The capital of Germany is a huge city and if you have already chosen a Berlin apartment for your stay, then, having in mind its location, may be it is wise to check the transport options that you will need as a tourist. The city has an extensive bus, tram and train system, but its public transport also includes excellent underground services. Another option are the Berlin taxis, which however will be slightly more expensive then the use of the public transport. The good news is that there is a number you can call at the Customer Service+49 30 19449 and the people there can help you with directions and information how to reach a certain place or how to get to your Berlin apartment.

Tourists should know that there are bus and tram metro lines that run all day long, every day of the week and they are marked with the letter M. Another important thing for the tourists to know is that the city is divided into zones. However, tourists usually use only zones A and B, unless when they go to Potsdam or to the Airport Schonefeld. A good point is that the public transport system in Berlin, including the buses, trams, the U- and the S-Bahn, all use a common ticket. The standard tickets are applied for trips within two hours in a single direction and there is no limit to the transfers made. Tickets can be purchased from vending machines and should be validated in the bus or at the machines at the U- and S-Bahn. Tickets need to be validated just once and if not, there will be a fee.

The transport options in Berlin are many. The S-Bahn is used to get around the city fast, but should not be used that much around the New Year’s Eve, as there could be iced trains and security lacks. On other occasions, this could be a great way to reach a certain part of Berlin. The U-Bahn is the Berlin metro system, which is fast and efficient. Another great transport options is by tram. Trams are used more in the eastern part of Berlin than in the western. There are metro trams and tram routes. The Berlin buses are the slowest means of public transport in Berlin, but will take you to all parts of the city. There are normal buses and express buses and the bus line that is most used by the tourists is the bus route 100, which goes from the Zoo Station to Alexanderplatz and covers most of the historic Berlin. This is a good way to see many of the city landmarks and get an idea where are you.

Another way to see the city of Berlin is by bicycle, as the terrain is flat, there are separate bike paths and bike lanes and you will not pollute the air. The bikes in Berlin are easy to rent and are cheap and all you need is a good map. If you get lost, there will always be a good metro, train or bus stop nearby.

A post by H.Schulz who writes about Vienna apartments and Budapest apartment.

Warsaw is quite a large city and there is plenty to be seen here. Once you book your stay, and you should be sure that all the Warsaw apartments are located in the central zone near the places of interest and the main landmarks, there are a few things that you should know which concern your safety here and are in connection to the tourist help line in Poland. Visitors that are coming to Warsaw should be cautious and should have common sense in order to keep them safe. Big amounts of cash, many credit cards and other valuables should not be carried around. The wallets should not be carried in the back pockets and the backpacks should have small locks, if they are carried on the back and are out of direct sight. The dangerous place is the city of Warsaw is considered to be the district of Praga, which is placed near the Vistula River. The area is not popular among the tourists and they do not often end up here, but still a warning is advisable. Otherwise, the city of Warsaw is a safe place with friendly people.

This travel blog photo’s source is TravelPod page: Back in Krakow

Usually, the problems one could have are connected with the alcohol and to be more specific to the hangover and the possible collision with the police. In the center of Warsaw there is a strong police presence. The other problem that one can face is with the pickpockets, so be careful about your belongings when you are riding on a bus or happen to be in a crowd. At the night clubs one should also keep an eye on the phone, the money and the passport. In case you come with a car, you should park it at a guarded parking lot. There is yet another problem that has to be pointed out and these are the bar girls, who can be quite inventive, so better just stay out of their way. The football hooligans are also dangerous and could be quite destructive, especially around Lazienki Park when there is a football match.

If you have any problems or cases of emergencies, you should call the common emergency number for Europe, which is 112. Otherwise, the number of the police is 997, the number of the fire-fighters is 998 and the number for the ambulance is 999. There is also a hotline for foreign tourists operating in Polan for almost two years now. This line is operated by the Ministry of Tourism and Sport, along with the Polish Tourist Organization and the Headquarters of the Police. The tourist information lines800-200-300 or 0-608-599-999 shall operate in three languages, namely English, German and Russian. It will work every day from 10 o’clock in the morning until 10 o’clock in the evening.

This travel blog photo’s source is TravelPod page: Back in Krakow

As for health issues, Poland does not require special vaccinations. The tap water is considered safe in the big cities, though many people usually drink bottled mineral water. The medical standards are good, but still one needs a good insurance.

This travel blog photo’s source is TravelPod page: Back in Krakow

A post by Ania Zajac who also writes about Krakow apartment and Prague apartments.

In case you are heading towards Portugal and are keen to see some real bullfighting you have to know that the only place to see it in the capital Lisbon is at Campo Pequeno, which is not very far from the city centre and the Lisbon apartment that you can rent. Bullfighting is a sport, which used to be very popular in the regions of Spain and Portugal. It involves professional performers, called Toreros or Matadors in Spanish and Toureiros in Portugal. These people make many skilful moves with the aim to present themselves as confident and graceful and also as masters over the bull. All these moves near the bull are carried out very close to the animal. In Spain, these fights used to finish with the death of the bull, killed by a sword. Bullfighting is a real spectacle, which started as a sport and a kind of art in Spain. This art of bullfighting requires many skills and athleticism and often the matadors are regarded as national celebrities.

Madrid bullfighting ring

Entrance_to_Botin_Madrid

While bullfighting originated in Spain, Portugal also adopted it as a sport and a kind of entertainment for the masses. Today, in Portugal the locals have accepted a new practice and this is the method of bloodless bullfighting, which of course differs from the main form of bullfighting. The corrida de touros in Portugal nowadays has three main events. The first event is called Cavaleiro and it involves a horseman dressed in a beautiful costume from 18^th century. He fights the bull from horseback. The horses that participate are especially trained for these fights. The aim of the toreador is to stab the bull in the back with three of the four javelins. Those horseback bullfighters are usually members of the old aristocratic families. The other type is the Bandarilheiros, which are similar to the matadors in Spain except they do not carry swords. These men toy with the bull aided by the use of a red coat. The third type are the Forcados, which are groups of eight men, who go and challenge the bull in a direct way. They do not have weapons or any other protection. The first man performs what is called the bull catch, or provokes the animal. This front man is responsible for the head of the bull, then the rest of the men help him to surround the animal. These people come usually from the lower classes of the society and are part of certain amateur associations.

Since the bull is not killed in the ring the fight is considered a bloodless bullfight. When the three sets are done the bull is transported out of the arena alive, to be used for other events lateron such as rodeos etc. or to be released to pasture. The game of bullfighting is not accepted by all people in Portugal nowadays; however this sport remains part of the history and culture of the country.

A post written by Helena Alvito writing about Lisbon apartments and apartments in Paris.

A holiday in Spain is very exciting and could be very romantic. Things get even more interesting when you decide to do something different and stay on a campsite. There are many fee-charging campsites in Spain, which offer good conditions and are not expensive. If you want to go on a free campsite in Spain however then the situation would be a little bit more difficult to arrange. There are simply not many free camp sites in Spain. Still, if you are persistent enough you can find some good free camp sites and enjoy your stay as long as you want and weather permitting. Or you can rent a Barcelona apartment and stay as long as you want.

Free camp sites in Spain are few and far between but the main problem is that you do not know what you are allowed to do on the site and there is nobody who can inform you of the rules and regulations. It may depend on whether you arrive with a small car, a van or with a motorhome. The camp sites, though free, are equipped with a water tap and with a sewerage disposal. These camp sites are often used by tourists for so called wild camping where you cook on a gas stove outdoors and have a folding table and a few chairs outside the van.

A good piece of advice is to search for a nice camp site in the daylight hours, just as you approach a certain town or a city but if you are going to Madrid you will have to stay in apartments in Madrid. Once you spot the camp site, just remember where it is and go sightseeing in the nearest city. Then, at dusk go back to the camp site you have chosen and enjoy the rest of the evening there. A good option would be to look for a place among trees and greenery, in the outskirts of the city and far from the sight of the main road and the houses. When you are far from the city and when you are not disturbing anyone, then you most probably will not be noticed at all and will have no problems enjoying your free camp site.

camping site in Morella Spain

Several nice places for a free camp site in Spain, which have been checked and which actually are open for visitors, are the campsites at Morella and Ebro Delta, just outside on the outskirts of these towns. Another good spot is the Cullera area, south of Valencia, which is right next to the river; a very quiet place and ideal for camping and fishing. Among the other sites that need to be mentioned is Javea and a place on Playa de Daimus in Gandia, where one could find many vans parked very close to the beach zone. A recommended place used to be Caircaixent, but it is closed and no longer in use. A good idea would be to check this website http://www.furgovw.org/mapa_furgoperfecto.php. Check out the map to get a better idea about camp sites in Spain.