Photo of the Day 18 December 2010

Inside the Vatican Museum, Rome, Italy (CLICK TO ENLARGE)

Rome: Incredible history, architecture, sights and some great hostels and nightlife make Italy's illustrious capital a must-visit. From the Colosseum to the Spanish Steps, the Pantheon, St Peters and the Vatican Museum give yourself as much time as possible to drink everything in – you'll need it.


Click here for our free guide to Italy.

funtotravel.info TOP 10: WORLD CITIES

The Ultimate Low-Down on our Favourite Cities in the World.

In no particular order, here are our favourite cities and the reasons that we love them quite so much. They're a varied bunch; some culturally rich, some that move at a million miles per hour, some that are pretty and some slightly more gritty. But what they have in common is that they all make us extremely excited every time we think about visiting. Let us know what you think in the comments section.

1. Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City), Vietnam
An incredibly fast-paced city where you'll find yourself taking your life into your hands just crossing the road as a million mopeds seem to whip past you at the blink of an eye. Everything in this city seems fascinating and people-watching is a real art here. The War Remnants Museum makes for a moving and thought-provoking visit, and the Reunification Palace and Notre-Dame cathedral are well worth your time. It also boasts one of the most impressive Post Offices we have ever seen. No, really! The Pham Ngu Lao backpacker ghetto is the place to find all your home comforts if you feel in need, and you have fascinating attractions like the Cu Chi tunnels within striking distance of the city. Grab a Saigon beer, settle back and enjoy the chaos!


Click here for our guide to Vietnam.

Ho Chi Minh overlooks central Saigon

Manic traffic whizzes through central Saigon - brilliant people watching

2. Bangkok, Thailand

Thailand's capital is an incredible city. A heady and enticing mix of east and west, with modern infrastructure, mammoth shopping malls and the insane traffic you expect from a mega-city of 6 million people. But this doesn't mean that the city misses that innate sense of 'Thai-ness' that makes it so special: whether you're wandering around the Grand Palace, scaling the spires of Wat Arun or munching a delicious and cheap meal from one of the food carts that you'll find on every corner of this bewitching place, you'll know that you couldn't be anywhere else in the world.

There is also of course the infamous backpacker ghetto that is the Khao San Road, which will entertain, fascinate and disgust in equal measures. If you want to book onward transport, download music and movies onto your iPod, buy knock-off clothes and drink yourself silly solely in the company of other backpackers then this is the place to come. If you want to meet the locals then you'll have to head out of what can feel like a hermetically-sealed backpackers-only zone.

Do your best to get out and explore this fascinating city; if you're travelling around the region you're bound to return here sooner rather than later.


Click here for our guide to Thailand.

The beautiful Reclining Buddha at Wat Pho, Bangkok

Life on the Chao Phraya river ferry, Bangkok

3. New York City, USA

The Big Apple is truly one of the world's great cities, and it buzzes with life 24 hours a day. Whether you want to check out some of the world class museums that the city has to offer (the Met, the Guggenheim, the American Museum of Natural History etc) or just take in the bright lights of Time Square then this city will amuse and amaze. Be sure to give yourself enough days here to cover as many of the incredible number of sights as you want to. A walk in Central Park is a seminal experience, and clichéd though it is, taking in the views from the top of the Empire State is as amazing as you'd imagine. We absolutely love the architecture that the city offers, from the distinctive Flatiron building to the incredible and inimitable Chrysler Building via the Beaux-Arts Public Library and Grand Central Station's amazing concourse. New York truly lives up to its world class reputation to food, with delicious cuisines from all over the globe available 24 hours a day, and the bar scene is incredible. Just give yourself plenty of time (we've barely scratched the surface in this brief introduction) and be sure to take plenty of cash – even if you think you can stick to your budget in NYC, we warn you now that you won't...


Click here for our guide to the USA.

The Manhattan skyline as viewed from the Brooklyn Bridge

Stock Exchange, Manhattan

4. Melbourne, Australia

Go to marvellous Melbourne for fantastic food, pumping nightlife, world-class sporting events by the bucket load, some great beaches within easy reach and Australia's best cultural scene. OK the weather's not the easiest to predict (prepare yourself for the infamous 'four seasons in one day'), but the longer you stay the harder it is to leave this buzzing, fun city.


Click here for our guide to Australia.

Marvellous Melbourne's beautiful skyline from the Yarra River

"I'll meet you under the clocks" - Melbourne's Flinders Street Station

5. Cairo, Egypt
Challenging but extremely rewarding, this vast city of 11 million people can be a huge culture shock for first time visitors. The noise, pollution and smells are like nothing you will have experienced before, but once you're used to it you will find a fascinating and vast city that is there to be explored. The main attractions are the truly awe-inspiring Giza pyramids, the Sphinx, and the wonderful Egyptian Museum where you can feast your eyes on the treasures from Tutankhamen's tomb. But you must also leave yourself to explore properly the treasures of Islamic Cairo and also the ancient areas of Coptic Cairo (which is Christian). Do your best to avoid the tricksters and touts who will do their best to assail you – 'off-duty' guides, 'discount government shops' and cheap taxi rides are usually causes for suspicion! Don't be intimidated by this huge, noisy and incredible city and we guarantee you a rewarding experience.


Click here for our guide to Egypt.

The Sphinx, Giza, Cairo, Egypt

A World Wonder: The Giza Pyramids near Cairo

6. Beijing, China
A multitude of stunning sights await you in China's imposing and spectacular capital: take a trip out to the Great Wall, explore the vast and beautiful Summer Palace, get lost in the Forbidden City and get cosmic at the Temple of Heaven. Everything just seems much bigger here, from the vastness of Tiananamen Square to the ridiculously immense array of food on offer on Wangfujing Snack Street. This is a city that feels far more international and modern following the summer Olympics in 2008, so take a trip round the city's older neighbourhoods (or hutongs) before they're knocked down. For an uninformed first time visitor to this modern and cosmopolitan metropolis, Beijing's fantastic range of trendy bars, buzzing nightclubs and backpacker-friendly hostels comes as a pleasant surprise. And we haven't even mentioned the incredible restaurants – you couldn't possibly leave without trying some authentic Peking Duck...


Click here for our guide to China.

View from the Summer Palace, Beijing

The Badaling Great Wall near Beijing

7.Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
No longer Brazil's capital but still its most visited city, stunning Rio is a must-see for any traveller visiting these shores. Stare down over the 'Marvellous City' from the world-wonder that is the statue of Christ the Redeemer (the view is mind-blowing), take the cable-car up to Sugarloaf Mountain for sunset, sip a mojito on Ipanema beach or dance the night away in one of Lapa's amazing samba clubs: Rio is a city made for pleasure. With a growing number of independent backpacker hostels, some brilliant value per-kilo restaurants and the wonderful free beaches, this rather expensive city is now better set up than ever for travellers on a budget. Use your common sense and keep your wits about you and you will have no problem avoiding the rampant crime that Rio has become infamous for, but balance this out with a guided trip to a favela to make your own mind up about the wonderful people that inhabit what we think is the world's most gorgeous city.


Click here for our guide to Brazil.

View over Rio from world wonder Christ the Redeemer

Weekend scene on Ipanema Beach, Rio de Janeiro

8. Wellington, New Zealand
A surprise choice maybe, but we love it, and think it's one of the most liveable cities in the world. New Zealand's capital is a beguiling mix of culture, politics, natural beauty (another stunning harbour city) and some great nightlife. Small enough to be walkable but big enough to give you plenty to do, this friendly city is hard to leave. With some top museums, a buzzing film industry (it's not called Wellywood for nothing) and great cafe-culture, you'll find yourself staying longer than intended in this friendly city.


Click here for our guide to New Zealand.

Classic view of the Wellington Cable Car

Bayside scene from Wellington, New Zealand

9. Rome, Italy
Incredible history, architecture, sights and some great hostels and nightlife make Italy's illustrious capital a must-visit. From the Colosseum to the Spanish Steps, the Pantheon, St Peters and the Vatican Museum give yourself as much time as possible to drink everything in – you'll need it.


Click here for our guide to Italy.

Twin churches in Piazza del Popolo, Rome

Rome's infamous Colosseum

10. Buenos Aires, Argentina
One of the most funky and fun city destinations in South America: visit Buenos Aires and we guarantee you a good time. With fantastic architecture (check out the camonito in Boca), some great shopping, passionately followed football teams and a range of top restaurants, this is a fantastic city to visit. So whether you're here to dance until dawn in one of Palermo's ultra-hip clubs, learn to tango, watch el Superclássico (the biggest football derby in South America) or shop until you drop, this cosmopolitan and exciting city should not be missed.


Click here for our guide to Argentina.

The colourful Boca district of Buenos Aires

Boca Juniors' famous stadium - La Bombonera

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funtotravel.info TOP 10: DRINKING SPOTS

We love to travel and we’re fond of a drink, so what better way to mesh two of our loves together than by listing ten of our favourite places worldwide to enjoy a drink. Some are at the ‘flashpacker’ end of the market, and some you could afford on the most meagre of budgets, but all have something very special about them. Let us know if you agree.

In no particular order:

1. Il Palazetto, Rome, Italy
This boutique hotel’s stunning terrace overlooks the Spanish Steps and Piazza di Spagna in one of Rome’s most beautiful spots. Drinks aren’t cheap, but the view is out of this world, the cocktails are delicious and the DJs spin funky, laid back tunes. Great people watching!

http://www.ilpalazettoroma.com/
Vicolo del Bottino, 8, 00187 Roma, Italy, 066 9202055

To read the funtotravel.info guide to Italy click here

2. Bia Hoi Corner, Hanoi, Vietnam

This crossroads in the Old Quarter of Hanoi has become a meeting point for travellers and expats from all over the world. Come here to drink freshly brewed and surprisingly light beers for 5000 Dong (about 15p UK) at any of the four little outdoor ‘bars’ . We say bars, but they’re more like tiny shop fronts with primary school sized plastic furniture outside. Chat to new friends as cyclos, cars, mopeds and hundreds of street vendors zoom past you. It’s a lot of fun! If you get hungry, there’s a great restaurant called ‘Little Hanoi’ just up the street.

Corner of Pho Ta Hien / Pho Luong Ngoc Quyen, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi, Vietnam

To read the funtotravel.info guide to Vietnam click here


3. Carioca de Gema, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

One of Rio’s most celebrated samba bars, Carioca de Gema is situated in the lively district of Lapa, an area famous for samba. Though Friday and Saturday are obviously the busiest nights, it’s one of the few places in Lapa that you can guarantee a good crowd on weeknights. It serves up great mojitos and caipirinhas as you’d imagine, as well as some decent snack food if all the samba makes you hungry. Head down here, grab a Bramha, SKOL or Bohemia beer and dance the night away!

http://barcariocadagema.com.br/bar.htm
Rua Mem de Sá, nº 79, Lapa, Rio de Janeiro, Tel.: 2221-0043

To read the funtotravel.info guide to Brazil click here

4. Lao Lao Garden, Luang Prabang, Laos

We love Luang Prabang and pretty much everything about this laid back and beautiful town on the banks of the Mekong in Laos is simply wonderful. Our favourite spot, especially on one of the cooler nights in the ‘winter’ months, is at Lao Lao Garden.

As the name suggests it’s a bar and restaurant set in a beautifully lit, terraced, multi-level tropical garden. At the bottom is a nightly bonfire, great for sitting around and meeting new people, while each of the 30 or so smaller stone tables on the higher levels comes with its own firepit in the centre. These fires are great for keeping your hands warm while you sip on budget cocktails (many of which are made from the infamous rice whisky lao lao) or on a truly delicious Beer Lao. Their main purpose though is to use to cook the house speciality – Laotian Barbecue. This tasty food is like a cross between a Chinese hot pot and a Korean barbecue, and is surprisingly light.

Beautiful lighting, chilled out music, a buzzing yet intimate atmosphere, warm fires and great drinks make this a must visit if you’re in Luang Prabang.

Tip: If you’re nursing a hangover try L’etranger on Ban Aphay (booksinlaos@yahoo.com), selling many different kinds of teas, shakes and smoothies. It stocks a small library with books that can be hired for a fee. Upstairs screens art house films most nights and its walls are covered with old copies of the National Geographic, which we love! Breakfasts are awesome.

Th Kingkitsarat Old Town, Luang Prabang

To read the funtotravel.info guide to Laos click here

5. KuDeTa, Seminyak, Bali, Indonesia

Of all of the venues listed here, this is without doubt the flashiest and most pretentious. This pretension does not however stop it from being an incredible place to go for a sunset drink (or even dinner – the food is fantastic).

Built on a prime beach-front location in upmarket Seminyak, it is stunningly designed and houses an open air restaurant, a few different and extremely stylish bars, a pool and some gorgeous beach side recliners.

It’s achingly hip, and prices and service reflect this. Take a look at their site and you’ll see what we mean. It’s a real experience going there, and we definitely think it is worth a splurge if you’re in Bali.

http://bali.kudeta.net/

Jalan Laksmana 9 Denpasar, Bali 80361, Indonesia, Tel: 62 361 736969

To read the funtotravel.info guide to Indonesia click here

6. KozyBar, Marrakech, Morocco

Hidden away in the medina of Marrakech, this gem of a bar is one of the most atmospheric places we have ever drunk. It’s one of the few places within the medina itself that has a licence, and we’d recommend that you head to the roof terrace for a sunset drink and watch the sky change over the storks' nests and rooftops of the old city. Be warned though, this is not a place to visit on a budget…

There’s a piano bar downstairs where some decent jazz is performed on certain nights, and Moroccan and Asian fusion food is served throughout the bar. It’s not cheap, but listen to the call to prayer echoing over the rooftops from the Koutoubia Mosque and you’ll realise why it’s so special. Oh, and Casablanca beer’s not half bad….

47 Place des Ferblantiers, Marrakech, Morocco

To read the funtotravel.info members’ guide to Morocco click here

7. Opera Bar, Sydney, Australia

Touristy, fairly expensive and a bit of a cliché, yes, but it’s a bar that just couldn’t be left off the list. Built into the lower concourse of the Opera House, it’s a truly spectacular setting, with stunning views of the Harbour Bridge, Circular Quay and the Opera House itself, along with everything in-between.

It’s an amazing, if expensive place to see in the New Year and enjoy a firework spectacular. The bar has a great range of beers, wines and spirits and also serves some great modern Australian dishes if you get peckish.

But even though the food and drink are both spectacular, the views will have you coming back time and time again.
http://www.operabar.com.au/
Lower Concourse Level, Sydney Opera House, Sydney 2000, Australia, 61 2 9247 1666

To read the funtotravel.info guide to Australia click here

8. Tubing, Vang Vieng, Laos

Not strictly a bar, per se, but a bar crawl with a twist that’s unrivalled in terms of fun. Love it or hate it, Vang Vieng is like Disneyland for backpackers and has become one of the 'it' destinations of South East Asia. For the uninitiated, tubing involves floating down the beautiful Nam Song river in a tractor tyre inner tube, stopping for numerous drinks and taking on some ridiculous rope swings.

After a lift on a tuk-tuk, you begin a few kilometres upstream of town with a strong cocktail at the organic farm (the profits from which help educate local kids), and then drift downriver. Expect to be pulled in (literally – they have ropes and sticks!) by the owners of various bars that have set-up on the banks. As well as areas for dancing and heavy drinking, the owners have set up increasingly ridiculous slides and rope swings for the brave/stupid/heavily intoxicated to try. Delicious Beer Lao runs at about $1.50 for a large bottle, cocktail buckets (yes, buckets) are about $3, and shots of rice whisky are dished out liberally. At last count there were ten-plus bars on the float back to town, and most people have a drink at each, as well as indulging in a bit of mud-wrestling/volleyball/swinging/dancing. It’s a very fun, very heavy, and pretty dangerous day all in all – health and safety isn’t big in Laos.

We don’t want to sound like your mother, but perforated eardrums, broken ribs and permanent hearing damage are common injuries resulting from tubing going wrong, so don’t go too hard too early – tubing is a marathon not a sprint!

It’s the must-do activity in this part of the world – yes it's shamelessly tacky and more than a little dangerous but for a lot of people it's the highlight of their trip. If you can't beat them, join them!

Tubing starts and ends in Vang Vieng, Laos.

To read the funtotravel.info guide to Laos click here

9. Sunset View Terrace, Fateh Prakash Palace Hotel, City Palace, Udaipur, India

In India’s most romantic city, head to the City Palace for a sundown gin and tonic and be treated to truly enchanting views across Lake Pichola towards the white marble Lake Palace Hotel. The other bonus is that you won’t be made to watch Octopussy for the 150th time like at every other restaurant in town!

Get here early for a prime table and prepare to pay steep prices (for India anyway) for your drink. It’s well worth it though - watching the sunset with such a stunning view and an ice-cold gin and tonic in hand is truly a magical experience.

City Palace, Udaipur 313001, India

To read the funtotravel.info guide to India click here

10. The Pawn, Wan Chai, Hong Kong

If you have the cash to splash, Hong Kong is a drinker’s paradise with many fantastic venues on offer. Despite the handover to China back in 1997, many parts of HK retain a colonial feel and perhaps that’s why we felt a hankering for a proper pub with real ale on our travels: this stylish and beautifully renovated pub ticked all the boxes.

Situated in a converted tenement house in buzzing Wan Chai, the stylish Pawn serves as a pub and restaurant serving British gastro-pub food with a great selection of beers and lagers on tap.

It’s not cheap (far from it in fact), but it has a fun yet laid-back atmosphere, great beers and decent food, all served in a beautiful old building. It also has good views along Johnston Street, and is in the centre of the Wan Chai action. Recommended.

http://www.thepawn.com.hk/
The Pawn, 62 Johnston Road, Hong Kong, China, 2866-3444

To read the funtotravel.info guide to Hong Kong click here