Globetrotting on a budget
NEW YORK
You just have to admit that there is something darn sexy about the Big Apple.
Be it the bohemian cool of Greenwich Village, or the bustling cosmopolitanism of Manhattan, or the Statue of Liberty, almost everything about New York is iconic.
Where to stay
The Big Apple has hundreds of two- and threestar hotels that charge $80-$100 a day. Visit www.tripadvisor.com for details about New York hotels.
The day plan
Start with The Bronx Zoo, one of the best in the world. Home to 4,000 animals, you can see Andean condors, polar bears, Siberian tigers and snow leopards. Tickets start from $14.
You cannot come to New York and not visit the Empire State Building in Manhattan. The observation deck on the 86th floor offers fantastic views of the city. Tickets start from $18. To avoid rush, you can book online at www.esbnyc.com/tickets.
From here, make your way to the 843-acre Central Park. Take a stroll along the Mall, a rowboat ride on the lake or just lounge around. You can even visit Strawberry Fields, New York's loving shrine to John Lennon.
The most famous face of the Big Apple is the Statue of Liberty. Access to the interior of the statue is now restricted but you can take the ferry from Battery Park on the New York harbour for great views and memorabilia. Tickets: $10.
Where to eat
New York offers almost every cuisine known to man, and then some. There are restaurants to suit every budget and taste—from McDonald’s and Pizza Huts to the Zanzibar, in Times Square, that serves delicious Mediterranean-inspired food and exotic cocktails, to the BB King Blues Club and Grill restaurant near Times Square, which serves great Southern/Soul and Cajun/Creole food.
BARCELONA
There are many reasons to see this jewel of Catalonia—the football, the bullfights, the angling, the beautiful people, the brilliant azure of the Mediterranean, sunshine, food and a fabulous nightlife… the list is endless.
Whatever your motive, Barcelona will not disappoint.
Where to stay
It's always a good idea not to spend too much on hotels. Two- and three-star hotel rooms are available for $45-$80. Visit www.hotelsbarcelona.org for details.
The day plan
Start your day by taking a leisurely ramble down the aptly-named Las Ramblas. One of Spain's most celebrated streets, it starts from the heart of the city, the Plaza de Cataluña, and goes all the way down to Port Vell by the sea.
Lined with markets, coffee shops, mime artists, art nouveau buildings like the opera house, the wax museum and the Museu de l' Erotica. Walk and shop your way through this charming thoroughfare. From Port Vell, turn north for the old town of Barri Gotic. The maze of narrow streets, which make up medieval Barcelona, hides delights like the Royal Palace, the Gothic Cathedral and the must-visit Museu Picasso.
The museum houses some of his most stunning works. Standard entry fee: m6 (Rs 336). You can also visit the awe-inspiring Nou Camp stadium, home to the Barcelona Football Club.
What to eat
While in Spain, do as the Spaniards do. Make lunch your main meal. The Spaniards like their siesta a lot, and they like to eat their fill before one. But first, know your Tapas. Anything can be Tapas—paella, croquettes, ham and cheese on toast. As long as it is small and served with your drink (either free or at a surcharge), it is Tapas.
There are restaurants and cafeterias all over Barcelona, so you can nibble on Tapas through the day. For lunch, try out a typical menu del dia (or meal of the day), usually a three-course meal, comprising two main dishes (meat or vegetables), bread, a drink and dessert. Dinners are expensive.
If you do go for dinner (never before 9 pm) try the racion (four to six Tapas) or the media racion (about two to three Tapas). One such plate will usually have a single item like ham and cheese or calamari. And remember: Don't go to Spain and not have Sangria.
Smart tip
A smart way to enjoy your stay is to buy the Barcelona card (2 days: m24 or Rs 1,345). It provides free entry to 12 museums and heavy discounts at others.
You also get free public transport, discounts at 15 restaurants and three bars/nightclubs. Even if you only spend one day there, the card is still good value for money.
SYDNEY
This one-time British prison camp has, over the last 200 years, developed into a glittering bay-side gem.
It is the oldest city Down Under, and is the site for one of the world's most stunning harbours.
It has in-city beaches and wonderful food. But do keep in mind that Sydney is among the most expensive cities in the world, so be canny in your planning.
Where to stay
You can choose from swanky hotels to rented apartments to surprisingly lush bed-and-breakfast places. Tariffs range from $60-90. Check out www.hotel. com.au for details.
The day plan
Head out to the harbour. Sydney was once called the “Emerald City” because of the way the sea in the harbour glitters in the sun. It’s bustling with ferries, yachts, launches, ocean liners and kayaks. You can simply walk about or catch the Manly Ferry, which leaves the Circular Quay every half hour, for spectacular views of the harbour. The sunset cruise is especially recommended, but anytime is good.
Fares are $5.20 per person for Inner Harbour Zone 1 and $5.50 for Inner Harbour Zone 2 (www.sydneyferries.info/tickets-fares). Once back from the ride, walk down to the legendary Opera House. You can take the one-hour tour or simply hang out in one of its many swank restaurants and coffee shops. To avoid the rush, book tickets online (website: www.sydneyoperahouse.com ) for $23 per person.
If you want to indulge in some serious beachbumming, head out to Bondi beach, about 20 km from the city centre. The city bus service operates the Bondi Explorer Service, which takes you through some of the most picturesque parts of Sydney, including the harbour bays, before ending up in Bondi.
You can also take the train to Bondi Junction, and then either walk or catch a bus onto Bondi Beach.
Where to eat
While you enjoy the sun, surf and the beautiful people, you can pop over to the nearby Campbell Parade, along the back of the beach, with its nearcontinuous strip of outdoor cafes and gelato bars.
For dinner, return to the Opera House and dine at the famed Guillaume at Bennelong, regularly voted as one of the best restaurants in the world. Savour Master Chef Guillaume Brahimi's mouthwatering treats at an average of $50.
You can also try out one of Sydney's best seafood joints, The Pier at Rose Bay. There are other fine dinner options all along Rose Bay.
Smart tip
The Sydney Monorail is one of the fastest, most relaxing forms of public transportation in the city, but its use is limited to travel between the city centre, Darling Harbour, and Chinatown.
The fare is $3.2 for a one-way trip. The $6.6 Day Pass is a better value if you intend to use the monorail to explore. You can purchase tickets at machines in the monorail stations.
LONDON
Auld Londonium from the days of the Roman Empire has, over the last 500 years, remained one of the world’s top cities.
From Swinging London of the Sixties, through Cool Britannia London of the Nineties to today, London is one city that can truly compete for the title of the capital of the world.
Where to stay
Most people have family and friends in London; so, it’s best and most cost-effective to put up with them. However, if you don’t want to do that, check out www.londonhotels.com.
The day plan
To try and list all the places you can visit and all the things you should do will require an Encyclopedia Britannica. Here are a few choices. Make your way to the banks of the Thames to view the Gothic splendour of the Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament. You can't climb the Big Ben but you can get a tour of the Parliament for £12 (Rs 990).
The best way to get London views is a thoroughly modern landmark, the London Eye. Enjoy some incredible views from the observation wheel. Ticket prices start at £14.50 (Rs 1,196) per person. Another landmark is the Tower Bridge (more commonly known as London Bridge), one of the finest cantilever bridges in the world. Entry is £6 (Rs 495) per person.
And if you want to get up close with the stars, there's no better place to do it than at Madam Tussaud's. Pose with everyone from The Beatles to Shah Rukh Khan. Ticket prices start at £13.50 (Rs 1,114) per person. It’s an experience you won’t forget in a hurry.
Shopping
London is a shopper's paradise and there are many areas to choose from. Camden Town is one of the hippest areas in the city and home to one of its most renowned markets. From antique vinyl, to clothes, accessories, crafts and furnishings.
And it’s quite cheap. Nearest Underground stations are Camden Town and Chalk Farm (Northern Line). For some heavy duty retail therapy, head to Harrod's general store in Knightsbridge. Established in 1849, it offers a mind-boggling variety of stuff— from high fashion to furniture.
Where to eat
If you are in the Knightsbridge area, then you must duck in for a quick lunch at the 68-86 Bar & Restaurant.
Fashionable, discreet and offering some of the best contemporary British cuisine, this South Kensington joint is highly recommended. It’s expensive; the menu is set and will cost you £40-60 (Rs 3,301-4,951) per couple. Of course, there are also 20 restaurants serving everything from pizza to sushi.
For fine dining, nothing beats Westminster 's finest, The Atrium. Located in Milbank, this is the place to see and be seen in. And the only reason why we haven’t mentioned the restaurants run by Gordon Ramsay and Fergus Henderson is that a meal for two at either of them will cost you a lot more than your budget of $200 a day, but if you have money to spare, and the patience to wait the month or more it takes for ordinary mortals to get reservations, you could cap your London visit with a meal at either.
Smart tips
Travel by the Underground wherever you can. Don't forget to take a ride in London's famous black cabs. They're expensive but then they're heritage value in themselves.
PARIS
It is difficult not to be envious of the Parisians. They have a city immortalised in literature, feted for the food, the romance, the grandeur, the bohemianism, art, culture, music, philosophy… phew. Whether you want to stroke your existentialist chin, or fall in love by the Champs-Élysées, the City of Lights is just the city for you.
Where to stay
Hotels are expensive; so, if you’re on a budget of $200 a day, it’s best to stay at comfortable non-star hotels. Tariffs range from $70-80. For details, visit www.parishotels.com.
The day plan
When in Paris, you must visit the Eiffel Tower. Take the elevator to the top floor for magnificent views. Entry costs m11.5 (Rs 468) per person. The Historical Axis is a line of monuments, buildings and thoroughfares that run in a roughly straight line from the city centre westwards.
It begins with the Louvre and continues down the Champs-Élysées to the Arc de Triomphe centred in the Place de l'Étoile circus. The Louvre Museum is the best known repository of art in the world, housing such gems as Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa, and stunning examples of Egyptian, Greek, Roman and Islamic painting and sculpture.
A full-day pass to the museum costs m9 (Rs 505). The Arc de Triomphe, at the end of the Champs-Élysées is an architectural wonder honouring French soldiers killed during the Napoleanic wars.
Shopping
Away from the culture, there's much shopping to be done on the Champs-Élysées with Benetton, the Disney Store, Nike, Zara, the largest Gap outlet in Europe and the Virgin Megastore. Check out the Avenue Montaigne for more high-street shopping.
Where to eat
While at the Eiffel, savour continental cuisine at the Altitude 95 restaurant. Dishes cost m17-25 (Rs 953 to Rs 1,400). Paris is considered the world’s gourmet capital, so if you want to splurge on the food, then head over to Chez Janou, which specialises in cuisine from the South of France's Provencal region.
Unique dishes as a bouillabaisse (fish soup), and a classic tian of Provencal vegetables, are the norm here. A meal for two will cost m60 (Rs 3,363).
HONG KONG
Hong Kong is one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the world. A decade after the former English colony became a part of China, Hong Kong continues to flourish as a leading centre for business and tourism.
Where to stay
Hong Kong has a host of really good hotels that offer great value for money. Tariffs range from $65-80. Check them out at www.hk-hotel.com.
The day plan
You can opt for the old city walk on the elevated walkway. Make your way to St John's Cathedral, the oldest Anglican Church in the Far East. Then, amble up The Lanes, a higgledy-piggledy collection of hillside stalls and walk on down to the atmospheric Man Mo Temple, on Hollywood Road.
The city has probably one of the best harbours in the world, and the best way to enjoy it is from the sea. We're talking about the iconic Star Ferry service. Take the fantastic cruise across the harbour to Tsim Sha Tsui, in Kowloon.
This is THE place for electronics, possibly the best in the world. Make sure you don't miss the 8 pm Symphony of Lights, a dazzling spectacle.
Shopping
Apart from shopping for electronics at Tsim Sha Tsui, check out Hong Kong's very own Times Square—Causeway Bay. Located in the heart of Hong Kong island, it is crammed with shops selling everything from electronics to antiques to fashion labels, as well as very good restaurants.
Where to eat
A great place to eat is the Felix Bar and Restaurant at the Peninsula Hotel. Designed by Philippe Starck, the restaurant has a renowned fusion-food menu, and also offers an amazing view of the harbour. It will set you back by $29 to $40 (Rs 1,180 to Rs1,627) for two. If you want some authentic Cantonese fare, hop over to Che's Cantonese Restaurant on Broadway, which specialises in mouth-watering dim sums.
