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Paris France in spring, fall and summer, and mostly in winter is a beautiful thing! We know it, and the French know it (that explains a little of the arrogance.) But in truth, there’s so much to see and do in Paris, a year is hardly enough time. Of course if you want to stay a year, Cheap Rooms has plenty of cheap hotels in Paris. So get your skates on.

Getting flights to Paris is easy – plenty of airlines service the city from most east coast international airports. There’s a plethora of things to see and do in Paris and Cheap Rooms makes it easy to get to the marvellous city of lights so you can concentrate on having the best vacation ever!

You want food? Paris has got food! Great food of every price point and all of it is made with pride. If you want to try a quick whirl around the best of Asia, head to the quartier chinois (Chinatown, in the 13th) between Place d’Italie and Porte d’Ivry. This foodie paradise has all the exotic cuisines of Asia, prepared with the freshest ingredients and has becaome a favorite stopping off point for young Paris.

Paris (or France) invented the idea of the neighborhood bistro and the concept still goes strong off the tourist trails. Try Astier, in Oberkampf, and you won’t be disappointed. The tables are crammed in, the drinks are cold and the food delicious. The noise and bustle will convince you you’re in the real Paris. You’ll find it at 44 rue Jean-Pierre Timbaud, 11e, Paris.

People-watching is a great Parisian pastime – everyone does it so you won’t be alone! Start off in one of the cafes opposite the Louvre – Le Fumoir for example – then move on to the terrace of Le Petit Fer à Cheval in the Marais where you’ll find arty Paris congregating, then head up to Montmartre to get some fresh air and a close up look at the typical tourist in Paris.

Is there a more sophisticated spot right now in Paris than the Right Bank? No, and here’s where to enjoy an evening drink with the crowds on their way out. The Right Bank is traditionally the wealthier, more upmarket siode of Paris and as such has more traditional, larger venues. It’s architecturally interesting and is where most of the Paris attractions are. Try the vintage-style Chez Jeanette in Strasbourg St-Denis.

Traditionally, French wine has had a heady international reputation. All other wines are compared with it. If you’re not that familiar with French styles, go wine tasting for your education and pleasure. The Baron Rouge at 1 rue Théophile Roussel, 12e, has a marvellous selection and you’ll also enjoy the little nibbles provided alongside the wine. It’s terribly trendy so be prepared for milk crates and an outdoor setting.

Best restaurant in town? The answer is different to the most expensive, happily! Hidden Kitchen is run by two Americans in Paris who host dinner parties for 16 at their apartment opposite the Louvre. The idea is to try new and exciting recipes amongst a different group of people. The food is excellent and the real pleasure is in dining with complete strangers from all around the world in a private dinner party setting.

It’s hard to choose the top 5 things to do in Vancouver!
One of the prettiest harbor cities in the world, Vancouver, Canada is a fresh food lover’s dream, a ski bunny’s delight and an outdoor fan’s version of heaven. Vancouver centers its activities around the water and here’s where you’ll find the best restaurants, markets and many of the scenic activities. And the really good news is … if you want to stay a while Cheap Rooms has plenty of cheap hotels in Vancouver. Just in time for Valentine’s Day!

Getting flights to Vancouver is easy – plenty of airlines service the main west coast Canadian city from Los Angeles or San Francisco and many other west coast hub cities. There’s plenty to see and do in Vancouver and Cheap Rooms makes it easy to get to and stay there so that you can focus on fun!

Vancouver has a vibrant nightlife scene, whether it be food and dining, or bars and nightclubs. The Granville Entertainment District has the city’s highest concentration of bars and nightclubs and many are open into the small hours. Large crowds gather here on weekends and the party atmosphere is further enhanced by the practice of closing off streets to car traffic. The district has more than 20 bars and clubs and you can also dine in fine style. The city’s gay and lesbian district is in the Davie Village area.

Vancouver is a great outdoors city and if you have a car the number 1 attraction is the Sea to Sky Highway. It takes you from Vancouver across the spectacular Lion’s Gate Bridge to Whistler and beyond and is considered one of the top 5 drives in the world. It is a fabulous drive and on a beautiful Spring day with clear blue skies you’ll be hard-pressed to keep the superlatives spilling from your mouth!

A little closer to town, Van Dusen Botanical Gardens are on West 37th Avenue and are a wonderful respite from your mad vacation schedule. If the weather is being kind, pack a picnic lunch and good coffee (plenty of that abounds) and head for the gardens to enjoy the beautiful setting with views clear across to the North Shore mountains.

Is there a more fabulous view than the waterfront area of downtown Vancouver? Surely not! If you’re staying here you are in walking distance of all the main attractions. Go to Robson St for mainstream shopping (all the big chains are here), or head across to Granville for the more quirky boutiques, upmarket shopping and interesting side streets. There’s an underground shopping mall and the Broadway area has some neat shops.

Time for a day trip to a spectacular island? Good, Granville Island beckons. Perhaps the most spectacular ‘city’ island in the world, Granville is a day tripper’s dream. There are arts and crafts, unique shopping and a market atmosphere. There’s plenty to eat in the myriad stall so no need to pack a lunch – just arrive and enjoy! Catch the ferry over from downtown – and make sure you stop in the micro-brewery!

Best restaurant in town? That’s a terribly hard question, but, if you’re after the kind of fusion food that Vancouver, with its multi-ethnic population and abundance of fresh, local ingredients should boast, then go no further than Blue Water Cafe + Raw Bar. This is an extravagant restaurant for sure, but the delicate flavors, seafood bias and dishes like salmon terrine, scallops, matane shrimp and kurobota pork cheeks will leave you in raptures.

Aah London! One of the great cities of the world deserves at least one visit in a lifetime! This is the center of the universe (ish) and has more attractions per square mile than any other city. Whether it’s the Tower of London, London Bridge, a typical English pub or just a stroll through the historic streets and squares, a visit to London is busy and inspiring. Getting there is easy, London attracts millions of visitors every year – the hardest job you’ll have is deciding which are the 5 best things to see in London you’ll explore!
The West End is the theater and drinking district. You can choose to take in a play or show, eat in one of the hundreds of restaurants or find a pub to hole up in. The longest running play in the world is on at the St Martin’s Theatre in Cambridge Circus. The Mousetrap has been playing for 60 years, for more than 24,000 performances. That many people can’t be wrong. You’d be shot for forgetting your lines I assume.
There’s a great selection of cheap hotels in London on cheaprooms.com which will make you enjoy your stay even more enjoyable. London hotels in the West End, around Knightsbridge and Mayfair and Hyde Park can be expensive, but there are plenty of London hotels outside those areas.

If you want to see the number one tourist attraction in London, head to the Tower of London. It’s on the north bank of the Thames in central London and if you approach from the river side you’ll see the infamous Traitors Gate, through which Queen Anne Boleyn, Sir Thomas More, Queen Catherine Howard made their entrance. The Tower today is more famous for housing the Crown Jewels and symbols of royalty such as the crown, sceptre, and sword.

Tower Bridge crosses the Thames close to the Tower of London and is a remarkably intact suspension bridge dating from 1894. It’s an iconic representation of London and you can watch it raise and lower its span, walk across the bridge and take in an exhibition.

Is there a more famous palace than Buckingham Palace? Surely not! This grand monument to pomp, pageantry and royal splendour is at the end of the Mall, the ceremonial road way leading to the palace. Buck Palace is only a recent addition to the list of great castles of the world having been completed in 1854, If you’re one of the lucky 50,000 people who get invited to garden parties, receptions and banquets each year you’ll get a close up view of the palace, otherwise you’ll just have to settle for one of the 60 days per year the palace is open to the public for tours. Did you know – the palace costs about $20m a year to maintain? That’s an awful lot of gutters to unclog.

Time for a spot of shopping? Good, Harrods beckons. Perhaps the most famous department store in the world, Harrods has a reputation for being expensive, but that’s not entirely true. It’s worth a stroll through the hallowed doors if only to browse the food hall and shop for a few essentials in the grocery department. There’s nothing like a lunch of oysters followed by a selection of goodies from the truffles tray.

Best restaurant in town? That’s a terribly hard question, but, if you’re after some good old-fashioned English cooking, we suggest you head to Simpson’s in the Strand. The place is an institution and has been serving its traditional roast for some 150 years. Be-suited waiters carve your meal off the bone at the table and you pile on the roast potatoes, vegies and sauces. It’s an extraordinary throw back in time, and the meal isn’t half bad! Don’t tell your doctor, bring an appetite and get ready for a grand night out! (It’s very posh too!)