Photo by Dave Dugdale

One of the things that catch many people out is knowing who and when to tip, and this is a factor that can prove to be somewhat confusing. Tipping is an established custom in many countries around the world, of course, but in the UK there are some groups who will always expect a tip and several more that will not, and these groupings can be very different from those in other parts of the world.

In most pubs and bars, for example, tipping the bartender is rare. In the USA, to use an example, it’s customary to tip every time drinks are bought, but in Britain this doesn’t usually happen. It may be more of a regular practice in some of the cosmopolitan bars in the centre of London, for example, but in the average British pub the server doesn’t usually receive a gratuity from customers.

Good service is everything

Those who would expect to be tipped include waiting staff in restaurants, but if you feel the service wasn’t particularly good you should consider giving less than the usual amount, which is often deemed to be around ten per cent of the total bill. Be warned, however, that many establishments already include a service charge, so make sure you check the details when the check is brought to the table.

Taxi drivers will usually expect to be tipped, as will hotel porters and hairdressers. There is no hard and fast rule about the amount of money you should offer in the UK, but generally a tip of between ten and fifteen per cent is acceptable. As always, you should see tipping as a reward for good service, not just as an expected payment that is part of the overall cost of a particular process.

When you’re budgeting for travelling around the UK, especially in the heart of London, it’s worth factoring in the cost of tipping a taxi driver. In general, cabs are relatively costly anyway in the capital, so it’s often a better option to take the underground railway, which is always less expensive and is usually quicker as well.

Sam Wilkes lives in the UK and works for https://www.timeto.co.uk/.

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Cardiff, Wales, UK by shining.darkness

Paintballing – Canewood

Delta Force Paintball Canewood currently holds the number one position of 66 attractions in Cardiff according to the voters on Trip Advisor. The paintballing is set within acres of beautiful woodland and offers a range of experiences. There are six games zones which include diverse themes such as Viet Cong villages, graveyards and castles. A must do for a weekend with the lads or the ladies; paintballing is a great way to expend some energy before a night on the town.

Millennium Stadium

The big game will of course be played out in the Millennium Stadium. It’s the last game of the RBS 6 Nations tournament and the atmosphere is sure to be electric. Make the most of your time staying close to the stadium by doing a tour before or after the game. The tour includes a look at the dressing room, the player’s tunnel and also offers the chance to learn about the unique palleted pitch and retractable roof.

Doctor Who Experience

This is an essential attraction for any fans of the show. The Doctor Who Experience is located in Cardiff Bay and takes you through time and space on an interactive journey. You can meet the monsters and fly the Tardis whilst taking a virtual trip with The Doctor. Doctor Who connoisseurs will enjoy the artefacts and props which span the last fifty years of the show.

Pubs and Bars

Cardiff has a bit of a reputation when it comes to its nightlife. It’s a university town which combined with the fun loving local population means Cardiff nights are legendary. The best pub for beer is probably The City Arms, which is a stone’s throw from the Millennium Stadium. The City Arms serves a range of ales and beers hailing from the local region as well as much further afield. One of the best pubs for live music is actually the Student Unions bar at the Cardiff School of Art, called Tommy’s Bar. This is also a good place to buy cheap beer. The best pub for sport is probably The Sports Caff as it’s also somewhere you can enjoy a good range of pub grub and where you will always be able to see a screen from your seat. Weekends can get quite busy though so large groups might want to book a table.

Cardiff locals clearly have a strong passion for rugby so it’s an ideal place to visit on a rugby tour. But it’s also a celebrated city for many other reasons. Make the most of your visit to Cardiff by touring the stadium, taking a journey with Doctor Who or paintballing in the woods and then finish each day with an unforgettable night in Cardiff.

AUTHOR BIO:

Shirley Jones is a sports travel writer. She writes travel guides and reviews for a wide range of sports tour destinations such as those found at https://www.gulliverstravel.co.uk/rugby/rbs-6-nations

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Kaunas city days, festival / Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Lee Fenner

1. Sea Festival: Klaipėda

The city of Klaipėda is the only city in Lithuania which is right on the ocean. So it comes as no great surprise to find out that an annual sea festival is held here. The Klaipėda sea festival was started in 1934, and it currently attracts over half a million people who participate in three-days of non-stop action.

It’s usually held at the end of July or beginning of August and the streets are filled with markets, street concerts, children’s performances, and even a special carnival where attendees dress as mythological sea creatures. There are also several competitions related to fishing and sport, as well as an international sailing event. The pubs and bars are open much later during this period, and a free fireworks display is given on the last day of the festival.

2. Film Festival: Vilnius “Kino pavasaris” – Cinema Spring

This film festival was started in 2005 and is now an annual event, with attendance growing every year. The point of this festival is to showcase new non-commercial films, from other popular film festivals such as the Berlin, Toronto and Venice, as well as to give new directors from Eastern and Central Europe a chance to debut.

The film festival in 2011 saw over 60,000 attendees, compared to the original 4,000 only 6 years earlier. The event is held annually between March and April. Cinemas around the city of Vilnius showcase a wide variety of films, and the programme line-up includes talks from well-known directors, along with movie-making workshops, short film competitions as well as film debates.

3. Folk Festival: “Mėnuo Juodaragis” – Black Horned Moon

This contemporary Baltic culture festival hosts the largest number of foreign visitors, with over twenty-five countries represented in the last few years. The music played here is incredibly varied and styles include avant-garde, ethno, post-folk, gothic, neo-folk, and ambient, to name but a few. The festival runs for three days, all day and night, and focuses on the Baltic culture and the heritage of pagan traditions.

Music isn’t all that’s on offer, as there are many activities and training seminars on offer, focused on a variety of subject matter including folk dances, sports, arty films, DJ parties, traditional rites and tribal workshops.

4. Music Festival: Tamsa Music

This highly acclaimed music festival was first held in 2009, and has become a much-loved annual event. The festival is held each year on an isle in the Valley of Songs (Dainų slėnis), with the main focus being on live performances and Lithuanian music, although several foreign artists such as Little Dragon from Sweden also perform annually.

If you want to attend, you’d best book your tickets early, as visitor numbers are limited to preserve the natural beauty of Dainų slėnis.

5. Theatre Festival: “Sirenos” – Sirens International Theatre Festival

Held annually in October in the city of Vilnius, the international theatre festival is called “Sirenos” (Sirens) and is a week-and-a-bit long affair, with a different theme every year. Why the mythological name you wonder? Well in Greek mythology, Sirens were half-bird, half women (not mermaids) who sang and tempted sailors into joining them on the rocky coast, which more often than not led to the death of the crew.

The festival is promoted as a temptation, “an invitation, a magical spell impossible to overcome” and for most theatre-goers it delivers on that promise. Contemporary European performances, as well as comedy skits, dramatic and ironic plays, and even some whimsical imaginings are presented to an ever growing audience.

Author Bio: Roseanna McBain is the blogger for the accommodation website, TravelGround.com – which specialises in accommodation in the Drakensberg. In her spare time she enjoys writing poetry, gardening, and visiting local farmers markets.

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Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by rovingI

Most of the bars in Belfast are open until 1am most days of the week; however some might close earlier at around 11:30pm. Most of the nightclubs are open until 2am and some will stay open even later. Drinks are much more affordable than in the larger UK cities such as London and there are a wide range of nightlife venues to suit your personal style and taste in music.

The Kitchen Bar

This is one of the most historic bars in the city of Belfast as it was founded back to 1859. It was one of the preferred nightlife spots of the musicians who would perform at Belfast’s Empire Music Hall. It is located within an old converted warehouse and it has a lot of charm and charisma. It also serves traditional Irish food so that you can stop there for dinner before heading out on your night out.

The Stiff Kitten

If you are looking for a big night out on a small budget, head down to the Stiff Kitten on a Tuesday or Thursday night. This bar is targeted towards students and these are its cheap drink nights. It also features great music and has big name DJs on weekends. The crowd here at this nightclub is young, energetic and friendly.

Live Music and Dancing

There are many clubs in Belfast which offer excellent live music and dancing. The M Club is one of the most popular venues in Belfast and offers different music throughout the week. If you are heading down there on a weekend you can be sure that it will be absolutely packed.

Another great venue is The Limelight which showcases up and coming artists. Some of the coolest bands have had their early gigs here, such as Oasis, the Arctic Monkeys, The Strokes and Blur. Another great place for dancing is Roxy Nightclub, which is located on Great Victoria Street. It has a chic loft feeling to it and excellent DJs every Saturday who play crowd-pleasing dance floor anthems.

Go On a Pub Crawl

If you are visiting the city of Belfast for the first time you might want to consider going on a pub crawl. This can be a great way to experience the nightlife for several reasons. When you are new to a city you don’t know which bars are the best to visit, so it is nice to have an experienced guide who will show you the way around. Also, going on a pub crawl with other travellers can be a great way to make new friends if you are traveling on your own.

There is a Belfast Pub Crawl which will take you around to some of the most famous bars, pub and nightclubs in the city including The Parlour, The Bot, The Elms, Filthy McNasty’s and The Taphouse. You will get free entry and four free drinks throughout the night.

Safety Tips

As always when you are going on a night out in an unfamiliar city, keep your wits about you and plan ahead. Make sure that you stick together with your friends and have the number of a taxi ready for when you go back to your accommodation.

Have a great time enjoying the vibrant nightlife of Belfast!

If you are planning on checking out the nightlife while you are staying in Belfast accommodation, here are some tips for enjoying the scene of this vibrant city.

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