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City Break on your own
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04-01-2009 6:48pm#1
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I went to Lisbon on my own for 3 or 4 nights in May 2007, found it perfectly safe, although wasn't out too late. There are actually some really nice (and modern) shops in Lisbon, in both the new and old town areas (Baixa and Bairro Alto/Chiado), tend to be small boutiques and stuff.
I enjoyed myself, went on a day trip to Sintra as well
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Found Madrid great for shopping, giant department stores, the usual mix of European high street (H&M, Zara etc) and then lots of small boutique type places. Very safe feeling city, was there in the early summer but didn't seem overly touristy in the main shopping parts. Barcelona is good, just spread out a bit but has lots of shoe shops, sadly all the really funky ones are leather soled, so useless to wear back home! Can be bit dodgy at night in touristy areas, but you'll be fine before like 11pm. Have found Dublin dodgier. Never been to Lisbon, Rome is super touristy but on one hand that's great, you have lots of shops, but spread out amongst some of the world's most well known historic sites
Personally I'd go to Berlin, but that's mostly for boutique shopping (and crashing with friends for free
), in terms of fashion shopping Milan is brilliant if you hunt out the places, sister bought Prada shoes there for around 100 euro, just had to replace the buckles. 0 -
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PullMyFinger! wrote: »More please. Somewhere warm
Rome is a truly wonderful city to visit, I would not hesitate to visit it on my own. It had the historical sites of course, but it also has upmarket shopping (Versace, Vuitton, Valentino et al) but also more budget options (like Zara, Mango etc). We went in March and the weather was glorious, T-shirt weather apart from one day when it rained a little. My sister went in February and it wsa lovely then too. It's not hot enough to sun-bathe of course, but lovely for just wandering round, seeing the sites, shopping and of course the obligitory gelato!
People have the idea that Rome is very expensive, my feelings were, that you could do it as cheap or expensive as you wanted. One of the best meals we ate, was down a little side street and it cost less than €50 for two with wine! If you walk a few street away from the main sites, the restaurants are literally half the price of their counterparts right in front of an attraction.
As for safety, I felt perfectly safe, I suppose like anywhere, you just have to use a bit of cop on, especially when you are by yourself. I would feel more nervous walking round Dublin than I did walking around Rome.0 -
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I'd definitely recommend Rome too! I'm a girl in my early twenties and spent a few days there on my own last September and felt perfectly safe. It's great for shopping if you want the big names, but they have the cheaper shops too. And you even get to see some of the sites while you're browsing around the main shopping area (eg. Spanish steps and trevi fountain). I did the usual touristy things like the colosseum and the Vatican and really enjoyed it. There's loads to see if you're into ancient ruins, history, art etc. I didn't stay out late at night and didn't want to eat alone in restaurants so I just snacked along the way from stalls, supermarkets etc. The weather was scorching when I was there so in the evenings it was great just to sit outside and cool down with some gelato It’s also a very easy city to find your way around. There are only 2 metro lines and they intersect and take you to most of the places you’d want to go (it was great for me because I have a terrible sense of direction!). It’s the only place I’ve been too on my own but I definitely wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it. 0
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The shopping is Prague is great and lower priced than Ireland
Since when?
Brand name gear is at least as expensive as here when I went in Sept 07, and probably is now more expensive with the massive fall in clothes prices here (and not just tourist aimed stores, everywhere. Was told the same by Czechs/ Slovaks living here). The only chap stuff is to be got is off the Asian street vendors, and tbh it makes penneys gear seem like Armani, it wouldnt survive two washes.
I was going to buy a Czech national football jersey as a bit of a souveneir (went for Ireland vs Czech Rep), they were 75 euro anywhere I looked (pretty bad considering they were about 60 euro back in Ireland. Given the reductions Ive seen on foreign jerseys in the last few months they can prob be got here for 20- 35 by this stage).add in great beer and gorgeous women and you have a good short break in the making,
Another thing that surprised me. The Czechs are known for their beer culture yet pretty much every bar, club or restaurant only sells at most two beers on tap. Everywhere sells Pilsner Urquell, which is ok but gets a bit samey after your fifth day and 50th scoop of the stuff. The odd place sells Budvar bottled, and Gambrinus on tap. Varied me bollix! The only place selling more than 3 brands was the Irish pub.
Dont get me wrong, it is a great town for going on the lash and I will be back, but hordes of fake (probably) drug dealers, money converting conmen and gypsy prostitutes operating on O`Connell Street in broad daylight wouldnt be tolerated, yet their equivalent (Wenesclas Square....which isnt really a square....hmm) is full of the above.
I hit Amsterdam on my own after my mate pulled out at the very last and had a cracking time with a hostel gang (a Turk, an Aussie, two yanks and a gorgeous Turkish bird we acquired on the last day ). Great craic, still in contact with them on Facebook, we will make a reunion trip someday
Of course you could get unlucky and get stuck in a dorm with a quiet crowd or some English scobes (the Dam is full of them) but its worth the risk IMO. 0 -
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Since when?....
Well I was in the Czech Republic in July 2008 and found stuff there to be quite good compared to Ireland. Top rated stuff was substantially cheaper than Ireland but is still *dear* if you know what I mean. Designer goods were better value than Ireland, Booze and fags were for pennies with 200 ciggies for 760Kc or €26, €2.60 a box compared to €8.50 in Ireland. Spirits likewise which I stocked up on in Dutyfree but the prices actually include the duty.
Wenceslas Square (Václavské náměstí) is Prague's equivalent of O'Connell Street but is not a square and has the National History Mueseum of the Czech Republic at one end (well worth visiting if you are inltellectually minded). I changed Euros to Koruna in a store there and got a better rate than Bank of Ireland gave me, (never change in the street) and I saw no prostitutes either Gypsy or otherwise, there are however legal brothels off the side streets but it is not in shoved your face like Amsterdam or Las Vegas.
Czech beers are ubiquitous yes but when in rome.... Irish Bar's are not really worth it unless you have to get the GAA as I did and caught Tyrone v Westmeath in Rocky O'Rileys which was not that nice tbh. There is another Irish pub near the astronomical clock square(can't remember the name) but it is a proper square anyway and this was busier and a far better atmosphere.
The rule of thumb is when you go shopping anywhere new avoid the city centre touristy areas and you will find value, Wenceslas Square is expensive enough as is Central London, Grafton St., the Las Vegas Strip 5th Avenue NY etc. I went to a shopping mall called Zlicin Mall at the end of one of the Subway lines and got great value there, womens clothes seemed good value and I picked up a memory card for a Digital camera in Electro world for around €19 when I was getting it for €35 in Ireland.
Prague and the Czech Republic are good but are one of the more expensive countries in "new europe" and the rule of thumb is the further east you go the cheaper it gets. If a person wanted real bargain then the balkans or Turkey would probably be the place to go but the UK is leading the way at the moment with the collapse of the Pound.0 -
Balmed Out wrote: »for shopping at the moment i dont see why you would look past the UK with the exchange rate.
Yes but a kip like Manchester Vs Spain? I dont really see the argument 0 -
there are however legal brothels off the side streets but it is not in shoved your face like Amsterdam or Las Vegas.
Are you sure you went to Prague? Half the time we were walking with our fists clenched when the African lads would approach you in gangs to try and sell their club to you (not that we are adverse to strip clubs of course However a gang of people surrounding tourists, it wouldnt happen in Dublin as said)
Actually having travelled quite a few places now it is surprising how lazy the police are abroad.
Designer and brand name clothes in Ireland are often two thirds cheaper than a year previously.0 -
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