GUEST ARTICLE: Rimini is certainly a place less traveled to if you don’t live in Italy or some of the surrounding European countries. It’s a summer hotspot that has loads to offer if you’re looking for some summertime fun and a real Italian experience. The best months to go to Rimini are from June through to September during the summer months.

We’ve made this our must-do place every year and prefer to go in late June or early July to miss the heat and the mass of Italian and European holiday makers (super-peak is August when most Italians are forced to take holidays). Rimini is located in the famous Emilia-Romagna region and lies on Italy’s Adriatic Riviera, on the eastern coast. There is about 15kms plus of beach divided into hundreds of little Bagni (beaches) with rows upon rows of beautifully coloured chairs and umbrellas for rent.

On our first visit to Rimini we were very lucky to have found an excellent little family-run hotel called Hotel King which is situated just a block away from the beach and right in the middle of the action. The hotel is run by family-man Mauro, who is a great personality and very accommodating. His momma is an excellent cook and gives all of the inclusive meals a real Italian touch.

I can say without a doubt they are some of the best meals we’ve ever had. Italians opt for the all-inclusive vacation. All-inclusive at Hotel King means you get accommodation, three meals a day, beach chair, umbrella, coffee, drinks, internet and more! Everyday you get a different three course menu with choices. They also have a bbq on the beach once a week which is a culinary treat of barbecued seafood and other Italian delicacies. It is also a fantastic way to make some new friends, which is quite easy in Italy since they are always up for a good chat.

During the day Italians love to relax and soak up some sun on the beach, so like they say…”when in Rome…” The hotel has beach chairs included so we usually spend our day on Carlos Bagno #39. The beach isn’t the best we’ve ever been to but we find it quite relaxing.

The only setback I would say would have to be the trickle of street vendors trying to sell you things on the beach but then again who knows maybe you are looking to buy a fake tattoo or kite? Although I do have to say this problem has calmed down quite a bit over the years with the Municipal Police cracking down. So, if you see these vendors flying past you at mach speed it’s only because the Municipal Police are in the area (pretty funny to see actually).

There are plenty of wonderful things to see and do in and around the Rimini area. There is the historical part of Rimini (Centro Storico) which is a beautiful maze of cobblestone streets, shops, restaurants, piazzas and churches. Under the city they are still finding Roman ruins and are doing their best to restore and protect them.

The Arch of Augustus which was built in 27 B.C. and is the honorary town gate and has also been restored and is quite the sight to see especially at night when it is beautifully lit up. This part of the city is also a wonderful place to be after dinner when everyone is out and about. It’s a great time to take a stroll and partake in one of their delicious gelatos.

Along the beach area at night is also a flurry of activity. People dine at the multitude of restaurants that go on for miles and then do the after dinner stroll. One beautiful area to sit and relax is at the Fontana Dei Quattro Cavalli (Four Horse Fountain). It is a really beautiful area and during the summer months some excellent public concerts are held there (Jazz, Dance, Classical).

The famous 5-star Grand Hotel Rimini is also located near the fountain. It was a favourite to the late film director Frederico Fellini who was a native of Rimini, he was well known for one of his famous films like La Dolce Vita. Fellini actually collapsed in his favourite suite at the hotel and then later died in a hospital in Rome at the age of 73. You can visit his grave at the main entrance of the Rimini Cemetery, in his honour they have put up a beautiful bronze sculpture.

I’m not sure if I would recommend you rent a car as the driving in Italy can be hair-raising at times and very aggressive, too many wanna be Mario Andretti’s out there I think but in order to experience some of the sights outside Rimini you might have to.

Fortunately we have some good friends that live there and they have been kind of enough to drive us to some spectacular spots. For example we’ve gone on some excellent mountain treks, visited the very picturesque town of San Leo which is situated on top of a mountain and the quaint little artsy town of Urbino.

In July they have the famous La Notte Rosa festival which runs up and down all of the beaches. The whole surrounding area is decorated with beautiful pink decorations and as night falls the real action begins. All along the beach there are free food and drink venues and music from old to new playing in the background.

It is a wonderful celebration and very peaceful, we’ve never witnessed anyone getting out of control or having too much to drink (it’s not the Italian culture to over-drink which makes this festival even more appealing). Later in the night you can grab a beach chair and sit back and watch the incredible fireworks display all along the beaches.

Obviously the food in Italy is incredible and every region has its own particular type of dish they specialise in. We love the Emilia Romagna region for their homemade pastas, gelato, piadinas and cassonis – all mouth-watering and things we look forward to every time we go back.

We also really like Rimini because it’s Italy for Italians not Italy trying to accommodate other cultures like some other cities like eg. Venice and Florence. If you’re looking for a place that real Italians go to for their vacations, this is it. Jump on the train for a one-hour trip from Bologna and you can experience excellent food, lazy days on the beach and lots of activities.

Rob Gower’s Rimini, Italy Photo Gallery

This travel diary has been written by Rob Gower, a traveler who works part-time for a bus hire company and enjoys traveling along roads less traveled!

If you’ve travelled somewhere off the beaten track, can write well and have good quality photos I encourage you to contact me and I’ll consider publishing your travel diary here including generous attribution and links back to your website as thanks for your contribution

GUEST ARTICLE: It was a beautiful late sunny June afternoon when we arrived in the very picturesque city of Lisbon (Lisboa), Portugal. From the plane the stark contrast of red ochre roofs against the brilliant blue of the Atlantic Ocean looked incredible. We took a cab from the airport to our hotel (The Sana Lisboa – excellent hotel, btw).

As we wound through the streets we couldn’t help but notice how clean and picturesque the city was. When we arrived at our hotel we were really pleased with the cheap cab fare, something totally odd especially for Europe, but we didn’t complain!

Portuguese is a romantic language and is derived from Latin. It is said to be the 7th most spoken language in the world. Being fluent in Italian I was able to recognise quite a few similar words but that was it. It is certainly a unique language.

English is spoken in Portugal but of course learning a few words in their language is a definite plus and don’t forget to say thank you! (obrigado).

The next day we jumped on one of the open air tourist buses that allows you to hop on and off at a number of locations. There are a series of different coloured bus lines or zones that you can choose from depending on what part of the city you want to explore.

The tickets are good for 24 hours which we found to be really useful, especially when after a big day out you want to head back to your room for some R&R and then back out for dinner. We found taking the buses a great way to see the city. Fortunately the weather was excellent for us every day which made the experience that much better.

The first place we decided to explore on foot was a square called Il Commerce Square. As we got off the bus we were approached by a man who very blatantly offered us some hard core drugs held in the palm of his hand! We couldn’t believe he was just approaching people like this is public and in broad daylight. We found out later that it’s actually perfectly legal, something both very strange and sad to hear. After that little incident we continued on our journey.

Not too long after wandering through a maze of beautiful cobblestone streets we got lucky and stumbled upon a small eatery. The man inside was very accommodating and served us up a feast of local favourites. Deliciously seasoned grilled sardines, chicken, beef steaks, fresh salads, rice and homemade breads – yum! And for dessert a shot of Beirão, some of the smoothest tasting liquor I’ve ever had.

Another local favourite is a dried salty fish called Bacalhau (salt cod), which is an acquired taste – a taste I do not have unfortunately! A word of caution though, be careful not to order the Spaghetti Bolognese unless it’s from a ‘real’ authentic Italian restaurant or you may end up making the same mistake we did, which resulted in a plate of something like pasta mush with blended mystery meat on top… not nice.

We did find a really good authentic Italian restaurant located in the old district which served up some excellent dishes, perfect for dinner. And what a better way to end the night but with a glass of some fine port (which there is no shortage of) and a Portuguese custard tart – delish!

There are many wonderful sites to see in Lisbon, like the Jeronimos Monastery, Belem Tower, Santa Justa Elevator and St. George’s Castle just to name a few. Luckily there were stops on our bus route to pretty much all of these main attractions. We found June to be the perfect month to go, excellent weather and the flowers are in full bloom, absolutely beautiful.

We would love to go back to Portugal again to explore some of the other regions we’ve heard so much about and to partake in more of that wonderful Portuguese hospitality ~ until next time! Adeus!

Rob Gower’s Lisbon (Lisboa), Portugal Photo Gallery

This travel diary has been written by Rob Gower, a traveler who works part-time for a bus hire company and enjoys traveling along roads less traveled!

If you’ve travelled somewhere off the beaten track, can write well and have good quality photos I encourage you to contact me and I’ll consider publishing your travel diary here including generous attribution and links back to your website as thanks for your contribution

GUEST ARTICLE: For music lovers, Montreux is famous for it’s chilled beats during the annual Jazz Festival. For the rest of us, the enduring beauty of Lake Geneva (Lac Léman in French) is what provides this small Swiss Riviera resort town with it’s enduring magnetism.

The approach from the Swiss-Italian border on the high-speed Cisalpino train (Swiss Federal Railways and Trenitalia now jointly operate the route) from Milano Centrale, Italy to Montreux, Switzerland offers passengers a spectacular slice of Swiss alpine lake scenery and an insight into the Italian and Swiss psyche.

The Trenitalia crew and stations epitomise the essence of Italy – colourful, carefree and a little rough around the edges. The man who pulls the food cart rings a bike bell and announces with gusto – “acqua, panini, bibite” (water, sandwiches, drinks). The remote Trenitalia stations often have a rustic charm about them. Weeds poke out of the tracks and the signs and platforms look a little grungy.

As the Cisalpino pulls into Switzerland and the SBB crew come aboard, the service has a more precise and efficient feel about it. Swiss stations are spotless and gleem with modernity. It’s amazing how a few kilometres either side of a border can make such a difference.

About 20 minutes walk from Montreux railway station is the Montreux-Territet YHA, located on the foot of Lake Geneva. The walk to the youth hostel is punctuated by a seemingly endless expanse of lakefront views and flashy sports cars.

Starting at about 30 Swiss Francs (CHF) per night for a shared dormitory, the Montreux-Territet YHA provides a tasty, hearty Swiss style breakfast including a variety of local cheeses and breads and close proximity to all sights. But, who needs a wealth of attractions when you’re right on the shores of Lake Geneva overlooking the Swiss Alps?

Chateau de Chillon (12 CHF per adult), wedged between the shores of Lake Geneva and the Alps is understandably Switzerland’s most popular historic monument. Visitors will come to appreciate how the Castle’s rocky island location offers more than just brilliant views over the Swiss Riviera.

For many years the castle served a strategic purpose, controlling the passage between northern and southern Europe. Despite being centuries old, the castle remains in exquisite shape, featuring well preserved and easily navigable spaces including a dungeon, dining room, crypt, watch towers and works of art supported with information panels.

The Territet – Glion funicular (incline cable railway), forms part of the Swiss Goldenpass and is the oldest funicular in Switzerland. Riding the funicular is a fantastic way to catch high-level sweeping views over Lake Geneva without expending an ounce of energy and will only set you back a few Swiss Francs.

The funicular mountain railway station is located just outside the Montreux town centre and is easily accessible on foot. If you want to burn off some calories after taking in the view, trek down the hillside passing through the old town on the way back to Montreux.

If you’re an Olympic history buff, consider taking a short train ride along the scenic shores of Lake Geneva to nearby Lausanne, home to the international Olympic movement. For those interested in visiting the home of Nestle milk chocolate, consider visiting Vevey, also just a short train ride away.

If you’ve got time to explore Switzerland, consider paying a little more for a Goldenpass Panoramic Line rail ticket rather than buying a regular Swiss Federal Railways ticket. Goldenpass operates on a limited network that links the most scenic parts of Switzerland together. If you have a valid Eurail pass, you only have to pay a nominal seat reservation fee to use the Goldenpass service.

Goldenpass trains are unique because you can actually wind down your window and witness the Swiss panorama unfold before you, whilst also taking photographs without having to worry about your head or arms being lopped off by a power pole.

Goldenpass provides a Montreux to Lucerne service that’s well worth checking out.

To view more of Pranav’s photos from around the world visit his Flickr PhotoStream

This article has been written by Pranav Bhatt. He is a graduate of the Faculty of Economics and Business at Sydney University. He has an interest in world travel, cricket, politics, technology and the media.

If you’ve travelled somewhere off the beaten track, can write well and have good quality photos I encourage you to contact me and I’ll consider publishing your travel diary here including generous attribution and links back to your website as thanks for your contribution

GUEST ARTICLE: With or without a map, find yourself getting lost over and over again amongst the winding passages and canals of Venice (Venezia).

Disembarking the train at Venezia Santa Lucia stazione from Roma Termini stazione will leave you amazed.

There are no cars, traffic snarls or traffic lights. There’s some water pollution, but no air pollution. There’s no noise from horns or engines. All you’ll hear is the gentle whir of boats and the buzz of tourists. All services – emergency, food, water, couriers and transport are provided by water and come at a price. Welcome to Venice.

Shops sell tourist favourites – decorated theatre masks and Murano glass jewelry. Restaurants on the main strips advertise menus targeting undiscerning tourists with prices, cover charges and quality to match.

American, Canadian and Australian tourists mill about everywhere. As with other hot spots, some tourists convince themselves that they can ‘do Venice’ in a day because it’s a tiny island.

But, like the many millions of visitors that came before them, they get lost in the never-ending web of passages and canals, rolling their luggage or carrying their packs around town.

You’ll notice that some visitors just give up looking for their accommodation after constantly hitting dead ends facing brick walls and canals and go sight seeing – bags and all.

L’Imbarcadero hostel is a 10 minute walk from Venezia Santa Lucia station. It offers excellent value and the Grand Canal on your doorstep. Dormitory rates are subject to seasonal fluctuations, but can start from about 26 euros. LAN internet, slim lockers, linen, breakfast, kitchen facilities are included.

Before you book your accommodation, it’s wise to check its exact location on Google maps. Many places advertise themselves as being in Venice, but don’t mention they’re in Venezia Mestre, off the main island of Venezia.

Venezia Mestre offers lower prices and has its own train stazione which means you’re only minutes away from the main island of Venezia. Other visitors get stung and catch an expensive vapporetto (waterbus) to and from their accomodation.

Vapporetto tickets must be validated before boarding and are available from ‘Hello Venezia’ ticket desks and authorised resellers. A one-way ticket is steep at 6.50 euros. If you plan to island hop around Venice, a 24-hour travel card offers better value at 18 euros.

As you walk over the many bridges and passages of Venice, you’ll spot tourists floating past in gondolas and gondoliers tempting you on board for a ’special price’. Don’t become the latest victim of the gondola scams.

Negotiate the deal before you’re taken for a ride and charged extra to listen to live music and for riding the ‘classic’ route. Gondola rides are a tourist trap and you can expect to pay accordingly: 2 euros per minute or on average, about 80 euros for 40 minutes.

But, if you want to experience one of the world’s most famous boulevards and save a packet, then hop on a bus… that is, a vapporetto, a bus Venice-style.

Board a vapporetto from the stop across from Venezia Santa Lucia stazione and you’ll experience what makes the Grand Canal so unique. You’ll pass under the Ponte Rialto whilst taking in the buildings, palazzo (palaces) from the 12th to 14th centuries and houses standing defiantly with front doors just a metre or two above water level.

The ride down the Grand Canal lasts about 40 minutes as the vapporetto pauses to thud into every terminal down the canal. Get off at Piazza San Marco (St Mark’s Square), the last stop before Lido Island, an average tourist beach.

Piazza San Marco is the quintessential first stop on most visitors’ itinerary. As you stroll around this expansive, beautiful and expensive patch of the world, take a moment to admire the ornate decorations on Basilica San Marco (St Mark’s Cathedral) and the buzz from the crowds posing amongst pigeons circling the square.

Admission into Basilica San Marco is free. To beat the queues, deposit your backpack in the baggage room around the corner and the attendant will hand you a token which you wave as you walk through the entrance.

Photography is ‘strictly forbidden’ as are so many other activities marked on signs around Italy. Of course, some visitors had to spoil the experience by not-so-discreetly taking photos with flash and shooting videos like they were special.

The interior of the cathedral is jaw dropping. The dome and ceilings glitter and drip with gold frescos. Multicoloured marble walls, floors and designs are tiled everywhere else.

If you continue walking past Palazzo Ducale and towards the waterfront, you’ll see what makes Venice a city of spectacular contradictions. Even with the constant threat of rising tides and flooding, Piazza San Marco is in immaculate shape and packs in the crowds year-round.

Walk along the waterfront at sunset towards the Castello district and you’ll witness a spectacular scene of gondolas and splashing waves amongst a burnt orange sky.

The downside is that the path towards the Castello district is littered with tacky souvenir stands and hawkers trying to flog dodgy handbags produced using child labour (warning signs are posted by the local authorities to alert passers by). But, if you press on, the hawkers vanish and you can watch the sun go down over Venice.

Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute is situated by the Grand Canal and overlooks Piazza San Marco. It’s worth visiting to check out the views alone. Most other cathedrals in Venice charge an admission fee.

To view more of Pranav’s photos from around the world visit his Flickr PhotoStream

This article has been written by Pranav Bhatt. He is a graduate of the Faculty of Economics and Business at Sydney University. He has an interest in world travel, cricket, politics, technology and the media.

If you’ve travelled somewhere off the beaten track, can write well and have good quality photos I encourage you to contact me and I’ll consider publishing your travel diary here including generous attribution and links back to your website as thanks for your contribution

GUEST ARTICLE: Looking for a quiet escape from the crowds in Italy? You’ll linger longer in Ferrara than Bologna.

Ferrara is a UNESCO world heritage listed town lined with wide cobbled streets and surrounded by ancient walls. You can mix it with the bicycle loving locals and experience life at a much slower pace than you would in more frenzied places on the tourist map such as nearby Bologna.

Ferrara is connected to Tren Italia’s national railway network and is easy to get to from as far away as Rome, usually requiring an interchange onto a regional train from Bologna Centrale. Once you’re in Ferrara everything worth exploring is within easy walking distance.

Walking along the parameter of Ferrara is something unique as it is surrounded by kilometres of well-preserved red brick walls that served as a defensive fortress during the medieval and renaissance era.

Palazzo dei Diamanti is a beautiful historical monument and a stunning piece of Renaissance Italian architecture. It’s white pyramidal diamond shaped exterior design makes it hard to miss on a cobbled street nearby Estense Castle.

Castello Estense, the home of the former ruling family of Ferrara is the main tourist drawcard. It is very well maintained and is one of the few castles in Europe surrounded by water.

Entry is reasonable at 7 euros per adult. Check out the dark dungeons that lie beneath the castle as well as some magnificent frescos and paintings.

Once you’re done, why not try some fabulous hand made gelato from Bar Gelataria Venezuela opposite the Castle.

Visiting the markets by the Duomo in the main town square, Piazza Trento e Trieste is a good place to pick up a few knick-knacks, but don’t forget to taste the delicacies typical to Ferrara – pampapato and cappellacci pasta.

Pampapato is a large dome shaped cake enriched with cocoa, orange peel, candied fruit and almonds and is sold at a number of pasticcerias (pastry shops).

Cappellacci is a beautiful silky hat-shaped pumpkin filled ravioli served in a sage and burnt butter sauce. Pizzeria Ristorante Estebar (located on 13 via Scienze) serves a simple but flavoursome cappellacci dish which is definately worth trying.

With dorms starting at 15 euros per night, Students Hostel Estense is a fantastic budget option, 15 minutes from Ferrara train stazione and 5 minutes from the Castle.

Dorms are clean and include in room lockers, WiFi and linen. An average breakfast is provided consisting of melba toasts, watered down juice, reconstituted milk from the coffee machine, jams and cereal. Thankfully, a nice supermarket is located just down the street where you can stock up on a few items and prepare them in the basic hostel kitchen downstairs.

Bologna is only a short train ride from Ferrara. Bologna is known far and wide as being a culinary hotspot, home to tortellini and Bolognese, but it also offers a bustling medieval centre kept alive by a large student population.

Piazza Maggiore is the central town square and is an architectural marvel, surrounded by palazzos, Basilica di San Petronio, the town hall and medieval allies, one of which is dedicated to green grocers.

However, walking down the portico sidewalks and small lanes, I found downtown Bologna to be more ‘touristy’ than Ferrara. It was devoid of charm, with too many western retailers and too few bicycle-loving locals. Apart from a wide array of churches, I could not find any reason to linger for long.

The tourist office in Piazza Maggiore suggested I visit the university district for some cheap eats, but the allies were largely deserted, had a seedy vibe and were heavily graffitied. A word of advice: don’t visit on a Monday afternoon. Museums are closed and the churches are on their ’siesta’ break.

After searching far and wide for a small, local ristorante or trattoria to tuck into some fresh tortelloni (tortellini for vegetarians), I left Bologna disappointed. I was served an average tortelloni with an above average price and cover charge to boot.

To view more of Pranav’s photos from around the world visit his Flickr PhotoStream

This article has been written by Pranav Bhatt. He is a graduate of the Faculty of Economics and Business at Sydney University. He has an interest in world travel, cricket, politics, technology and the media.

If you’ve travelled somewhere off the beaten track, can write well and have good quality photos I encourage you to contact me and I’ll consider publishing your travel diary here including generous attribution and links back to your website as thanks for your contribution

GUEST ARTICLE: With historical ruins and historical monuments around every corner, you’ll need more than a day to explore Rome (Roma).

The way in which old mixes with new makes Rome such a unique city. Walk one-way and you’ll be surrounded by well preserved monolithic ancient ruins. Step the other way and a relentless stream of car and motorcycle chaos will whiz past you.

Roma Termini station is a major rail hub in Italy and is in a rundown area; so don’t linger about longer than necessary, especially after dark.

Take the metro or the bus and head off to your accomodation, but beware of pickpockets at all times. As with anywhere, unless you want to become an easy target, don’t look overly paranoid by strapping your backpack onto your chest with every zipper padlocked to the hilt.

If you want to hit the big three – the Roman Forum (Foro Romano), the Palatine (Palatino), and the Colosseum (Colloseo) buy a combination ticket valid over 2 days (12 euros per adult) from the Palatine and you’ll save time and money.

Another way to jump the queue is to join a short tour of the Palatine and the Colosseum (8 euros per adult). This is handy if you don’t have a guidebook or knowledge of Roman history as the guides will point out some quirky facts and retell classic tales.

Ancient ruins ranging from temples, arches, basilicas and columns are strewn around the Palatino. They look even more amazing set against the backdrop of the Colosseum from the Palatino panoramic lookout point.

Despite being ravaged by flames and floods, The Colosseum stands today symbolising the eternity of Rome. The Colosseum’s interior will amaze you. The underground area where caged animals were hoisted from for the entertainment of tens of thousands of spectators is now a labyrinth of mossy, grassy vaults and corridors.

Trevi Fountain (Fontana di Trevi) is a haven for tourists tossing coins and posing for endless snaps, day and night.

Follow the foot traffic that funnels through the area and you’ll pass the columns of Piazza di Pietra, an obelisk in Piazza di Monte Citorio, the magnificent domed Pantheon, the stadium shaped Piazza Navona, and Largo di Torre Argentina where Caesar met his end.

The Vatican Museum in Vatican City (15 euros per adult) is overwhelming. You’ll see more pieces of ornate marble housed in and around the museum than you’ll ever see in your life – a reflection of the Vatican’s ruthless ability to zealously ‘acquire’ just about anything.

If you really want to take in all the history, it’s advisable to sign up for a Vatican Museum tour, or refer to a guidebook.

Photos (without flash) can be taken in most places except the Sistine Chapel, of course that doesn’t stop some trigger-happy photographers.

Entry to St. Peter’s Basilica (Basilica di San Pietro) is free, and flash photography is allowed everywhere except the Vatican Grottos. The interior is richly decorated with colourful marble and elaborate sculptures.

The dome of St Peter’s is a feature of the Rome skyline. For less than 10 euros you can climb the steps to the top of the dome and get a high level view of Rome.

A metro station is situated nearby the Basilica, but the walk from downtown Rome along the River Tiber to Vatican City is enjoyable too.

If you time your visit to Rome well, you might be lucky enough to get your hands on a free ticket to be part of the audience for the Wednesday morning papal address.

Located on the other side of the River Tiber, the Trestevere district is a nice place to find a local trattoria or ristorante away from the city squeeze. For many visitors, Trestevere’s quiet cobbled alleys and colourful houses are what they imagined Rome to be.

Campo De’ Fiori is a quieter square near the River Tiber, featuring fruit and vegetable markets on the weekend.

The Spanish Steps, located by Piazza di Spagna is alive with tourists and poseurs sitting on the sparkling white steps watching the constant stream of traffic go by. Venture further down the street and you’ll find a shopping strip best left to the cashed-up crowd.

If you want to catch a nice sunset, head down to the water feature at Piazza del Quirinale, nearby Trevi Fountain.

Hotel Lodi (recently renamed Hotello di Roma) is a well priced hotel/hostel located in a quiet suburban street, within 30 minutes walking distance from Roma Termini station. Note that the walking directions listed online can be a little confusing for a first timer in Rome.

From what I gathered, the hotel offers a few private rooms upstairs and two eight-bed dorms downstairs. Lockers, free wifi, linen and a breakfast croissant (‘cornetto’ in Italian) served with coffee or juice were all included.

Service was outstanding from the minute I walked in. I especially appreciated how the front desk staff marked up a large map for me to make sure I made the most of my five days in Rome.

To view more of Pranav’s photos from around the world visit his Flickr PhotoStream

This article has been written by Pranav Bhatt. He is a graduate of the Faculty of Economics and Business at Sydney University. He has an interest in world travel, cricket, politics, technology and the media.

If you’ve travelled somewhere off the beaten track, can write well and have good quality photos I encourage you to contact me and I’ll consider publishing your travel diary here including generous attribution and links back to your website as thanks for your contribution