Short Trips Blog

Address:
Salizzada San Pantalon, 84 Venice 30135, Italy
Neighbourhood: Calle Vinati
Atmosphere: Backpacker – Basic and Low-key
Price Range: Budget

This hotel looks distinctly unpromising when you enter the cramped reception, but the smiles on owners Gianrico and Andrea Scarpa’s faces quickly set you at ease. The rooms are hidden up stairs, down corridors and around corners, and if you don’t get lost it’s an agreeable place to stay.

Gianrico is a painter and many of the pictures that clutter the walls are his. Others have been collected by the family. Look out for the one of Gianrico and his prized parrot; this was done by a student of NYC University who stayed in the hotel. If you don’t initially meet the parrot, Pierrino, request an introduction – he’s a beautiful bird and may even perch on your hand if he likes you. Room No 5 is the one to book in this hotel. It’s the only double with a terrace and the view of the Frari Church campanile (bell tower), and the rooftops of the Scuola Grande di San Rocco and surrounding buildings is quite something. The other rooms are basic and practical, but homely. Some have private bathrooms, while others have a shower in the room and a shared toilet. Read the rest of this entry »

Address:
Cannaregio- Calle Della Masena 1391/A Venice 30121, Italy
Neighbourhood:
Cannaregio
Hotel Atmosphere:
Homestyle and Low-key
Price:
Budget

How to Get Hotel Ariel Silva:
The Hotel is situated in the historical centre of Venice, close to Santa Lucia railway station and Piazzale Roma ( Bus and Car Terminal ) and near the Casino’.
The hotel has available apartments recently restored in a residence located at 8 minutes walk from the main building situated in Ca’ Doro , 2 minutes to Rialto Bridge and 10 minutes to San Marco Square.
There are two types :for a maximum of 6 people(private bathroom, kichen, air conditioned, tv) and for 2 or 3 people (share bath with or without kitchen, air conditioned). Read the rest of this entry »

Bangkok is a city of astonishing contrasts, a city that never ceases to amaze. The capital of Thailand since 1782, Bangkok is now a throbbing metropolis of some seven million people ranging from urban sophicates to tribal migrants. Golden temples are found nestled between skyscrapers and modern office blocks. Barefoot, shaven-headed Buddhist monks in bright orange robes babble away on mobile phones. Street vendors of traditional fare vie for custom with foreign fast food chains. Ramshackle markets compete with air-conditioned shopping malls. And both modern cars and “tuk tuks” – noisy, three wheeled, open air taxis – clog the streets. Read the rest of this entry »

Egypt has a fascinating and well documented history stretching back five thousand years. The phaoronic era endured for twenty-seven centuries. Despite numerous incursions from Libyans, Ethiopians, Persians and Assyrians towards the end of this period, it was only the arrival of Alexander the Great in 341 BC that brought indigenous control to an end. Following Alexander’s death Egypt was ruled for the next three hundred years by a dynasty founded by one of his generals until the country became a Roman province in 30 BC. Egypt remained in the hands of the Constantinople-based Eastern Roman Empire until the arrival of Islam in 638 AD.

Cairo, Egypt’s present day capital, was founded by the Fatimid dynasty in 969 AD. Today, together with its twin city Giza on the western bank of the Nile, it has swollen to become a teaming metropolis of an estimated 28 million inhabitants. Such an immense non English-speaking conurbation can be a bit overwhelming. So if you are either pressed for time or wish to bypass the hassles of organising everything yourself, contacting a local tour agency can make a lot of sense. Read the rest of this entry »