Venetian Carnival Magic

Venice during Carnival is a time of magic and mystery, with masked revellers all around. Caffe Lavena in Piazza San Marco is an old establishment that hosts hot chocolate afternoons in costume. They offer sumptuous local pastries and a thick hot chocolate to costumed patrons reminiscent of the 18th and 19th century. An unforgettable experience in a dream-like atmosphere that makes you believe, for a while, that you have travelled back in time.

3 Advantages of Traveling Low-Budget

Lack of finances are often a deterrent for people who want to travel but do not have the means. However, more adventurous travelers have discovered that low-budget travel has its advantages and brings with it a plethora of new experiences that would otherwise have been missed.

1. Lodging: While huge 3, 4 or even 5-star hotels are the epitome of comfort and luxury, low-budget lodging and hostels have many plus sides. Some hostels or guest houses offer a friendly, alternative service, and some can be quite picturesque. One hostel in Venice, the Palazzo Morosini, is actually a 400-year-old palazzo with a court-yard that faces the Grand Canal. Not only are the surroundings more attractive than those at other hotels, but the rooms are also decorated in 18th century style furnishings.
2. Travelling: Forget about hiring a car or reserving a first class ticket on a train or internal flight. Operating on a low budget, you can opt to travel with the locals. If you’re in exotic places like China or India, you can get the notorious free-for-all train cabins, or hang out of an overloaded bus for the trip of a life-time. In Corfu, you can take the bus – that is, if it turns up or if you manage to find the unmarked bus stops. Alternatively, you can hike up and down the island, discovering its natural beauty and picturesque villages on foot.
3. Food: Posh restuarants, or their opposites – fast food chains – are not the only options available to the hungry traveler. The best way to taste the local cuisine is to find the places where the locals go. These are usually not only the best, but also the cheapest. In Spain, the Spaniards gather in tapas bars, or sit down for their daily breakfast of chocolate con churros in the open-air cafes. An osteria in an out of the way calle in Venice, far from the crowds of Piazza San Marco, is not as prohibitively priced as its counterparts in the centre; and a Maltese ftira biż-żejt (bread with tomato purée, tuna, lettuce and pickled vegetables) costs only a euro or two and is very filling. Alternatively, you can go completely local and visit the supermarket for a budget selection of local produce.