You have just 2 full days to see and experience all Barcelona has to offer. It sounds like mission impossible but you can do this wonderful vibrant city in just 48 hours with the help of this guide.

13:00

The main streets of Barcelona are wide and long, criss-crossing the city taking you off in new directions and new sensations. Spend some time familiarising yourself with Las Ramblas and the top of Plaea de Catalunya.

You could spend hours on the Ramblas alone, taking in the unique stalls selling everything from newspapers, to birds, to reptiles, to flowers and rabbits. Then there are the street performers, colourful characters that pose, mime, sing, dance and juggle for the passing crowds.

Halfway down is the La Boqueria market. A total sensory overload of smell, colour and taste. This is a great place to pick up a few items for breakfast or just a snack. Fruit, vegetables, meat, fish and sweets are stacked high over a huge area.

At the bottom of Las Ramblas is the port. This has been extensively redeveloped with the huge Maremagnum complex. By day it is a shoppers paradise and by night becomes the hub for touristy bars and nightclubs.

16:00

Plaea Reial is a real melting pot of people, sights, smells and activities. Just spend some time watching the interactions of the locals, tourists, police, restaurants, bars and pigeons. Even the Gaudi lamp posts either side of the fountain add to the overall atmosphere. Some of the side streets lead off to some excellent restaurants and the Barri Gotic quarter.

16:30

The Barri Gotic quarter is an area of Barcelona that dates back to the 11th and 12th C. You may walk through Plaea Sant Jaume to reach it but the narrow streets are worth exploring to see the royal palace in Plaea del Rei, once home to Queen Isobel and King Ferdinand. They were the financiers for Christopher Colombus? voyage to the new world.

There has been some Roman ruins excavated beneath the palace that are also on show. The most impressive example in the Gotic quarter is of course the Cathedral. This looks rather like a shorter wider version of Notre Dame but reflects the Spanish style of gothic architecture. There is a lift to the top for a view across the city roof tops.

In front of the church the square often attracts more street performers with classical guitarists and artists setting themselves up in the side streets.

19:00

The evening “passage” is a very important part of Catalan culture. Around this time of evening many families will walk together down Las Ramblas before taking a pre dinner drink at one of the street bars, dressed up and looking their best. Most of the popular restaurants won’t open their doors until 8pm and people will begin queuing from about 7.30pm onwards. Waiters then take the number in each party so when the doors open you are taken straight to your table.

Catalan cuisine is very traditional with particular regional recipes being handed down over centuries. Now is a good time to familiarise yourself with paella, an all in one rice dish that can include meat and/or sea food. Cava is the Spanish champagne and can be cheaper than wine but a worthy alternative. Also popular is sangria, basically a red wine punch with fruit pieces and ice.

Barcelona is also diversifying its tastes with many other Mediterranean cultures making the city their home so you can also find typically non Spanish flavours, including Greek, Turkish and North African.

After hours

From May to September one of the best things to see by night in Barcelona is the Magic Fountain of Montjuic. The fountains first performed their illuminated ballet in 1929 at the Great Universal Exhibition. Every half hour from 8pm until midnight the fountains perform a display of light, colour and music attracting hundreds of spectators every Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The music ranges from classical and opera to movie themes and contemporary pieces.

The fountains run on reduced hours from October to April, Fridays and Saturdays only between 7pm and 9pm. At the top of the steps is the Palau Nacional which offers a fine panoramic view over the city and backs onto the Olympic stadium where Spain made its return to the world stage in the 1992 Olympic games.

Now to swap the walking shoes for dancing ones. You can choose to go with the rest of the tourist crowd to Maremagnum or the more discerning head to Port Olimpic and the Baja Beach Club. There are many nightclubs and dance bars for all tastes, most going on until 2 or 3 in the morning.

Usually there are no entry fees but the cocktails and drinks are pricy. There may be flyers being handed out in the street offering 2 for 1 deals inside, and these are no ordinary drinks. They are usually long pours so you won’t need many.

09:00

Today is the day to get better acquainted with Antoni Gaudi, the modernist architect responsible for some very unique buildings in and around Barcelona. His inspiration came from nature, causing some considerable criticism during his lifetime as some felt his attempts to recreate natural forms was tantamount to playing God.

The first building to examine is the Casa Battl on Passeig de Gracia. It stands as part of the Manzana Discordia, the apple of discord. This is also a fun play on words as the word for city block is also manzana. The house is a representation of St George and the dragon, with thousands of ceramic tiles decorating the fa’ade like scales. Next door is Casa Amatller by another of Guadi’s contemporaries Josep Puig I Cadafalch.

10:00

Much of the modernist approach drew on Moorish influences and a freer expression of shape. Some of the buildings look more as if they were built today rather than almost 200 years ago. The second building to discover is Casa Mila, also known as La Pedrera- the rock quarry. La Pedrera is on the corner of Passeig de Gracia and Carrer de Proven’a, the fa’ade imitating sand dunes with a wind blown effect, the rock curving and undulating around the windows.

Both buildings are open to the public with Casa Mila home to a gallery and also offering tours of the remainder of the building and roof. Casa Batll? was originally offices and closed to the public but some rooms have been opened up.

11:30

Perhaps the most impressive and time consuming of the Gaudi creations, certainly the most visited, is the Sagrada Familia. Begun in 1882 this was Gaudi’s most ambitious project. He devoted himself entirely to overseeing the work, moving into the crypt beneath the nave and rarely leaving the site.

Relying totally on public donation to fund the project it followed a rather stop start pattern, and even following the untimely death of Gaudi the donations continued to come in. the building still continues today, the tourist coin adding to the donation box and allowing the completion of Gaudi’s greatest dream, a church for the people built by the people.

13:00

Tapas are a cheap, tasty and typically Spanish snack. They are eaten virtually at any time of the day and accompany coffee, wine or aperitifs. There are many tapas bars providing a huge range of choice. They are either served hot or cold and you can buy singles or make a selection. Toppings are mainly meats, fish, seafood, frittatas and tapenades.

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Krabi Attractions: What to Visit in Krabi, Thailand
Buses leave Phuket bus station for Krabi approximately every half hour. When you arrive you will get off the bus near Phuket town. The town doesn’t really have much in the way of interest except markets. Best to hop on a motorbike and head for Ao Nang beach. There is also an airport in Krabi with direct connections from Bangkok and Phuket. Or, go by ferry direct from Rassada Pier near Phuket Town – ferries leave Rassada at 8.30 am and 10.30 am.

Ao Nang Beach in Krabi is a buzzy little place – plenty budget guest houses and lots of restaurants. The beach road stretches in a U shape and takes about 15 minutes to walk down. If you stand facing the sea, the road that turns up to the left is where most of the budget guest houses are. The one that goes to the right is more resort material.

On the road to the left, apart from the fact that there is now a large McDonald’s, you’ll find cool eating houses and book shops amongst small market places selling all sorts of beach wear and sndals. Visit the Full Moon Bar for a welcoming atmosphere and a great selection of music. The owner, Tom. is a lovely Thai guy.

On the seafront, try out one of the many Italian restautants or, even better, Woodstock. This is a total gem. It’s a Mexican place run by a native Californian called Kim. The food is spectacular, prices reasonable and atmosphere excellent.

Grab a long tail boat from Ao Nang to Railay Beach. In West Railay, walk through to East railay and turn left to Ao Phra Nang cave down at the tip. Visit the cave with the princess at the end of the beach.

Ferry Boat to Phi Phi and nearby Islands
For a really enjoyable day out Island Hopper, one of the largest tour groups on Phuket, do a fantastic set of packages around the region. Phuket Guide tried the one to Phi Phi, Bamboo and Khai Islands and the Visitors were inpressed.

A mini van picked up visitors up at 7.45 am and set off for Koh Siray near Phuket town. There was coffee waiting for the visitors at the beach and, despite the fact that there were about 40 tuouists milling around, Island Hopper staff were well organized and spoke English well so the visitors all ended up in the correct group very quickly. The guide explained where the visitors would go and gave them all informative leaflets before leading them to speedboat. There were 11 passengers on board. The visitors sped out into the ocean and all started to relax as Ek, the lovely guide, served them some fresh fruit and told them stories of different sea creatures he had encountered on his travels.

Visitors stopped at Bamboo Island a protected resource and got off for some swimming and a walk around. Visitors were told not to remove anything from the island and to take care to respect the environment.

Next it was on to a beautiful cove for some excellent snorkelling and fishing feeding. Then off for a swim at Maya bay then a stop for lunch at a nice restaurant on Phi Phi Island. There was another snorkelling trip and a final stop on Khai island. There’s not much here except a few small stalls selling beer and snacks but it’s a good place to wind down after a day of activities.The companydrop visitors off at their hotel around 6 pm.

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Racha Island Phuket Thailand
For some old reason, Westerners call this beautiful island Racha and Thais call it Raya. Either way it is worth a day trip or, better still, a weekend away from the busy roads of Phuket. There’s good snorkelling here and Raya Divers if you want to learn to dive.

Raya has two main bays : Ao Patok where all the speed boats arrive and Ao Siam – a much quieter bay with superb walks and places to just be alone. Ao Patok is currently having a big, new resort built on it. The Racha- a high-class, eco-friendly set of bungalows. Opening mid 2004. Ao Patok has high tide swimming most of the day whereas Ao Siam is only swimable early morning or after 6pm.

Walk behind Ao Patok ( straight through the centre) and follow the sandy path to find Father Bungalows on the right and Raya Resort on AO Teau after that. Turn left at Father Bungalows abd keep on the path until you hit the beach and you’ll be just in time for a drink at the Reggae Bar there. The path literally ends right behind the bar. The chirpy owner, Max, will take care of you and explain where things are and where to get a decent lunch or dinner. At night Max usually has a BBQ going with freshly caught fish and perhaps a bit og fire throwing.

Next to the Reggae bar is Hippy Bar where Woot and Vicky will serve you a nice meal and further down the left hand side of the beach is the wonderful Bamboo Shack Restaurant. The lovely Thai couple who run it do a great masaman curry and are very welcoming. At the very end of the beach you’ll find Jungle and Sea View Bungalows up the hill. A bit precarious while walking at night but great views during the day.

Located around 12km south of Phuket, Raya is accessible via a variety of boats and day trips. If you want to do it yourself a speed boat from Rawai Beach or Chalong Bay will cost approx 1,000 baht per person or a longtail 1,500 baht for the whole boat. Some of the speedboats do special deals for 1,200 baht where you get a packed lunch and the use of snorkelling gear. Speed boats generally leave Raya for Phuket at 3pm daily. Crossing takes 40 min by speed boat and one hour 15 min by longtail.

Days Tours to Phang Nga Bay Thailand
Phang Nga Bay, to the east of Phuket, is one of the most beautiful tourist attractions of the world. But the impression you get of this wonderland depends largely on which tour you choose.

A James Bond Island tour wull cost very little and you won’t even have to look for one, it comes to you: most street touts and agencies will set you up with one straight away. Expect to pay about 400 baht. The trouble with these tours is that they take so long to get to the sights, stopping at a temple along the way and only allowing the visitor to alight at James Bond Island – a war zone of hawkers and cheap tat, and then for lunch at Koh Pannyi, a Muslim village on stilts. Okay, lunch at Koh Pannyi is delicious and the boat trip entertaining. For some, it’s an enjoyable and memorable day out, but what about trying some different?

If you’re travelling in a group there’s not much different in price but an awful lot more adventure if you take a taxi over to Bang Rong ( near the Gibbon Rehabilitation Center) and charter a longtail boat. For a full day its should cost 3,000-4,000 baht, max 6 people. With luck, your guide will procure some fresh seafood along the way. Speaking of food, why not a lunch cruise? June Bahtra Cruise will take you around the same area with a sumptuous meal and a lot of sight-seeing. This’ll set you back around 2,930 baht ( children 1,990 baht). The same company also offers a sunset cruise.

Finally, if you have your own transportation you might want to motor up to Takua Thung, a village up on the mainland on Route 4 towards Phang Nga Town. You can tour the mangrove swamps from there and even make a stop at Jame Bond Island if you wish.

Make your escape and grab a bit of peace
If you spend most of your time here in Patong you might get the impression that the beaches of Phuket are crowded. Not true. While Patong fairly buzzes with people and activity, there are many other beaches to which one can escape and discover blissful solitude. You just need wheels. As one moves away from Patong, the beaches get progressively quieter. The southern part of the island, with the possible exception of Kata, is peaceful. In the north, even more so. You’ll find miles of deserted beach at the top of the island, even in peak season. Crowded beach. Quiet beach. The choice is yours.

Cable water-skiing
This is a relatively new sport and requires a bit of nerve. Not like water-skiing, participants are coached to perform spectacular aquatic manoeuvres at a high rate of knots. It’s so much fun that many come back for more. Children absolutely love it. It opens at 9 in the morning and closes at 9pm. Follow the kathu Waterfall road, just before you come to the road that will go to Patong in the center of the island. Why not go during the afternoon and visit the waterfall first. Obviously quite dry until the rain starts around August, but otherwise a lovly place for a stroll in a forest environment.

Horse riding
If you’re itching to get back in the saddle then check out Phuket Riding Club, just past the Chalong traffic circle on the right, heading couth.Instructors available on weekend mornings.

Mini golf
Dino Park, between Karon and Kata, is a great venue for families. The mini golf course is complete with realistic-looking dinosaurs and a “live” volcano spewing steam. There’s also a bar and a restaurant serving some of the best hamburgers around.

Golfing
There are four international standard courses on Phuket. Five, counting Thai Muang, just a short trip off the island. All courses have their own special features and excellent standards of (female) caddying.Blue canyon, Laguna Golf Club, Phuket Country Club, Loch Palm.

Go-karting
Go pedal-to-the-metal on the eastern side of Patong hill at Kathu. Lots of fun and not as dangerous as some people imagine.

Traveling in traditional style
The longtail boat, or reua hang yao, is a ubiquitous sight in Thai seas. Originally based on the design of the Arabic dhow, the boats- as we see them these days- have been built here for the last fifty years, using skills handed down from father to son.
No plans, no drawing, yet the incredible seaworthiness of this vessel makes it indispensable for fishing and taxiing around these islands. The engine, generally big enough to power a large truck, is pivot-balanced to rotate almost 360 degres, affording a reverse manoeuve without having to use a gearbox.
It’s an art in itself to handle one, and most Thai fishermen are big strong chaps due to the exertion needed from the effort needed to keep the boat under control. Most boats can be hired to visit nearby islands and fares can be agreed on after bargaining with the owner. Considering the time and skills that went into building each og these fine craft, sailing in one should be a memorable experience for the visitor.

Elephant trekking
The wild elephant popilation of Phuket was wiped out last century but has been replaced in recent years by an influx of pachyderms brought here for the tourist trade. Since logging was banned in Thailand( officially, at least) about 10 years ago, hundreds of Thai elephants have been out of work and the tourist boom has been a blessing for this work-loving creature. Riding an elephant is an experience not to be missed. These lumbering monsters are incredibly agile for their size and can negotiate slippery slopes that even humans would falter and slip on- all this while carrying three people on their backs.
There are many elephant treks to choose from and most include a lunch package. Some trekking companies do deals where you get to canoe, ride buffaloes and see a monkey training show too.

Take a trip to Fantasea
For anyone a little bored with the nightlife and bars around the island, Phuket Fantasea is definitely the place to try next. This has got to be one of the biggest entertainment complexes in Asia.The drive up to the entrance will leave you in no doubt about what you are going to be offered at Fantasea. It’s all bright lights and big top type cabaret and there are so many staff you can’t possibly get lost.
The evening kicks off with a buffet dinner in the enormous Golden Kinaree Restaurant. Seating up to 4,000 people, this palatial pink and yellow eating house dishes up anything from sushi to fresh green salad. Dinner over, there is plenty of time to take a stroll through Festival Village. This is a purpose-built shopping area decked out with artificial lakes and cave entrances and plenty of glitter. Crafts are for sale from all over Thailand and those in the mood can play games like tombola or skittles. Heaven on earth for children.
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Plan a holiday to Phuket this summer and enjoy an incomparable holiday experience. One of the biggest islands of Thailand, Phuket is a favorite amongst tourists and travelers across the world. Owing to a magnificent landscape, Phuket Island is often referred to as the ‘pearl of the south’. Phuket travel guide offers you a wealth of information on the major sightseeing attractions, colorful activities of the island and top-notch Phuket hotels.

If a dream ocean cruise is something that you have cherished for long, Phuket is the best place to translate your dream into reality. Often regarded as the chief Asian gateways for exotic cruises, Phuket has attracted cruise lovers for long. Home to numerous beaches and small islands, Phuket is a one-stop solution for holidaymakers. Punctuated by little coves and bays, the Phuket is rightly referred to as one of the fascinating islands of Thailand. Numerous parks and cascading waterfalls add to the beauty of the island. If you are concerned about the accommodation options in Phuket, you will just be spoilt for choice! The island abounds in a variety of luxury hotels, first class hotels and cheap hotels. The options are wide and the choice is yours! You can find out about the attractive package deals if any from the online sites for hotel booking worldwide.

Wherever you are staying in Phuket, you are always close to the colorful attractions which adorn this island. With a variety of activities and several things to do waiting to be explored by you, Phuket is just the right place to satisfy your thirst for adventure. If you are fond of Big Game Fishing, this island is just ideal for you. Whether you want to go for sea-kayaking, snorkeling, swimming, sailing, horse-riding, rock climbing, diving, elephant rides, biking, Thai boxing, jungle trekking or canoeing, Phuket will provide you with all the opportunities to enjoy these ultimate adventure activities. Whether you are a sports freak or an adventure enthusiast, Phuket has options galore.

Most of the Phuket hotels dot the beachfront area. Step out of your hotel and visit the nearest beach and keep yourself busy all day. The lovely hotels and resorts enjoy a close access to the breathtaking beaches of Bang Tao Beach, Naithon Beach, Niayang Beach, Laem Sing, Kamala Beach, Karon Beach, Kata Beach and Patong Beach. You can enjoy trips to the Phang gna Bay, Koh Phi Phi, Krabi Island and Koh Samet. Experience the beautiful sights and sounds of these beautiful places. You will get a good variety of hotels and effective transportation facilities here. The Phuket town, the principal part of the island is profuse with business amenities, drawing in lot of business travelers from far and wide.

The airport is just a 40 kilometers drive from the Patong Beach. If you are traveling by train, you need to arrive at Surat Thani and avail buses from there. Phuket is easily accessible by road from Bangkok. If the tourist attractions of Phuket delight you, the wide array of Phuket hotels makes your stay a wholesome experience. The finest first class hotels and budget hotels are available online. You can avail online hotel booking services to reserve your hotel beforehand. If you are yearning to know about the discount rates, discount hotel booking services will tell you more.

Ishita Bhaduriloves to write articles on how to get cheap hotels in your favorite destination spots and how to find Phuket hotels that will give you a peace of mind.

In order for you to get some pleasure from your holiday, you should be prepared with the names of places that best fit your own temperament. Ask yourself what are the spots you can visit that afford you the nicest time at the best prices. As you prepare for your holiday, you’ll discover that a travel guide is most certainly a compass.

The guide, like a compass, will direct you to your destination. Of course, it’s where you want to go in order to achieve your holiday vacation pleasure and enjoy your vacation to the hilt. If you keep this in mind then your holidaymaking will be a success. Directions No matter how delightful, pretty, or celebrated the place is, the primary job of a guide should offer you excellent travel directions. It should give clear concise comprehensive details about how to reach wherever you’re headed; and as always, the shortest route makes it all possible. Of course, you want the more inexpensive offer available.

Your holiday life will be really easy if someone hand holds you the way that only a good travel guide will.

The next step you should learn from a guide is the main attractions that your chosen location will offer. The guide will index these attractions for easy reference and will offer you comprehensive details. I am talking here about details such as the street address, or how to reach it by transit. (In some cases, you may have to use private transport). Other facts the guide may give you is the historic significance of the tourist spot, plus any other pertinent information that may be of interest. The one thing a travel guide should never be is short on information and facts. These facts assist travelers who are planning to visit the attractions. One thing the guide might also tell you is whether you have the time and the financial budget to visit the various attractions. If there were no guide available, the holidaymaker would have to rely on the locals to explain everything.

This would not be a reliable situation. In fact, the information obtained from locals is very often inaccurate.

Your travel guide has information about your accommodation and restaurants. It should be complete and up-to-the-minute about the area’s budget, medium and high-end hotels, complete with their charges. This is needed so that you can plan your reservations in advance. That way you won’t end up in spots where it is unsafe, otherwise problematic, or just too costly. A good guide will deal with the subject of seasonal travel. As a last word, you ought to be able to see when and what you should not visit. On the subject of when, for example, the top tourist time is usually known to anybody who travels regularly. Therefore, you may not wish to travel to that destination on holiday when you’ll meet a huge stampede of people.

Besides this information, there are numerous other forecasts about your chosen location. Another plus for traveling with this kind of forecast information, is that your vacation may actually pay a fraction of the what you might have paid.

Well known as a cultural centre, Barcelona boasts splendid architecture, monuments, historical sites, natural resources, beaches and much more. It is a very modern, multicultural, cosmopolitan city. Almost 4.5 million people live in the Barcelona metropolitan area. The city enjoys a prime location, bathed by the sea and has excellent transport links with the rest of Europe. Some people say that Barcelona is Spain’s most European city because it is always open to new ideas and trends. You can note this in its people, the Catalans.

The Catalan capital’s is a modern, cosmopolitan city, but has inherited many centuries of history. There are monuments of Romanesque, Gothic and Renaissance periods or still before, but most characteristic is what has been built during the last 100 years. Though the 1992 Olympics focused the world’s attention on the city, Antoni Gaudi’s wonderfully weird architecture demonstrates how long Barcelona has been at the vanguard of all that is new and different.

Barcelona, a 2,000-year-old master of the art of perpetual novelty, has catapulted to the rank of Spain’s most-visited city. In fact, in 2003 nearly four million visitors came to the city, many on charter flights from Northern Europe. Autumn is the perfect time to visit Barcelona with less heat, fewer tourists and the city’s biggest street party, Festes de la Mercè, on September 24. The city continues to evolve as a centre of design, as a gastronomic powerhouse, as an educational and business centre and potentially the coolest city in the world. And one the world never tires of visiting.

Although Barcelona is a large city, it is easy to get around on public transport and on foot. You can reach any point in the city by metro, bus and taxi. Also, Barcelona attracts tourists from all over the world. The explosion of low-cost, Internet airlines, plus the good value at hotels and restaurants compared to other European cities, has made Barcelona the European weekender capital.

The area around the Catalunya Place, including the city’s historical center includes the Passeig de Gracia, the Rambla de Catalunya and the upper half of the Diagonal avenue is the main commercial area of the city. “La Rambla”, a pedestrian street, is the best place to watch people go by, to stroll or simply relax. Also, here you can find dozens of outdoor cafes. Nearby is ‘Plaça Real’, with plenty of bars and restaurants, and ‘Palau Guell’, built by Antoni Gaudí in his undulating art-nouveau style.

The Balearic Islands lie to the east, the Costa Brava to the north, the monastery at Montserrat to the west, and to the south, the Roman city of Tarragona, and the playground resort of Sitges. Barcelona’s inhabitants are open and welcoming. The people of Barcelona speak Catalan, their own language, and Spanish. Many of them also understand a little English and French.

Barcelona has many great hotels. Lots of them are located in the city center, close to the main tourist attractions. The H10 Montcada Hotel is near the Picasso Museum of Barcelona. This museum displays only paintings by Picasso. It is a great way to spend an afternoon or so. Or try out any of the other great museums in Barcelona such as the Gaudi Museum, City History Museum or Museu d’Art Contemporani de Barcelona.