Paris is a romantic and magical destination at anytime of year, but at Christmas the city radiates with a festive glow unmatched by almost any other European city. Shop windows fill with chocolates and other mouthwatering treats and the city’s legendarily harassed and busy residents have even been known to stop and even crack a smile.
So if you’ve got a weekend to spare before the big day then a trip to Paris is the way to start your festive season with a bang. And to make it even better here’s a few suggestions for the best things to see and do during your time in la belle France!
Christmas Window Displays
That’s not to say the department stores of Opéra aren’t worth a visit, or at least worth peering into from the outside. Paris’ two main department stores - the opulent Galeries Lafayette and the slightly more pedestrian (but still very impressive) Printemps - spend all year coming up with ever more inventive, intricate and complex window displays, which are generally unveiled at the end of November each year. These are truly works of art (indeed well known modern artists have collaborated on them in the past) and are generally surrounded by a gaggle of (suitably impressed) tourists. If you’ve got the time then pop up to the roof of either department store (Printemps’ terrace has the better view but can be a nightmare to find) and take in the vistas of the city; if you’re looking for an ‘I’ve been in Paris’ Facebook photo then this could be the place to take it!
Christmas Markets
Yes, ok, starting off a guide to Christmas in Paris by mentioning a quintessentially German concept might seem a strange thing to do, but the Marché Noël at La Défense is worth breaking the rules for. The market is made up of around 300 wooden huts spread amongst the skyscrapers of Europe’s largest business district offering Glühwein, stocking fillers and warm and hearty food making the market well worth a wander. More conventional Christmas shopping needs can also be taken care of in the gigantic Les Quatre Temps shopping centre which is also situated in the area. While it lacks in individuality it most definitely makes up for in it scale and convenience. Plus it never gets anywhere near as busy as the department stores around Opéra or the boutiques of the Champs-Élysées.
Other Tips
If you’re visiting after Christmas and looking to hit the sales then keep in mind that sale dates in France are officially regulated and 2013’s winter sales won’t start until January 9th. The first day of the sales is usually mad and unless shopping is your sport, probably best avoided. The officially enforced end date of the sales means that, unlike in the UK, discounts will get deep towards the end of the sale period since the products have to be shifted before a set date.
Got tips of your own? Then leave us a comment with your advice for the best Christmas activities in Paris, or any other cities you might love at Christmas time!
Show off your knowledge of the local cuisine in Beijing next time you plan on bringing a friend. Even if you have limited knowledge from your own experiences you can show a friend how the locals eat with a little cheat sheet on where to go. Here's just a taste of what Beijing has to offer and where the locals come back to again and again.
Quanjude, Peking Duck
There is perhaps no place in the world who serves up a Peking Duck like Quanjude. Established in 1864, it is definitely a favorite of tourists, but the locals are proud of this legendary restaurant. Its flagship restaurant is located on Qianmen Street in the Chongwen District with many other branches throughout Beijing. Quanjude has served many dignitaries from more than 200 countries.
Mr. Shi's, Dumplings
For the best in dumplings and a favorite among locals is Mr. Shi's. You can order your dumplings either boiled or pan-fried and choose from vegetarian, pork, or shrimp fillings. Mr. Shi's is always packed with locals for the good food and good prices. You can fill up fast on the cheap and will find yourself coming back again and again. This is a great place to show a friend how to eat like a local without breaking the bank.
Street Food, Baozi on Xinzhongjie
Locals flock to street vendors for some of the best, and cheapest, food in Beijing. From lamb kabobs to squiggly scorpions and starfish on a stick, there is much to choose from for the adventurous palate. You might want to start out with something less challenging for breakfast, such as baozi, a bun filled with pork, vegetables, and other tasty delights. One of the most popular stands for baozi can be found on Xinzhongjie.
Street Food, Donghuamen Night Market, Northwest of Wangfujing Street
For lunch and dinner, take your unsuspecting friend to the Donghuamen night market for more exotic fare. Though the market is a local favorite, it does get busy with a lot of curious tourists. Here you can find foods tailored to the Western palate and a wide variety of foods representing the many cultures of China. The lamb kabobs and pita bread stuffed with meat that are sure to please. If you're more adventurous, you can try squid, grasshoppers, and those squiggly scorpions and starfish.
There is plenty for the sweet tooth at the Donghuamen Night Market such as fried pancakes, bananas, and a big favorite among the locals, tang hu lu. This super sweet treat is comprised of several hawthorne fruits on a stick which are coated in thick and sticky caramel. You'll spend a good amount of time working through the caramel and ultimately trying to get it out of your teeth, but it's worth the trouble. It's a great way to get that lasting taste of scorpion out of your mouth.
Now you can confidently show your friend around Beijing and pride yourself in showing him how the locals eat as though you've lived there for years. Along the way, you'll surely come to know the best of Beijing.
Excellent spots to take a walk, grab a bite, or enjoy music and theater with a view.
French philosopher Michel de Certeau wrote beautifully about the eerie power of standing above a city and gazing down at it from a great height in his seminal essay ‘Walking in the City’.
In it, Certeau begins atop the Empire State Building and notices how this position is one of great privilege: to see the city from above, not from the streets: to be exclusive and above the normal urban project. A view from above is for the big spenders, the rich; a view from the streets is for the citizen, the local.
Yet does this tale of New York apply elsewhere? Catching a glimpse of London from above can be an equally rare pleasure – but there are more opportunities to do so than one might initially think.
Many central London hotels have some excellent views around the city’s busiest buildings – we recommend the cluster of hotels around Hyde Park and the Park Plaza complexes around Westminster Bridge, Waterloo and the South Bank. We’ve picked out some of the best places to get a great view of London on foot – and up high with a bite to eat.
Big spenders and high flyers: dining with a view
Whilst dining at some of London’s high restaurants can be pricey, there are some excellent spots which have lovely bars too and are in fact much better for popping up around 6.30-7pm to catch the autumn sunset and have an aperitif.
Bang central is Paramount at Centre Point, a very ugly building on Tottenham Court Road, whose top floor boasts this lovely bar and stunning views around the whole city. There’s also a restaurant run by Searcy’s atop the National Portrait Gallery just off Trafalgar Square; from a table here you’ll see all the delights of old central London, from the National Gallery and Houses of Parliament to the new London Eye.
East
In the east, the Gherkin also had a panoramic bar/restaurant run by Searcy’s, giving great views from east to west, and further east and south towards Canary Wharf. The sense of eerie exclusivity will really come to the fore in this area.
Southbank
The classic choice is to go up the Oxo Tower on the Southbank, offering stunning views across the St Paul’s, as well as all along the river.
Walks with spectacular vistas
My personal favourite is to walk the city; this is a wonderful thing to do on a clear day, especially a week day if you are on holiday and can take the time off. Top tips are mostly in the north, allowing you to bow down over the rest of the city; furthest north is the towering Victorian delight of Alexandra Palace – itself an amazing structure which offers stunning views across the whole expanse of the capital. A little closer in, you’ll want to wander up Parliament Hill on Hampstead Heath (a great spot for any kind of long lazy walk in London). Best for sunsets and late at night is Primrose Hill as the day winds down, overlooking the Regent’s Canal, Camden and the glittering lights of the city.
Long days of sightseeing in London deserve good nights of first class entertainment. Whether you’re staying at one of the cheap hostal or have a suite at the Ritz, after a busy day you deserve to let your hair down in style. London has been a home to every cultural phenomenon and in the recent years one certainly started to sparkle and seduce - I’m talking about the art of burlesque. Originally a cabaret act intended to mock and ridicule, burlesque evolved into a fun but sensual dance art form and world class celebrities such as Dita Von Teese definitely helped to popularise it. Embracing the retro pin up style of the 1940s and 1950s, burlesque is storming the city!
If you’re in town in November, Chaz Royal, a producer of award wining burlesque shows and founder of The London Burlesque Festival, will be hosting a 10 Year Anniversary Celebration. To celebrate a decade in business the winners of World Burlesque 2012 Games, such as Eliza Delite, will take to stage to entertain and tease in a truly decadent fashion. The festival itself takes place in April and also has its spot at Edinburgh Fringe - I’d highly recommend pencilling those dates in your next year’s calendar.
Don’t despair if you miss the celebration or the festival - London is buzzing with burlesque performances on weekly basis. Bohemian Café de Paris every Sunday gives its stage to the Wam Bam Club - a weekly explosive mixture of comedy and burlesque. Wam Bam Club is one of the longest running cabaret nights in London and many of the 15 acts are residents well acquainted with the audience. Wam Bam stages boylesque acts as well, still a rarity among the ladies. The entertainment, complete with a three course meal, will certainly make for an unforgettable experience.
Majority of burlesque shows take place in the very heart of the City or around Mayfair, however should you fancy a more alternative option, Proud Cabaret in Camden comes to the rescue. Located in Stables Market in the old Horse Hospital, the venue brings extravagant glamour to the North of London. With their newest offering ’50 Shades Of Cabaret’, a burlesque and dinner show, this supper club is not to be missed. However for a more intimate experience head to the up and coming Stoke Newington, where at The White Rabbit on a Friday every month you’re invited to go ‘Down The Rabbit Hole’ - a new and exciting night, promoting fresh burlesque talent in the city. The venue itself is kooky and cosy and the intimacy will let you experience burlesque as if you were in a real Parisian cafe.
Burlesque will certainly add some glamour, sparkle and good laughs to your night time entertainment. If the shows themselves were not enough to make you come back - there are plenty of burlesque and boylesque academies, encouraging you to come in and try the art form yourself. Who knows, you might be the star of the next year’s London Burlesque Festival!
If you’ve ever has the pleasure of visiting France, you’ll understand that to the locals, wine isn’t just a drink – it’s a way of life. That’s especially true in Montmartre, where the annual Fête des Vendanges celebrates the region’s wine culture and the year’s harvest with five days of festivities, music, food and of course, plenty of good wine!
This year’s Fête des Vendanges de Montmartre takes place from the 10th to the 14th October, during which time the streets will be filled with stalls selling tempting French delicacies and selling wine by the glass, fresh from the local vineyards. Live musical performances and displays of dancing also help to create a party atmosphere, so don’t be afraid to grab a glass of red, white or rosé and join in with the fun.
The highlight of the festival will take place on the Saturday, on which day a colourful parade of masked performers and extravagant floats will delight the crowds, followed by a magnificent fireworks display. Visitor numbers can often top multiple thousands so if you want a good view of the proceedings, be sure to head there early.
An Urban Vineyard
As Montmartre has a unique location just north of Paris, making it one of the few cities in the world with a functional vineyard, the Fête des Vendanges makes a perfect excuse to take cheap flights to Paris with low-cost specialist airlines like Jet2.com. As well as drinking lots of delicious, locally-produced wine, you’ll also be able to experience all of the fantastic sights that Paris has to offer.
October is also a fantastic time to visit Paris as it will not be so busy with tourists, meaning you’ll be able to snap up a table at the city’s most in-demand restaurants, find a seat on a rooftop terrace or just browse the shops in peace.
The city of Paris itself will also be celebrating its annual Autumn Festival during October, perfect for culture vultures with a thirst for opera, dance or theatre so don’t forget to check the schedule before you go – and don’t drink too much wine in Montmartre!
About the Author: Victoria Cawthorne is a travel blogger with a passion for music, theme parks, bikes, sewing, vegetarian food and road trips in camper vans. She has traveled extensively through Europe and North America and even lived abroad too, and has a natural passion for penning her experiences along the way.
Wherever you go in the world, you will find some breathtaking landscapes, from idyllic islands to lush rainforests. A few of the most spectacular sights you will lay your eyes on are some of the world's tallest mountains - here is a guide to which peaks you should make sure you visit in your lifetime.
Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania
It might not be as famous as Mount Everest or as tall as K2 in the Himalayas, but Mount Kilimanjaro is a great mountain to visit - and not too difficult to climb as well.
This peak is situated in Tanzania and is the tallest mountain in Africa. What's more, it is the highest free-standing peak in the whole world, so it's definitely worth taking a trip to the East African country to take a look at the magnificent spectacle.
You will certainly be impressed as well, as the mountain reaches 5,895 m - don't let this put you off, though, if you're keen on climbing Mount Kilimanjaro as it is one of the most popular mountains to climb. Many avid walkers - and even some whose fitness is rusty at best - reach the summit every year on a trip that lasts between five and seven days.
Mount Cook, New Zealand
You might be planning a holiday to New Zealand but want to fulfil your desires to go mountain climbing. In this case, we thoroughly recommend visiting Aoraki Mount Cook, New Zealand's tallest mountain at 3,754 m.
This isn't the only tall peak in this area though and it is among 27 that are more than 3,050 m - so even when you complete the climb, you'll have other adventures you can embark on while in New Zealand.
Walking isn't the only option here either - so holidaymakers who haven't been to the gym in a while can breathe a sigh of relief. This is a great place to enjoy a trip in a four-wheel drive or go horse-riding. For a truly special holiday, you could go on a scenic flight over the area, which will give you great views of Aoraki Mount Cook's snow-capped peaks.
Mount Fuji, Japan
A few thousands miles away in Japan is Mount Fuji - the tallest summit in the country at 3,776 m. The image of this conical volcano with a top covered in snow is famous the world over and seeing it in real life will feel very surreal.
If you want good views of the mountain from afar, head to the nation in the colder seasons when the clouds have gone and visibility is clearer. For those who have their walking boots at the ready and want to climb the peak, visit here between July and August when the hiking routes are officially open.
And if you're concerned the volcano might start to blow when you're in the country, you don't have to worry, as its last eruption was in 1708 and it has remained dormant since then.
Mount Everest, Nepal
This article wouldn't be complete without a mention of Nepal's Mount Everest - the world's tallest mountain.
At 8,850 m, this Himalayan peak really is a feat to conquer, and only a few professional climbers make their way to the top every year. You don't have to reach the summit though if you are keen on scaling the mountain (or at least some of it).
It takes nine day to get to Everest Base Camp, and despite it being a long distance away from the peak, it is still at an impressive 5,380 m - so it's hardly a walk in the park!
Photos via Flickr Creative Commons (click on each image to get more info about the photographer)
Location
When we visited the charming city of Lubeck in Northern Germany earlier this year, we stayed at Hotel Baltic, a budget and family friendly hotel located just one minute away from the Lubeck Central Station and the bus station and only a few minutes from the heart of the city. As we arrived by train, the location of this hotel was ideal, as there was no need to use the public transport to get to the hotel, nor to carry our luggage for long.
The Room
The room was basic but comfortable, with a small flat screen, carpet covered floors, and free Wi-fi. We really liked how comfortable the beds were, which provided us with a very good night sleep, especially that the double glazed windows were protecting us from any unwanted noise from outside. Even though the bus station was just in front of our window, there didn't seem to be very many (if any at all) buses running during the night. The only real inconvenience was that the hotel has no elevator, and we had to struggle with the luggage for three floors.
But we were really smitten by the views from our window, and the way the afternoon sun was entering our room was simply surreal.
The Bathroom
The bathroom was newly renovated, spacious and very well organized. Everything one needed, from towels to shampoo and soap was provided, and everything sparkled.
Breakfast
We simply loved the setting in which the breakfast was served, with all kind of interesting little details in the sailing theme and the fact that there was a lit candle on each table. I think this was the first time ever we had breakfast by candle light and we were thrilled. I mean, what a great idea! We should totally do this at home too. It really adds a festive mood to what is supposed to be the most important meal of the day.
The guys at Baltic Hotel are currently working to fit the very green inner courtyard for breakfast purposes as well, so I can only imagine just how even more wonderful having breakfast here it would be in the near future.
The Reception
During the day there's always somebody who speaks perfect English in the reception and one can hang out there or get guidance and advice regarding the places of interest and the best restaurants in town. However, the reception closes during the night, and we were given an extra key for the front door, so we had no inconvenience coming back from town a bit later.
For it's location and value for money, Baltic Hotel from Lubeck is the ideal place to spend the night when visiting the town, be it for business or tourist purposes. Especially for the budget conscious guests traveling by train, either using an Interrail or Eurail pass or not, this hotel is a God sent.
If the thought of another holiday lolling by the beach bores you or the idea of traipsing aimlessly around another cosmopolitan city no longer captures your imagination, then maybe it’s time you considered volunteering abroad.
Volunteering is a holiday with a real difference and a great way to travel cheaply and explore a country and culture deeply. You will really get to know the place you stay in and understand the people you meet, and your memories from the experience will last a lifetime.
There are overseas volunteer projects in some of the most exciting destinations in the world. With organisations like Projects Abroad you can choose to work in fields as diverse as nursing, teaching, journalism, conservation and human rights campaigning.
This article outlines the benefits of volunteering, as well as some examples of projects you could work on.
Why volunteer?
Give a little overseas and take home much more
Volunteering is about giving your time, skills and experience to help others but it is also about what you get to take home with you. For a start there is the opportunity to really understand the place you visit and its people. Then there’s the comradeship with the team of international volunteers that you will work alongside – you will leave with new friends all over the world who could be the source of low-cost holidays for you for years to come!
Long lasting memories
Volunteering overseas is a challenge but it is these sorts of experiences that linger in the memory longer than the easy-thrills of your average holiday.
Gain new skills
On top of all this you will be learning new skills – vocational, language, interpersonal – through the work you do and be taking home the satisfaction gained from having done something truly worthwhile.
Who can volunteer?
You can volunteer for just two weeks or for over a year and the opportunities are open for all regardless of their age, skills or experience. From archaeology to animal care, nursing to protecting coral reefs, working at a newspaper in Africa to providing care in an orphanage in Cambodia, there is a project for everyone. Teaching English in schools is a particularly popular option and you can find more information about how to teach abroad easily. Here are some other volunteering holidays that will make an unforgettable experience for you.
Where to volunteer?
Africa
In the vibrant continent of Africa you could really get to know Morocco whilst teaching English and learning Arabic. You could even protect an endangered species of giraffes in Kenya, protect the rights of women in South Africa or help improve the health of local families in Tanzania.Asia
With its diverse religions, cultures and landscapes Asia is the perfect place to volunteer in. There are business placements in China, opportunities to really get under the surface by diving on marine conservation projects in Thailand and the chance to get away from it all by living with nomadic cultures in remote Mongolia. You can target your hotel near what type of volunteer you want to do.
South America
Maybe digging deeper into the history of the Incas on archaeological projects in Peru would be right for you? Or conserving the fragile ecosystems of rainforests in Costa Rica? Or working with orphans in Bolivia?
With so many holidays with a difference on offer, and so many ways you can benefit from volunteering abroad, it is no wonder a new breed of traveller has emerged. The voluntourist is one who volunteers to travel because they know volunteering is an unforgettable experience in itself and offers a great way to see the world cheaply and deeply.
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