Top Destinations

London, England

The name itself evokes thoughts of a splendid city that is rich in history and culture. London is a city that has been around for ages and is one of the most visited cities in the world. People from all four corners of the world come here. Walking the streets of London and hearing a plethora of languages, it’s very easy to doubt that you’re in an English speaking country. This extraordinary diversity makes London an amazing city! However, London is not cheap…

The British Pound Sterling is a very strong currency. Whether you’re exchanging Dollars or Euros, you’re going to lose money. First rule of thumb, after you’ve exchanged your money stop mentally converting back to Dollars how much you just spent. The Chinese lunch buffet near Piccadilly Circus for 7£ is a great deal. Eat it and enjoy it without fretting over the idea you just paid $12 for something back home is $7. That $7 meal doesn’t come with the ambiance London provides.

Upon arriving in London, find the cheapest way to get to the city. From Gatwick Airport, DON’T take the Gatwick Express. You might save a few minutes with it, but the regular London train will also take you to Victoria Station and you will save 5£. If you will be in London for a few days, DON’T buy a day pass for the Tube. It’s better to buy the Oyster card. This will give you a discounted rate on your fare. It’s very easy to add money to it if needed. Also, take advantage of the FREE Wi-Fi that’s provided in the tube stations.

I always feel that walking is the best way to see a city and London is no exception. Take the tube from your hotel to any central area and then get out and walk. Walk through neighborhoods like Soho, Piccadilly Circus, Westminster, Canary Wharf, Covent Garden and Hyde Park. Be sure to check out Portobello Market in Notting Hill.  London is not complicated to figure out and a city you’ll enjoy getting lost in.

If you want to cover more ground, rent a bike. Access to rent the bikes is only 2£ and the first 30 minutes are FREE! Biking around London is very safe and another excellent way to see the city.

As you’re meandering through London, keep your eyes open for great off-the-beaten-path places to eat. Notting Hill is full of excellent reasonably priced restaurants that are not packed with tourist. Fez Mangal is a delightful Turkish restaurant located at 104 Ladbrooke Grove, Notting Hill. Fresh, delicious and reasonably priced food that makes you want to come back for more. Thirsty? Check out Waxy O’Connors in Leicester Square. It offers an exciting atmosphere, stained glass windows, a large tree running up the middle and a swanky chic place to unwind after a long day of sightseeing.  

Like most large cities, London is packed with FREE things to visit. In any online search engine type “free things in London” and you’ll be guided to a list of more things to do than you have time! However, if you want some direction, check out the free walking tours and museums. Even if museums aren’t your thing, the British Museum is a must-see!


Lyon, France

So you're in love with France and everything French. However, you want to spend a couple of days visiting another city apart from Paris. Welcome to Lyon! It is often called "Little Paris". Ranking in the top 3 largest cities in France, you see big city potential with small town charm. Lyon sits on 2 rivers and is perfectly situated between Paris, Nice and Geneva.

There are many airlines that fly directly to Lyon or offer connecting flights. There are also 2 large train stations in Lyon giving you access to a variety of cities. The cheapest way to get to the city from the airport is by tram. I will say, it is one of the most expensive tram rides in Europe (25 Euros roundtrip). Buying it online will save you 2 Euros. Once in the city center, it is very easy and simple to get around on foot. Lyon has a great and CHEAP biking system to help you see the city.

Check out the Parc de la Tete d'or. It's a large beautiful park in the city. There is also a FREE zoo in the middle of the park. This is not just some same simple zoo, it's an amazing city zoo! Be sure to walk on the cobble stone streets of Vieux Lyon. There you will find typical food from the city that boasts to be the Gastronomy Capital. The lunch time menu offers a cheaper meal but does not skimp on quality. Be sure to stop in one of the many bakeries and try anything made with Pralines. This is one of the specialties of the region. Climbing up to Fourviere will give you an excellent view of the city. (You can take the metro but you'll save money and get a great workout by walking up!) On a clear day you can see all the way to Mt. Blanc. While there check out the old Roman Theater.

Lyon is a great city to walk around. You can sign up for FREE city walking tours. A local tour guide will help you to discover all and everything interesting about Lyon. Rue Republique offers many shops and is a long street which runs from Hotel de Ville and Place Terreaux down to one of the largest squares in Europe, Place Bellecour. However, like many French cities, most stores are closed on Sunday, so be sure to get your shopping in before then.


Tel Aviv, Israel

Hands down, Tel Aviv is one of my favorite places in the world to visit! You get off the plane knowing that this city is full of life and energy. The people are friendly, warm and eager to welcome you! Tel Aviv is a huge melting pot. You have old tradition mixed with new age thinking, the Middle East combined with Western living and a medley of smells, languages and nationalities. All of these come together to create pure awesomeness! Depending on the time of year, you can get cheap flights from Europe. Check out Easyjet or other discount airlines.

Being situated smack-dab on the Mediterranean Sea, Tel Aviv has excellent weather. Bright sunny
days give way to walking around this vibrant city. Start out walking around Old Jaffa. This is an old historic part of the city located on the Sea. You will see old buildings dating back to the first century. The architecture and cobblestone streets will transform you to days of old which thus far you have only read about. There are many historical sites in this area along with shops, restaurants and a large park on the hill for you to get an excellent view of the city.

Leaving Old Jaffa, take a nice long walk up the beach along the Promenade. The beaches in Tel Aviv should be rated among the top in the world! The soft sand and pristine water invites you at any time of the year. Throughout the year you will observe many people swimming, surfing, working on their tan, playing handball or just enjoying another great day at the beach. Along the Promenade you will see many automatic machines which allow you to rent bikes. They are not the easiest machines to figure out, but if you do, enjoy a nice bike ride for the entire length of the Promenade. There are many restaurants and food carts along the Promenade, but these are usually more expensive than other parts of the city.

Hacarmel Market. Enough said! This is the largest bazaar market in Tel Aviv. In 2 days, I came here twice just for the lively ambiance and some of the best cheap food in the city. You will find every and anything that you need in this Market. The market is packed full of spices, fresh food and people eager to sell you something. There is nothing like fresh squeezed pomegranate juice, orange juice or lemonade from Hacarmel Market. Brush up on your bartering skills but don't be too disappointed if they don't come down too much off the price!

Like most beach towns, Tel Aviv is an outdoor city. Walking around Tel Aviv is really the best way to see it. Despite it being a large city, you don't feel overwhelmed. Try to book in advance a FREE walking tour of the city. If you can't, do your own walking tour of Neve Tzedek, Florentine and Rothschild Boulevard. You will stumble upon many open air markets, outdoor cheap restaurants, authentic Israeli food, and live music. Believe the hype, Tel Aviv is awesome!


Jerusalem, Israel

No visit to Israel is complete without visiting Jerusalem. For Christians, Jews and Muslims, this city dates back close to the beginning of time; holding a lot of history and significance Jerusalem is a must see! Depending on where you are coming from, the cheapest way to get to Jerusalem is to fly to Tel Aviv and then take a bus. It is only about an hour bus ride depending on traffic. The bus is very cheap. On Friday afternoon and Saturday, transportation is not the same due to the Sabbath. However, you can still find shuttle vans to take you to Jerusalem and they also are cheap. Once in Jerusalem, there is a tram and buses to get around the city, but again, walking is the best way to see Jerusalem.

Walking up to the gates of the Old City, you get a feeling that "many great things and great people have walked through here". The Old City really is the heart of Jerusalem. It is divided up into different neighbors: the Armenian Quarter, the Jewish Quarter, the Christian Quarter and the Muslim Quarter. Each Quarter has its own special charm and feeling. The only way to get around is by walking. I highly recommend Sagi Levy (levytour@gmail.com). He was our tour guide with Free City Tours. He gave a thorough and captivating tour of the city. Having lived there for many years, he was able to give a heartfelt description of what life is like in Jerusalem.

As you walk around the Old City, you see everything. There are many arts and crafts, pottery, rugs, spices, food being freshly baked and everything else you can imagine in a large open market. Each Quarter has its own charm and originality. In the Old City you will find the Wailing Wall, the Dome of the Rock, where Jesus had his last meal, the tomb of David and many other historic sites. Depending on the day of the week, you will see the different religions doing their holy processions. Bar mitzvahs are lively events filled with music and energy. You are often encouraged to join in as they walk around the Old City. Just outside of the Old City are the Mt. of Olives and the Garden of Gethsemane. Climbing to the top gives you a spectacular view of this extraordinary city!

The Old City is so full of life and excitement that it is easy to forget that there is a whole other city just on the other side of its walls. The rest of Jerusalem is very modern; it's packed with shops, cheap restaurants, malls, museums and friendly people. The Central Bus Station to the Old City is a lengthy walk, but not impossible. The tram is cheap and it gives you a good idea of different shops and restaurants you want to come back and try.

Once in Jerusalem, you are very close to the West Bank. For very cheap you can take a bus and in less than 30 minutes you are in Bethlehem. Prices can be a little cheaper here but not significantly, well not for tourists. Once in Bethlehem, put your haggling skills to the test. The different points of interest are really spread out. The best way to see the city is by taking a taxi around Bethlehem, but be ready to barter the price. Try to go with friends or other tourists that way you can split the cost of the taxi.