clubs are Futures and Atlantis, but most of the smaller bars get packed out and flood out onto the street so it can often feel like a street party!
You can find cheap hotels in Kavos on Lastminute.com. The three star Eliana hotel is available from just £20 a night.
Ibiza, Mediterranean
Nowhere in the Mediterranean comes close to Ibiza when it comes to clubbing. This island is the undisputed house music capital of the world with a massive assortment of bars and clubs, including some super clubs.
If you're not a particular fan of house music, either you will be by the end of a stay here, or you can go to plenty of other bars and not necessarily have to listen to a constant beat. While you're nursing your hangover during the day there are a number of picturesque beaches with very clear water; while taking a scuba dive excursion is particularly recommended alternative day time activity.
Just be warned that Ibiza can get very expensive - sometimes entry for the superclubs is particularly high, with drinks costing 10 Euros minimum, and nights out can run into hundreds of Euros if you're not careful. The atmosphere is quite cosmopolitan, with people travelling here from all over the world.
Meanwhile, there is a massive range of clubs in Ibiza across a number of resorts. The most famous are Amnesia, Eden, Es Paradis, Pacha, Privilege, Space and DC10.
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