Doing a little online research before your trip always pays off. It’s handy to read local newspapers, visit tourism office websites and even local blogs to get a firsthand, up to date view of the country or city you are going to be in. Many tourism bureaus work very hard at not only getting people to their city or country, but offering a ton of suggestions on what to do and where to go. Here are some ideas for adding little extras to your trip.
In the UK, comedy fans, or those looking to explore a different part of the country, may want to visit Comedy England. Comedy England is a promotion of Enjoy England, the official tourist bureau for the country. Their aim is to get people into all corners of the country, via the history of comedy. You’ll find suggestions for day trips and weekend breaks, as well as where to see live comedy and a festivals and events calendar. It’s easy to plan a unique self-guided “tour” using the info provided. Prague is a very popular movie set city. Tons of movies have been filmed there and the city stands in for just about every other European city.
The City of Prague and the Czech Film Commission have put together a city map detailing where many blockbuster movies have been filmed over the years, like The Bourne Identity, Mission: Impossible and Casino Royale. Three city walks are detailed and the map has a ton of information on what was filmed where and what it was actually supposed to be. Copies are supposedly found at the Prague Information Service outlets, but it seems to be a hard map to get a hold of. But if you are a movie buff, try and find one – there are quite a few locations listed, and you could easily spend a fun day tracking them all down. Visit the local city and country tourist bureau sites before you leave. You will probably find great tips for exploring parts or an aspect of the city you’d never even thought of. I’m going to Copenhagen next month, and by visiting the VisitCopenhagen website found out there is an arts and crafts market the weekend I’m in town and there are free concerts bring held in Tivoli Gardens every Friday night.