All posts by Krishna

I am Krishna, a traveller by heart and blogger by profession. I like to dream, meet new people, explore places and share my experiences. Currently, I am working with London-based travel company-thesqua.re that offers premium serviced apartments on rent to business and leisure travellers. The company has its presence in cities like London, Paris and New York.
Europe, Travel Tips

How to Explore Paris on a Budget?

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Paris is a dream city for most of us however it won’t be a surprise for you if we say the French capital can be pricey and tops the list of ‘world’s most expensive cities’. But there are many great travel hacks that will help you to enjoy the city without breaking your bank. Exploring the city can be a gala time as the city is so rich in its architecture and heritage.

Here are some of the tricks that can help you save the euros while exploring the best of Paris.

paris eiffel tower

Follow these simple tips that will help you to tour Paris on a budget

Food

France’s gourmet delight is the best thing that you cannot afford to miss. You can enjoy Paris’s world-famous food culture and great local restaurants while still taking care of your budget.

  • Savour the golden croissants and chocolate-filled pastries with a cup of coffee at the local bakery for breakfast
  • Look for meals priced as low as €5 which is available at the Parisian food carts
  • Go for ‘Take-away’ options in restaurants and it will cost you less
  • Visit Latin Quarter neighbourhood for fixed 3-course menus that are available at affordable rates
  • Avoid having brunch and dinners in restaurants. Lunch menus are less expensive
  • You can also buy fresh groceries from food markets and cook food at your apartment

Stay

stay in paris

Looking for a good accommodation option in Paris can cost you high. You might not know but cheap lodging and affordable Paris serviced apartments are also available which are well-furnished and equipped with all modern amenities to make your stay comfortable. You can also opt for stay with locals with couchsurfing and share a room with other tourists in a hostel.

Getting around

To enjoy the picturesque sights and iconic monuments of the city off course you need to travel a lot and for which you’ll incur heavy cost.  Here are the few hacks that can help you save a lot transportation cost.

  • Exploring the city on foot, Paris offers 5 daily Discover Walks walking tours to Notre Dame, Montmartre, Latin Quarter, and Marais for free
  • A €10 boat ride on Bateaux Mouche gives can offer you a unique perspective of the city landmarks
  • Rent out Velib bikes with €1.7 daily and/or €8 weekly passes.
  • Opt for a one-day €7 Mobilis travel card to enjoy unlimited metro rides in Central Paris that includes most of the tourist destinations

Exploring the city

We know Paris is popular for its iconic museums and monuments and architectural marvels. Do the following hacks to save the entry fee in these tourist destinations.

  • Visit Musée de Cluny and Musée Carnavalet, for free on first Sunday of every month
  • Louvre can be visited for free during November – March
  • For EU citizens aged 18 – 25, entry to these museums is free on all days
  • Buy Paris museum pass that covers entry fee to most of the museums
  • Popular beautiful garden like the Garden of the Tuileries, the Luxembourg garden, the Place des Vosges can be visited absolutely free of cost
  • The Sacré-Coeur church famous monument that is also free for visitors
  • To get amazing views of the Eiffel Tower and the city climb Arc de Triompie for a meagre fee of €8. This way you can skip the line at Eiffel Tower and still get the best views of the iconic monument by paying less
Europe, Festivals

Europe’s Prestigious-Dublin Theatre Festival [September 22nd-October 9th, 2016]

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An important day in the city’s Calendar since 1957, Dublin Theatre Festival is an annual event that is highly popular worldwide. The festival is invariably grand and draws huge attendance every year which includes both local and international visitors.  You can expect around or more than 350 remarkably good performers in this event where several countries participate and attend shows that are held in 20+ venues.

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A crucial part of Ireland’s cultural development, everything from theatre, music, dance, family events to public discussions makes this festival unique in its own way. Over the years, the festival has staged many key international theatre shows and hosted productions by the world’s most highly regarded artists, including premiering work of Ireland’s leading playwrights.

Europe’s oldest specialised theatre festival, Dublin Theatre brings the best available theatre from around the world to Dublin.  The festival has expertise to offer an exceptional amalgamation of the international programme with Irish productions to entertain the guests in the best way possible.

Festival Venues

The names and addresses of the venues in 2016’s festival programme are given below.

Project Arts Centre: 39 East Essex St, Temple Bar, Dublin 2

+353 1 881 9613

Pavilion Theatre: Marine Road, Dún Laoghaire, Co. Dublin

+353 1 231 2929

Samuel Beckett Theatre: Trinity College, Dublin 2. Entrance is via Nassau St on Saturdays and Sundays

Temple Bar Gallery and Studios: 5-9 Temple Bar, Dublin 2

Smock Alley Theatre: Exchange St Lwr, Temple Bar, Dublin 8 +353 1 677 0014

85/86 Upper Dorset: St 85/86 Upper Dorset St, Dublin 1
Abbey Theatre: 26 Lwr Abbey St, Dublin 1, +353 1 878 7222

The Ark: 11a Eustace St, Temple Bar, Dublin 2, +353 1 670 7788

axis:Ballymun: Main St, Ballymun, Dublin 9, +353 1 883 2100

Bord Gáis Energy Theatre: Grand Canal Square, Docklands, Dublin 2, 0818 719 377

The Chocolate Factory: 26 Kings Inn Street, Dublin 1
Civic Theatre: Tallaght, Dublin 24

+353 1 462 7477

Dublin Theatre Festival Box Office: Festival House, 12 Essex Street, East, Dublin 2, D02 EH42

+353 1 677 8899

Gaiety Theatre: South King St, Dublin 2

0818 719388

Gate Theatre: Cavendish Row, Parnell Sq, Dublin 1

+353 1 874 4045 / +353 1 874 6042

The New Theatre: 43 East Essex St, Temple Bar, Dublin 2

+353 1 670 3361

The Olympia Theatre: 72 Dame Street, Dublin 2,

0818 719 330

For More Information about the event visit: https://dublintheatrefestival.com/Online/default.asp

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Your stay in Dublin

Make the most of your stay in Dublin by visiting the city between the September and October month and enjoy some of the best theatre shows and plays that the city has to offer. While you are in the city, make sure to book your accommodation a week prior to your trip in order to avoid last minute chaos. Choose from some affluent serviced apartments located in Temple Bar neighbourhood. The neighbourhood is situated few miles away from the major venues, making it easy for you to commute. The apartments in Temple Bar area is available in special rates for the duration of the festival.

Europe, Festivals

Come, Sing and Dance at Notting Hill Carnival

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Talk of Europe and art, food, music, dance, literature is what comes to the mind of a person. Europe is quite famous for these elements and you can never get away from these things whenever you visit this continent. Home to artistic buildings and several attractions, Europe has many beautiful cities waiting to be explored and London is one of them.

notting hill

London, a city associated with famous and iconic landmarks has many festivals associated with it too. Though the people here are ultra-modern, but they are traditional also and give a lot of value to their culture. And when the culture is combined with some fun, it becomes the time of merry-making. Carnivals are one of the many festivals, where Londoners dance their way down the many streets in best of their attires and eat the diversified cuisines.

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Notting Hill Carnival is one of the biggest street carnivals happening in the whole Europe, which originated in the year 1964 as a way for Afro-Caribbean communities to celebrate their own cultures and traditions. The roots of the carnival dates back to the 19th century for the Caribbean carnivals, people taking part in the carnival dress themselves in the costumes that mimic the European fashion of their former master along with wearing masks.

Notting_Hill_Carnival_2013

The carnival represents London’s multicultural past and present that displays an amazing array of sounds, colourful sights, and social solidarity. It takes place every August Bank Holiday weekend and attracts a million people every year. It also hosts a pre-carnival street party where there will be live performances from DJ Amy C, Helen Rogers, Uncle Dougs & Rachel Wallace along with many more artists. You’ll surely love to kick-start the carnival with the party.

Pre-Carnival Party

  • Date: August 27, 2016
  • Venue: Styxx Bar, Ashley Road, London
  • Timings: 12:00 pm – 2 am
  • Tickets: £15.01 for one person

Notting Hill Carnival

  • Date: August 28-29, 2016
  • Venue: Notting Hill
  • Timings: 9 am – 7 pm

Short Stay in Notting Hill

Notting Hill Carnival. Located in West London in the north of Kensington within the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, the place has a vibrant mix of artists and celebrity residents. Tourists flock in August for witness this carnival.

People looking to make the most out of their visit to London can take a short stay in Kensington – Portobello serviced-apartments by thesqua.re. It’s a one-bedroom apartment suitable for two people that has pristine white walls decorated with paintings.

You can also try Point West Apartments located in South Kensington that has world-class attractions nearby it. These apartments are suited for everyone’s need whether you’re alone or with friends and family. From studio apartments to 1 bedroom and 2 bedroom apartments, thesqua.re offers the best of choices for people coming to London.

Europe, Hotels and Resorts, Restaurant Reviews

London’s Best New Restaurants Opening Soon in Covent Garden

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“When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life”- Samuel Johnson

This isn’t just another capital city, London is a thriving city that is known for its achingly cool fashion, arts and most importantly the food scenes. London’s ever-growing restaurant scene are endless and the upcoming restaurants that are going to open in the capital will surely secure loyal fans for their quality and vibe and diners are invited to expect good value on it’s a la carte menu.
Our updated list will keep you informed by the ongoing influx of new restaurants opening soon in Covent Garden.
Mamie’s Creperie

Mamie's Creperie
If you love crepe, then Mamie is the one for you. Its three storey building is both a creperie and a Cider bar, with optimum focus on Britanny cuisine. In Crepe you can expect a menu of Forest Complète Galette, Crêpe Flambée, La Magritte crepe, La Duras crepe, La Chateaubriand and more. The basement of the building has been reserved for a cider cellar – La Cidrothèque and will be serving 10 French ciders from Britain, Ireland, Sweden, and even New Zealand.  Food will be available for take away too.
•    Where: 9 Catherine Street, London WC2B 5JS
•    Opening Date: July 2016

Tandoor Chop House

tandoor chop house
Tandoor Chop House is an Indian restaurant- the first independent restaurant from Ennismore. This is an English chop house with a touch of Northern Indian spices, specialising in offering in egg-based dishes. The restaurant will have excellent seating arrangements for around 50 guests.
•    Where: Adelaide Street, London, WC2N 4HW
•    Opening Date: Summer 2016

Margot

margot
Paulo de Tarso is teaming up with Nicolas Jaouën for opening this new rustic Italian restaurant in Covent Garden. Expected menu in this restaurant would be tagliolini with crab meat and risotto, cured meats, and tartare dishes. Apart this this other speciality like salads, pasta options and an extensive range of meat and fish main courses will also be available. This will be a 100 seater restaurant designed by Fabled Studio. More info here
•    Where is it: Covent Garden
•    Opening Date: September 2016

Come Fry with me


Come Fry with me continue the trend for single ingredient-led restaurants, which is only devoted to the chip. You can expect crisps in different shapes, sizes and in a range of flavours too. They will come with three types of fries – all triple cooked, and will be offered to the guest in a uniquely styled ‘fry carousel’ conveyor belt. You can expect a 1960s air travel themed décor. More info here

•    Where: Covent Garden – address TBC
•    Opening Dates: 2016

While you are planning your vacation to London in 2016, make sure you explore the beautiful and cool neighbourhood Covent Garden during your short stay. You can also choose to stay in this neighbourhood, which is filled with chic boutiques, restaurants, cafes and bars. The area has some great rented apartments, which are fully-furnished with all modern amenities to offer you the feel of a premium hotel.Choosing to stay in a serviced apartment in Covent Garden will also help you lead a life of local rather than that of a tourist or traveller!

Destinations, Editor's Picks, Infographic, Travel Tips

Exploring Best Cities in the World for Creative People [Infographic]

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Exploring Best Cities in the World for Creative People

The infographic is designed to introduce you with the best cities in the world that are ideal for creative people. The names of around 7 cities including London, Paris, Austin, and Tokyo are provided in this infographic which are most suited for creative travellers.

creative cities

If you are leisure traveller and planning to visit London for a stay in a serviced apartment to enjoy heavy discounts and comfortable stay in the central location. Visit thesqua.re, to choose from excellent serviced apartments in London’s popular neighbourhoods.

Europe, Infographic

Corporate Traveller and Planning to Visit London [Infographic]

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Corporate traveller and planning to visit London

The infographic is designed to provide key information about the London for corporate travellers. Get to know about the important things that you need to keep in mind while travelling in London for business purposes. Key information like where to stay and how to travel conveniently is mentioned in this infographic.

If you are a corporate traveller and planning to visit London and want to stay in a serviced apartment to enjoy heavy discounts and comfortable stay in the central location. Visit thesqua.re, to choose from excellent serviced apartments in London’s popular neighbourhoods.

visit london

Europe, Travel Blogging, Travel Planning, Travel Tips

How Is Living In London Different from New York?

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How is living in London different from New York?

There is no denying that both London and New York are the busiest, notorious, vibrant and cosmopolitan cities, packed with people across the globe and from every walk of life. Both the cities are a true combination of unparalleled entertainment, top class attractions and incomparable opportunities, so the comparison is quite obvious due to their competition for global supremacy.

Comparison of cost of living in London and New York

cost of living

Though living in London and New York are pretty high up in the cost of living stakes, they have expensive as well as cheaper areas.

When it comes to comparison between the costs of daily consumables, it has been concluded that food and daily shopping is more expensive in New York especially toilet paper.

While entertainment prices are slightly higher in New York, the property is a lot more expensive in London on the other hand.

Unlike London, tourist spots are quite expensive in New York; there are some great events and museums in London that are free of cost. In New York, tipping is considered as a standard etiquette which undoubtedly does add up, that is not to say this is not followed in London but the value of the tip is far less than that in New York and is generally in the restaurant sector only.

Accommodation options in the cities

accommodation options

Seeking good lodging options in the cities is not a hard task but finding budget friendly accommodation with modern comforts is slightly tough. If you are planning a trip to any of the cities, book a serviced apartment in London rather than looking out for hotels. The apartments are available in various prominent neighbourhoods of the cities and provide modern  comforts with ample space, freedom and privacy at pocket-friendly rates.

Both cities provide high-quality accommodation options to suit all kinds of corporate as well as leisure travellers.

How about transportation?

One cannot deny the thing that there is a good transport system in both cities ranging from city bicycles and taxis to a fine Uber setup. Underground and Subway are the major method of transportation in the cities. The number of passengers in New York’s subway is 1.65 billion per year whereas London’s subway has 1.2 billion passengers per year. London has 11 lines while New York has 26. There are 270 stations in London and 468 subway. New York’s subway is found confusing by a few tourists due to its multiple lines on single colour routes.

Let’s talk about crowd

There is a restricted access to the busy stations of London during peak times but due to their extended length, New York subway stations don’t get much crowded. London has very good coverage of the underground system while New York’s subway is slightly erratic.

Which city has got more greenery?

No comparison can take place between the cities in terms of greenery. Both have got a lot of green spaces but in slightly different ways. There are a plenty of green spaces in London as compared to New York but the largest park of New York “Central Park” is vast at 3.41sqkm while London’s largest park “Hyde Park” is vast at 1.42sqkm.

Must-visit tourist attractions in New York – Central Park, Empire State Building, Brooklyn Bridge, Ground Zero and Statue of Liberty

Must-visit tourist attractions in London – Houses of Parliament, Buckingham Palace, The Shard, St Pauls and Tower Bridge

Cultural and Historical Heritage, Destinations, North America, Travel Tips

Popular New York Neighbourhoods for the Young and Energetic

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Popular New York Neighbourhoods for the Young and Energetic

Mecca for the young, single and energetic, New York City offers a lot packed into one space. The opportunities to learn and explore are unlimited in New York City. The New York neighbourhoods in the boroughs are transforming into spaces that are more suitable for young families than party goers.

As a matter of fact, Upper Manhattan has eradicated most of the potential places for fun. The bars here have become brunch spots and clubs have become yoga studios.

Murray Hill

New York Neighbourhoods

A relatively lesser known neighbourhood in Manhattan, Murray Hill is a safe and secure place. A lot of single men and women live here. The area is also popular for its nightlife. There are numerous cafes and countless places to party in this neighbourhood. There are charming small parks with lush greens to chill. Murray Hill definitely has plenty to explore despite of its small size.

East Village

New York Neighbourhoods

A neighbourhood in the New York City borough of Manhattan, East Village is surrounded by Gramercy Park, Stuyvesant Town, the Lower East Side and east by the East River. East Village clings to the traditional worn out the charm. New developments spring up here every other day and there are still and old buildings. Young guys appreciate these.

There are many art galleries as well as museums to preserve the history of East Village. The area is admired by youngsters. The neighbourhood is an ideal place for nightlife and cheap eats.

Tribeca

New York Neighbourhoods

Tribeca is a neighbourhood in the lower Manhattan. Some thirty years ago, Tribeca was the alternative to SoHo. When people started moving to this part of the town, warehouses became lofts and empty storefronts got filled with boutiques and cafes. Tribeca became more popular than SoHo in some time.

The neighbourhood hosts some acclaimed cultural events including its annual film festival. Also, there are several restaurants and shopping opportunities thereby making it a famous neighbourhood amongst youth.

Dumbo

New York Neighbourhoods

The neighbourhood Dumbo has fallen victim to the ever-increasing prices of the city but this neighbourhood stays exciting and attractive. Dumbo (short for Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass). The neighbourhood is bounded by Brooklyn Bridge Park to the north, the Brooklyn Bridge to the west, Brooklyn Heights to the south and Vinegar Hill to the east.

Dumbo is the place where startups hungry for commercial space are setting up their headquarters in the neighbourhood and offering job opportunities for the young and energetic.

These New York neighbourhoods are also home to numerous New York serviced apartments designed as per the specific requirements of the youngsters.

Cultural and Historical Heritage, Destinations, Europe, Travel Planning

Best Things to Do in Montmartre, Paris

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The 18th arrondissement of Paris, known as Montmartre, is famous as the Artists District. This historic place is one of the most colourful neighbourhoods in Paris, making it a favourite destination amongst tourists. Located in the north of Paris, Montmartre has seen very little development over these years, helping it to retain much of its character and village-like charm till date.

Montmartre has brought together many famous artists of the time such as Pablo Picasso, Vincent Van Gogh and Claude Monet. Hence, it’s easy to understand why so many people from the past, as well as the present, are captivated by this area of Paris.

Here are the things to do in Montmartre list, in this beautiful district:

Attractions to explore

Butte_Montmartre_1

Basilique du Sacré-Coeur: Situated on Montmartre hill, 127 meters above sea level, Basilique Sacré-Cœur is a roman catholic church. The church is designed in a magnificent Roman-Byzantine style, featuring multiple domes and largest mosaics designs. You can get 360° view of the city and iconic Eifel tower from the Basilica’s Dome if you can climb on the top of the church.

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Moulin Rouge: A world famous and highly popular cabaret theatre, Moulin Rouge is situated on Boulevard de Clichy. This is the place where cancan dancing was invented. You can watch shows, where showgirls and French Cancan dancers perform world-class cabaret in a grand setting. You can also browse through several interesting bars and nightclubs, located close to this theatre.

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Elysees Montmartre Theatre: Elysees Montmartre Theatre is primarily a concert hall located at Boulevard de Rochechouart. Here several popular shows are organised from all genres of music.  The theatre encouraged many art movements and young artists to showcase their talent over the years and today, you can see many world-renowned artists performing in this 200-year-old theatre.

Eating in Montmartre

Eating in Montmartre

Once a village of artists, Montmartre has managed to retain most of its arty charm over the years and is home to great restaurants, where you can sample typically French cuisine.  Enjoy your food in spectacular venues where the dining experience is fulfilling and profoundly cultural one.

Bistro Poulbot: The restaurants specialise in offering traditional fine French cuisine and the meals are spiced up with Mediterranean flavours. Thick sliced salmon with diced bacon, onion, and lentils is one of the most popular dishes to try out. The restaurant is run by chef Lorenzo Torrini.

Le Coq Rico: Excellent poultry restaurant in this area, popular for scrumptious dishes based on chicken, duck, guinea fowl, and other freshly sourced poultry. The dishes served here are perfectly seasoned and meticulously cooked.  Le Coq Rico offers the best culinary experience for poultry lovers.

Le Babalou: A great Italian pizza restaurant. It specialises in offering elaborate and seasonal Italian pizzas. Some of the popular names in the menu are pizza with goat cheese, honey, basil and mozzarella and with cherry tomatoes.  Other delicacies like fresh pasta, homemade tiramisu are some of the great options to try.

Going out for Shopping

Going out for Shopping

The streets winding around Montmartre is home to many unique shops, boutiques and designer stores to cater your shopping needs. Some popular ready-to-wear stores like Ba&sh, Kookaï, Sandro and Karl Marc John are situated here. If you are looking for jewellery and accessories head to La Petite Maroquinerie and for buying gifts, you can visit the Gift Code, offering excellent fantasy objects and stationery.

If you are searching for arty and craft venues- visit Spree, which houses designer furniture and an art gallery.  Chocolate fans can explore the newly opened chocolate museum in rue Steinkerque, where the amazing chocolate creation is the huge Eiffel Tower.