Life as we know it has changed! The coronavirus (COVID-19) has made a huge impact on the way we can now travel. International travel has been placed on hold for the near future with no relief in sight. Alas, there is no need to panic! How about using this time as an opportunity to explore your own countries and states. We thought “Okay, Why Not? Let’s travel locally and see what Venus Bay, South Australia has to offer. It’s road trip time!
Located approximately 660 kilometres from South Australia’s capital city of Adelaide, on the Eyre Peninsula, Venus Bay is a long 7 hours away. If you are doing the trip by yourself think about breaking up the drive over two days. Otherwise, if you would rather do the whole journey then make sure you stop every couple of hours to rejuvenate or take someone else to share driving duties.
Venus Bay Beachfront Tourist Park
Once you arrive in Venus Bay the tranquillity of the place envelops you straight away. With no hustle and bustle, Venus bay is small. With a caravan park/kiosk and general store/petrol station the only shopping businesses. The main attraction is the small hike around the bay and the town’s public jetty, popular for fishing.
The town’s popular South Head Walking Trail
A view from the South Head Walking Trail. Be careful on overhang ledges as they can break off!
Where we stayed
Whilst is town we stayed at the Venus Bay Beachfront Tourist Park in their comfortable new Starfish studio cabins with a wonderful beachfront view. These new modern cabins have the luxury of a studio apartment with a functional kitchen, queen bed and ensuite bathroom. Elegantly styled and clean, the cabin was perfect for our 4 day stay.
The Starfish Studio Beachfront Cabins
Beachfront View
Packed with everything you need, the cabin’s also contain a small fridge freezer unit, a combo microwave/grill/convection oven, kettle, television, DVD player and reverse cycle air-conditioning/heating unit. Bore water supplies the cabin’s hot water and rainwater supplies fresh cold water. You will need to be careful when swapping from hot to cold as the different systems need to swap over. So make sure you run the cold tap so the rainwater swaps in before taking that quenching drink.
Inside the Starfish Studio Cabin
The cabin’s bathroom
Starfish Studio Cabins prices start at $89AUD per night. However, the Venus Bay Beachfront Tourist Park has other accommodation options from powered caravan sites, to various cabin options that is sure to suit your budget. The tourist park has shower blocks, camp kitchens a kiosk, boat hire and a laundry so staying here is quite enjoyable with some tourists staying weeks or months in their RV’s and caravans. During our stay, people were happy to say hello and have a little chat about what is happening in the world or giving me some well needed fishing tips.
One of the camp kitchens, there is also BBQ’s and seated area.
Things to do in Venus Bay
During our stay we did a little driving around the Eyre Peninsula, visiting Elliston and Streaky Bay and doing some coastal sightseeing which I can highly recommend. The views are stunning! I also did a bit of fishing off the local jetty, catching small rock cod and throwing them back. You can catch a multitude of different fish if you are lucky, but the small rock cod liked my bait and just about every cast I was pulling up another fish.
Venus Bay Jetty, I just couldn’t catch a keeper.
If you have a boat licence, then I recommend hiring an aluminium boat for three hours and going into deeper water for those larger well sort after species like King George Whiting. The boat will cost $20 per hour with a minimum of three hours, but all safety equipment and fuel are supplied, plus they will launch and retrieve it for you. Bonus! Alternatively, fishing isn’t to your liking then look at some of the local hikes. Otherwise explore the countrysides various rock formations like Murphy’s Haystack or Mt Wudinna.
This is the Erica, she’s not for rent, but the park has aluminum boats to rent for $20 per/hour
If, like me you are unsuccessful in catching your dinner then try the Kiosk or general store for some fresh cooked fish and chips or a burger. Prices are comparable to other fish and chip outlets and honestly, delicious.
The Kiosk and General Store are get places to get food if you can’t catch any fish.
Overall, the Venus Bay Beachfront Tourist Park was a nice, comfortable, and affordable place to stay. Excellent as a base to discover the Eyre Peninsula on some day trips. Don’t forget that some of the best places to travel too are in your backyard. Book your stay at the Venus Bay Beachfront Tourist Park today and tell them, Simon from Ourworldinreview sent you!
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Additional Information for the Venus Bay Beachfront Tourist Park
*Post Contains Affiliate links, please help us maintain this site by booking your accommodation via the booking.com link or Tour via the Urban Adventures Link.
When planning a European holiday most people will decide to go to the major European cities. Their itineraries will include Paris, Rome, Berlin and Amsterdam. This is expected because they are popular tourist cities but maybe include other lesser known cities like Luxembourg.
After our 13 months of travel in 2017/18, I admit we did those mainstay city and a few extras. Luxembourg just didn’t fit into our hectic schedule. So, when we planned this 6 week trip we made sure Luxembourg was on the itinerary.
The city of Luxembourg in a word is beautiful. The combination of the old and new sections flow together wonderfully and there is never a shortage of picturesque photo opportunities.
There are many perfect picture moments in Luxembourg
It is not a party city or bustling with extravagant tourist sites, but instead is a tranquil and peaceful city that just has enough to make your stay worthwhile. From luscious green parks to well constructed museums, Luxembourg is my type of town.
An exhibit in the Natural History Museum in Luxembourg
Where to stay?
So, being a small city where do you stay? There are some good choices for hotels, but like most of Europe, can become expensive if you are travelling on a budget. Our main aim for this trip is to try and travel cheaper. Therefore, we decided to stay at the IBIS Styles Luxembourg Centre Gare.
The small entry to the IBIS Styles Luxembourg Centre Gare
Located close to the main train and bus station interchange the IBIS Styles Luxembourg Centre Gare is a short five-minute walk (thank you google maps). It is hard to miss, thanks to the big green IBIS Styles sign visible from the end of the street. The neighbouring area to the hotel is filled with small pubs and clubs. Additionally there is an abundance of restaurants with the area being quite safe. Not too far away from the city centre, it’s an easy 1.2km stroll passing some good photo opportunities.
The hotel frontage is small but opens up once you enter the foyer. The reception desk is on the left with a kids play area and hotel computers on the right. Straight ahead of the doors is the bar and dining area.
The reception desk at the Luxembourg Centre Gare
The check in process was easy and quite fast with the attendant going through our booking. Probably one of the best things about booking with IBIS Styles brand is that breakfast is usually included in the price.
We head up to our room via the only elevator which is again compact. Luckily, we aren’t big people so were able to fit in okay with our luggage. The hotel is non smoking and you are reminded of this fact by each room number plaque indicating the no smoking symbol.
This is about the extent of the room. A large bed with not much for anything else.
The room itself is nothing fancy with a double bed, television, small desk and long standing cupboard. There is not much room but the bed has storage space underneath it. Our bed is comfortable and if you want to lounge around in your room there are plenty of television stations in different languages to watch.
Now the bathroom is tiny. A room the size of an average kitchen walk-in pantry which contains a shower, basin and toilet. I’m not big by any sort of the imagination at 5’8″ and 90 kg. Yet I found it a little difficult manoeuvring around. It would be incredibly uncomfortable if you were much bigger than that.
With a toilet on my right, that’s it. The room bathroom!
Breakfast is served downstairs from 6am to 10am daily with a fair assortment of continental breakfast options. As each room doesn’t have a kettle the coffee machine is available all day to make free cups of coffee or tea. Leftover breakfast rolls are also supplied daily.
Breakfast is included in the rate and coffee is free.
During the afternoon and evening the bar area provides refreshments and minimal food. Look to go out or head down to the supermarket for your lunches and dinners.
The IBIS Styles Luxembourg Centre Gare suited our needs and provided comfortable, clean accommodation at a suitable price. It’s not the hotel for you, if you want a place to lounge around in. Our opinion is that it’s good if you just want a base to sleep than set out each day to explore.
Overall, if you are looking for a cheaper option in Luxembourg then look to stay at the IBIS Styles Luxembourg Centre Gare and tell them Simon from Ourworldinreview sent you.
The beauty of Luxembourg City.
Additional Information for the IBIS Styles Luxembourg Centre Gare
Address: 30 Rue Joseph Junck, 1839 Luxembourg
Ph: +352 49 24 96
Prices of accommodation per night at the IBIS Styles Luxembourg Centre Gare
Ranging from AUD$135 (EUR85 or USD95)
Check in: 1400hrs Check Out: 1200hrs
*Post Contains Affiliate links, please help us maintain this site by booking your accommodation via the booking.com link or Tour via the Urban Adventures Link.
After an accommodation mix up after leaving Naples, then a mad panic and a quick phone call to AIRBnB, we ended up getting some affordable accommodation at the Youth Hostel Firenze 2000 for a couple of nights before heading to the Hilton Metropole Florence for some well-earned rest.
The fast flowing Arno river through the middle of Florence
Now, if you haven’t been to Florence you are in for a real treat. Located in the heart of Tuscany, Florence is a beautiful city well worth the visit and time to explore. Discover the history of the city, see the statue of David, walk back into medieval times and marvel at the Florence Cathedral. Alternatively, browse the stores, buy a Florence puzzle ring or cross the Arno River via the spectacular Ponte Vecchio. Oh, and don’t forget to indulge in the Gelato and Pizza.
The Medieval Florence Cathedral, a stunning piece of architecture!
The hotel for this leg of our stay in Florence is the Hilton Metropole Florence. The hotel is a situated outside of the main city centre (11.5km) but fairly central to the airport (5.5km) and the train station (7km).
As we were travelling to the hotel from the Youth Hostel Firenze 2000, we found the best and cheapest way to travel was by the local bus. So after a quick Google Maps search we had the best way to get to the Hilton Metropole Florence. We then paid for a ticket at an authorised tabbachi shop (tobacconist) and hopped on the bus heading in the right direction. Local bus tickets are valid for 90 minutes and tabbachi shops are widely distributed around the city.
The reception desk is located to the left of the main doors.
On arrival to the hotel we enter the lobby with the reception area to our left. We are greeted by the hotel manager and because we are a little early our room was not ready. We are checked in and offered to wait in the Executive lounge on the fifteenth floor. Here we can rest, relax, have some drinks and snacks and take in the view before our room was finalised.
The view of Florence from the 15th floor of the Hilton Metropole Florence
Once our room is ready we are escorted and shown around our room. The King Executive room is nice with a plain contemporary styling. The room contains a King-sized bed, a desk, in room coffee and tea facilities and a television. It’s nothing fancy but functional.
The King Executive room is comfortable but pretty plain-looking.
The contemporary stylings of the King Executive room
The bathroom is clean with supplied toiletries and large towels. The shower is positioned over the bathtub with a small glass protector assisting to keep the water in the tub. The hot water supply is good, and the water pressure is constant.
The clean bathroom in the King Executive room
As mentioned above the Hilton Metropole Florence is a far distance away from the Florence city centre, therefore to accommodate the travel distance the hotel offers a free shuttle bus service. The shuttle drops guests and picks them up from the main train station at set times during the day. You just need to book your space at the front desk.
Due to the hotel being a distance from the city, they offer a courtesy bus for their guests.
If you’d rather spend the day around the hotel, then the Hilton has some facilities that may tickle your fancy. You can spend some time in the gym, patterned recovery pool or have a massage in the neon lit rooms.
The patterned recovery pool has a waterfall aspect and movement tracks.
A funky neon lit massage room. You can choose which coloured lighting you want.
Alternatively, you can dine in the restaurant or met some other guests in the bar or executive lounge. We spent some time in the executive lounge during the evening, mingling with the guests. We were also lucky enough to meet an amazing couple from Balcombe, England who we spent time with during our time in the UK. It’s incredible who you will meet during your stay at the Hilton. I know that our new friends will be lifelong ones.
The executive room is located on the fifteenth floor, and is available with your executive room purchase.
As we stayed in an Executive room we had the option of having our breakfast either in the main dining area or in the executive lounge. Both breakfasts were good, but there is of course a better range of choices in the main dining area, although the executive lounge is much quieter.
The executive lounge serves breakfast and afternoon canapé for its executive room guests.
The main dining area is used for breakfast in the mornings
The Hilton Metropole Florence is a nice comfortable hotel which offers its customers a respectable product. Unfortunately, the distance from the city is quite substantial. The local surrounds are fairly limited with a small shopping centre next door with a couple of restaurants and discount stores. The hotel bus is a godsend if staying here, as you will need it to travel into the city centre. Make sure you get in early to book your seats and plan your day well to ensure you can get the bus back.
There’s not much to do around the hotel surrounds.
Overall, I’d stay in the hotel again as the staff are friendly and the service is good. Do yourself a favour and book an executive room to gain access to the executive lounge and make sure you make good use of the gym and pool. So, enjoy your stay at the Hilton Metropole Florence and tell them Simon from Ourworldinreview sent you!
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Additional Information for the Hilton Metropole Florence
Address: Via del Cavallaccio, 36, 50142 Firenze FI, Italy Ph: +39 055 78711
Website: www.hilton.com
Prices of accommodation per night at the Hilton Metropole Florence
Ranging from USD$142 (AUD$190) – USD$202 (AUD$270)
Check in: 1400hrs Check Out: 1200hrs
*Post Contains Affiliate links, please help us maintain this site by booking your accommodation via the booking.com link or Tour via the Urban Adventures Link.
Siem Reap is the gateway and home to the ancient Khmer kingdom of Angkor Wat. Angkor Wat has been listed as a UNESCO heritage site since 1992, and consists of 162 hectares of ancient structures and temples. The heavily touristic city of Siem Reap is the stepping stone and the home base for many tourists to this remarkable kingdom. But with so many hotels and accommodation options available, where do you stay? Let us help you out with that decision and tell you about the fabulous Somadevi Residence.
No introduction is really required. But this is Angkor Wat.
After searching through the different hotel booking sites we were stunned by the amount of accommodation options available. From hotels, hostels, guesthouses and homestays there are so many types to choose from. The fabulous 5 star and 52 roomed Somadevi Residence provides modern facilities to make your stay perfect and relaxing.
Like many tourists we arrive into Siem Reap via the airport and take the $10 USD airport taxi to the hotel. It takes about 30 minutes depending on the traffic. Check-in is quick and efficient, although this was possibly the only time we were a little worried we were in the wrong place. This is due to the Somadevi Residence and the Somadevi Angkor Boutique and Resort using the same reception desk. So, don’t panic, you are in the right place.
The reception desk for the Somadevi Residence and Somadevi Angkor Boutique and Resort
Our Executive Deluxe room for our stay is on the third floor and is spacious with a King sized bed, mini bar, television, coffee-making facilities and small balcony overlooking the next property. The bed is comfortable with complimentary water and tea and coffee.
One of the fifty executive deluxe rooms at the Somadevi Residence
Each room has a spacious private bathroom with a shower area and a bath. The bathroom is clean and the room is serviced daily, with the hotel supplying fragrant toiletries and other amenities.
Each Somadevi Residence has a large serviced bathroom
All rooms overlook the large refreshing swimming pool, which we spent some time relaxing around. The swimming pool has comfortable day beds scattered around the edge and the Blue Bar offers food and beverages to be taken whilst relaxing. The pool is open until 8pm and is popular for a majority of the guests.
The swimming pool is open until 8pm.
The Somadevi Residence can assist you with just about anything during your stay with them. From organising tours and transport to Angkor Wat and other fascinating sites close by. My favourite activities were the incredible cooking class and the invigorating beauty spa. The Somadevi cooking masterclass would be in my top 10 things to do whilst travelling, with Executive Chef Mr. Siep Bunna taking you on a journey to cooking perfection. The class includes a market tour, access to producing a four course menu and of course being able to eat what you produce all for $30 USD. Incredible value and incredible fun. Look out for our upcoming post on this sensational experience.
A top 10 activity. A masterclass with Mr. Siep Bunna
After long days of walking and exploring Angkor Wat and Siem Reap, it is always good to come back to your hotel and be pampered. I recommend going to Somadevi’s, Aloe Spa and Fitness Centre. We let their trained masseuse massage away our tired muscles. With a range of beauty treatments, hair styling and massages available it is just what the doctor ordered.
Pamper yourself at the Aloe Spa and Fitness Centre
Alternatively, if you feel like you haven’t exercised enough you can head to their gym and run on the treadmill. The gym isn’t large and has no weights, but you can get that cardio workout going. Once you’ve exercised, spend some time in the steam room, spa or sauna.
The small gym at the Somadevi Residence
If you are starting to get hungry, don’t worry, because the Somadevi has some beautiful food options for you. You can head to the Palm Cafe for a light lunch, snacks by the pool or a fine dining experience in the Champagne dining room. All hotel guests receive a discounted price on food and drinks. In comparison to other 5 star major hotel brands the Somadevi Residence food prices are less expensive and the food served is excellent. Especially in the Champagne Dining Room.
Have a cocktail, health drink or snack whilst relaxing around the pool.
The Palm Cafe is situated in the front of the hotel and provides coffees, cakes, ice creams and light meals. We made sure we tried the homemade ice cream and the coffee is quite good for Cambodian standards. During our stay we also had one of their pizzas and although plain-looking the flavour was good.
The Palm Cafe’s Banana Split
Three scoops of homemade coconut ice cream
After those warm humid days walking around Siem Reap, it was always great to cool off in the hotels swimming pool. Whilst relaxing try out the cocktails, health drinks and light snacks available.
There’s nothing like relaxing with drinks by the pool
If you are looking for something more substantial than don’t miss the Champagne Dining Room. Executive Chef Mr. Siep Bunna has created an excellent seasonal menu. Choose from the Khmer degustation menu containing three courses or order from the a la carte menu. Having already experiencing the cooking masterclass we made sure we tried Mr. Siep Bunna’s degustation menu.
Dine in the Champagne dining room for a superb choice from the a la carte or degustation menus
The three course degustation menu consisted of a Plear Trei, a Khor Joerng Chrouk and a Sangya L-Pov. A Plear Trei is a Khmer style fish ceviche with fresh crunchy vegetables and a mild chilli dressing. The dish was beautifully constructed, and the taste and texture was exquisite.
First Course is Plear Trei a Khmer style fish ceviche with fresh crunchy vegetables and a mild chilli dressing.
Our second course was probably something I wouldn’t normally try. But in the spirit of providing an honest review the Khor Joerng Chrouk is braised pork trotters with bamboo shoots and lotus nuts, served with sauteed bok choy and steamed jasmine rice. The pork trotter was a little fatty for my liking, but beautifully cooked and the sweetness from the sauce was gorgeous.
Second Course. Khor Joerng Chrouk is braised pork trotters with bamboo shoots and lotus nuts, served with sauteed bok choy and steamed jasmine rice.
Finally, the Sangya L-Pov was steamed pumpkin with egg custard, served with Pandan sauce and seasonal fruit. Now, I must admit that pumpkin is my least favourite vegetable. Yet the balance of the pumpkin and the sweet egg custard made the whole dish work perfectly. And although I’m not too keen on pumpkin, I would happily eat the Sangya L-Pov again.
Third Course. Sangya L-Pov is steamed pumpkin with egg custard, served with Pandan sauce and seasonal fruit.
If you like to have a nightcap after dinner then head into the White Lounge and have a cocktail, beer or glass of wine. Sit and relax or mingle with other guests. Every night from 6 p.m the White Lounge plays a feature film on their big screen. So settle in, get comfortable, and watch a new release film.
The White Lounge shows a feature film every day from 6 p.m. So have a drink, sit back and relax.
Breakfast is also served daily from 6 a.m – 10 a.m in the Champagne dining room or the outside courtyard. Select your breakfast from the buffet styled options or if you like something not available, order it and the chefs will make it especially for you.
Either select from the breakfast buffet or get the chefs to make something especially for you.
Somadevi Residence is an excellent hotel to stay at in Siem Reap and if you’d like a souvenir of your stay, they have a gift shop in the White Lounge to pick up that cherished memento.
Pick up a souvenir from the souvenir shop in the White Lounge
Siem Reap is a must see city in Cambodia, and the Somadevi Residence is a superb place to base your stay. No matter what your schedule is, the Somadevi Residence is the place to stay. The hotel staff are incredibly helpful, and will organise transport and tours for you and your family. If you decide to watch the sunrise over Angkor Wat the hotel will provide you a take away breakfast to enjoy as the sun comes up.
Are you keen to see the sunrise over Angkor Wat?
The Somadevi Residence enhanced our stay in Siem Reap. The care they show for their guests, from welcome fruit baskets, printing out travel reservations to ensuring you get to the airport on time. There is nothing that I can fault during this perfect stay. So, when you are booking that holiday to Cambodia, make sure you book a stay at the Somadevi Residence and tell them Simon from Ourworldinreview sent you.
If you are going to spend some time in the south of India, you may have heard that it is quite popular to spend a day or two on a houseboat. After a busy two weeks travelling around India we decided to spend three nights cruising the backwaters of Kerala from Alappuzha near Alleppey, Southern India with Cosy Houseboats.
A houseboat travelling along the backwaters in Kerala
After days or research, trying to select an affordable houseboat operator was becoming a painful task. To alleviate this we logged onto booking.com to check out what houseboats were available. This made the task a lot easier and in the end we choose to book a Cosy Houseboat cruise for three nights, departing from Alappuzha.
Prior to our cruise we stayed in Alleppey for a night in a little backpackers called Artpackers.life which turned out to be a godsend. They were so helpful that as Cosy Houseboats weren’t replying to any of our previous emails, the receptionist found the correct number (wrong on booking.com) for their offices and found out our check in time and meeting point.
Thank god, we decided to spend a night in Alleppey before boarding our cruise, otherwise we would have had enormous issues trying to contact the operators. Once everything was settled and we left the backpackers it was a quick auto rickshaw ride (INR100) to the Cosy Regency Hotel, the meeting point for the houseboat cruise.
After check in, it was explained that although we booked for a shared three night cruise we would be following the same itinerary for the three days. This meant we had to check out off the boat each day and head back to the meeting point before boarding the next boat at check in time. This important information should have been communicated to us after booking and was a little frustrating to say the least. Whilst at the office they did try to encourage us to pay extra for a private houseboat. Once price negotiations broke down, as we weren’t going to pay their optimum price, they advised that they didn’t have a boat available and we ended up staying on the shared boat.
The initial mooring point for the Cosy Houseboat at Alappuzha
Our next issue was that we were unable to pay using a credit card as their EFTPOS machine was faulty. Cosy houseboat management then insisted we withdrawal the daily limit for international cards (INR10000) to make a down payment. Then they would try an EFTPOS payment the next day. The manager ended up transporting us to 6 ATM machines that all had no cash available. In the end they allowed us to board and try paying the next day.
With the wedding season fully underway in India, we spent our first shared night with three other couples. Two couples were newly weds and the third couple were on their one year anniversary. All were nice and we ended up chatting away with a couple from the North of India for most of the cruise.
The sunset in Kerala
The four berth houseboat was a little rundown and in need of a little maintenance. The room was small but thankfully the bed was comfortable. Being a wooden vessel, it does get extremely hot in the cabins during the day. There is a ceiling fan to circulate air, but the air conditioning only comes on between 7pm and 7am. My advice is to stay out of the cabins until evening when the air conditioning kicks in.
Although the cabin a a little rundown, the bed was comfortable.
The bathroom was……”fit for use”, nothing special, a bit dirty with a shower that sprayed everywhere but on you and no hot water. If you are looking for hotel quality, than this is not the place for you.
The cabins private bathroom, is nothing to call home about.
The rest of the boat is “well used”. Our boat has a dining table, eight single seated lounge chairs and a small television mounted to the wall.
The main dining and lounge area on the four berth houseboat
The boat has three crew members aboard, the helmsman, a cook and a waiter, who keep to themselves so you can enjoy the slow cruise through the river system. All meals, water, and tea and coffee are included in the price and are quite good. The cruise itself is casual, calm and relaxing as we traverse along the waterways.
The tranquil waterways of Kerala
We stop for lunch, moored to a riverbank and are encouraged to leave the boat to visit some shops or massage parlours. Then it’s back onboard for a final cruise around before we moor up for the night alongside the Cosy Lake Villa. Although the advertising states free wi-fi for your time on the houseboat, you actually only get limited poor wi-fi access when you berth in the evening.
The houseboat moors up for the evening at the Cosy Lake Villa
It is here we have a candlelit evening meal, before heading to our cabins for an early night. The operators do allow you to have a shower in one of the villas hotels rooms, which is a little more pleasant. Unfortunately, yet again it is without hot water.
Cosy Lake Villa is our mooring point for the night
The boat starts up again at 8:00am and heads back into Alleppey for a 9:00am check out. Once berthed you are picked up by car or auto rickshaw and taken back to the Cosy Regency Hotel. We then have until 12:00pm before we are required to board our next vessel. Since, the Cosy Regency Hotel has average wi-fi coverage we decide to stay to book ongoing travel arrangements. Then I do the whole payment thing again, this time the Internet connection is working and I’m able to pay the total amount.
Our second boat, ends up being the boat we remain on for the next two days. It’s a smaller two cabin boat, whom we share with two more newly weds on the different days. This boat has an upstairs viewing deck but again is in serious need of maintenance. Once again the cabin is small but the bed is comfortable. It has its ceiling fan and air conditioner, which again only comes on at 7:00pm.
Cabin on the two berth houseboat is a lot like the four berth cabin.
The bathroom is awful, and in serious need of renovating. Plus we are lucky enough to have two large cockroaches, who I meet in the middle of the night and a small lizard living in the air conditioner. Additionally, the power point in the room doesn’t work so we end up charging phones etc. on the upstairs deck.
The two berth bathroom was awful.
Although, initially we were told we would follow the same route on each day, we ended up being around the same area but each day we went down different canals. Once again the actual cruising was relaxing, the company was nice and the food was very good.
Some of the food available onboard the houseboat
Overall, Cosy Houseboats offers a cheaper affordable cruise to experience the houseboats of Kerala. Is there better boats? Yes! Are they more expensive? Yes. So depending on your budget and if you don’t mind roughing it a little, than this could be the houseboat company for you.
Cosy Houseboats has a lot of work to do to improve their product. The boats are in need of a good overhaul. The bathrooms are awful, but the silver lining is they allow you to use the Cosy Lakeview Hotel if you’d like a better shower. Communication is a huge issue. We sent two or three emails to them and received no reply and if it wasn’t for the help of Artpackers.life hostel, we would have struggled to find out any information. The staff at the hotels and on board the boats are friendly but they do try to push you to write a good review on TripAdvisor. And although it is stated you have access to wi-fi, it is very limited and rarely works.
The cruise itself is peaceful, relaxing and nice. Travelling up and down the canals is pleasant with beautiful scenery for good photos. The waterways are at times full of houseboats, so you can see how popular these cruises are.
The beautiful Indian countryside as seen from Cosy Houseboats
Look, I must admit, although the houseboat was a little rundown, I really enjoyed cruising along the Kerala waterways. And although Cosy Houseboats was a little disorganised, they ended up providing what we paid for, a fully catered, three-day cruise around Kerala. So, if you don’t mind roughing it, and can put up with a few minor disappointments and a couple of creepy crawlies, than Cosy Houseboats may have the cruise for you. If not, then book somewhere else, although I can’t guarantee it will be any better.
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Additional Information for Cosy Houseboats
Cosy Regency, Finishing Point, Alappuzha, Kerala 688013, India
Ph: +91 477 225 5555
Website: www.cosytours.com
Jordan has proven to be a remarkable country. With an abundance of ancient history and natural wonder, it is a county full of surprises. There are some beautifully preserved nature reserves to be found in Jordan and during our stay we were able to visit two. After an inspiring stay at a Bedouin camp in Wadi Rum, then a couple of days relaxing in Aqaba, we make the journey to the Dana Nature Reserve for a chance to sample some of Jordan’s Ecotourism at the Feynan Ecolodge.
The magnificence of Wadi Rum.
Now getting there was interesting activity. After searching online for information, we knew we had to get on bus at Aqaba Bus Station going to the Feynan Reception centre. The Ecolodge was helpful, giving us some information on how to get there from Aqaba. We knew the bus would be at the station at 9:00 a.m, so we made sure we were there on time. What we didn’t know was that finding the right bus could be an ordeal. Luckily, a helpful passenger who understood English on the first bus we were told to get on told us we were on the wrong bus.
After a little bit of a debate with the driver and the helpful passenger, the bus driver called over a non uniformed attendant from the bus station and he directed us to the right bus. The second bus driver advised that he would drop us off at the reception but we would need to pay for 3 seats. This was because our luggage would take up a seat, stopping another passenger from being able to board. In the end, we found this to be only fair and at 5 JOD per seat it was definitely not a bank breaker.
The bus itself is only a 20 seat mini bus and the driver waits at the station until he has a full bus. So, make sure you’re not in a rush as you can wait a few hours before the bus leaves. We found it a good time to catch up on a good book. Our bus finally left a 1:00 p.m and we headed off to Feynan.
The bus from Aqaba leaves once it is full. Make sure you find the attendant who speaks English to locate your bus.
The full journey took about 2.5 to 3 hours, and was quite enjoyable. The bus was full of local townsfolk. They constantly offered us drinks and food along the journey. There were also a few children onboard testing out their English skills, so we helped them with a few Aussie phrases, to their delight.
These two local boys were testing out their English skills on us.
Although arriving a little later than expected to the Feynan reception office a staff member was available to transport us to the Ecolodge by 4WD about thirty minutes away. Driving into the nature reserve we pass Bedouin tents and families herding sheep and goats until we reach the hotel.
Some sheep trying to stay out of the sun.
The sandstone coloured hotel is located between two hills alongside an empty river bed. We are guided by our driver into the main hotel reception area where we are kindly greeted and given refreshing towels and a drink so ease our travels.
Feynan Ecolodge is located between two mountains alongside a river bed
The Ecolodge has all the comforts of a 4 star hotel except it relies on solar power to generate its electricity. The rest of the hotel is lit at night by romantic candlelight. During our check in we are advised that the only power available in the room is the bathroom. They ask us to ensure that the bathroom light is switched off when not required as the Ecolodge has limited battery life. The only other available power is in the reception which they allow guests to recharge their phones, cameras and laptops. Recharging points are limited, so you will need to be patient to obtain a free space.
Feynan Ecolodge use candles for lighting
We are escorted into our room and it has two comfortable beds a desk, a cold filtered water jug with safe drinking water and a separate bathroom. Unfortunately, this room had an issue with its hot water supply so we were moved so they worked out the problem.
Our first room at the Feynan Ecolodge.
Our second room was a lot like the first except it was little larger with and extra vanity setting. The rooms have candles strategically placed around the room to give ambient lighting at night.
Our second room at the Feynan Ecolodge was a little bit larger than our first.
Feynan Ecolodge offers is guests a variety of hikes and cultural experiences throughout the day. Their program list is set, so depending on the day you arrive dictates what events are available. Subsequently, if you decided that you’d rather hike on your own, Feynan’s staff will point you in the right direction and give you advice on where to go. Make sure you fill up your water bottles from the water tanks available in the hotel or from your filtered jug in your room.
The Dana Nature Reserve has some picturesque hiking trails
As we arrived pretty late on the first day, we missed the first evenings sunset hike. We then made sure we scheduled it in for the next day because it is one not to miss.
The stay package includes all meals and drinks at set times during the day. The selection of food was excellent, and they ensured that any guests with food allergies are catered for. All meals are vegetarian as they don’t have sufficient cold rooms to keep any meat products.
Some of the amazing food selection at the ecolodge
After the main dinner break the staff provides a brief presentation about the Ecolodge. The presentation highlights what the lodge are trying to do and what activities are available the next day. Once the presentation is complete we are taken onto the roof leisure area and are shown the stars through an impressive telescope.
If you’d prefer to stay in, Feynan has a lounge area with board games and a range of books in various languages. I found that most people would of course congregate around the reception room as it is the only area that has access to Wi-fi and power.
Feynan Ecolodge ‘s lounge area has a bookshelf and board games
The next day it’s an early rise, with breakfast in the dining area then a guided sampler hike in the nature reserve. Our local guide for the day is Suleiman who ensures we experience the Bedouin lifestyle. He speaks excellent English and speaks about life in the nature reserve. As he walks, he talks about various plants and their benefits to the local Bedouin people. After a good hike we have sage tea and sit chatting about our travels.
Doing the Wadi Dana sampler hike
We return back to Feynan in time for lunch followed by a visit to a Bedouin tent for local coffee. Once again Suleiman is our guide for this experience. He introduces us to a local family who invite us in for some home-brewed coffee. Suleiman explains the significance of coffee, to the Bedouin culture. Coffee is only prepared when important matters need to be discussed between families or to welcome new people into the Bedouin village. It was fascinating to watch the head of the household grind the coffee beans in a metal mortar which chimed out to neighbours that coffee was being made. It isn’t long before a neighbour pops his head in to see the newcomers (us) and indulge in a cup of coffee.
When we return to Feynan, it isn’t long before the start of the sunset hike. We all chat during our walk and when it came time to watch the sun go down, we were amazed by its pure beauty. Our guide makes the group sage tea and we drink whilst enjoying the surrounding view.
Don’t miss the evening hike to capture some beautiful sunsets
Once the sun disappears its back to the Ecolodge for another incredible dinner, with visits from local goats, camels, sheep, and donkeys. It is quite fun having your meals with a local animals wandering freely around.
It’s amazing the animals you meet at Feynan Ecolodge
After a busy day we are exhausted and retire early. The next day we are convinced to take the longer canyon hike by ourselves. A local driver transports us to the canyon entrance and organises our pick-up time. Then we hike down the river bed taking in the freshness of the air and the constant flow of a small stream. We see frogs and lizards and a couple of Bedouin woman herding their family goats. The area is beautiful and after a few hours we head back to meet up with our driver to return to Feynan.
The early stages of the Wadi Ghwayr Hike
Feynan Ecolodge is a perfect place to visit when in Jordan. There is no pressure for you to do anything. If you want you could just relax the days away reading a good book. I recommend doing the activities available to you. Take some hikes, meet the local Bedouin people or learn to cook Middle Eastern cuisine. The staff are friendly and helpful, and speak many different languages, so communication shouldn’t be to much of a problem.
Therefore, visit the Dana Nature Reserve and the Feynan Ecolodge soon, Say hello to Suleiman for me and tell them Simon from Ourworldinreview sent you.
Jordan has always held a little intrigue as a place to visit. I of course knew about the magnificence of historical Petra, seeing it a few times on travel shows and in blockbuster films. Yet, Jordan is so much more than that. There is some awesome protective reserves and it also boasts the lowest place on Earth. At 450 metres below sea level the Dead Sea is an attraction that in my mind must be visited. During our journey in Jordan, we couldn’t resist the temptation of taking a dip in the Dead Sea whilst staying at the brand-new Hilton Dead Sea Resort.
Looking out over the Dead Sea from the Hilton Dead Sea
The brand-new Hilton Dead Sea Resort is approximately 7 months old opening in early 2017. We travelled from Jordan’s capital city Amman via driver transfer for 50JOD (AUD$90). There are probably cheaper ways to travel to the Dead Sea, but we opted for door to door service and sat back and enjoyed the one and a half hour drive. Prices do vary so make sure you are happy paying the price before jumping in the taxi or private driver.
Situated alongside the vast expanse that is the Dead Sea, the Hilton Dead Sea Resort is a well secured facility with guards only allowing listed guests through the checkpoint. Our car is checked we drive down into the hotel and are greeted by the Hilton’s helpful staff. Once you enter the lobby you are again greeted at a security checkpoint for a luggage scan (like at any airport). They take their security seriously at the Hilton!
The large lobby area inside the Hilton Dead Sea Resort with its central water feature
The main lobby of the Hilton Dead Sea Resort is incredibly large, the reception desk is to the right with a cafe/bar to the left. You can’t help but stop and look at the spectacular view of the Dead Sea straight ahead of you.
Welcome to the Hilton Dead Sea Resort
We are greeted by the smart-looking staff, checked in and escorted to our room in the Marhaba section. The hotel is divided into sections like Marhaba and Petra, so guests can find their way back to their rooms easier.
A King Guest room has a refreshing tropical feel about it.
The King guest room allocated to us is wonderfully decorated with a stunning view over the hotel pools and Dead Sea.
Look at the stunning view from our King Guest Room at the Hilton Dead Sea Resort
The room contains a safe, ironing board, television, table and chairs and King bed. After a short time, we were delivered a nice welcoming treat of fruits, nuts, macaroons, and chocolate.
A welcome gift was delivered to our room. Yummy! Thank you.
There is a large bathroom area and separate toilet, for your added comfort. The only thing we could pick on was the only power point that the hairdryer could be plugged into near a mirror was next to the front door. Surprisingly, not in the bathroom area.
The large bathroom is stylish, but there is no power point for a hair dryer.
The hotel oozes luxury with its pools and private white sanded beach leading to the slick salty water. Stylish restaurants, cafes and bars are positioned around the complex to eat, meet and greet other guests. So, you can easily stay within the resort for your entire stay and not be disappointed.
Located near the pools, Bacchus is a casual Italian Trattoria
The hotel has multiple pool areas. From the adult area with poolside bar to the family area and kids club. Towels for the pool are supplied by the hotel, with pool attendants available to take your food and drink orders. The family pools have lifeguards to ensure the safety of your family.
Lounging by the pool is a relaxing way to spend the afternoon
Most people come to the Dead Sea to float around and experience this remarkable phenomenon. The mud contains healing properties so there are mud basins and mirrors available for you to apply the thick rich mud. After fifteen minutes you then hop into the Dead Sea to wash off. Make sure you read the warning boards before you take a dip as the high salt content can be harmful if inhaled or ingested. Additionally, it can be uncomfortable if you have a cut or abrasion.
For someone who normally can’t float. It’s a freaky feeling, like a bobbing cork.
Breakfast is served in the Spectrum Restaurant and Executive Lounge daily. They provide an extensive range for breakfast from a continental breakfast to individually ordered plates. It’s the ideal way to start a relaxing day.
Breakfast is available from the Spectrum Restaurant daily
The Hilton Dead Sea Resort, reminds me a lot like a cruise ship, everything you want to make your stay comfortable is right there. You really don’t have to leave the resort to have an enjoyable stay. Yet, saying that if you did want to adventure away from the resort, the concierge can help you to organise a tour. Subsequently, if you’d rather go it alone, the AVIS car rental booth has vehicles available.
Such a beautiful sunset over the Hilton Dead Sea Resort
Overall the Hilton Dead Sea Resort is a beautiful place to stay. As active travellers, it was actually nice to rest and lounge by the sea for a day. It was also special to stand outside during the evening and watch the sun setting over the Sea. I do recommend taking a dip in the Dead Sea. The water feels oily and leaves a filmy residue on your skin, but the sense of just floating around is quite appealing. With plenty of food options and a Kids Club it is an ideal place for a family to base their Jordan stay. So, why not head there today and tell them, Simon from Ourworldinreview sent you!
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Additional Information for the Hilton Dead Sea Resort
Address: Dead Sea Road، Sweimeh 11953, Jordan
Ph: +962 5 349 3000 Website: www.hilton.com
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Prices of accommodation per night at the Hilton Dead Sea Resort
There is so much to like about Sarajevo. It’s a city still rebuilding after a brutal forty-four month siege. A cityscape with constant reminders of the destruction and resilience of the Bosnian and Herzegovinian people can be found everywhere. Apartment buildings are riddled with bullet and mortar holes, and the poignant dedications to the victims in the form of the artistic Sarajevo Rose. Sarajevo’s appearance will open your eyes to the effects of war and the countries hopes for a peaceful future. During our stay in Sarajevo we are based at the four starred Hotel Emiran.
One of the many mortar and bullet riddled apartment buildings in Sarajevo
The Sarajevo Rose is a poignant reminder of the innocence lives during the Siege of Sarajevo.
Located outside of the city centre this hotel offers affordable stylish accommodation and facilities for its guests. Positioned within 100m from the Nedžarići tram stop, the Emiran is an excellent base to start your adventures in remarkable Sarajevo.
One of the trams of Sarajevo
We arrived into Sarajevo by international bus and found the directions to the Hotel Emiran easy to navigate using our Maps App. Public transport tickets are easy to obtain with kiosks everywhere. Just look for the transport sticker to know if they sell tickets. Tickets are 1.60BAM from a kiosk or 1.80BAM if you decide to buy them from the driver. We also found the people to be very helpful, so if you have any troubles someone will be glad to help.
One of the many kiosks in Sarajevo selling public transport tickets.
Look for this sticker when buying public transport tickets in Sarajevo
On arrival at the Hotel Emiran you enter a large lobby area divided up into sections. There is a lounge area with comfortable lounge suites, an enclosed smoking area and an open cafe area for the hotels Juicy cafe. With televisions positioned in various locations , it’s a good place to relax and watch a game. Here you will also find the hotel’s small reception desk for check-in.
The small reception desk in the lobby of the Hotel Emiran
Bosnia and Herzegovina is mainly a muslim country, and the hotel has a conservative attitude towards a dress code. Therefore, the knees must be covered throughout the main hotel area. We quickly check-in and make our way up to our standard double room.
The room interior is nicely decorated with a cityscape motif on one of the feature walls. Our room contains a queen sized bed, a long desk with two chairs, a television and empty bar fridge. Unfortunately, there is no in-room coffee and tea facilities, so you will have to go to their cafe to get your coffee fix.
A standard double room is great value for your stay in Sarajevo
Each room contains a private bathroom with body wash packs supplied. As a tip, you may need to ask the staff for some scissors as they can be difficult to open. The rooms are clean and comfortable and serviced daily. The shower has an adjustable shower head with good water pressure and plenty of instant hot water.
Each room has a clean private bathroom.
Being on the sixth floor, our room also had a nice view of the local area which we were able to easy see the trams running towards the city centre.
Nice View
For this stay breakfast was included in the accommodation price and was served from 07:00 a.m in the Emiran Restaurant. They offer a decent breakfast spread with a mixture of hot and cold options for you to choose from.
Part of the breakfast buffet at the Hotel Emiran
If you are in the hotel for lunch and dinner, food is available to be ordered from the Emiran Restaurant or try one of the lovely cakes on offer at the Juicy cafe.
With no in-room coffee facilities, try the hotels Juicy Cafe for a relaxing coffee and cake.
The Emiran Restaurant serves a range of traditional Bosnian and Mediterranean cuisine. Although you wouldn’t call the food exceptional, it is okay at an exceptional price. One night we were able to purchase two twelve-inch plain Margherita Pizza’s and two soft drinks for 7BAM (AUD$5.35). They also have a takeaway option in case you wish to eat in your room.
The Emiran Hotel is open daily for food service
For local businesses, the hotel also has a couple of meeting areas to conduct company workshops or management meetings.
A good spacious area to hold meetings or workshops
Once work is over, why not try the hotel’s Turkish Spa and Finnish Sauna to relax and steam those worries or tired muscles away. Subsequently, if you need to blow off some steam or work off some energy, head to the hotels gym for a workout. But, remember the hotel’s dress code. The Emiran has dressing rooms alongside the gym to change in and out of your gym clothes.
Time to blow off some steam!
One of the other benefits of staying at the Hotel Emiran is the ability to access the visitors laundry area. The laundry has various washers and dryer available for use at a reasonable price. Additionally, there are irons and ironing boards available the complete your laundry task.
Just what you need on a long holiday. Access to an excellent laundry.
The Hotel Emiran is a little out of the main tourist area, but with easy access to the public transport system, the commute into the old town (Baščaršija) is enjoyable. With clean affordable rooms, the accommodation is comfortable at a decent price. With access to a laundry, fitness centre, health and beauty spa, cafe and restaurant, you can easily spend a day in the hotel, if you decide not to venture out for a day.
Overall the Hotel Emiran is a conservative hotel with friendly staff good facilities. Therefore, when you are staying in Sarajevo next, try the Hotel Emiran and tell them Simon from Ourworldinreview sent you!
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Additional Information for Hotel Emiran
Address: Aleja Bosne Srebrene bb, Sarajevo 71000, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Ph: +387 33 255-755 Website: www.emiran.ba
Book your stay at Hotel Emiran now with Booking.com
Urban Adventures offers fun tours in Sarajevo. Book Here!
Nestled between rugged mountains and the Boyana (Buna) River, you will find one of the Vataksi Groups two hotels in Shkoder, Albania. Located at one of the entrances into Shkoder city the newly developed Hotel Vataksi offers limited accommodation with five rooms available at an inexpensive price.
The view from our room at the Hotel Vataksi
Once an important trading port during the ruling times of the Ottomans and Venetians. Shkoder is a peaceful city in Northern Albania and a gateway to the Adriatic Sea. It is here that many travellers start the popular three-day hike from Valbona to Theth. An intersection of three converging rivers Shkoder’s abundance of beautiful landscapes is excellent for the travelling photographer or fishing enthusiast.
An Albanian sunset from Rozafa Castle
The Hotel Vataksi is a small hotel which offers its customers affordable accommodation with a set breakfast. The hotel originally started as a restaurant but as tourism increased in Shkoder the owners created five comfortable timber panelled rooms. Our room for our short stay has a scenic river view, a queen bed, television, air-conditioner, small desk and wi-fi.
The double room with a river view.
Each room has a small accompanying bathroom, with a toilet, basin and over the floor shower (no separate shower cubicle). The bathroom is clean with sufficient hot water and pressure.
The small bathroom is clean with a decent amount of hot water.
Still under construction the hotel is undergoing various improvements, these works did not affect the outcome of our stay or pose any issues. Travel Vataksi is associated with the hotel with an office in the car park of the hotel. Have a look and see what tours they have on offer. Maybe a riverboat ride along the rivers or a trip to the Adriatic Sea is something you might want to do.
Vataksi Travel office is located in the car park
Every morning, the hotel provides a set breakfast plate for its guests. Make sure you advise of any allergies prior so they can cater accordingly. The staff is friendly, with some members having limited English, but communicating wasn’t an issue as they would often summon the English-speaking staff to assist.
Breakfast in the outdoor dining area is a great way to start the day
In the evening, the hotel comes alive with many locals dining at their popular restaurant. Servings are large and of good quality. The restaurant boasts an Italian trained chef who produces some wonderful food. With modern music playing throughout the dining area, a playground for the children, and an intoxicating view of the river. It is a superb place to watch the evening sun set.
Salmon with vegetables
Spaghetti with mushroom and tomatoes
Alternatively, if you’d rather not be too close to the river and prefer a mountain view the Vataksi groups second hotel called Shpija Gjyshit or “Grandfather Hotel” is located approximately 1km uphill from Hotel Vataksi. Also still under construction the rooms are larger than those found at Hotel Vataksi and the views are increasingly spectacular.
The spectacular view from the rooms at Shpija Gjyshit
In my opinion, Shpija Gjyshit is a slightly more refined product, with swimming pool, larger rooms and better bathrooms. The restaurant looks out across the valley and the whole hotel reminds me of an Austrian chalet on the side of the mountain.
The suite at Shpija Gjyshit is a more refined product, with larger more stylish rooms.
The more luxurious bathrooms at Shpija Gjyshit
Although, located on the outskirts of Shkoder the Vataksi Group have two comfortable hotels available. It is a good 30 – 45 minute walk into the city centre, but as we like walking it was a good way to start an active day. Alternatively, the hotel can organise a taxi, which are quite cheap into the city. Personally, I would recommend a taxi, or hiring a car to access Shpija Gjyshit as it would be a pretty tiring and steep walk to its position on the side of the mountain.
The Vataksi groups second hotel Shpija Gjyshit
Overall, both hotels are comfortable and affordable. Honestly, there are better rated hotels in the city centre but of course they are more expensive. Travellers on a budget that are looking for a little more style will appreciate the rooms especially at Shpija Gjyshit. The restaurants and staff are pleasant and it was kind of nice to look out the window at Hotel Vataksi and watch the wildlife along the river. So, book your stay at the Hotel Vataksi or Shpija Gjyshit today and tell them Simon from Ourworldinreview sent you!
If you’ve had the chance to visit Skopje in the Republic of Macedonia, you would know it’s the city of statues. But if you haven’t had the chance to go, then what’s stopping you! Skopje, has statues everywhere! In the squares, in the parks, on the bridges, in the buildings and on top of the buildings. That’s right, Skopje has run out of places to put statues on the ground so they put them on top of their buildings. It is an amazing phenomenon, and one you shouldn’t miss.
Skopje has so many statues, they are staring to put them on top of the buildings
For our second part of our stay in Skopje we are staying in the family run Hotel 7. Hotel 7 is a two star hotel with seven rooms available. The rooms are clean with private bathrooms and come with breakfast included. Being a small hotel, they have a coffee station in the hall, so everyone can help themselves. Comfortable and excellent value for money the hotel is only a 15 minute walk from the city or a quick bus trip. The closest bus stop is across the road next to the hospital.
The two starred Hotel 7 is excellent value in Skopje. Private room with bathroom and breakfast for under 50 euro per night.
Breakfast is available from a little bakery next door to the hotel. They have a range of delicious Byreks and other baked goods on offer. I enjoyed the meat Byrek, which tastes a lot like an Aussie pasty.
Hotel 7’s breakfast is available from the bakery next door
The staff is happy to advise about what there is to do in Skopje and where to go. In total, we spent 7 nights in Skopje and was able to fill in our time well. So, here’s a few things we did.
Join a walking tour
Skopje Walks offers a free walking tour in the city centre of Skopje daily from 10 a.m. This is a terrific way to get your bearings in this quirky city and learn about the trials and triumphs the Macedonian people have faced. The meeting point is the Memorial House of Mother Teresa.
The Memorial House of Mother Teresa is the meeting point for the free walking tour.
Head up to the Millennium Cross
Skopje is home to the largest cross in the world, standing at 66 metres and looking out across the city, it’s either a day hike or a ride on the local bus. Once there, capture some stunning photos of the city and landscape. To get there, catch the number 25 bus from the bus station to the cable cars. Alternatively, you can grab a map and hike up to the top.
The 66m Millennium Cross is the largest cross in the world.
Visit Matka Canyon and Cave
Not too far out of the city is picturesque Matka Canyon. Catch the number 60 bus to the last stop and walk to the Matka Canyon Hotel. Here you can either hike the walking path, catch a boat or kayak down the river. Visit the limestone cave and take in the tranquility.
Jump on the public transport bus to Matka Canyon. Then take a boat or kayak down river.
Hop on the Skopje City Tour Bus
If you’d rather ride the Skopje City Tour Bus, and see Skopje in comfort. The bus runs from 11 a.m – 5 p.m daily. Visit there Facebook page for more information.
Hop onto the Skopje City Tour Bus and visit Skopje’s sights.
Explore the Old Bazaar
Whilst in the city centre, it is a must to explore Skopje’s old bazaar. Walk through the cobbled stoned streets and browse the selection of goods on sale. The bazaar contains museums, bars and restaurants serving traditional Macedonian food.
Visit the old bazaar, try some local food and browse the goods on sale.
Watch a game at Philip II Arena
If you are an avid fan of sport, then check out if the main stadium is hosting any games. The home of teams FK Vardar and FK Rabotnički, visit their websites to see if a game is being played. Otherwise visit the popular park alongside the oval and have a drink or ice cream.
Watch a game at Philip II stadium.
Play Spot the Statue
With so many statues scattered around the city, play a game of I-spy with friends spotting the quirky and intriguing statues. Can you find the begging statue, or the girl playing the harp?
Can you find the girl with the harp statue?
Skopje is one of those fun cities that puts either a confused look or a smile on your face. With not many major hotels present in the city, you might find it easier to obtain accommodation at the family run hotels like Hotel 7. Although rated as a two star this little hotel is excellent value for money. With a private bathroom, coffee facilities and breakfast included, you can’t go wrong. Close to public transport, with friendly helpful staff. Book your stay today, and tell them Simon from Ourworldinreview sent you.
