In the north east of Spain lies the Spanish giant of Barcelona, where culture meets politics and passion is equally shared between both. The center of Catalonian culture, flags supporting independence line the streets, each with their own political meaning. All this pride in the city comes across strongly and it’s the ideal place to immerse yourself in some cultural wonder.

Being the JFC summer holiday destination this year, we thought we might as well share our experiences and let you know what you should make sure you don’t miss out on when you're exploring the city for yourself.

Go on a Tour

We opted to go on a walking tour of the city right at the start. Partly due to not having had time to research the city prior to going and partly because it came highly recommended. We opted for SANDEMANs NEW Europe tour and got a tour of two sectors of the city. You learn a lot about the city’s history, culture and current situation. One of the best aspects of this was when we asked for some recommendations at the end, which lead to the discovery of some of the other hot spots in Barcelona which feature later on this list. You should 100% do this as it took us away from the tourist traps and towards the hidden gems (massive shout out to our guide Reuben).

Go to the Beach

We opted for the Sitges beaches just outside the city but all of them are fantastic. Glorious sand, cocktail sheds and pedalos... What more could you ask for? This is half the reason most people travel to the Mediterranean coast.

Eat Tapas

We had a hell of a mixed experienced with tapas throughout our trip, trying it at every opportunity. The clear winner out of all of these was our frantic experience of El Xampanyet. After failing to make a reservation we turned up 15 minutes before opening to find a queue already forming. Prepare to be crammed into a space and be rapidly fed the most incredible accumulation of dishes. The flavours are phenomenal and the prices are fantastic. An absolute must visit.

Visit the Bars

We were blown away with the choice of bars on offer in Barcelona. There are hundreds of world class and unique bars to choose from with their own specialties and twists.

Our two recommendations from different ends of the spectrum are Nevermind and Caribbean Club. Nevermind is an aptly named grunge themed bar with a great happy hour and graffiti scrawled across the walls. But no doubt, the coolest thing about it is the skate bowl in the back. There’s nothing quite like sipping on a cold beer, playing foosball whilst admiring people from across the world ripping it up.

If you want somewhere a little more chilled with some of the finest drinks in Spain then step through the solid wood door into the half hidden world of Caribbean Club. The owner is a wonderful man who was happy to talk us through his bar and menu, he even posted a postcard back to us from the bar. If you like either rum or a cocktail (who doesn’t?) then you have to give it a shot.

Visit the Sagrada Familia

Even if you aren’t one for history and old buildings you have to go in and see this place. Due to be finished in 2026 this unbelievable structure will leave you open mouthed throughout the entire experience. I would recommend that you have a look at some of Gaudi’s other work throughout the city beforehand but this is the most impressive and mind blowing by quite some way.

                                                                                                                 Robbie Ambrose

Summer is approaching and that means it’s time to book that last minute flight and have a great escape over a long weekend. 

You want somewhere chilled but also exciting and obviously filled with culture! Amsterdam is a city with an abundance of all three of those things plus a whole lot more - as we're sure you've probably heard. 

With a city so packed it can be hard to work out what to narrow it down to, so I thought I’d help you by taking a trip and letting you know my pick for the 5 things to do whilst in Amsterdam.

Visit a ‘Coffeeshop’

Let’s face it, this is the sole reason half the tourists visit Amsterdam in the first place. 

The coffee shops are really nice places and not at all how the uninitiated might imagine. The staff are friendly for the most part and happy to advise those of us that aren’t regular visitors. 

Try not to buy too much as you’ll no doubt want to try lots of different shops around the city. It’s well worth having a look online at the menus and checking out reviews of the shops to make sure you are getting a good deal. 

We recommend going and sitting inside with a coffee (the name coffee shop isn’t a joke, the coffee is really great) and just relaxing. Do as others do and bring your own paraphernalia because not everywhere will have some to lend out. You can get this stuff in just about any shop in the city. 

Oh and don’t go into a place labelled “Café” or “Koffiehuis” and try to buy weed, that’s just as bad as trying to buy some in your local café at home.

Journey through the Red Light District

The walk through the infamous Red Light District was really something. There is absolutely nothing like it anywhere else I’ve been. There’s not too much to say on the subject as it is hard to put the atmosphere into words but just go and you’ll understand. So, so strange.

Go to Amsterdam's Museumplein (Museum Square)

There are a few reasons to do this but you’ll want to save it for a sunny day. First off you need to get the compulsory cliché photo with the ‘I Amsterdam’ sign so you can use it as your Facebook cover photo for the next three months. 

Secondly take a look a look at the building behind the sign. What you are now staring at, open mouthed, is Rijksmuseum. Amsterdam has a vast array of unique and wonderful architecture but this was my personal favourite. After you’re done gawking you can sit and relax with some food in the lovely park and move on to the next attraction.

Plenty other strange museums around the city too - from the famous sex museum to Rembrandt house, and of course, as we'll chat about, the home of Vincent Van Gough.

Visit Van Gough

Technically this could be included in the point above as it one of the three museums located in the square, but I felt this one deserved some special attention. 

A perhaps unexpected highlight of the holiday was the visit to see the masterpieces inside the Van Gough museum. The art is truly mind blowing and a must see. 

It was pretty strange to see all of the pictures that you see on TV and learn about in school in real life and it definitely left an impression. Even if you’re not an art enthusiast this one should be on your list. Hell, it should be on your list even if you’re not going to Amsterdam.

Enjoy the alcohol

Bit of a strange one and probably not the thing that jumps in to your head when thinking about the Dam but the Dutch have a rich history filled with beers and spirits. 

Home of Heineken, Grolsch and Bols, not to meantion being the birthplace of Genever (The spirit that Gin was inspired by and reason for the phrase “dutch courage”) you should definitely immerse yourself in activities Amsterdam has to offer. 

The Heineken factory tour and a visit to The House of Bols come highly recommended. After all, what’s a holiday without a few drinks.

If you're looking for a more out of town/tourist experience and to really take in the culture, get along to Canvas - an art gallery and cocktail bar on the 7th floor of a building that turns into a club on Fridays and Saturdays. Music policy comes from funk and soul to house and techno, and with an open air panoramic view of the city from the balcony outside, this is a place a bit off the map that is well worth a trip.

The Dam square has plenty good nightlife going for it too - pretty much tourist central come dark. We ended up partying in an old comedy club called Chicago Boom where half the rooms are filled with folk smoking and the other half is electronic music. It was pretty insane.

                                                                                                                                Robbie Ambrose

I spent a few months living and working in Vancouver, Canada, recently on a semester abroad from university. Fair to say it was pretty awesome.

You probably all know the place – situated in the south west corner of Canada, there’s a truckload of beautiful scenery, endless bacon and maple syrup and more crazy ice hockey fans than you can shoot a puck at.

The hardest thing about writing this little feature, then, is just picking out what to include. There’s really no end to what you can get up to, but let’s try and start to narrow it down with a breakdown of my top five things to do in Vancouver:

Explore the Neighbourhoods

The first thing you will notice while wondering around the city is how diverse it is, both in architecture, scenery and residents. The downtown area is split into various historic neighbourhoods – Chinatown, Yaletown and Gastown – each with a very distinct character.

I highly recommend you visit them all, as they all have something different to offer. My personal highlight was Gastown, you’ll know you’re there instantly by the unique lights that line the streets and a feel that closest resembles the steampunk trend.

Eat Out

Eating out is Vancouver’s favourite activity and it’s easy to see why. With a truly enormous variety of restaurants and over half of Vancouver’s population speaking a first language that isn’t English, you’ll be sure to find fantastically authentic food across the city.

Don’t be too shy in jumping into somewhere where the menu isn’t in English because they are often hidden gems. Chinatown is obviously the place to fill your Asian cravings and Yaletown has a great selection of more American, barbeque styled menus. Also be sure to grab some sushi at night. Many places do a cheap night menu after about 9:30 pm and it is delicious.

One place to definitely eat at is Cambodian and Vietnamese eatery Phnom Penh. As the top rated restaurant on Urbanspoon, a reservation is essential. We managed to get a good group of people along and bought a whole bunch of different dishes to share. This is definitely the best way to eat as everything is excellent.

Venture Outside Vancouver

One of the greatest things about Vancouver must be its location. If you manage to work your way through the attractions in the city (you would have to be there a while) or maybe fancy a change of scenery, then there are many places within a few hours drive that could be brilliant holiday destinations in their own right.

The US and Seattle are great for a visit but if you’re after something a little more picturesque then you can head over to Vancouver Island, home to Victoria, which can only be compared to a quaint British seaside town. An entire day can be spent just wondering around admiring the beauty.

The other essential travel destination nearby has to be Whistler Blackcomb. A mountain biking mecca in the summer months and snow sports heaven for the other half of the year, it isn’t to be missed for any active enthusiast. Even if you’re not a keen participant Whistler plays host to various spectacular events such as the Fire & Ice Show.

Do the Grouse Grind (on a clear day)

Grouse Mountain is situated a few minutes north of Vancouver and can be reached by the city’s public transport system. Once you get there you can either get the cable car up or go up the trail. The walk is not to be underestimated. I consider myself a fairly fit guy and I was pretty winded by the end.

It isn’t a long hike but it is steep. Prepare by bringing water and wearing appropriate shoes. Also be ready to be embarrassed by the locals who run up the mountain for a bit of fun.

Once you get to the top there is a simply stunning view of Vancouver, but it doesn’t stop there. You can see all the way Washington state in the US and miles in every other direction. I would advise venturing outside the cafe to climb to the top of the small peak (it only takes a few minutes) and you’ll be able to see the dramatic mountains to the north.

Go to the Hockey

If you’re in Canada this should be compulsory. The Canadians LOVE hockey. The game is fast paced, full on and reasonably easy to get the gist of, so what’s not to love?

The spectacle is great and the atmosphere during the game is really something special. Ideally try to catch a Canucks game but if you aren’t too sure about the whole thing or it’s a bit out of your price range then Vancouver is also home of the Vancouver Giants. The Giants are a WHL team so the quality is still great and the tickets are far cheaper. We managed to get rink side for $20CAD which was really something. Whichever you go to see you’re bound to have a great time.

                                                                                                                              Robbie Ambrose