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Tips to Make the Most of Your Business Trip
Business tourism is not only very much en vogue, but also gaining prominence as income source for any city. It is the apple of the eye of those just starting up in the sector of tourism, and the best ally of well-established giants used to organizing conferences and meetings to the highest of standards. But business trips are not always as comfortable as they should be. Getting into a new city, tired and briefcase in hand, and having to get to work or attend a meeting… Not all that glistens is gold, but if we learn to make the most of our time, we can get a full 100% out of our trip. And so here are some tips: Take out international travel insurance: If traveling abroad, don’t hesitate to ask your company to take out international travel insurance on your name. That way unexpected trips to the doctor or hospital won’t cost you an arm and a leg. Don’t risk it. Or at least we wouldn’t. And if your company refuses to cover the cost, take it out yourself. They tend to be inexpensive and the cost is calculated according to the number of days of your stay. If traveling around Europe, and if you are European, you can apply for a European Health Insurance Card in your home country. Visit a tourist office: Traveling alone is usually easier than it seems. Begin by figuring out the amount of time off available. Once you have that, it is best to visit the nearest tourist office to get a map of the city (so you are not wandering around...
The Good Home Owner’s Manual
The Good Home Owner’s Manual is now available- an exclusive guide with the best tips to maximize your bookings and make the most of your property. ...
Curiosities of the Cannes Film Festival
This year is the 68th edition of the Festival. And for the first time in its history, there will not be one president of the jury but two, the Coen brothers, Joel and Ethan, who were awarded the Palme d’Or in 1991. The Coen brothers are part of the history of cinema with Joel as director, Ethan as producer, and both brothers as screenwriters. In addition, 2015 marks the 120th anniversary of the invention of cinema by the Lumière brothers. The festival renders tribute to all brothers whose work has served to enrich the history of cinema. Besides the Coen brothers, other recipients of the Palme d’Or include the Taviani brothers in 1977, and the Dardenne brothers in 1999 and 2005. 1854 films were submitted to this edition of the festival, of which only 49 make up the festival’s official selection. The glamorous Cannes Film Festival has opened the door to great movie talents, and is considered a springboard to new fashion and social behavior trends. Over the years we’ve witnessed polemical, extravagant, and rebellious acts that are part of the legacy of the most prominent festival in the history of cinema. Let’s revisit some of the moments that marked the Cannes Film Festival: Borat’s Mankini Who could ever forget Sacha Baron Cohen’s 2007 walk down the red carpet in a mankini not unlike the one sported by the protagonist of his movie, Borat. He strolled around the city dressed in his extravagant one-piece swimsuit, and tried to lie on beachgoers. Claudia Cardinale’s Cheetah In 1963, Italian actress Claudia Cardinale let herself be seen in the company of a...
Copa del Rey: Barça vs. Athletic de Bilbao
The Barcelona FC and Athletic Bilbao face-off this coming May 30th at Camp Nou for the Copa del Rey title will no doubt be a sharp display of two markedly contrasting styles of play between the Catalans and the Basques. Two cultures that are distinctly different in their everyday lives. And this is the perfect chance for us to explore both cities through their gastronomy, art, scenery, and of course, football. And you? Who do you support? Gastronomy Bilbao: We couldn’t talk about Basque cuisine without mentioning its famous pintxos (small snacks typically eaten in bars). El poteo (a daytime bar crawl of sorts involving wine and small servings of food) is a very typical activity in the Basque Country, and you can follow a route through the streets of the old town in Bilbao. Bacalao a la vizcaína (a traditional codfish dish) is another of Bilbao’s classics. But are you still hungry? You can try some delicious Carolinas (small puff pastry tarts filled with custard and topped with a generous tuft of meringue and chocolate and egg yolk frosting. Barcelona: The famous Catalan pa amb tomàquet served in most of the city’s restaurants consists of sliced, toasted bread with fresh tomato, olive oil, and a touch of garlic… delicious! Calçots, a type of onion cooked over an open flame and eaten with romesco sauce are another typical Catalan plate. And to finish off on a sweet note, try the Crema Catalana, egg-yolk based custard cream topped with a thin layer of caramelized sugar. Monuments and Museums Bilbao’s Guggenheim Museum: Inaugurated by King Juan Carlos I of Spain...
Romantic Dinner at Le Ciel de Paris
Tour Maine-Montparnasse is the best spot in Paris to calmly watch the city at night. The Eiffel Tower stands straight ahead in the distance, at the end of the Champ de Mars. At the very top, on the 56th floor of this Parisian skyscraper you’ll find the highest restaurant in the city: Le Ciel de Paris. Its strategic location, modern design, gourmet menu, and elegant service make it one of the most romantic places in Europe.
World Book Day – Writers We Have Travelled With
World Book Day is upon us, and we’d like to celebrate this literary event by revisiting some of the writers whose works have taken us on journeys to extraordinary worlds. They are no longer with us but their literary legacy still takes us to dream places, and we wanted to pay them tribute by exploring their most adventurous side, which served, no doubt, as source of inspiration for some of their most popular works. Buckle up because we are off on a journey with some of the main writers in world literature: Miguel De Cervantes is the textbook case of the term traveler. The maximum exponent of Spanish literature not only roamed about carefree in his masterpiece Don Quixote, but the latter is also the depiction of a life spent journeying through the Iberian Peninsula and the Mediterranean. In 1569, the young Cervantes became an outlaw and fled to Rome, only to continue his Italian wanderings through cities like Milan, Florence, Venice, or Palermo. Shortly thereafter he boarded the galley Marquesa under the direct command of Juan de Austria, and fought in the battle of Lepanto, where an arquebus blast severely injured his left hand. This event earned him the nickname by which he is popularly known in Spain, El manco de Lepanto (the one-handed man of Lepanto). After some time recovering from his war wounds in Messina, he returned to his warring exploits to defend Tunisia, Lisbon, Toledo, La Mancha, and Andalusia until death found him in Madrid in 1616, after a lengthy pilgrimage. Although it has never been verified whether William Shakespeare actually traveled to Italy, it...
Primavera Sound Festival Survival Guide
It’s coming. Not much longer now. The music event we were all waiting for is almost here. And we all know that besides music, Primavera Sound is most of all, about fashion and outfits. Check your favorite fashion blogger’s site for tips on what to wear, the Primavera Sound Festival is just around the corner. You’ve no doubt chosen your outfits for the event and imagined yourself singing and dancing like there’s no tomorrow. Well, we just wanted to let you in on a couple of details you might want to consider… And to that end, here is our Survival Guide to the Primavera Sound Festival. 1. A sweater, a trench coat, a cardigan… anything really, but be sure to take something warm to wear. It’s called Primavera (spring) Sound, we agree, but don’t take the weather for granted- it’s not particularly warm at 3am (or at 11pm for that matter). 2. Cash. Don’t just assume they’ll take plastic. You surely don’t want to wander around for miles to find those sneaky ATMs, do you? 3. Comfortable shoes. Pumps and wedges might be the height of fashion this season but what you really need are comfortable shoes that you can jump and dance in… and particularly when walk from one stage to another. Distances are much longer than you think, and the lineup this year is just too good to miss any gigs because of your poor, sorry feet. 4. Plan what shows you want to see (roughly). There are just too many bands, and you are not quite capable of teleportation yet (sorry). It’s best for you to...
Barcelona, Lyon, London, Vienna… Spring Music Festivals
Spring’s arrival not only implies the return of warmer weather. It is also the season of various music festivals that herald the coming of the summer and the impending holidays… These festivals are the perfect excuse to explore some of Europe’s cities in urban escapades centered on rock, classic, or electronic music. And even with children… there’s enough to please everyone’s taste. Nuits Sonores in Lyon May 13th through 17th, France’s second largest city is home to this festival that fills the city with artistic events revolving around electronic, digital, and visual cultures with innovation as a common main theme. 250 artists from all over Europe will perform across 50 different venues. Laurent Garnier and Jamie XX are some of the artists included in the full list that you can check here: http://www.nuits-sonores.com/prog/les-programmes/ London’s Wychwood Festival UB40 and The Proclaimers are some of the names in the lineup for this festival, which will take place from the 29th to the 31st of May, at the Cheltenham Racecourse. Frequented by local families because of the Kids Literature Festival and the many shows intended for the youngest ones, it is becoming an increasingly popular rendezvous in the English capital. Check http://www.wychwoodfestival.com/ for further information. Classical Music Festival in Vienna May 14th is the start date of the Vienna Festival which opens with the Vienna Philharmonic’s Summer Night Concert, a performance that attracts thousands of visitors. Noise by Sebastian Nübling, and Edward I by Ewald Palmetshofer are also among the most anticipated concerts. Austria’s capital becomes the world’s epicenter for classical music up until June 21st. Find the program at http://www.festwochen.at/ Festival...
Welcome to the Special Space for Home Owners at Only the World
It’s a true pleasure to open this section of the blog, dedicated exclusively to the Home Owners that make Only-apartments. We want to welcome you to the one place where we bring together all your concerns and experiences, with the common goal that travelers choose and enjoy their stay with us. But this will also be the place to share tips, ideas, or discover the latest trends in the sector. And for the sake of organization, we have structured all this information into the following categories: News This is where we’ll publish the latest news with regard to the world of tourism and holiday accommodation, which will surely be of interest to you. Tips We often need some guidance to make the most out of our property, and thus increase the number of bookings. This is where we’ll find the key to making our apartments figure among those listed as travelers’ favorites. Interviews And who better than yourselves to disclose the secret to success, or to share genuine anecdotes from the world of tourist accommodation? Your stories and advice can help other home owners. Would you like to answer some simple questions and share your experiences? Get in touch with us at communication@only-apartments.com and we’ll publish your interview. FAQs We all have questions, and these are oftentimes the same. This is where we bring together some of your most frequent questions. A brief user guide to properly manage your property in the home owner’s Extranet....
The Best Sushi in Barcelona
Do you like sushi? An affirmative reply would be the first requisite to continue reading. And here comes the second- would you like to attend a true visual and culinary spectacle in Barcelona? It’s time to treat your taste buds at one of the Barcelonian venues we are about to recommend. Try Shibui’s show cooking, eat good value sushi at Sushimore, or enjoy Monster Sushi’s Japanese terrace. However, to fully appreciate everything we are about to let you in on, it’s essential that you like raw fish.
