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Accommodation Los Angeles Things to Do

Valentine’s Day Getaway in Los Angeles

la-beachLos Angeles is one of the most diverse cities in the entire United States. The center of the entertainment industry, the City of Angels is also a major fashion hub and shopping center. It might feel a bit unusual to recommend Los Angeles for a romantic getaway. But, we do need to realize that each couple is unique and there are many ways to show your love.

The flight

As in the case of planning any romantic getaway, the first step is to book the airfare. Start by looking into air tickets to Los Angeles . The area is served by several airports and you should look into all possibility. Cheap tickets to LAX are usually easier to find as you’d be flying into the biggest airport in the area.

Alternatively, you can look for cheap tickets to Oakland , spend a few days there and then take a road trip to Los Angeles.

The accommodation

As in the case of all big cities, there are plenty of choices for accommodation. It only depends on what you want to do and therefore choose an area where you want to stay. Considering that you want to impress your lover, you can look for a budget hotel rather than a hostel or a motel. If there are some romantic restaurants in the area, then it’s just for the better.

Romantic things to do in Los Angeles

As I’ve mentioned earlier, Los Angeles isn’t New York or Paris so it’s hard to find a lot of romantic things to do. However, for certain types of couples, Los Angeles can be very romantic. Some as simple as strolling the beach hand in hand and watching the sunset together is enough to make your lover’s heart jump for joy.

You can walk hand in hand and do some shopping. Of course you can dare to give her your credit card (as a special Valentine’s gift) but you are the only one who will know what will happen with your credit limit. Or take her to a very romantic restaurant with a view – maybe in a place perched high above the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

If your budget allows for splurges, invest in a romantic sunset flight. When the sun sets over the city, take your loved one and watch the colors from above. For added bonus, get the dining option as well. If planes aren’t romantic (or adventurous) enough, then you can always go for a romantic helicopter ride. You can add the champagne upgrade for a more bubbly experience (or if you want to pop the question).

Photo credit

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Accommodation Germany Travel Tips

Germany: Next Stop on Your European Tour

Planning a European tour can be very fun but the possibilities are just as numerous as the number of European countries you can visit. So after you have visited Edinburgh, why not head to Germany next?

Cheap flights to Germany are easy to find as there are quite a lot of large cities to head to and all are served by low-cost carriers.

Choosing which city to fly into

Frankfurt is served by Germany’s largest airport, therefore flights to Frankfurt are easier to find and are typically cheaper than into the other German cities.

Munich’s airport is known to be the best airport in Europe. It is a hub for Lufthansa, Germany’s national carrier and flights to Munich from any European large city are easy to find.

Where to stay

Once you’ve decided to visit Germany, you should also plan what cities you want to visit. And when you have a set plan in mind, you should start booking the accommodation. If you happen to travel during the low season (winter, spring, autumn) you can book the hostel or hotel once you arrive in the city (or before you leave the previous city) but during summer you must book in advance. Likewise, if you plan to visit Munich during Oktoberfest, make sure to book your hotel or hostel way in advance.

None of the large German cities are cheap destinations, but with careful planning, you can find places which are affordable. When you look for Berlin hotels you don’t need to look at a particular area. For the past years, the city has been changing rapidly and pretty much all areas offer at least some budget hotels. To save even more, you can look for Berlin hostels .

Likewise, hostels in Munich are an excellent choice, especially if you plan to visit the city for Oktoberfest or during the summer. Actually, regardless of which large city you want to visit, the situation is basically the same. Cheap hotels in Frankfurt are easy to find if you know where to look for them. Research is the key for finding good accommodation at affordable prices.

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Accommodation Los Angeles

Which area of Los Angeles should you stay in?

hotelsignRecently a friend was planning on visiting Los Angeles from the San Francisco area, and since it was their first visit to La La Land in about 15 years I decided to help out with some suggestions. It then occurred to me that this is one of the most confusing hotel cities on the planet and I should write something about this. My friend had everything up to his OAK airport parking handled, but didn’t even know which part of the city to stay in.

Where to stay in Los Angeles if you aren’t sure

Many first time visitors book their flights to LAX, and then look for a hotel near the airport because that sounds convenient. While it is convenient, and they’ve built dozens of hotels in that area because of that, it’s actually a terrible part of town to stay in unless you have specific business in that area. There are hundreds or even thousands of hotels in Los Angeles, and unfortunately they are spread out all over.

My best tip is that if you are coming into the city for something specific, and especially if you need to spend more than one day at that thing, stay near there. In other words, if you want to go to Disneyland or something else in Anaheim for two or more days, it’s not a bad idea to stay near there. The same is true of the San Fernando Valley for Universal Studios or other attractions near there.

Areas to consider

Santa Monica/Venice Beach

This is always my choice for those who can afford it, and fortunately there are quite a few discount hotels in the area, even though real estate prices are high. Santa Monica has good public transportation compared to the rest of the city, plus decent nightlife, dining, and shopping, and of course a really nice beach.

Hollywood

I lived for several years in Hollywood and unless you are after something very specific, it’s likely to be disappointing. If you want to attend some TV show tapings and that sort of thing, it can be fun, but don’t stay here if you want to see celebrities or things like that, because you won’t.

Downtown

This area is actually getting better, after several decades of work, but it’s still quite remote from most of the tourist attractions, in spite of being “downtown.” If you aren’t going to a convention or don’t want to learn about ethnic neighborhoods, it’s probably better to stay elsewhere.

South Bay

Assuming you are renting some wheels, this is another great choice. The cities of Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach, and Manhattan Beach all have loads of small hotels in them, yet the area still feels like it’s “locals only.” There’s great food and nightlife and excellent beaches and recreation. The only trouble is it’s not too close to much else. At least it’s way nicer than Downtown.

LAX area

As mentioned in the intro, there are many hotels around the airport, and unless you have some specific reason to stay near the airport, don’t.

The Westside

This is a confusing city and I can’t explain it all here. But suffice to say, if you can afford it and you want a bit of glamour then staying in West Hollywood is far better than staying in the real Hollywood, and staying in Beverly Hills or Westwood is great too. There are cheap hotels just a mile or two from the city limits of the cities mentioned above, and since they are technically in Los Angeles proper they can’t charge much more.

San Fernando Valley

There’s no reason to stay on the other side of the Hollywood Hills unless you have your own thing going on. Hotels are a bit cheaper on that side of the hills, and you’ll see why once you check in.

Orange County

If you want to see Disneyland and some beaches even better than those in Los Angeles, consider staying in Costa Mesa or Newport Beach. You have many options of places nicer than those in Anaheim, and you are still close to Disneyland.

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Accommodation Los Angeles Things to Do

Los Angeles Here We Come!

downtown-los-angelesCalifornia, the largest US state by population, is famous for Disneyland, Malibu, Hollywood, Golden Gate, Napa Valley and the incredible weather. With so many things to do, the first time traveler should find a focus city and plan the vacation around that place. If your vacation plans include some days spent at Disneyland, then it’s a good idea to choose Los Angeles as your base.

Arriving in Los Angeles

When flying into Los Angeles, there are several airports to choose from. The largest is Los Angeles International Airport, better known as LAX. The airport is located about 16 miles from downtown and is a major hub for United Airlines. When looking for cheap flights to LA , it’s a good idea to start with United Airlines or other airlines which have bases here, such as American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and Alaska Airlines.

For those planning to get to Disneyland without stopping in LA first, John Wayne Airport is the better alternative, located just 14 miles from the theme parks. It is the airport which receives Southwest Airlines flights , so make sure to check their offers especially if you fly from cities such as Phoenix, Chicago, Las Vegas or San Diego (which the airline uses as focus cities).

Finding a place to stay

Los Angeles is a large city so finding the perfect place to stay can be quite a daunting task. Cheap hotels in Los Angeles can easily be found in the areas around Glendale or Pasadena. But these are far from downtown and beaches so you need to take into account that you’ll have to travel quite a bit to get to the tourist attractions. With a bit of research you can find some affordable places to stay in the Downtown or even the Hollywood area, but most likely you’ll have to get used to the public transportation system if you want to see as much of the city as possible.

Even if your vacation plans aren’t centered on Disneyland, chances are you’d want to visit the park sooner or later. There are easy ways to get from Los Angeles to Anaheim , which is, technically, where the park is located.

If Disneyland is on your agenda, you might want to look for a place to stay right within the park. Hotels in Disneyland come in many shapes and sizes, but generally speaking, the ones within the park will be a bit more expensive than those located outside the park. Lately, however, many hotels offer packages which include not only free nights but also tickets to the theme parks and other services.

Better yet you can look for deals on hotels in Anaheim and you’ll be saving some money on accommodation, for sure.

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Accommodation Edinburgh Travel Tips

Edinburgh Hostel Reviews – Trekker’s Hostel Highlights

Greetings and salutations fellow travelers, I hope you are all starting the new year off with plans and dreams of travel. To help you with this task here is a wrap-up of my reviews during my recent trip to Edinburgh. Well I did not stay at every hostel I did spend many hours visiting and touring them and have written a basic review and guide to 7 of the main hostels in Edinburgh.

Click on the links below for the full review of each hostel, including maps and photos for each location.

Castle Rock Backpackers : The 3rd of the Macbackpacker Tour Hostels in Edinburgh is located right at the base of Edinburgh Castle. It has great decorations based off Scottish life and history scattered throughout the hostel and is one of my favorites.

Edinburgh Backpackers : Back in 2000 this was the very first hostel I ever stayed in and it was a great experience then and you won’t be disappointed now. Located between Waverly Station and the Royal Mile, it is easy to get where you need to be going. With many amenities such as TV lounge and pool table, it has something for everyone. Just beware the very steep hill to get to it.

High Street Backpackers : Another of the Macbackpacker Tour locations, located opposite the Royal Mile Hostel, this is a bigger building with a full kitchen and lounge area. It is a great spot for the single traveler or a group.

Prince’s Street East Backpackers : Located not on the main Prince’s Street as you might assume but rather in a little alley that takes some exploring to find, this hostel’s dark and dingy entrance makes many think twice before entering. Well it has character, it’s confusing halls and dark appearance may be intimidating for the single first time traveler or even the veteran traveler for that matter.

Royal Mile Backpackers : Home of Macbackpacker Tours, this small hostel is cozy and laid back. Located right off the Royal Mile it is in a prime tourist area. There isn’t much in the way of a kitchen, but there is enough to equipment to get by. The super friendly staff make it a perfect place to take a load off.

Smart City Hostel : Located down the hill off the Royal Mile, this is one of the newer hostels in Edinburgh and brings all the modern amenities with it. Due to its large size it is more suited to groups of all ages and size. For the single traveler there isn’t much vibe and may seem a little sterile compared to some of the other hostels in the city.

St. Christopher’s / Belushi’s Bar : Just up the stairs from Waverly train station and right where the airport bus drops you off, for location you can’t get much better than this. One of the quirky things with most if not all St. Christopher’s is the lack of any kind of kitchen but the presence of a pub and restaurant on the main floor. So if you are not planning on saving money by cooking yourself and want a place close to the station this is a perfect stop.

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Accommodation Portugal

Traveller’s House – Lisbon, Portugal – Trekker’s Hostel Highlights

Opened on October 6, 2006, Traveller’s is located in the middle of Rua Augusta, the main tourist street in Lisbon, in an area called Baixa, known for being the most central and historical. Walking distance from the ferry and a short bus trip (#91) from the airport, its location makes it the ideal hostel to swing by during your stay in Lisbon.

Along with the ideal location, Traveller’s House also offers daily activities for a small fee, such as wine tasting, happy hour, bar crawl, piri piri chicken (spicy Portuguese marinade) and petiscos (Portuguese Tapas/snacks). Breakfast is included, and at €18-22 a night you might expect this to be cold cereal and watered down juice, but that is far from the truth. In the dining area you sit down at a comfy table with a placemat, utensils and all the condiments you would need. Then the house mom comes up and asks how you would like your eggs. A very pleasant, and delicious surprise, especially if you have enjoyed the bar crawl the night before.

The dorm rooms are super comfortable with large bunk beds and fantastic storage. In the large built-in lockers under the beds there are also individual safes for you to store your passports and money. The showers have superb water pressure, always an important factor after a long day of touring, and the wood accents throughout the house gives it a warm homely feel. The common room comes complete with huge bean bags and a comfy couch. There is free internet and a small TV room, both of which are super comfortable and perfect for vegging out and recovering. The staff completes this perfect package with their enthusiasm, knowledge of local info and generally making you feel like you are part of the family.

Traveller’s House
Rua Augusta, 89, 1st floor
1100-048 Lisbon
Portugal
Official Traveller’s House website

More Traveller’s House photos




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Accommodation Edinburgh Planning a Trip

Edinburgh Backpackers – Trekker’s Hostel Highlights

Entrance8 years ago, Edinburgh Backpackers was the very first hostel I ever stayed in and it hasn’t changed much. It was a great place to stay then and it looks like it continues with that trend. One of the oldest hostels in Edinburgh, it has been there for the past 12 years. With 96 beds and 12 privates there is a community environment created. The Southern Cross Café next door provides guests a 15% discount.

Located up a fairly steep hill from Waverly station but only a hop skip and jump from the Royal Mile, it is in a great location. The numerous floors are linked by winding staircase that could give you vertigo when you look down from the top floor. There is a pool table in the common room and a TV lounge to sit and relax. The rooms are brightly painted and most have excellent views of the city. There is a self catering kitchen with everything you need to cook up a feast.

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Accommodation Edinburgh Travel Tips

Booking a Hostel in Edinburgh

hostelEdinburgh is one of the favorite cities on a backpacker’s tour – there’s culture if you want it, and more partying than you can handle. But finding the right hostel to stay in during your trip to Edinburgh isn’t always easy – especially with so many booking sites to sift through. What’s more, many of the sites are actually listing the same properties, so what makes one different than another?

Some hostel booking sites are going to seem pretty much the same, so things to look for that will set them apart – and help you decide which one you like best – include whether a site gives good directions for getting from public transportation to the hostel, whether there are good pictures of the hostel so you can see what you’re booking, whether there are ample reviews of the hostel, and whether there are good maps so you know where the hostel is in relation to the city’s sights.

Here are some booking sites – we recommend that you take a look at each of them so you can decide which you prefer when you’re trying to find the perfect hostel in Edinburgh.

BootsnAll.com
HostelsClub.com
EuropeHostels.com
TheBestHostels.com
Hostelbookers.com
Hostelworld.com