Guinness

Guinness Storehouse Museum, Dublin, the Republic of Ireland

This is a must see museum for those of you who intend on visiting the emerald isle. You have the choice of being shown around the factory or taking the self guided tour. Me and Jevon being budget conscious opted for the self guided tour. This place is massive by the way; there are five floors of information on how Guinness is made, the advertising of Guinness, bars and a section on pouring the perfect Guinness. The tickets were around 12 Euros each (about $22NZ) and the tour finished up with a complimentary pint of Guinness or a soft drink. I must say that Irish brewed Guinness is much more drinkable than the Guinness that we brew in NZ (which tastes like swamp water).

The best hostel in Dublin

Camden Place Hostel, Dublin, Republic of Ireland 20-23 August 2010

I recommend this hostel to anyone staying in Dublin. It’s cheap (40-60 euro per night for a twin room) and it has a lot of freebies like wifi, a walking tour to Howth, breakfast, fruit, coffee, tea, hot chocolate, free international calls, free dinner on Wednesdays and free dessert on Thursdays. The rooms are tidy, but small. There’s a huge dining area and kitchen. The staff are friendly and the reception is open 24/7 and you can leave your luggage at the reception for free is needed.

Accommodations reviews: hostels, hotels and backpackers in little England

Premier Inn, Heathrow, London, England 15 August 2010

This is nice hotel and it’s very good value for money. It cost us 40GBP per night for large double room. It was near Heathrow airport and costs 4GBP to take an airport bus there. The room has tea and coffee making facilities, towels, TV and an ensuite. I recommend staying there if you arrive late or have to leave early. Reception is open late and the staff are friendly. They have a restaurant, bar, ATM and many vending machines.

Earl’s Cout YHA, Earl’s Court, London, England 16-18 August 2010

This place is nice. Reception is open around breakfast time and closes late. It’s in an old building a couple of blocks from the Earl’s Court train station which is on the Piccadilly line (train line to the airport, national and international train stations). It has a large garden with an outdoor dining area. The first time we stayed here, we stayed in one of the garden rooms which had an ensuite. The second time we stayed, we stayed in a room inside the main building with shared bathroom facilities. You can get internet here, but it costs 5GBP per 24 hours and it is terrible. The hostel is tidy (mostly, bust some of the bathrooms did smell a bit) and close to shops and restaurants. The hostel has a large kitchen that has microwaves and ovens and it has a laundry which cost 4-5 GBP per load to wash and dry. It was 50GBP for a double per night.

Bath YMCA, Bath, England 18-19 August 2010

This place is tidy and pleasant. They provide free wifi and free breakfast (toast, cereal, juice, tea and coffee). It is central and close to the train station (10 minute walk). The showers are warm but not 100% ideal. We stayed in a ten bed dorm for 15GBP per night per bed. We were the only people in the dorm, which was fine. To get into our room we needed a code to punch into the key pad.

Chester Backpackers, Chester, England 19-20 August 2010

This is quaint, small place near the train station. It’s about a ten minute walk from the city centre. The owner is lovely and helpful; she carried my luggage up two flights of stairs. They have friendly, cute terrier cross. They provide free wifi, free tea and coffee and information about the area. It’s cheap, only 40GBP per night for a small double room with an ensuite. They have a cute patio for guests to use as well as a laundry (4-5GBP to wash and dry a load), living room with books and DVDs and a kitchen.

A couple of accommodation reviews

Anne Black YWCA, Kowloon, Hong Kong, 4-7 August 2010

This place was cheap, cheap, cheap. It cost us $60NZ per night for twin room with air conditioning, hand basin, soap, shampoo, toothpaste, tooth brush, towels and a jug. The showers had good pressure and the bathroom was lockable. However there was no kitchen or laundry and reception was open very early and very late.

Kimi Ryokan, Ikebukuro “Sunshine City”, Tokyo, Japan, 7-14 August 2010

It was cheap for what is one of the best “ryokans” in Tokyo, or so I’ve read online. It only cost us around $105NZ per night for a medium sized room, for two people, for four very comfortable futon mats. It was clean and tidy. It had a kitchen with free green tea and a beer vending machine, a TV room, free wifi and free use of robes and towels. The shower rooms were lockable and there was room to get changed in private. There were also space outside to hang out any washing but there was no laundry.

The some of the staff spoke English and were friendly and helpful. It is near a train station and near the limousine bus stop, which takes people from Narita airport to Tokyo city.

More things to do and see

1. The Lourve, Paris, France. Ah the Lourve, home to Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, the Venus de Milo, and the Winged Victory of Samothrace. If you take the metro, stop at Palais Royal. You can buy tickets online and line up to go through security. Or you can line for security, buy your tickets in another queue from a cashier or a ticket machine. Ticket prices vary, its normally 9.50 euro, however after 6 pm on Wednesdays and Fridays it costs 6 euros. Free for people 18 years and under and for EU citizens. The Lourve itself is massive. They say it would take you three months to look at each piece of art for five minutes. I did the Lourve it in eight hours. I admired the art that took my fancy and ran past the stuff I didn’t care for. It is truly an amazing place to explore. If you are only to go to one art museum, go to the Lourve. No other museum can match it. However a close second would have to be the British Museum.
   
2. Moulin Rogue, Paris, France. When we went to Paris we missed out on seeing a show there because it was fully booked out for the week we were there. You do need to enter into the red light district to see the Moulin Rogue. However it is pretty safe there. Go at night when the Moulin Rogue is lit up like a Christmas tree. It’s pretty, in a tacky Parisian way.
3. Notre Dame, Paris, France. The famous cathedral featured in Victor Hugo’s story the Notre-Dame de Paris or known in English as the Hunchback of Notre Dame. Notre Dame de Paris translate to our lady of Paris. It’s gothic catholic church and hasn’t always been popular with the French. It is stunning from the outside and even more beautiful inside. The entrance is free.