trips tips and tapas

Warsaw – the undiscovered winter destination If your image of Poland is of a post-communist country struggling to find its place in a modern Europe then you would probably not have considered it as a winter destination. Perhaps now is the ideal time to reconsider as Poland reinvents herself. Naturally the winters can be stark with temperatures dropping to minus fifteen celcius , so it’s essential to be well prepared. Generally speaking though if you visit in November or March you’ll have the best of winter without the freezing cold and often with bright sunny days. Warsaw is perfect for a long weekend and to get your bearings, look for the Palace of Culture and Science (PKIn)– you can’t miss it as it dominates the landscape from wherever you are in the city. It was given to the Polish people as a gift by the Russians and there is the old joke that the best place to see Warsaw is from the top of the building – the only place where you can’t actually see the ‘monstrosity’ itself...

With all the bad publicity surrounding Greece such as the economic crisis and the influx of immigrants, many people have been put off visiting there this year. I hope to address the balance and show you how you could have the perfect holiday and help the Greek economy at the same time. There are over 6000 islands and islets, which make up the Greek archipelago, although only 227 of them are inhabited. Still, that gives plenty of choice when it comes to deciding where to go. Crete – best all-rounder One of the largest islands in the Mediterranean, its 4000 year history means that there is something for everyone. Crete or  Kriti  is rich in culture and with an attractive coastline and climate, it is no surprise that it is one of the most popular tourist destinations. The Eastern part of the island served by Heraklion airport is very touristy where you’ll find the all-inclusive hotels and strings of bars but if you want a more authentic holiday then the Western p...

Things that we do quite happily in our twenties, such as travelling abroad on our own, can present more problems as we get older. In the past, I would take out travel insurance not really considering the possibility that I might fall ill. Now I inspect the policy to make sure all eventualities are covered. Likewise, if something went wrong it didn't really faze me. I remember as a student arranging to meet a friend of a friend to end the year in the Alps. When I got off the bus she wasn't there and I had no way of contacting her. I waited for an hour and then found a taxi to the station where I caught a train to Lyon. I wasn't due home for another three days and nobody knew where I was at that moment yet it all worked out fine. Today endless scenarios of 'what if?" play on my mind before any trip. I'm not a huge fan of package tours, preferring instead to travel independently, but I thought the time was right to give it one more try. I realised that finding th...

'Why visit Wales? It always rains there,' I hear you say. Well, it may be true that Wales receives its fair share of rainfall but then that accounts for its wonderful greenery. Plus, when it's not raining, it offers fantastic scenery to rival that of any in the world. If you’ve visited Wales already, then I’m sure you have a favourite region. An area popular with families, campers, hikers and nature lovers is Pembrokeshire; hardly surprising with its miles of beautiful coastline and natural habitat.  Why not start by visiting Fishguard? Better known as a ferry port and handy if you plan to go on to Ireland but well worth a visit in its own right. The scenery, I’m sure you’ll agree is absolutely stunning and the views from the top of the town looking down to the harbour could rival any Mediterranean vista on a sunny day. If you’re travelling to Fishguard I can thoroughly recommend stopping at ‘Pembrokeshire Creations’ at Nant-y-Mor for a delicious coffee or cream te...

Gloucester, with its famous cathedral, actually dates back over 2000 years to Roman times. It also has the distinction of being England’s most inland port and is conveniently situated with the Cotswolds, the Forest of Dean and Wales all close by. Having lived here for twelve years, one of my favourite areas to visit is The Quays, the dockland area of Gloucester that has seen massive rejuvenation in recent years. With the designer outlet, multiplex cinema and restaurant chains, this area has become quite trendy. What I appreciate though is the docks themselves from where you can take a boat trip down the Gloucester- Sharpness canal. On the dockside is one of my favourite restaurants with a great view, aptly named ‘Greek on the docks.’ The kleftiko ( lamb cooked in a clay oven) is to die for. I first went there for my birthday and will definitely be going back. The area has been mostly pedestrianized and there’s a pretty little church that looks as if it’s been maro...

Welcome to 'Trips,tips and tapas', a site where you can get information from someone who has actually visited the places in question, share tips on what to do or what not to do there, the best places to stay, eat and an insight into the local culture. I hope you'll find it useful and welcome your feedback. Having recently visited Athens, I'd like to share a few tips on what to do if you only have a day there. I had the great fortune to live in Athens many years ago so I know that you could stay in the city for a fortnight and barely scratch the surface. However, for those of you who are using Athens as a stopover to the islands or as a transit point then here are some not to be missed things to see and do. I recommend basing yourself somewhere central; the area between Monastiraki Square and Syntagma Square is ideal for sightseeing and handy for the metro too. When I last visited there was only one line, now there is a swanky new network with exhibits that were...