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The Many Replicas of the Eiffel Tower
In January we talked about the Statue of Liberty in New York and its replicas. Today we’ll continue the discussion but talk about another famous monument: the Eiffel Tower. The Eiffel Tower is perhaps the most famous tower in the world and the most copied. In fact, even the company that manages it says it is fairly impossible to know exactly how many other versions are scattered about the globe. In this post, we will take you on a tour of some of the best. Hangzhou (China) This tower rises in eastern China, on the outskirts of Hangzhou (Zheijang). And although more than one traveler has fallen in love with it, it is much smaller than the original Eiffel Tower (only 103 meters compared to the original 325 meters). It is part of a development, a huge residential complex in which more than 5,000 people live. Although it’s not the Champ de Mars, it has its own charms and is worth seeking out this Eiffel Tower replica. And why is it there? The Chinese love the City of Light and so they have built this impressive monument in their own land. There is another small difference compared to the original: you cannot climb this tower. In Paris, however, there are long queues day and night throughout the year. And if you want to see more, this is possible in China. Just behind this tower in Hangzhou you’ll find a replica of the Champs Elysees but without the Arc de Triomphe. Tokyo Known as Tokyo Tower, this is one of the least similar replicas to the original but there is...
The Best Cities to Discover on Foot
I always say the same thing: anyone who doesn’t like to walk will never be able to fully enjoy a city. And it´s true, since the true character of the places we visit cannot be experienced entirely without being on the ground in the center of it all, something that is not achieved with any tour bus or something similar. In any case, there are cities with much to see but where the most important spots are scattered about the city at great distances from one another and walking 2 or 3 kilometers to visit them is less than ideal. Venice If you visit the Serenissima, the beautiful city of Venice, there aren’t a whole lot of options other than visiting on foot. The fact that it’s car-free is one of its most attractive features. Getting lost in the labyrinths of San Marco or stumbling upon a sunny square in the middle of Dorsoduro is priceless. Venice is one of the best cities to visit on foot, because, even though there is no alternative, it’s the best way to appreciate the city’s charm and surprises. Marrakech Another city that is best discovered on foot is Marrakech. To be honest, the Medina is the best part to visit in this Moroccan city where you’ll find souks and the emblematic square of Djemaa el-Fna. Walking through these streets amidst the smell of leather and spices is a truly unique experience. Get lost in the souks and then walk to the Kasbah, a route that offers the most authentic and oldest sides of the city. Marrakech is large enough to keep you...
Amsterdam A-Z Part II
Kerk: It means ´church´ in Dutch. For example, Oude Kerk, the one in the middle of the Red Light District which I will explain later. The second half of the alphabet begins now. Leidseplein: A square full of restaurants, clubs, pubs and theatres, filled with jugglers, mimes and street artists that entertain the passers-by. Also, it´s a lively place and very popular. Market (Flower): At the Bloemenmarkt, they have been selling all kinds of flowers and plants for over 140 years. However, if there´s a flower that stands out above the rest that´s the tulip. It´s a curious place because it´s a floating market, which you can find on the quay of the Singel Canal. Nieuwe Kerk: This Gothic church is located on Dam Square and was built in the 15th century. It took 150 years for the construction to finish and this monument has hosted quite a few royal weddings and coronations since the beginning of the 19th century. Oude Kerk: Located in the middle of the Red Light District, this church is the oldest in the city (dating from 1306). It´s a Calvinist church and they say that it was the place that all sailors went to to confess when they arrived in Amsterdam after sleeping with a prostitute. That way, they killed two birds with one stone. Photo via mark.hogan Prostitution: The famous Red Light District is a district filled with one-room cabins with red lights where there´s a prostitute that will charge you 50 euros for a 15-minute service. Anything else and they will charge you extra. Prostitution is legal in the Netherlands and the girls pay taxes and...City breaks, a booming trend
Surely you have heard “city break” before, an expression that has increased in popularity over these last few years. A city break is a 2 to 3 night getaway in a different town or country, usually on weekends. In Only-apartments we offer some figures to picture this trend, so you may see how this could affect you. We have analysed two different markets: the Spanish market as well as the British one. Although bookings are generally for 4 to 5 nights in most locations, we have noted that 3 night bookings have experienced an increase in Spain: these types of bookings represented 11.25% of total reservations in 2013, an important increase in comparison to the 7.88% witnessed in 2012. These figures are even more pronounced in the British market: if in 2012 the 3 night bookings represented only 2.78%, this number went up to 10.19% in 2013. What to do with this? In Only-apartments, 14.07% of our owners have established a minimum stay of 4 nights or more. This means that their apartments do not come in the searches when a client is searching for a 3 night stay. Consequently, following the analysis of the two markets, we can say that owners are missing out on more than 10% of bookings we receive. Only-apartments thus recommends that you establish a minimum stay only if you really need to, as you are indeed missing out on...
Amsterdam A-Z. Part I
Amstel: If we think of Amsterdam we think about the canals, which reminisce of Venice but slightly larger, since they are almost 50 miles in length and some one thousand bridges cross then. The main water source is the river Amstel and an anecdote is that the bank vaults from the National Bank are located under it for security reasons. Bicycles: The most popular form of transport, most Amsterdammers use the bicycle as their preferred way of getting around, with the city filled with bicycle lanes everywhere you go. Be careful when you cross the road because the bicycles will be coming from left and right. However, it´s a great way to stay fit and a quick way to get to places, so if you want the real experience rent a bicycle and visit the city on two wheels. Photo via Matt Spurr Coffee Shops: It´s normal to find the curious coffee shops all over the city. These are places where people go to smoke marihuana and have a coffee. Alcohol is not usually sold and you can´t smoke tobacco on its own there. There are dozens of types of marihuana and hashish that you can buy by the gram or the joints already rolled. If you don´t smoke, you can also buy the famous space cakes. One of the oldest and most famous coffee shops is the Bulldog, although it has many others of the same chain. Dam: Dam Square is the starting point for guided tours, more specifically the 77-feet tall obelisk. There you can find the first dam of the Amstel river and the obelisk was built as tribute to...
#3travelingredients: Discover the perfect travel destination for you!
How many times have you had great expectations towards a trip, but had no idea of where to go or which destination to pick? To help you decide on the perfect destination for your next holiday, we have come up with this hashtag: #3travelingredients. Using this hashtag you tell us the 3 things that are absolutely indispensable for your trip and we will reply with the ideal destination for your next adventure. How it works? All you need to do is tweet: #3travelingredients plus the 3 most important elements your trip should include. We will reply with the travel destination that best reflects your wishes. Why 3? 3 is the symbol for perfection and we want your trip to be perfect. Why ‘ingredients’? Because organizing a trip is a little bit like preparing a cake. It requires love, patience and passion. Here is an example: #3travelingredients sun, culture, freedom = Barcelona Well, would you like to give our #3travelingredients a try?...
The world is a market (Lisbon)
Getting lost in Lisbon´s markets is always a pleasure. Getting lost in the labyrinths of fruit, vegetables, meats, fish, flowers, antiques… everything is possible! Here you will find some clues on where to buy the best local and regional products and eating a nice dish of cod at “home” (in an apartment with a kitchen) is a priceless experience. Here are two markets you can go to: the Mercado Da Ribeira and the Feira Da Labra, both with undeniable attraction for locals and tourists, because the world is a market. Da Ribeira food market A must for anyone who wishes to buy bags and bags of all the typical products of the city. Its location is privileged: on the shores of the river Tejo, and there you can buy fruit, vegetables, escargots, cakes, aromatic herbs, etc. It´s an ideal visit to get to know the local cuisine and its architecture is striking, a giant structure of steel and glass with plenty of light and colour, thanks to the flower stalls that stand side by side with the food ones. It´s also a cultured market because there´s also a bookshop on the fop floor where you can have a browse and a read before going shopping, a great chance to get acquainted with Portuguese literature. Although the first Da Ribeira Market dates from the 12th century, it had to be moved to another area after the earthquake of 1755. Now it occupies 10,000 m2 over two floors and they say that gourmets think it´s the best market in the city. via surfistaseco Feira Da Ladra This market with a life of its...Our collaboration with Lewis PR
In Only-apartments we know that the key to success is to do things right. This is why we spend most of our time and effort to consistently improve our services. We also know that it is not only a question of getting things right, there is also a need for people to get to know us better. This is why we collaborate with Lewis PR, a communications agency that will help expand our brand across borders, increase awareness when it comes to our new services as well as strengthen our presence in various markets. This is another Only-apartment’s marketing and communication effort in order to increase brand awareness and recognition. Check out the last articles that have been published about us. We will add to this list on our webpage regularly to keep you updated with the latest Only-apartment news. ...
The advantages of renting apartments with a view
Arriving in a city and having the feeling of having it all within reach is priceless. Not only is it important for our apartment to be central but also to feel that we are a stone´s throw from everything. The ideal thing, though, is to have an apartment with a view. With a view of the sea, a castle, the main square in the city or the mountains. When you wake up with a wonderful view, it´s the best possible start to the the day . View of the Eiffel Tower Getting up in the morning and the Eiffel Tower being the first that you see is priceless. Since it has been there for many decades and you have seen it so many times in films, you will have the feeling that what you have in front of you is a screen. The view of it at night, when it´s lit up, is a stunning visual wonder. To book Apartment SUFFREN View of the Roman Colosseum Something similar happens with the Colosseum since it is one of the landmarks that we recognise the most for having studied it over and over again. Having it in front all the time is something you can have if you rent an apartment with a view and, I can assure you, that you will end up counting the number of ´windows´ that this amazing architectonic wonder has. It´s also amazing to look at when it´s lit up at night, with yellow and orange colours. Pure magic. To book Apartment COLOSSEOPULCHRA View of the Grand Place in Brussels Opening your eyes and looking over this central square is like waking up in the middle of a party, although without the excessive...
