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Eurotrip
Whether it's a bargain break, student backpacking holiday or cheap weekend with your mates on a shoestring, this is the place to be. Check out some of our recommendations. We have also included where to get the cheapest flights and cheapest accommodation in European destinations
Moscow My favorite place in the world
Written by Virginia Clark
The
first time I went to Moscow, I was 16 and went on a school trip. I’d
been interested in Russia for some time and was pretty excited about
going, although I wasn’t quite sure what to expect – this is a
country that was closed to the Western world for many years and it
still seems quite mysterious. It was quite an intimidating experience
arriving at Moscow’s airport, dark and oppressive in places with
unsmiling military-style staff. Once out on the motorway, it became
clear that much of Russia is still poor, the outskirts of the city are
grim.
But
once in the centre, things began to change – our teacher pointed
out the magnificent Stalinist architecture, the enormous
‘wedding-cake’ style buildings that rise up in tiers and the
beautiful churches with their domes, called cupolas. When we got to
our hostel, we found it was a little basic, but clean and fairly
comfortable, (although my teacher confessed that the bed he had had
the previous year had broken in half as he was asleep).
We
had to be able to speak a little Russian there, because not many
people in Moscow speak English, and they will be rude to you if you
speak it to them, so you should learn the basics if you plan to go. We
soon got out sightseeing, taking the hugely efficient Metro to all the
famous sights. Our first stop was of course Red Square, where we saw
the famous St.Basil’s cathedral, and Lenin’s embalmed body which
may or may not be a waxwork – he is looking a bit yellow. I would
also recommend having a picture taken with one of the Lenin
look-alikes who wander round the square. Other must-sees include the
Novodevichy Cemetery, where many of Russia’s famous politicians,
musicians and writers are buried in unique sculpted tombs.The Kremlin
is also worth a tour, it has some beautiful churches and of course the
Armoury, a museum of Soviet national treasures, including relics from
the time of the Tsars. If possible, you should try and get out of the
city on a day trip – the ‘elektrichka’ trains are cheap and take
you to such places as Sergiev Posad, a poor town but dominated by a
huge monastery with blue and gold cupolas which was once the centre of
the Russian Orthodox religion.
On
to more practical matters – Russian food can be an acquired taste
– worth a try, I suggest Pushkin potatoes, but if the cabbage and
sour cream gets too much, there are plenty of chain restaurants
around, and even better, there are small bars everywhere which serve
cheap beer and vodka shots – but don’t go for the really cheap
vodka, I’m sure it’s paintstripper in disguise. Of course it
snowed a bit while we were there, it was April after all, so I’d go
in the summer if possible for nice European temperatures.
It may be an unusual holiday destination, but if you want to be different, Moscow may just be for you.
Amsterdam.
Even the name conjures up its own set of connotations, ideals,
criticisms and expectations. So we did what we had to do, and booked
three days in the ‘Dam.
Our
accommodation for the week was in the form of the Flying Pig
Palace,
the number one hostel in the world, apparently. It was small, dark,
very warm and damp, but we grew to love it by the end of the trip.
It had its own life with one Euro drinks, chilled out music, and
cushions littering the floor for seating, plus there was an endless
array of random people to talk to, including Israeli army men and
American criminal lawyers, who have an urge to serenade you badly on
the guitar.
We
went for the Dutch cultural experience and so had to visit a variety
of museums. The Van Gogh museum was pretty impressive, with my
favourite painting being named “Skull of skeleton smoking a
cigarette”, which is pretty self explanatory, however I was
distraught at not having ever been offered this painting in art
classes at school. The Anne Frank House we found quite moving, with
her original posters still attached to her bedroom walls and footage
of concentration camps repeatedly flashing at us. The mood had to be
lifted to a very, sorry to say, eye-opening visit to the sex museum,
complete with mechanical flashers, phalluses in every shape, size and
form, and photos of people using animals in very unique ways. However,
this led the way to us visiting the Red Light District, the only place
in the world in which you will see semi-naked strippers standing in
every window, sending text messages or eating sandwiches.
We
also had to experience the true cultural side of Holland through
visiting the ‘coffee shops’, where we sampled their local delicacy
and absurd numbers of flavoured teas. The culture of the city is one I
loved, from games of giant street chess, buskers, museums, and many
parks, to canals, cycling and the Dutch sophisticated dress sense. I
don’t think I could ever get used to the Dutch road system after
having nearly been knocked over by a bike/ tram/ bus/ car on more than
one occasion, even at pedestrian crossings. So, looking at my tacky
souvenirs of a fluffy multi-coloured penis, a pair of clogs and
novelty lighter, I can safely say that Amsterdam seemed to be a place
for new experiences; from eating at (and returning to) a gay bar, and
entering a sex shop without any reservations, to walking two feet
behind a policeman after having openly walked out of a ‘coffee
shop’, without getting arrested. Watching a sex change operation on
the Discovery Channel with Dutch subtitles was an experience in itself
– “Dis ist die clitoris” doesn’t leave much to the
imagination…
I just think that
Amsterdam can be summed up in no better phrase than ‘Disneyland for
adults’; where you can do almost anything you ever wanted to do,
without getting in trouble for it!
Lost
behind the 'Iron Curtain' post WW2, Prague didn't re-emerge onto the
western circuit until 1989 due to revolting students, you have to love
them! Yes, the Velvet Revolution saw the lowering of the
curtain to reveal a particularly beautiful city, with more culture
than you could imagine and beer prices that would make your student
union seem like the Savoy! Whether you are on a weekend break
in Prague, or staying for longer, there is an enormous amount of interest
to see and do:
What
is there to see in Prague? Like any European
capital city, this place has a lot to see, but there
are a few things you must do before getting back on the plane.
Firstly, you must see Charles Bridge (aka Rocco's Bridge) over the
river Vllava in the centre of the city. Busy at peak time but
you have to see it and it leads you nicely on to the right bank, up
to the palace and the cathedral which truly are beautiful.
From the gardens alongside the palace, you can get the most amazing
views back over the city, the true postcard shot! Back on the left
bank there is an enormous amount to see. The National Museum
is located at the top of the Vaclavske Naesti where you will also
find many other of the top tourist attractions.
ok,
ok, boring? Where do I really want to go? Well,
there is nothing to say you can't enjoy culture in different ways!!! The Czech's are renowned for their
worship of beer,
and Prague is their church! It's only right therefore that you
should spend a bit of time in these establishments. There are numerous
establishments throughout the city, from the European trendy bars to
the 'spit and sawdust' beer halls that Prague is famed for. The
place is always great for a bargain break as everything is comparatively
so cheap, with beer at about 30p a pint! We
recommend you should check out the beer halls and one in particular:
Recommendation:
U Fleku. Kremencova 11, 110 00 Praha
1.Public transport: Narodin Trina (line B on metro). Made up of many
halls and seating hundreds of people, U Fleku offers a Czech beer
hall experience without the side effects like smoky atmosphere and
snarling waiters. It is slightly more expensive than other places,
but these are Czech prices so nothing still very cheap. U
Fleku has it's own brewery, serving some of the finest beer in
Europe. Yes, this place can get busy, and can be touristy, but
it is definitely worth a visit. If you do choose to visit U
Fleku make sure you abide by the Prague drinking rules!!:
Pub etiquette.
-
When entering a pub, sit at any empty place, but first ask
"Je tu volno?" ("Is it free here?").
-
Put a coaster in front of you to indicate you'd like a beer, then
wait for the waiter.
-
In almost all pubs you run up a tab: The waiter ticks off each
beer and adds them up when you're ready to leave.! To
pay, say "Platit". Leave a tip by naming a
higher figure than the total tab when you pay, or wave away part
of the change. Czech tips are usually low - usually guests round
the bill up to the nearest whole number, tourists may pay more
but 8-10% is sufficient
Where
to stay? Prague
has masses of hostels that vary in price and comfort. Do some
scouting, the Rough Guide is
invaluable in places like Prague ensure you do miss any of the
action.. To be in the with
Young Back packers, check out the Strawberry Hostel, it's close to
the centre of the town, clean, safe with internet access and helpful
staff that will who know the sites to be seen. There is also
no curfew and therefore no lockout
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Dublin
Dublin (Ireland)
Ah, Dublin. The city of lash! The Guinness, the Dublin pubs, the fair barmaids and the Irish jigs... What more could you want from a student weekend away? Well, if you appreciate architecture, history, scenery and a good cultural mix too, then the Dublin area has plenty to offer for a student holiday or even a day trip to Europe.
What is there to see in Dublin? Well for a historical and architectural view, there is an open topped tourist bus that can give you far more detail than me! There is plenty of Edwardian architecture in the St Stephen's Green part of town, and the General Post Office (GPO) and Trinity College are attractive old buildings worthy of a look. I'd recommend combining some sightseeing with a pub crawl as there are loads of pubs, each with a unique atmosphere.
Suggested Sightseeing Crawl: If you start on O'Connell Street, just north of the river, you get a look at the GPO and can then head south over the river past various museums and the courthouse to Trinity College. This is well worth a look and the sports pavilion bar is a great place for your first taste of the genuine black stuff! Heading south from there takes you past some wine and cocktail bars and then through some lovely residential roads to St Stephen's Green - a beautiful park even on a dreary day. Hanging right will take you on to Grafton Street and through the main shopping district - keep your eye out for some good pubs tucked away down the side streets. Veering left half way down brings you to the tourist information centre which is always a useful place to investigate. A couple of doors down is a great pub called O'Neil's. It's massive inside with a couple of floors and loads of little rooms and the clientele are generally friendly Dubliners rather than English Stag parties!
Continuing West from here takes you to Dublin castle, past some beautiful churches and on to The Brazen Head - the oldest pub in Dublin. This is a great place for live evening entertainment and the atmosphere is always friendly and fun. Crossing the river to the north takes you into Smithfield, a less affluent part of town, but there are plenty of locals pubs, an outdoor market and the Jameson distillery! Heading East from here takes you back to where you started...
Evening Entertainment: The Temple Bar area is the most popular spot for tourists in
Dublin on an evening out. It is basically a massive concentration of pubs and bars/clubs. There is plenty of drink available but it is well worth branching off elsewhere at some point in the evening to experience the real Dublin!
There are some clubs in Temple bar and along the river but Leeson Street and Harcourt Street are also well worth a look for a selection of clubs.
The Murphy's Laughter Lounge (just north of O'Connell bridge) is a fun evening of stand up comedy with a mix of Irish and international artists.
Top Spots:
The Guinness Brewery - A must for anyone! The tour of the brewery is actually very interesting with exhibitions on the Guinness Book of World records and Guinness advertising campaigns as well as the brewing history. You get a pint thrown in with your entry fee which is, without a doubt, the best pint of Guinness you will ever drink! The view from the bar is spectacular too - sitting on top of the tallest building around with a panoramic view of Dublin's centre - magnificent!
Lansdowne Road - If there is any sporting event on at Lansdowne Road when you are in Dublin then go! It is an intimate stadium with a terrific atmosphere and makes for a top afternoon out. get involved...
Howths Head - a lovely area north of Dublin by the sea. This is a great place for a stroll on the beach to suck up some fresh sea air after a night on the town.
Do's and Don'ts
Do get involved in lash and drink lots of Guinness!
Do have a good look round the city - it's a beautiful and compact.
Do interact with the locals - they are very friendly if you strike up a conversation and happy to chat away over good pint!
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Don't get wasted, trash the city and abuse the locals - English tourists have a bad enough name over there for doing that as it is without you joining in...
Don't smoke in pubs, bars or restaurants - it's illegal!
Don't spend all your time in Temple Bar, there's far more to Dublin!
Where to stay: There are plenty of cheap hostels in and around the centre. Have a look around the
O'Connell Street area for a selection of hostels charging around �10 a night.
Getting there: You can hop on a boat from Liverpool and North Wales, or get a cheap flight from loads of regional airports with flybe. or Ryan Air.
