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The Best Cities to Discover on Foot

Aleix G. William Rankings, Travel Tips

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... read more

Amsterdam A-Z Part II

Diana Rodríguez Pretel Amsterdammer, Only-Be, Practical Guide to Amsterdam

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... read more

City breaks, a booming trend

The Only Team Owner News, Owners

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... read more