We have millions of choices when it comes to travel destinations. Some are more interesting that others and some are rather unusual. There are travel destinations that are easy to get to and others that are quite complicated.

Try a travel destination that will lead to the other side of the world. If you want to travel to a beautiful beach and the best place to dive in Asia consider Sipadan, Malaysia. This island is east of Borneo and has a fantastic underwater life.

There is a lovely small village in the northern part of Palawan Island. El Nido has access to many islands and a secret lagoon. This travel destination is located in the Phillippines. Explore the islands and feast on the scrumptious fish dishes.

If you are interested in monuments you might travel to the Angkor Temples in Cambodia. It is one of the most famous archeological sites in the world and also one of the best. The Great Wall in China is a fascinating travel destination. An authentic part of the wall remains in Simatai and you will be delighted by the grandeur of the Chinese Empire.

Those who enjoy travel destinations that involve mountains and deserts are in luck. In Algeria you will find one of the best views of the Sahara Desert. Visit France and gaze at the Alps. Be sure to visit Chamonix which is a very popular tourist attraction. If you go to India you can see the Himalayan Mountains in all their grandeur. You can hike through beautifully landscaped areas and meet the friendly folks who live in the area.

Make your next travel destination a truly interesting one.

Source: http://www.aroundtheworlds.com/

For more information on Worldwide Travel destinations visit http://www.worldwidetravelinfo.com/travel

A few years ago, we relied on travel agents and word of mouth to find a hotel. We had to pay cash in advance or send a cheque which needed to be cleared to secure a room. You had no idea whether you were getting a good deal and you had to hope for a brochure to come through the post to check out the facilities and quality of accommodation.

The internet has revolutionised the hotel market. There are now more than 55,000 hotels worldwide that can be booked online. You can often take a virtual hotel tour, view a location map, find local attractions, check live room availability and reserve a room for the night or for a longer stay.

We all know that the internet is a great information resource and some things are better suited to the internet than others. Hotels, hostels and other lodgings are a perfect internet resource and this is absolutely to the benefit of consumers.

Many of us will have booked a hotel, having seen photos in a brochure and been very disappointed when we arrived to find that it looks so very different. If we all owned a hotel we would make sure we photographed it in its best light, but as customers we expect a realistic impression so that our expectations are at least met and hopefully exceeded.

There are now an ever growing number of websites and resources on hotels and incredibly useful customer reviews – recommendation by others is often worth as much as any other available information.

I have stayed in many, many different hotels located in England, throughout Europe and Worldwide. Standards vary immensely and I have experienced budget no star accommodation and five star luxurious hotels. I have enjoyed local friendly bed and breakfast accommdation and clincal and functional business rooms. The key in all things is expectation – I have been pleasantly surprised as some 2 star hotels and incredibly disappointed at some 4 star rated hotels.

You now have more information at your fingertips than you have ever had before. There are fewer and fewer excuses for getting it wrong and I strongly advise you to research your stay very carefully. Always look at consumer reviews as you cannot beat the recommendation or otherwise of recent guests.

Always shop around as there are some great prices and deals on hotels.

To begin with, if you are looking for a hotel in England, the UK or Europe, take a look at http://www.deals-on-everything.co.uk

Plan ahead, take your time, do your research and you minimise the risk of disappointment. You will maximise your chances of find a great hotel, a great deal and a wonderful stay.

Mark Hartshorne has worked in travel for 14 years and travelled extensively. Having stayed in superb hotels and some of the most basic accommodations, he offers a few simple tips to help customers find the best hotel deals and makes the right choice. For more information please visit Hotel Discounts and Deals

The territory embracing what is now known as M?xico was once one of the richest and most important colonies of Spain?s Kingdom. Under the name of the ?New Spain? it was the main source of gold and silver for the Kingdom during the 400 years of Spaniard domination of this territory, contributing highly to the emergence of Spain as the great power of its time.

But things were not going very well for the locals in the colony, many of whom were treated as slaves, mainly the Indian and African population; and many others as ?second class? and even ?third class? citizens of an empire that at the beginning of the XIX century was a decadent shadow of its past greatness.

The new ideas of the French Illustration and the American Revolution had influenced a number of intellectuals and progressive personalities of the colony making them think about gaining independence from Spain and implement a number of reforms that would make the territory a new country under many of the values proclaimed by the Illustration.

Among the people thinking seriously about gaining Independence from Spain, gains great notoriety the figure of Miguel Hidalgo, a non-traditional catholic priest that had been living in the town of ?Dolores? in what is now the Mexican state of Guanajuato. He had contributed to the betterment of the native population, making him very popular, by teaching them a number of crafts and to some, even how to write and read. Many of these crafts have survived until our current days; for example, the world famous ?Talavera? ceramic pieces that you can find in what is now known as the town of ?Dolores Hidalgo?. Besides his popularity he was also the lider of the local conspiration against Spain?s rule.

It was the year 1810 when the conspiration against Spain was finally mature enough to be implemented. It was in the month of September when, accelerated by the sudden discovery of the conspiration by ?Realist authorities?, the struggle for Independence was initiated. It was the night of September 15 when Hidalgo and others decided to go ahead and gather the people of Dolores to constitute the first army that would march against Spaniard positions.

The long column of peasants and the few trained officials constituting the ?Insurgent Army? marched during a number of days through the region gathering more people and resources. Once they felt strong enough they aimed to the biggest Spaniard post in the zone. The world famous mining town of Guanajuato.

And it?s during this episode that the figure of ?El Pipila? comes to scene during the first battle of the Independence struggle. Insurgents had put an old grain storage building under siege. All Spaniards had gone into this big building and were using it as a fortress to resist the ?Insurgent Army? until some reinforcements could come from the capital or some other post. Insurgents were desperate. The building seemed to be inexpugnable and they were losing many men trying to approach one of the two doors or climbing the walls. Besides, ?Realist? reinforcements could be approaching and they were stuck at that position.

Hidalgo and other officials had come to the conclusion that only by destroying one of the doors they could hope for a victory. But who would do it? Who would dare to approach the door, dodging bullets and put it on fire??It seemed there was no one willing to take such a high risk to his life. Until ?El Pipila? appeared from among the peasants. He approached Hidalgo and told him he was willing to go ahead and burn the door. He had been thinking how to approach the door and he had come to the conclusion he would use a piece of thick stone laced to his back as protection against bullets and then crawl to the door.

And that?s how he did it. With the heavy piece of stone on his back and a torch in his hand he slowly crawled under enemy fire until he finally reached the door and with his last forces set fire to the door made of wood allowing the Insurgent Army to enter the building and claiming the first victory of the struggle for independence of the country that is now known as Mexico.

Very few things are known of what happened to ?El Pipila? after this historic episode.

Want to learn more about Mexico history and culture? You can visit:

http://travel-mexico-review.blogspot.com/

Whenever I?m about to leave on a road trip there is always someone that groans and feels sorry for me. Well, I?m here to tell you they don?t have to be torture. I happen to love them and I?m about to share with you a few of my personal survival tactics.

1.Your travel companion must and I repeat must be easy going. I am fortunate enough to have a most awesome husband. He, (unlike my father growing up) has the patience of Job and absolutely no problem pacing our trip. My experience growing up was quite the opposite. You stopped only for gas, bathroom stops must be timed with such. Hotel stops if you were lucky enough to get one was long after dark and too late to swim. Food was packed at the beginning and better last the trip!

2.It?s good to have a hobby. Some of my personal favorite car ride pastimes include Sudoku, rag mags and scrap booking. That?s right I even manage to scrap book in the car!

3.Know your route. Because my husband and I frequently visit family in Pennsylvania we are well familiar with the trip. ( Sixteen times this past year) We have made our own travel information log of our favorite stops along the way. For example we know that at exit 6 in Georgia, gas in very cheap, exit 8 in South Carolina is a good overnight stopping point. (outlet mall included). Exit 95 wonderful outlet mall and perfect timing for a car nap for the driver while the passenger(s) shop. Last but not least exit 33 in Virginia has the much needed Starbucks! So you see, by having points of interest along the way, you always have something to look forward to. These can be tailored to your own personal likes.

Do you see how just applying these few points a car trip can actually be fun!

Find out about DiscountHotels like BostonHotels and HawaiiHotels

This ancient city, now the capital of Italy, is also Mecca for all Catholics and one of the most popular tourist destinations in Italy. Its nickname, ?the eternal city? emphasizes its long history and the important role Rome has always played in major European events. Modern Rome with its population of about 4 million is the biggest Italian city and the centre of the Lazio province.

Roman history began about 3000 years ago, when, according to some myths and legends, Rome was founded by two brothers ? Romul and Rem. This legend has a sad end ? Romul killed his brother and gave the city his own name. Since that time began the rise of the Roman Empire, which has reached its peak about 2 centuries B.C. The significant part of the attractions in the city is has to do with this period ? several centuries before Christ birth and several centuries after it. However the roman art of that time represent a copy of the art in ancient Greece. The gods and their images are the same, only the names have changed. But still, there are a lot of outstanding and unique objects and monuments.

The main symbol of the Roman glory is Coliseum. Today we would call it the central stadium. It has witnessed a countless number of the gladiators? fights and the deaths of the first Christians (though the latter it?s not a historically proofed fact). Coliseum wasn?t restores. Its ruins mean much more?

Another Ancient Rome landmark is Roman Forum. It was commercial and political centre of the city, where the main historical events took place. Today it?s a museum under the sky.

Pantheon ? a temple, devoted to all Roman gods is also an outstanding monument of the Roman art. It was built abou 125 A.D.

Constantine Arch of the IV century A.D. is the most famous triumphal arch and it is in rather good condition. It?s one of the latest symbols of the roman power.

The biggest and the most powerful pagan city, Rome later became one of the most important Christian centers as well. Vatican, the residence of the Pope, is located inside Roman borders, but it?s the state, though the smallest one in the world. Holy place for all Catholics, Vatican receives a lot of religious travelers from all over the world. The centre of the state is St Peters Basilica, which is the largest church in the world. Renaissance epoch is also strongly connected with Rome. Greatest artists, architects and sculptors of that time lived and worked here. They left a lot of masterpieces, which we still can enjoy.

The Sistine Chapel in Vatican ? is the leading historic, artistic and religious monument of the Renaissance was built 1475 and1483. It?s the Pope?s chapel and a place where the new Pope is being elected. Due to the beautiful frescos of Michelangelo it is also a very popular museum. Trevi Fountain was created in XVIII century on demand of the Pope Clement XII. It?s richly decorated and represents the statue of Ocean on the big shell, which is a chariot.

Piazza di Spagna began to develop in XVIII century and later become one of the city?s most popular places. Spanish Steps ? a long staircase, connecting the square with the Trinita’ dei Monti church.

For booking a hotel in any part of the world, please, go to http://www.hotelsrates.net

As the second largest city of Western Europe, Paris is known as the City of Lights for its well-lit displays in the late hours, which calls to visiting tourists from around the world. It is the home of the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre and many more vacationer attractions.

What can you see in a weekend in Paris? If you?re visiting Paris for only a short while, try these suggestions on the top hot spots. You can?t miss these!

Visiting Popular Attractions In Paris

Rising up over 300 meters tall, this steel structure, the Eiffel Tower, can be seen throughout most locations around the city. Elevators lift visiting tourists to the top to get a bird?s eye view of Paris. As it is lit up in the evening, it is one of the most beautiful sights in the entire city. Guided tours add to the thrill as you get to peek into history on how it was made and what it means to the French today.

The opera building, Op?ra de Paris Garnier started its history back in 1862 when its construction began. It took over ten years to complete, because an underground lake was discovered under the location and was completed in 1875. Tours and shows continue to operate through this attraction for those visiting Paris, though now mainly used for ballet performances since the construction of Op?ra de Paris Bastille, another distinctive entertainment tourist spot.

Visiting Museums In Paris

One of the largest and most famous museums is the Louvre of Paris, and visiting it is none other than an opportunity of a lifetime. With over 300,000 wonderful artistic works, you simply cannot see all of it in one day. An entire weekend could be spent simply gazing at the thousands of painting, including Leonardo da Vinci?s world famous Mona Lisa.

For something more exciting for children and families, try the Centre Pompidou. It not only contains a museum of modern art, but a bookstore and a library among other things. The museum, featuring the works of artists like Matisse and Picasso, holds one of the largest collections of cubist, surrealist and abstract art.

Photo Opportunities for People Visiting Paris

You don?t need to be Catholic to appreciate the majestic architecture of Notre-Dame. Its construction was made to fit a monumental scale, and plans were made to enlarge it even before the cathedral was completed. While not the biggest, it is the most famous and one of the grandest cathedrals in the entire world.

Commissioned by Napoleon in 1806, the Arc de Triomphe, it is engraved with the names of the generals that commanded his troupes. It now stands as a monument to the era and a popular photo spot for tourists visiting Paris. The Arc also features an observatory to take in surrounding views.

If you?re still looking for something that will arouse the attention of the entire family, try the Jardin du Luxembourg, a 224,500 square meter park. An octagon pond called the Grand Bassin is located in the center of the park. It is here that children can rent toy motorboats for a fun afternoon. You can also check out the puppet shows, chess games, it?s many statues and it?s two famous fountains, the Fontaine de Medicis and the Fontaine de l’Observatoire, at the north and south ends of the park.

Obviously, these are not the only tourist spots, but upon visiting Paris, these are the most popular and are certainly not to be missed. Most of these locations offer regular guided tours, some at little to no cost. Call your travel agent and make arrangements to visit these locations.

Fionn Downhill is President of Four Corners Hotels offering discount hotels around the world. http://www.fourcornershotels.com/index.php/FR–Paris

Athens, the capital of Greece, is well known as a very ancient city. Athens has succeeded to preserve its historical look while adding Numerous modern facilities to ease the daily life for its citizens ?and of course, for its millions of yearly visitors.

It was a MUST ?It was a project designed with VISION and good taste. The GREAT YEAR 2004? when all eyes were turned towards those ?celebre? Olympic Games?GREAT YEAR 2004 has been a motor to carry THE PROJECT towards a reality. Since then, all citizens and tourists have greatly appreciated the comfort

and the rapidity of its PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.

How did Athens succeed to ease its daily life???

Contribution # 1 to Athens public transportation in Athens Greece is. A superhuman effort has been a daily concern to build up few beautiful HIGHWAYS. From the Airport, you can get to Athens (and to the suburbs) by Using limousine service or TAXIS?You can as well get to Athens ( and to the Suburbs) by using the PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM: the METRO Or the BUS. The ticket for the airport EXPRESS line is 2.90 euros and it is Good for 24 hours.

Contribution # 2 to Athens public transportation in Athens Greece is. The METRO of Athens has been developed partly into a ?mini- museum?? Several antiquities and mommies can be seen as you pass by to get to your destination.

Contribution # 3 to Athens public transportation in Athens Greece is. The public transport system has highly improved: BUSES, STREETS-CARS, TAXIS will give you a ride for more than a reasonable rate. A particular note you should remember about TAXIS : you can stop a taxi In the street (by pointing your index up) even if other people are already inside the car. After you will have informed the driver about your destination, he will drive you?.if his destination matches yours?of course?

Contribution # 4 to Athens public transportation in Athens Greece is. The STREETS-CARS (or Trolleys) are very accessible in the city. They bring A colourful atmosphere in the city. It is very pleasant to ride in the Trolleys?They have wide windows so the passengers can easily see outside.

Contribution # 5 to Athens public transportation in Athens Greece is. ATHENS PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION will take you everywhere in the city as well as in the suburbs. The Trolley will take you to the sea if you like?.there are several beaches close to

the city: many of them are Municipal Beaches. Beaches are public. They have become very accessible to people who like to travel by Trolley.

by S Pappas greekinfo@gmail.com
Rooms Apartments in Athens Greece Athensrooms.
Free Greek travel information traveling in Athens Greece Greekster.
Apartments in Athens Greece Self catering.
M Savard. Inspirer, author, professor, astrologist.

Hong Kong is an eclectic mix of Chinese and British influences mixed with a massive amount of adrenaline. Fortunately, you can find places to stay when visiting Hong Kong without much problem.

Finding Places to Stay When Visiting Hong Kong

Hong Kong is both a modern and ancient city. First appearances reveal a modern metropolis teaming with commerce, crowds and traffic you would expect to find in any major city in the world. Walk down an alley, however, and you will find all kinds of oddities and a feel for the underlying currents of the city. Big business is done in Hong Kong, but so is a unique way of life. Whichever you pursue, you will need a good base to survive this hectic city.

Place to stay in Hong Kong come in all types of quality, shapes and prices. There are really cheap youth hostels with lots of ?character? and five star luxury hotels that would make an emperor blush. Universally, the accommodations are smaller than you would expect in other parts of the world. You can expect rooms to be smaller than Thailand, but a bit bigger than what you find in Japan for corresponding prices.

Luxury lodgings are primarily located on Hong Kong Island. Hong Kong Island is the central area of Hong Kong, the location you see in pictures of the massive skyline. It is situated on an amazingly thin strip of land between the ocean and mountains. If you are doing business in Hong Kong, this is where you want to stay as most of the major commerce centers are on the island. There are a bevy of five star places offering accommodations. In truth, your choice is limited only by your budget.

If you are looking for cheaper accommodations in Hong Kong, Kowloon and the New territories offer a variety of sources. You can even find hostels on Hong Kong Island. Put another way, accommodations are plentiful regardless of where you are. Hong Kong is a major transportation hub for Asia, so it caters to all budgets.

Finding a place to stay in Hong Kong is a piece of cake. Figure out where you want to stay and then shop around to find the best prices.

Rick Chapo is with NomadJournals.com – makers of travel journals. Visit NomadJournalTrips.com to read more Internet travel articles about travel hotel – Hong Kong.

Sharm El Sheikh is heady mix of sun, sand and mountains located on a promontory at the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula along the Red Sea in Egypt at the mouth of the Gulf of Aqaba.

Owing to the many peace conferences held there it is also called ?The City of Peace?

Being located at a strategic location sharm as it is popularly known was used by the Egyptian navy as a port and naval base until it was captured by Israeli forces in 1956 but restored to Egypt subsequently in 1967.

In the past it was a small fishing village until it became a naval base and today it is a commercial hub and a stunning and magnificent landscaped beach resort. It is also home to a number of sulphur springs, which have therapeutic value.

The virgin fossilized coral reefs in the red sea put the small fishing village and naval base of Sharm El Sheikh on the world map. Sharm El Sheikh has three protected areas- the Ras Muhammad Natural Protected Park, St. Katherine National Park and Nabq Protected area. To gain access to these areas you have to take permission from the tourism department and respective authorities.

If you are interested in taking a diving course while in sharm el sheikh, there are a number of private companies offering the course along with a PADI- Professional Diving Instructors Certificate at a very cheap price!

Like Nuweiba, sharm is also roughly divided into three parts- Na?ama Bay, Ras Um Sid Cliff and Sharm al Maya.

Na?ama Bay

This is long sandy bay home to one of the first hotels of the area built in the eighties. Today it is fully developed bay with a beautiful paved walkway lined with bougainvillea and oleander along the entire stretch of the bay.

Ras Um Sid Cliff

The cliff links the Na?ama Bay and Sharm El Maya centrally located from both the bay and Sharm El Maya. It has magnificent view from atop overlooking the sea. A lot of hotels, restaurants and resorts dot the cliff.

Sharm El Maya

This is the bay area of the old town of Sharm El Sheikh, developed recently for tourism. The magnificent bay is a natural harbor and home to many boats local and tourist. Palm trees line the lovely endearing sandy beaches making it a perfect place to laze around and sun bathe!

Go scuba diving and snorkeling:

There are a number of reliable diving and snorkeling operators in the area. The Tiran strait and the Red Sea have a diverse marine life, and its turquoise clear waters make it even more enchanting for diving.

Some famous dive centers are Anemone Diving Center at Na?ama Bay, African Divers at Sharm el Maya; Aqua active Dive center at Nabq Bay, Aquamarine and Aquanaute are other dive centers. Some virgin untouched diving sites are the Ras Mamla and Ras Abu Gallum; to go there you have to take permission from the Tourist Police and Protect the Reefs Office because these sites are under the Ras Muhammad National Park.

Colored canyon excursion:

This is in the middle of the desert. It is a gorge formed by water passing through the mountain for hundreds of years revealing the different colored layers of rock. The sheer size of the canyon leaves awed.

There are no facilities at all here. You have to take all that you need with you and as for natures call you will have to make do with going behind the rocks! Tour operators arrange tours in four-wheel drives to the canyon.

Go back into the past:

You can also visit the famous St. Catherine monastery between Nuweiba and Taba. The route via Nuweiba is a picturesque one along the flat plains. St. Catherine’s monastery was built around the 4th century, which is believed to be the site of the burning bush. The fortress that surrounds it was built around the 6th century and is still an operating monastery.

Have a Bedouin dinner:

If you are a foodie and love to try different cuisine you can go for a special Bedouin dinner at one of the Bedouin villages.

The Night Life:

Being a beach resort Sharm El Sheikh has an active nightlife. Most hotels have a pub, disco, and arrange beach parties. As for drinks, you can opt for the local brand-Stella, which is cheaper, or an imported one such as Heineken obviously more expensive.

Darren Panto sales & marketing manager for Peltours – a leading tour operator to Egypt and the Red Sea. For more information on Red Sea holiday excursions visit http://www.peltours.com/tabaheights Alternatively, for a full and comprehensive Egypt holiday search visit http://www.peltours.com

Barcelona?s renaissance can be traced back to 1992, the year the Olympic torch arrived in the city, but 14 years later the Catalan capital is still seeing phenomenal growth in the number of visitors.

It?s easy to see why though, as it offers visitors a mild, northern Mediterranean climate, a healthy dose of culture, and what seems like an almost infinite number of bars and restaurants. It is also easy to see why Barcelona was chosen to host the ?92 Olympics as it is home to one of the greatest sporting clubs on earth, Futbol Club Barcelona.

Getting there

Barcelona was first made easily accessible to the UK by easyJet and the dramatic increases in tourism is surely as much due to the availability of cheap flights as to the desire to visit Barcelona. These days there are dozens of flights to Barcelona operated by budget airlines in the UK, Germany, Scandinavia and Eastern Europe, while Ryanair flies into Girona-Costa Brava airport and Reus from a number of countries including the UK and Ireland — both these airports are less than 2 hours from Barcelona. The latest country to be able to easily experience the charms of Barcelona is the United States, with Delta now operating direct flights from New York and other locations.

Where to stay

Probably your first thought will be a hotel, but there are also good deals on short-term apartment rentals. Usually massively renovated, apartments can be suitable for up to 10 people, although some of them are in Barcelona?s less salubrious neighbourhoods ? if in doubt you should ask your rental agency.

Barcelona has a decent list of hotels too, although award winning Hotel Arts is a little too far from the real action to be considered by anyone wanting to get in the thick of it. Hotel Majestic is just a few minutes from Pla?a Catalunya though and so perfect for seeing the sights ? Gaud??s Casa Batllo and La Pedrera are a stone throw away — and has a first-class restaurant and rooftop pool too.

Other notable hotels include Le Meridien, just off the Ramblas, while directly opposite Barcelona?s cathedral is Hotel Colon. Of course there are plenty of hotels offering slightly less in the way of luxury too.

Sightseeing

Although your time may be short, there are some things you just cannot afford to miss in Barcelona. The first of these is a simple walk down the Ramblas. Although rather touristy these days, it remains somewhere to watch life go by while soaking up some of Barcelona?s atmosphere. There are plenty of bars and cafes on the Ramblas, so when you feel like a rest for a coffee or a beer you just need to grab a table and attract the attention of a waiter.

You should also not miss any of Gaud??s fantastic architecture, from the iconic Sagrada Familia cathedral, still unfinished after more than a century, to Casa Batllo and La Pedrera on Passeig de Gra?ia. And one much overlooked Gaud? project is the Parc G?ell, again uncompleted, but fantastic to walk around to marvel at his designs. There you can also visit a museum dedicated to his life and work.

As these sights are rather spread out you are best off taking the tourist bus from Pla?a Catalunya. The bus allows you to hop on and off where you like, on a tour of the city that allows you take in all the best sites, including the Gaud? wonders. For around 15 Euros for a day it is excellent value and its route allows you to get an overview of much of Barcelona without wearing your shoe leather too much.

Food and drink

One of Barcelona?s great benefits is the number of restaurants and bars, and good restaurants abound. Many visitors are surprised at how cheap restaurants can be, perhaps compared to the menus in London, Paris and Rome, but to find good food for a reasonable price you need to follow one simple rule ? stay away from the Ramblas, Maremagnum — near the old port — and the Port Olimpic.

One area that has been gaining in popularity for a few years now, first with the locals and now with tourists too, is the area known as El Born. Consisting of a maze of streets that at one time were virtually a complete no-go area, the area today has a real buzz and the best restaurant to eat in is any that has a table for you. Remember that the Spanish eat late and so restaurants will be empty before nine o?clock, but where is the fun in that? And instead of a sit-down meal you can also trail from bar to bar eating some any of delicious tapas that appeals to you – particularly recommended are the Basque tapas bars you find in the area.

David Leigh has been a frequent visitor to Barcelona for most of his life, finally settling there in 2001. You can visit his two Barcelona-related websites at http://www.catalunya.co.uk and http://www.simplybarcelonatickets.com