Tag: things to do

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Los Angeles Things to Do

Get Out of LA for Some Horse Racing, Kentucky-Style

derbyLos Angeles has lots going for it when it comes to being a top travel destination or even a place to live (efficient public transportation aside). The weather’s unbeatable, the shopping is superb, the beach is right there, and there’s always plenty to do. Unless, of course, you’re a huge horse racing fan. In that case, nothing can replace a trip to see the Kentucky Derby in person.

Sure, there are horses that race around tracks all over the country, and some fine horse races in California. But the Kentucky Derby’s the Kentucky Derby, and no amount of mint juleps and big hats in LA will make up for the fact that you’re not there. So put the Kentucky Derby on your bucket list – and then consider checking it off this year.

The Kentucky Derby isn’t until May 1 this year, so you’ve still got plenty of time to make your travel plans. Since it’s such a major event, you don’t want to wait too much longer, but you’re certainly not looking at a last-minute trip just yet.

To start with, you can still get a cheap ticket to Louisville that will help you keep the whole trip within budget. And although it’s a city with lots to do and see besides the Kentucky Derby, there are still options for cheap hotels in Louisville, both for the Derby and for an extended stay if you’d like to spend a little more time in Kentucky before heading home.

And before you pack your bags, be sure to read through these Kentucky Derby travel tips – including what you can and can’t bring to the Derby itself and a few things to do in Louisville and the area around the Derby.

photo by Lisa Andres

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Accommodation Things to Do

Romantic Valentine’s Getaway: Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

beach-loveValentine’s Day is just three weeks away and we can guarantee that many of you haven’t planned yet anything. No, of course we are not blaming anyone. We are just offering some ideas for those who don’t know what to do and those who want something different than the typical dinner, movie and special night together.

Puerto Vallarta is a very popular vacation destination in Mexico. The beautiful beaches, sparkling blue waterfalls, exciting nightlife and luxurious resorts offer plenty of opportunities for having fun and spending a romantic getaway. Walking hand in hand on the sandy beach, sipping an exotic cocktail while watching the perfect sunset or enjoying exotic fruits in the privacy of your room while you whisper sweet nothings in your sweetheart’s ears, are just some of the things which can me the vacation perfect.

Valentine’s Day falls right in the middle of the high tourist season and the prices for both flight and accommodation aren’t exactly cheap. However, flights to Puerto Vallarta don’t need to ruin your budget. Typically, if you book two to four weeks prior to departure, you get excellent deals. A round trip flight to Puerto Vallarta starts at $353 per person (depart Feb 12; return Feb 16).

When you want to (pleasantly) surprise your sweetheart, it’s a good idea to look for a hotel which offers certain amenities to make a romantic vacation possible (although sometimes it doesn’t take much to do something nice). But that doesn’t mean cheap hotels in Puerto Vallarta don’t offer the perfect environment for a special getaway. A cozy boutique hotel can be both affordable and charming. For $88 per night you can have a true Mexican-style vacation with a romantic twist, right on the beach.

Another interesting option is to look for Mexico cruises . For certain couples, cruises represent the perfect romantic getaway. All you need to do is board the ship, enjoy the many activities planned and visit the cities in the itinerary. It can be tiring, but it can also be relaxing. And every night, you can try a new restaurant and a new way to charm your sweetheart.

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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).

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Los Angeles Things to Do

Visiting Anaheim is worthwhile, but it can be tricky

disneyworldAs someone who grew up only a few miles from Disneyland, it’s not always easy to put myself in the shoes of someone who’s coming to visit the place for the very first time. I probably visited the park about 20 times over about 10 years, so it sometimes feels like my backyard. Coming to Los Angeles to visit Disneyland is a major highlight for hundreds of thousands of people each year, but at the same time there are some pitfalls to be aware of, which I’ll cover just below.

Is Disneyland worthwhile?

Absolutely it is. After traveling around the world I can honestly say that very few things match Disneyland (or Disney World) for sheer excitement and novelty. But the deeper question is whether you should plan your entire trip around that visit, and I think the answer is no.

Getting to Anaheim

If you are coming from another country and you’ve gotten some international air tickets that get you to LAX, then you’ll only be about 40 kilometers from the park once you land.

If are coming domestically then you have several more airports to consider when looking for cheap flights to LA. Still, the best deals tend to be into LAX, so next you are probably wondering how to get from Los Angeles to Anaheim. We’ve covered that subject in the article linked here, but the bottom line is that renting a car is probably your best bet, though there are various buses and other possibilities.

Staying near Disneyland

This is where things can get tricky. There are several large and quite luxurious hotels located on the grounds of the park itself, so if you can afford it you might look into the hotels at Disneyland. But the city of Anaheim is quite large, and there are plenty of cheap places located within a few miles of the park. Generally speaking, hotels in Anaheim are fairly cheap compared to the ones that are on the grounds, but there are some run-down places mixed in so pay attention to the ratings for a place you want to book.

Should you really stay in Anaheim?

If you and your family are flying to Los Angeles and you plan on spending at least two days in the various Disney parks in Anaheim, then staying in the city isn’t a bad idea. But if you only want to spend one day in Disneyland then you really should think about staying elsewhere. There are great hotels near the beaches in Newport or Huntington, and both of those are in Orange County and close by. There are also plenty of great hotels in other parts of Los Angeles. The point is, the rest of Anaheim is a bit cheesy and parts of it are falling apart. If you want to stay near great restaurants and other attractions, choose somewhere other than Anaheim.

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Los Angeles Things to Do

San Diego is a worthwhile alternative to Los Angeles

sandiego350This site focuses on Los Angeles and one day we might start one specifically for San Diego, but for now we’ll discuss a bit about San Diego right here. That city near the Mexico border tends to be forgotten by most Angelenos, so it’s easy to forget that for many people it’s actually a more appealing destination than Los Angeles itself.

Not long ago we covered the various methods for getting between Los Angeles and San Diego, but we haven’t discussed much about people who’d prefer to skip LA completely. I know from living in the Phoenix area for 5 years that San Diego vacations are actually preferred among people from Arizona, so I’m sure the same is true for many people from other places as well.

Getting to San Diego

If you are coming from another part of the US then it should be simple enough to find cheap flights to San Diego. All the major airlines, including most of the discount carriers, fly directly to San Diego so fares are competitive. If you are coming from a city where a direct set of flights seems more expensive than you’d think, it’s not a bad idea to check flights into LAX as well.

You are going to need a car in either city and you can rent them just as cheaply in LA (and often cheaper) than San Diego, so you might save $100 on a flight in exchange for 2.5 hours driving down the coast in a rental car each way. Once you get into Orange County the drive itself is quite nice as well.

Where to stay in San Diego

You have two main choices here, but both of them are pretty broad. The hotels in San Diego are scattered throughout the area, and generally you’ll be looking at either a business-type hotel in the downtown area, or one of the many family-type hotels near a beach. The good news about these beach hotels is that there are literally many hundreds of them so prices are more reasonable than you might imagine.

Where I recommend that people stay

I prefer the area they call North County. The beaches near the city center are nice, but the area around them is so crowded that it doesn’t really feel like a resort community at all. But if you stay just 10 miles or so north of downtown San Diego, you’ll feel like you are in vacationland, in a good way.

I recommend Solana Beach if you can find a place there, or Del Mar or Encinitas are nice too. One word of warning though about Del Mar and Solana Beach. There is a popular horse racing track in Del Mar (called Del Mar) and from late July through mid September they have a popular race meeting and all hotels get more expensive and tend to be more full. If you can come before or after that you’ll find lower prices and smaller crowds.

Photo by Nick Chill on Flickr

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Los Angeles Things to Do

Combine Los Angeles with a few side trips to get the most out of your vacation

I was born and raised in Los Angeles, and even though I often find the place quite frustrating, I always tell anyone who’ll listen that it’s a city that you just have to see with your own eyes at least once to be taken seriously as a “traveler.” I’ve met quite a few people who say that they “just aren’t interested in Los Angeles” and I don’t believe that for a minute, though I do see why people might not love the place. Still, it’s a great idea to combine a few side trips with your LA visit to get the most out of the whole holiday, so here are some recommendations.

The Grand Canyon

grandcanyonIf you are coming from across the country or across an ocean to get here, you should definitely consider adding this to your itinerary, at least for a couple of days. You could drive all the way there, but it’ll take you at least 8 hours on the road, and it’s actually not very scenic on the way. A better idea is to look into flights to Phoenix, which tend to be very cheap. You can rent a car there, usually for less than you’ll pay in Los Angeles, and then it’s about a 3-hour drive that is actually quite nice.

There are plenty of Grand Canyon hotels from which to choose, but especially during summer those are going to be very expensive. I recommend spending one night at one of those hotels so you have two days to experience the national park surrounding the canyon, but before and after I’d recommend checking out one of the cheap hotels in Phoenix. Prices there are usually much less than in Los Angeles or the Grand Canyon, especially during summer. I’ve lived in Phoenix for about 5 years as well and there is plenty to do, though the summer heat will get to you after a few days.

San Diego

If you’ve spent a few days in Los Angeles already then San Diego won’t feel like a shock. I’ve spent plenty of time there and it’s pretty much exactly the same place, but with fewer crowds and generally more of a laid-back atmosphere. There are plenty of nice beaches there, but really no better than some of those you’ll find in Los Angeles. It’s just generally a nice and large city by the beach, and perhaps the most interesting thing for travelers from far away is that you can drive about 20 miles south and you’ll be nearing Tijuana, Mexico. Locals will tell you that it’s better to park on the US side (to avoid insurance issues plus a few other difficulties) and then walk across the border since Tijuana is right there.

If you are coming from far away you might just look for flights to San Diego instead of Los Angeles. It’s usually a bit more expensive, but the airport is smaller and nicer, and if you are visiting anyway it’s often worth a bit more money. Don’t fly from Los Angeles though. The flights are expensive and will take longer than taking the train or driving anyway.

Santa Barbara

About 90 miles up the coast from Los Angeles you’ll come to one of the nicest cities on the West Coast. Santa Barbara has great beaches and a lovely downtown that is filled with excellent restaurants and surprisingly good nightlife considering the place is mostly filled with the idle rich. There is a big university just north of town, so the college kids need places to go, and the downtown area accommodates them nicely.

There are plenty of really nice and really expensive hotels in Santa Barbara, but there are also a handful of cheaper places on or near State Street, which is the main street that connects the lovely pier with the downtown area.

You might also just consider Santa Barbara as a day trip, since it usually takes less than two hours each way by car, as long as you don’t go on a Friday afternoon or try to come back on a Sunday evening.

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Los Angeles

Fall Travel Deals in San Diego

sandiegoA quick jaunt from Los Angeles and a city full of fun for all ages, San Diego is an ideal U.S. city to explore. I have always loved San Diego. Lots of sunshine, tattooed surfer boys, bikes along the boardwalks and great bars—and while the San Diego I love now is not the San Diego I loved as a kid (the zoo, Seaworld, the sea lions, the beach) it is certainly a city that can please all different kinds of demographics of travelers—from wild 20 somethings to families. And, with plenty of sunshine and the summer crowds gone, fall is actually an ideal time to spend some time in San Diego.

Bike along the beach at Mission Bay, hit the bars in Pacific Beach, catch one of the great ethnic heritage festivals in September or October, or check out some of the restaurants in the Gaslamp Quarter. For those who are mourning the end of summer—blue skies and bikini weather lasts well through the autumn months in San Diego, making it an ideal place for a little getaway.

Plus, with strong completion into San Diego Airport between Virgin America, United, Southwest and Alaska Airlines it usually isn’t too difficult to find affordable flights to San Diego. I recently wrote about all of the great fall travel deals to San Diego—and from plenty of great hotel deals and cheap flights it may be hard to resist an autumn getaway to the Southern California city.

For those who want nice accommodations for not a whole lot of money, the cheap hotels in San Diego tend to be centered about 3 miles from downtown in the Mission Bay beach area. Here you can find hotels that are not only super close to the beach, but are also just a short cab ride or drive downtown and walking distance to Pacific Beach. The Best Western at Mission Bay has a three-night-for-the-price of-two offer for stays through December 31.

Another hotel in Mission Bay offering up discounted rooms is the Catamaran Resort Hotel and Spa, which is actually the property where my cousin got married just a few years ago. I can attest that this hotel is absolutely beautiful and with rooms now being offered $129/night (the same rooms can go for as much as $239/night). Jen Leo from the Los Angeles Times tested some of these rates and found that while it was difficult to find the discounted rates on the hotel’s web site, she found the $129 San Diego waterfront resort and spa deal easily for both mid-week stays and weekends on Hot Wire’s Travel Ticker web site.

Another way to save money on a trip to San Diego is to book your hotel and airfare as a package. With hotels and airlines bundling your trip for you, you’ll not only save time, but you could also potentially save money by booking one of the many San Diego vacation packages.

Deals on Cruising From San Diego

San Diego is also a launching point for many cruises heading south to Mexico to warmer waters and temperatures this time of year. While cruise line executives have been making plenty of statements on how well they are faring in the recession, it’s clear from all the crazy sales on cruises that some cruise lines are frantically slashing prices to fill up ships.

If you are still hoping to get away for the upcoming holiday weekend, there are plenty of great deals to be had on last-minute cruises departing from San Diego.

If you’ve got a little more time on your hands and want to take more than a 3-7 day cruise, you can sail for 14 days from San Diego to Miami on board the Celebrity Constellation, visiting Cabo San Lucas, Acapulco, Huatulco, Putarenas, Cristobal and Cartagena. The cruise departs December 6, and will offer passengers the opportunity to check out fabulous beaches on both the Pacific and Caribbean, as well as make stops in two continents and several countries for $899.

If you would rather opt for a shorter, more family-orientated cruise, Disney cruises also depart from the Port at San Diego. Plus, not only can you score some deals on Disney cruises (and all cruises fdor that matter) right now, but San Diego is the perfect city to explore with the kids before the ship ever leaves port. MSNBC recently ranked San Diego as one of America’s 10 Most Kid-Friendly Cities. With the fabulous San Diego zoo, Sea World, and plenty of fun activities to enjoy outside, San Diego is an ideal place to vacation with the kiddos.

If San Diego is not your thing, check out more travel deals from Los Angeles.

photo by Nick Chill

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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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Los Angeles Things to Do

How to spend a vacation in Los Angeles on a low budget

los-angelesWith the glitz and glamour of the entertainment business, a large collection of high end stores, hotels and restaurants, it might seem close to impossible to plan a vacation in Los Angeles on a low budget. But never underestimate the power of planning in advance and doing your research.

Getting to Los Angeles

The fastest way to get to the famous city is by plane. You can find airline tickets to Los Angeles offered by a variety of carriers so looking for a good deal is only a matter of how much time you are willing to spend online.

The largest airport in the area is Los Angeles International Airport and the flights to LAX tend to be cheaper than the ones to the other airports. It’s a major hub for United Airlines so make sure to check their fares first when you start planning.

You should also look into renting a car, as the city is very large and you probably wouldn’t want to relay just on the public transport. Ideally, you should also book LAX parking as soon as you get your plane ticket.

If flying is not your thing, there are other ways to get to LA. However, getting from New York to LA takes 3 full days if you choose the bus or the train. San Diego is closer so you are looking at only 3 hours by bus or train.

Where to stay

The rental car I mentioned above really comes in handy if you want to stay in a cheap hotel. Those can usually be found in the Glendale or Pasadena areas but those neighborhoods are far away from both the beaches and sights.

There are plenty of hotels in Los Angeles but you’ll soon realize that many are quite cheap especially if you want to stay close to the downtown area.

There are also a bunch of hostels in Los Angeles but you need to plan in advance and carefully look for something that is located close to the sights.

What to do

If the budget is low, then the parks are really lovely places to explore. There are hiking trails you can try and of course, you can always enjoy the green space for free (although some gardens do have hefty entrance fees, so watch out for that).

A trip to LA is not complete without checking out the beaches . If you want some peace and quite, you might need to avoid the very popular places such as Venice Beach.

Make sure to visit Chinatown and keep your eyes open to spot some interesting meals or souvenirs.

And if you have some spare time, walking in the Hollywood is a good idea. Plus you can always try to find the star of your favorite actor or musician and take a photo there. When hunger strikes, try the Pink’s Hot Dogs . They are a nice choice for a low budget (but not so nice if you are watching your weight).

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Croatia travel guide

Things to do in Dubrovnik

Ah, Dubrovnik. Adored by people like John Malkovitch, the king of Jordan and the late Pope John Paul II, this “jewel of the Adriatic” is Eastern Europe’s Venice, minus the flooding. The southern-most city in Croatia, Dubrovnik was one of the centers of the development of language and literature and was home to many famous poets, playwrights, painters, mathematicians and other scholars. Its gorgeous old town became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1979, and its charm has attracted tourists who want a taste of the Mediterranean without the crowds of Greece and Italy.

The city is perfect for the meandering sightseer, the beach-goer and those in search of a lively nightlife. Though many of the city buildings were damaged by the earthquake in 1667 and bombs during the Croatian War of Independence in the 1990’s, most has been rebuilt and Dubrovnik is still considered Croatia’s best kept secret.

Wander along Stradun

Grab a cup of coffee and a pastry as you wonder through Dubrovnik’s main street, the Stradun. Once a swamp, the Stradun, is now a place for locals and visitors to gather throughout the day and into the evening. With numerous cafés and restaurants, the street is a great place to rest your tired body after touring the various sites of Dubrovnik.

Sponza Palace

Dubrovnik’s Sponza Palace was constructed in 1522 as a customs-house, where merchants would bring goods from all over the world and pay a customs fee before trading. The palace exemplifies the simplistic Croatian architecture, which is very visually appealing. Now used to house city archives, the Sponza Palace is free to visit and is a nice, shady recluse from the sun. Be sure to notice the Gothic stonework and Renaissance-style windows.

Onofrio’s Large Fountain (Great Onofrio Well)


Originally constructed in 1438 by Italian architect Onofrio della Cava, the 16-sided drinking fountain was partially damaged in the 1667 earthquake, but remains rustic representation of old Dubrovnik architecture. The fountain was part of the city’s water mains constructed in the 15th century, and was considered an architectural masterpiece at the time it was built. Have a seat and a sip from this giant fountain, which supplied Croatians with water during the war in 1992.

Cathedral

For another rest in the shade and the opportunity to view intriguing works of art, peek inside the cathedral. The current cathedral was built in 1673, by Roman architect Andrea Buffalini to replace the original 12th century cathedral, which was destroyed by the earthquake. The cathedral includes Titian’s polyptych, Assumption, as well as the skull of St Blaise encased in a jewel-encrusted crown. When another earthquake struck in 1979, excavations beneath the cathedral revealed a Romanesque cathedral beneath the current one. Further digging uncovered another church underneath this one, dating from about the 6th century.

Rector’s Palace


2770797982_256ab4810aDesigned by Onofrio della Cava –who also designed Onofrio’s fountain—the Rector’s palace has not had the smoothest of histories. The original building was completely destroyed in 1435 by a gunpowder explosion. The second floor of the rebuilt palace was again destroyed by another explosion in 1463, and the entire building suffered more damage from the earthquake. As a result, the building has acquired various styles and designers over the centuries.

Other sites worth noticing

While walking the streets of Dubrovnik, these other monuments are worth noticing as you pass. Roland’s Column is a narrow stone flagstaff named after the legendary knight. Take an afternoon stroll around the Old City Walls, which boast great views of the town. Dubrovnik’s Franciscan Monastery is a Baroque-style Church, housing a Romanesque cloister and the third oldest pharmacy in the world.

Beaches

Slews of public beaches offer Dubrovnik travelers plenty of options for swimming, tanning and boating. Banje Beach is the most convenient beach because of it’s proximity to Old Town. It also offers the best view of Dubrovnik’s walls. If you really want to lounge around, you can rent chairs and umbrellas from the nearby EastWest club, or just throw down your towel and enjoy the Mediterranean rays. 
Copacabana Beach is a perfectly pleasant and family-friendly beach on the Babin Kuk peninsula. With relatively shallow water, kids will enjoy the toboggan, and adults will enjoy the waterskiing, windsurfing and other watersports. On the Lapad peninsula, beach-goers might enjoy the pebble beaches that sit in front of the large hotels—but unlike other areas where hotels have private ownership, these beaches are open to the public. Sv Jakov Beach is known to few tourists and loved by the locals. To reach this lesser-known beach, travel east from Ploce gate and go past the Hotel Argentina and the former monastery, and take the long stairway leading down to this secluded, peaceful beach.

Nightlife

While not the raucous, out-of-control environment of Barcelona or Mykanos, Dubrovnik’s nightlife will completely satisfy those who enjoy lively outdoor bars and live music and shows, much like Venice. Clubs and discotecs open and close frequently, but you will never be short on friendly bars along Old Town’s Stradun, which do not allow traffic. Sidewalk cafes, like Café Festival near the Franciscan monastery, are perfect spots people watching and sipping wine. The narrow streets of Old Town also offer a welcoming atmosphere. For those who want to see something different, climb through the hole in the city to Buza bar (Ispod Mira) around sunset, a bar dangling right above the cliffs. Hemingway (Pred Dvoram) is a cocktail bar with comfy chairs and a 30-page cocktail menu. 
And for your fix of an Irish pub, check out Karaka in Od Polaca street, just of off Stradun for a refreshing pint of Guinness. 
Fuego (near Pile Gate, just outside the old town), also known as Latino club, is one of the best and busiest nightclubs in Dubrovnik. It hosts several different types of musical events, and has a cool interior, friendly staff and surprisingly affordable prices. Bikers’ Café, located just above the Old Town, has a more rock and roll vibe, while the more relaxed Troubadur Jazz cafe (near Gundulic square) is open until late in the night.

Photos by Jimmyharris on Flickr