text:
Doncaster

Doncaster is an industrial city in South Yorkshire in the north of England, with a population of about 110,000 in 2019. It's a metropolitan borough which also includes the towns of Bawtry, Mexborough, Conisbrough, Hatfield and Stainforth.

Understand
"Donny" to the Romans was Danum. Their main highway Ermine Street ran from London through Lincoln to the Humber then to York, but ferrying across the Humber was sometimes impractical. So they created an alternative route through Danum that in modern times became the Great North Road then A1. Doncaster grew with trade but remained a small market town until the 19th century, when it industrialised through coal-mining. The South Yorkshire coalfield tilts, outcropping west towards the Pennines, having the best seams at Barnsley, and becoming unprofitable and deep to the east. So Doncaster didn't have mines but served the industry, especially through transport, with canals then railways. The railways began as a leash of company tracks between mines and wharves, then long distance routes were forged. Three sections linked in 1850 to create the East Coast Mainline from London Kings Cross to Edinburgh: Doncaster is about midway and became a railway engineering centre.

Much of the industry has gone, with the better coal seams worked out, engineering jobs lost abroad, and limited investment in the railways. Doncaster transitioned to service and light industry. This area, historically part of West Riding of Yorkshire, in 1974 joined the new entity of South Yorkshire, along with Sheffield, Barnsley and Rotherham.

Visit Doncaster is the Travel Information Centre, in the Mansion House at the corner of High Street and Priory Place. It's open M-Sa 10AM-3:30PM.

By plane
Leeds-Bradford and Manchester  are the closest airports.

Doncaster Sheffield Airport (DSA) closed in 2022.

By train

 * Wikivoyage has a guide to Rail travel in Great Britain

Trains run every 30 min from London King's Cross to Doncaster, taking 90 min to 2 hours. They're usually heading for Wakefield and Leeds.

Other direct trains are from York, Newcastle upon Tyne and Edinburgh; cross-country from Bristol and Birmingham; and transpennine from Manchester Airport and Piccadilly. Frequent local trains ply to Nottingham, Sheffield, Leeds and Hull.

is within Frenchgate Interchange, next to the bus station and across the road from the shopping centre.

By bus
National Express buses take 4 hr 30 min from London Victoria to Doncaster. The afternoon bus NX567 continues to Hull, Bridlington and Scarborough; the overnight bus NX436 continues to York, Middlesbrough, Sunderland and South Shields.

Bus NX327 runs once a day from Birmingham via Leicester and Nottingham to Doncaster, continuing to Scunthorpe and Hull.

First Bus X78 runs every 15 min from Sheffield via Meadowhall, Rotherham and Conisbrough to Doncaster.

Bus X19 plies between Doncaster and Barnsley taking 45 min. It runs M-Sa every 30 min, hourly on Sundays.

Local buses meander through the lanes, burbs and industrial estates from Wakefield (Bus 496), Pontefract (Bus 408 / 409) and Gainsborough (Bus 98).

The bus station is within Frenchgate Interchange, separated from the railway station by a service alley. The airport bus is usually from Stand A1 immediately you enter. But make sure to look at the platform indicator here, because these are lacking down the long corridor of the station.

By car
A1(M) bypasses town to the west; it's only two lanes and often congested. M18 passes to the south, connecting Lincolnshire to the M1 near Sheffield; this is three lanes and usually flows freely. There are Park & Ride facilities at:
 * - White Rose Way, off junction 3 of M18, with Bus 70 to town centre.
 * - Doncaster South / Parrots Corner on A638, with Bus 55 - it lacks direct access to the motorway.
 * - Doncaster North / Woodlands on A638, with Bus 50.
 * - Doncaster Racecourse, multiple buses.

The main car park within town is in the Frenchgate Centre.

Get around
For Cusworth Hall take Bus 41 towards Scawby; it runs every 20 min.

For Conisbrough Castle take Bus X78 towards Sheffield and get off when you see the castle.

For Brodsworth Hall and Hooton Pagnell, take Bus 203 which runs M-Sa every 2 hours.

For the Wildlife Park, take Bus 57 / 58 as far as Branton. It's usually going to Finningley but sometimes wanders as far as Epworth in Lincolnshire.

Taxi operators are Absolute Cabs +44 1302 556688 and Drive Doncaster +44 1302 820282.

See

 * St George's Minster, 200 yards from the Interchange, is a stonking great Gothic affair by George Gilbert Scott, who else? Note the clock by Dent (designer of Big Ben clock) and the 5 manual organ by Schulze. This Minster was never a monastery but replaced the Norman church that burnt down in 1853; it's now the Anglican parish church.
 * was a large wetland at the north edge of Sherwood Forest, lost in early modern times to drainage and the railways, but then flooded in the 1950s when coal mining caused its subsidence. So the small remaining area has reverted to being a wetland, managed as a nature reserve.
 * was a large wetland at the north edge of Sherwood Forest, lost in early modern times to drainage and the railways, but then flooded in the 1950s when coal mining caused its subsidence. So the small remaining area has reverted to being a wetland, managed as a nature reserve.
 * was a large wetland at the north edge of Sherwood Forest, lost in early modern times to drainage and the railways, but then flooded in the 1950s when coal mining caused its subsidence. So the small remaining area has reverted to being a wetland, managed as a nature reserve.
 * is a tiny but bijou hamlet on B6422, a mile northeast of Brodsworth Hall. Strolling round it will take barely 10 min but you can splurge and stay at the Hall, often used for wedding parties.
 * Epworth is east just across the boundary into Lincolnshire. Home of the Wesley family, founders of the Methodist church, it's on the mysterious Isle of Axeholme, meaning it's surrounded by turnip fields.
 * is a ruin southwest just across the boundary into Rotherham.
 * is a tiny but bijou hamlet on B6422, a mile northeast of Brodsworth Hall. Strolling round it will take barely 10 min but you can splurge and stay at the Hall, often used for wedding parties.
 * Epworth is east just across the boundary into Lincolnshire. Home of the Wesley family, founders of the Methodist church, it's on the mysterious Isle of Axeholme, meaning it's surrounded by turnip fields.
 * is a ruin southwest just across the boundary into Rotherham.
 * Epworth is east just across the boundary into Lincolnshire. Home of the Wesley family, founders of the Methodist church, it's on the mysterious Isle of Axeholme, meaning it's surrounded by turnip fields.
 * is a ruin southwest just across the boundary into Rotherham.

Do

 * Football: Doncaster Rovers were relegated in 2022 so they now play soccer in League Two, England's fourth tier. They play at Eco-Power (formerly Keepmoat) Stadium, capacity 15,200, two miles south of town centre. In 2022 the stadium hosted matches of the Rugby League World Cup Finals, postponed from 2021.
 * Rugby Union: Doncaster Knights play in the Championship, amateur RU's second tier. Their home ground is Castle Park east edge of town.
 * Rugby League: Doncaster RLFC play in League One, the 13-a-side third tier. They share Eco-Power Stadium with the soccer team, easily arranged as the RL playing season is Feb-Sep.
 * Cinema: Vue is between The Dome and the lake. Savoy is in town centre off Waterdale.
 * Golf: courses include Doncaster Town Moor, Wheatley GC, Doncaster GC, Bawtry GC (below) and Crookhill Park.
 * Cinema: Vue is between The Dome and the lake. Savoy is in town centre off Waterdale.
 * Golf: courses include Doncaster Town Moor, Wheatley GC, Doncaster GC, Bawtry GC (below) and Crookhill Park.
 * Golf: courses include Doncaster Town Moor, Wheatley GC, Doncaster GC, Bawtry GC (below) and Crookhill Park.

Eat

 * Doncaster has lots of cheap and cheerful eating places but not much in the way of fine dining. The main strips are High St into Hall Gate, and Silver St into Market Rd and Nether Hall Rd.

Drink

 * Red Lion in Market Place is a JD Wetherspoon and a nice quiet little spot. They also have rooms.
 * Masons Arms in Market Place has real ale and a huge selection of rum.
 * Black Bull in Market Place is a large pub where you can sit inside or in the large beer garden.
 * The Gate House on Priory Walk is another JD Wetherspoon.
 * Others nearby include Relish Bar & Grill on East Laith Gate, The Lord Nelson on Printing Office St, and Saracens on Cleveland St.

 * Others are Reflex and Rock-a-hula - Tiki bar.
 * Brewery: Angel & Royal on Cleveland St is a brew-pub, open M-Th 5-11PM, F Sa noon-11PM, Su noon-5PM.

Sleep

 * Travelodge and Holiday Inn Express have hotels in the Doncaster area, all within easy reach of the town centre.
 * Hilton Garden Inn is next to the racecourse. The Campanile is half a mile east on A638 Bawtry Road.
 * Lakeside is a lagoon near the football stadium. Hotels here are two Premier Inns, Travelodge, and Doncaster International.
 * Travelodge and Holiday Inn Express have hotels in the Doncaster area, all within easy reach of the town centre.
 * Hilton Garden Inn is next to the racecourse. The Campanile is half a mile east on A638 Bawtry Road.
 * Lakeside is a lagoon near the football stadium. Hotels here are two Premier Inns, Travelodge, and Doncaster International.
 * Lakeside is a lagoon near the football stadium. Hotels here are two Premier Inns, Travelodge, and Doncaster International.

Connect
As of April 2022, Doncaster has 5G from EE and Three, and 4G from O2 and Vodafone.

Go next

 * Sheffield, 20 min away, has fascinating industrial history and a lively atmosphere.
 * York has kept its medieval walls and has many attractions.
 * Lincoln is equally historic, a short drive or train ride.
 * Sherwood Forest used to stretch all the way to Doncaster but its remnant is now 30 miles south: see the ancient oaks clustered around the forest village of Edwinstowe.

title: Doncaster


text:
Don Det

Don Det (ດອນເດດ), is an island in the middle of the Mekong River in Si Phan Don in Laos.

Understand
Don Det used to be a really off the beaten track place only five to ten years ago. While you won't find the same crowds here as in Vang Vieng for example, most of the island's shore is now covered in lines of guesthouses and tourist restaurants. The installation of electricity poles and wires is now completed and Don Det does now have 24 hour electrical service, though it's not unusual for the power occasionally to go our for a few minutes to a few hours.

Don Det is somewhat of an attraction for backpackers and is often compared with the much less relaxing Vang Vieng. Backpackers, mostly in their 20s and 30s come to this island to relax. Some stay a day or two, some for weeks and a few have decided to stay for good.

By boat

 * Ban Nakasang is 2 1/2 hours by mini bus or around 3 1/2 hours by local transport from Pakse. Local public transport leaves from the southern bus station in Pakse.

From Nakasang town, one can reach Don Det on a local tiny boat. The official one-way price for immediate departure is 30,000 Kip if alone, 15,000 Kip a person if there are at least 2 passengers (usually you're welcome to wait for a second passenger to show up); bicycles and motorbikes not included. Fares go up 5,000 kip after 17:30, and there are no boats after 20:00. If considering buying a round-trip ticket, keep in mind that you may end up booking a boat-included bus ticket to your next destination from one of the agents on the islands.

 * Cambodia: The prices are more expensive for the local transport than they are for the chicken bus. Many visitors like the local style transport but if price is an issue then shop around.

Get around
Don Det is a small island. The walking path around the island is 7.2 km, and takes about two hours. A bicycle will make it a lot quicker.

It is possible to rent bicycles for 10,000 kip from guesthouses and restaurants. Mountain bikes with 21 gears go for about twice that. Most tourists who do this cycle over the old railway bridge to Don Khon. The cost of crossing the bridge is 20,000 for a day pass.

See
There are not so many temple or culturally important sites to see in Don Det, but the island and tranquil surroundings are the real gems. Anywhere you walk you will be greeted by smiling locals, stunning islands and scenery and a new experience. The temple on Don Kon is interesting enough and has a very old stupa that is not typical for the region. It is also on the way to the waterfall.

Do
If laying in a hammock in front of your bungalow isn't enough for you, there are some other very relaxing things to do in Don Det:
 * Take any one of the numerous scenic tours to outlying islands. The sunset barbeque tours offered going north of the island to pristine sand beaches are also quite good. The people in this region are the main asset and do not hesitate to mingle with them. Even if the language is a barrier they will be more than nice.
 * Go on one of the numerous kayaking trips available in the area.
 * Take any one of the numerous scenic tours to outlying islands. The sunset barbeque tours offered going north of the island to pristine sand beaches are also quite good. The people in this region are the main asset and do not hesitate to mingle with them. Even if the language is a barrier they will be more than nice.
 * Go on one of the numerous kayaking trips available in the area.
 * Take any one of the numerous scenic tours to outlying islands. The sunset barbeque tours offered going north of the island to pristine sand beaches are also quite good. The people in this region are the main asset and do not hesitate to mingle with them. Even if the language is a barrier they will be more than nice.
 * Go on one of the numerous kayaking trips available in the area.
 * Go on one of the numerous kayaking trips available in the area.

Buy
Many shops in the tourist village at the north end of the island offer money exchange and "ATM service": for example, you can get US dollars or kip from 4000 Island Bar, Adam's Rogue or Little Eden. They charge your Visa or MasterCard for a commission of 6-10%.

The nearest banks, Lao Development Bank and BCEL, are on the mainland in Ban Nakasang, where there are two ATMs. They also provide Western Union services for emergencies. Best to use before going to the island. Most guesthouses will provide boat trips there and back for about 50,000 Kip, waiting for you while you do your banking. Banking hours are between 08:30-15:00.

Eat
The food situation is always changing now and has developed from simple dishes like fried rice to Belgium stew soaked in Guinness. The following is a small preview of what you can expect.

 * Rib Shack. Now serves hamburgers, not ribs.
 * Mr Mans restaurant (opposite Mr Mans accommodation) has an excellent and inexpensive menu. Try their lentil curry and rice soup.
 * Adam's Bar and Restaurant is located at the main Northern tip of Don Det. Has a variety of Asian and Western food, and a variety of shakes and cocktails. Hosts open mic acoustic sets, late night parties and barbecues at an hours notice. Can get the latest films, music and TV series uploaded onto your laptop. Also has a free DVD lounge, plunge pool, darts, Wi-Fi and a Nintendo Wii.
 * The Happy Bar, 4000 Islands, located on the main sunrise strip by the beach is an excellent restaurant serving Asian and Western food. Stunning views of the Mekong along with the islands best pool table and the latest DVDs. English speaking staff. Has WiFi.
 * Paradise Restaurant, located about 10 minutes south of town. Serves island cuisine and is noted for its lentil curry/pumpkin, pumpkin burgers and chicken burgers. The French rave about the crêpes and the Israelis about the shakshuka. The menu has a wide variety of foods with large portions at low prices. The menu includes the 'Don Det Manual' with information about the island and an excellent map to photograph.
 * King Kong restaurant located in the south of Don Det has an ever increasing array of Western foods, including pizza, fish and chips and Sunday roasts. It's famous for the King Kong double cheeseburger. The owner, Mini, is polite, friendly and always ready for a game of poker.
 * Mr Vong's restaurant, approximately 500 metres north of the bridge, offers good homestyle Laotian food. The proprietor speaks excellent English, and is a wealth of local information.
 * Don Summers Located across from Adam's Bar. Serves a variety of western and Lao food. The owners are very laid back, and it is a great place to chill and hangout.

Drink
Beer Lao available everywhere for between 10,000 & 15,000 kip.

A plastic water bottle of rice whisky, lao lao, is also widely available for 10,000 Kip.

Fruit shakes cost from 8,000 to 12,000 kip

Marijuana is widely available anywhere on the island but should be used discreetly. Unlike Vang Vieng the police don't collude with dealers to bust people but that is subject to change. So far there are not many places offering 'happy shakes' but if you find a 'hangover special breakfast' it could have Valium or other drugs in it. If this isn't your thing, then avoid such places.

Sleep
Dozens of guesthouses from 50,000 kip a night and up (although can be as little as 20,000 during the low season): all have basic bungalows that usually have a porch with a hammock, a bed and a mosquito net. There might be a little difference between the conditions of bungalows, mattresses, and mosquito nets. More expensive accommodation is also available, which may include luxuries such as air conditioning.

The most important thing when selecting your accommodation is whether you want to stay on the sunrise or sunset side of Don Det. Bungalows on the sunrise side are normally cooler. The morning sun is not as hot as the afternoon sun on the sunset side.

In general the bungalows in the north and sunset tend to be more centered to the party crowd and the places in the south tend to get more of the nature lovers. The area around sunset and Hua Det are higher density tourist areas and the feeling of being in Laos is being somewhat lost.

Don't expect late nights out partying though because there is a curfew that oftentimes changes, it is now 23:00 closing time strictly enforced. In the areas away from the main settlements you can walk around at will if you fancy a midnight stroll.

Most, if not all, accommodation has Wi-Fi.

Proper attention to the security of the accommodation, especially locks of doors and windows, is recommended. Better use own locks and even chains to guarantee safety.

Connect
Free Wifi is available at most of the restaurants and guesthouses, many of which advertise it as "fast".

If you have a Lao SIM card, you'll likely be able to access the internet through the mobile network as well. Unitel has good 4G coverage, and a top-up costs 10,000 kip for 2 GB. You may not be able to buy a SIM card on the island, but you can try the Street View Cafe on the sunrise side, which has a Unitel sign hanging out front. You should at least be able to top up there. It's unclear whether any services for other providers are available on the island, though if you want a fast connection, Unitel is the only one in Laos that offers 4G anyway.

Go next

 * Don Khon - An aged colonial era bridge built by the French connects the islands of Don Det and Don Kon. It is possible to visit the Dolphin viewing area and the waterfall before exiting to Cambodia. The prices for this service exceed those of what you can expect to depart from Nakasang but you need a combination of boats and ground transport to do it this way. Depending on your budget it is well worth it.
 * Stung Treng - A bus service operates daily rides to Cambodia. A ticket to Stung Treng including the boat to mainland is about US$6. Even though ticket sellers and bus operators tell you that the bus/van is going to Stung Treng bus station/centre, they may not be telling the truth. If there are not enough passengers to fill an entire van to Stung Treng, you will be dropped at a small shack 3 km outside Stung Treng. There is no infrastructure and no motos are available. The driver will promise that he called a moto driver to pick you up and leave, but the moto may not show up. Your only option is flagging down any vehicle going to Stung Treng, or walking.
 * Kratie - The same bus company operates buses to Kratie. Cost USD 9.

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Don Det


text:
Donegal Town

Donegal Town is a town in County Donegal in northwest Ireland. With a population of 2618 in 2016, it's neither the county town - that's tiny Lifford - nor the county's largest - that's Letterkenny. It's a small place clustered around its plaza "The Diamond", with the River Eske flowing out of the Bluestack Mountains into the bay. It makes a good base for touring south County Donegal.

is on The Quay, open Tu-Sa 09:00-17:00.

Get in
The nearest railway stations are Sligo with trains from Dublin Connolly, and Derry with trains from Belfast.

Bus Éireann X30 / 30 runs every couple of hours from Dublin Busáras, taking 3 hr 30 min via Dublin Airport, Virginia, Cavan Town, Enniskillen and Ballyshannon. From Cavan Bus 30 takes a slower route via Butlersbridge, Belturbet, Enniskillen and Belleek.

From Belfast travel via Enniskillen or Derry.

Expressway 64 runs every two hours from Derry via Letterkenny and Ballybofey to Donegal (90 min) and continues to Ballyshannon, Bundoran, Sligo, Charlestown, Knock airport and village, Claremorris, Ballyhaunis, Tuam and Galway.

Bus Feda 964 shares this route, running 2-3 times a day from Crolly to Letterkenny and Donegal Town then onward to Knock, Tuam and Galway.

Local Link Bus 292 runs every two hours from Ballyshannon, taking 40 min via Rossnowlagh and Laghy. Bus 982 from Sligo to Ballyshannon connects with this service.

is the main bus stop, usually shown on timetables as Abbey Hotel.

By road from Dublin follow M3 then N3 via Cavan, crossing the border at Belturbet. The road is badged A509 then A46 through Enniskillen to Belleek, then you re-cross the border and take N15 into Donegal. There are no border checks, but you must ensure that your personal and car documents are valid for Northern Ireland.

Get around
The town is small enough to walk, but you need wheels for outlying attractions. There's no bike hire here, and the nearest car hire offices are in Letterkenny and Derry.

Local Link Bus 293 runs from Glencolmcille via Mainmore, Killybegs and Mountcharles to Donegal Town, with five M-Sa and three on Sunday.

Bus Éireann 492 runs 2 or 3 times a day from Dungloe via Lettermacaward, Glenties, Ardara and Killybegs, taking 90 min to Donegal Town.

Bus 994 makes one morning run M-F from Portnoo via Ardara and Meentinadea, heading back from Donegal Town in the afternoon.

Taxi operators include Bertie's Cabs +353 87 441 1030 and Happi Cabs +353 74 971 5092. Andy Quinn has minibuses suitable for families or tours, +353 87 262 0670.

See

 * The Diamond is town centre. The obelisk commemorates "The Annals of the Four Masters", a semi-historical catalogue compiled hereabouts in 1632-36. By then the abbey was in small pieces and its friars were making do in a nearby cottage and in a house near Ballyshannon. Only the chief author was a friar, but they became known as na Ceithre Máistrí, anglicised as "Four Masters".
 * St Patrick's Church of the Four Masters east end of The Diamond is RC, in sort-of-Romanesque with a Round Tower, but it only dates from 1935.
 * Parish church next to the castle is C of I, built in confident Gothic in 1828.
 * Parish church next to the castle is C of I, built in confident Gothic in 1828.
 * The Famine Graveyard is on Upper Main St by the hospital.
 * is a scenic lake 15 km northeast of town, surrounded by the Bluestack Mountains. The River Eske flows from it through town to Donegal Bay.
 * Magherabeg Friary is a ruin 3 km south of town off R267: it's on private land and not usually accessible. It was built around 1430 so it pre-dates the main abbey, but its friars were lowly "Third Order Franciscans" - lay brothers not ordained as priests. It was abandoned and handed over to English landowners along with the main abbey around 1607.
 * is a 4.5 km sandy beach backed by dunes and the golf course. Dogs on leash only.
 * is 4 km long. It's exposed to the Atlantic, which funnels into the bay and can generate big surfing waves. At low tide you can walk all the way to Murvagh. Many people park on the beach, but beware the speed of the incoming tide.
 * is a village straggling along N56 six km west of Donegal. The estuary marshes to its south were historically used for salt extraction. The main attraction, near the pier, is Salthill Gardens, open Apr-Sept M-Sa 14:00-18:00.
 * is a long rat's-tail peninsula starting ten km west of town. McSwyne's Castle and Ballysaggart Friary are just stumps of masonry. Near the tip is a sheltered sandy beach, and the peninsula ends with the EIRE 70 wartime aviation marker and a lighthouse - this is still active and you can't go in.
 * Killaghtee Old Church just west of the start of the peninsula is a 12th century ruin with an unusual "Maltese Cross" gravestone from 650 AD.

Do

 * What's on? For local events check Donegal Democrat (south edition), published twice a week.
 * The Waterbus putters round the bay on 75 min tours, adult €20. They're 2 or 3 times a day in summer, but sailing times vary with the tides. The boat is wheelchair accessible; dogs are permitted on leash on the lower deck.
 * The riverbank walk starts from the bridge in town and follows the west bank of the Eske for 3 km.
 * Angling: There's game- and coarse-fishing on Lough Eske and the Eske, Eany, Downes and Finn rivers.
 * Shore angling is available at multiple points on the coast, and anglers' boats put out from Killybegs, Teelin and Creevy.

 * Horse riding: try Ballyshannon, there are no centres close to town.
 * Other golf courses in the area include Bundoran and Ballybofey-Stranorlar.
 * Other golf courses in the area include Bundoran and Ballybofey-Stranorlar.

Buy

 * Donegal Shopping Centre is 500 m south of The Diamond, with SuperValu open M-Sa 08:30-21:00, Su 10:00-20:00.
 * Aldi is east side of The Diamond, open M-F 09:00-22:00, Sa Su 09:00-21:00.
 * Lidl is 1 km northeast on Ballybofey Rd at the junction with N56 bypass, open M-Sa 08:00-22:00, Su 09:00-21:00.
 * Donegal Craft Village is 3 km south on R267.
 * ATMs are outside the four banks, all near The Diamond: AIB, Bank of Ireland, Ulster Bank and Credit Union.

Budget

 * Blueberry Tea Room on Castle St serves snacks and light meals M-Sa 09:00-19:00.
 * Chandpur serves Bangladeshi food. They're on Main St, open M-Sa 16:30-23:00, Su 13:00-22:00.
 * Four Lanterns on Quay St serves burgers and similar fast food, M-Th 12:30-23:00, F Sa 12:30-02:00, Su 16:30-22:30.
 * Shamrock is a Chinese takeaway on Quay St.

Mid-range

 * Harbour Restaurant on Quay Street serves pub-style meals M-Sa 17:00-21:30, Su 13:00-21:30.

Splurge

 * The very best dining is in the upscale hotels, so see Sleep for Mill Park, Harvey's Point and Lough Eske Castle.

Drink

 * Abbey Bar is within Abbey Hotel and has a disco until late at weekends.
 * Others near The Diamond include Annie Lynn's, O'Donnell's and The Reveller.
 * Abbey Bar is within Abbey Hotel and has a disco until late at weekends.
 * Others near The Diamond include Annie Lynn's, O'Donnell's and The Reveller.
 * Others near The Diamond include Annie Lynn's, O'Donnell's and The Reveller.
 * Others near The Diamond include Annie Lynn's, O'Donnell's and The Reveller.

Budget

 * Rossnowlagh campsite is closed in 2021; they accept touring caravans but offer no on-site facilities. Hayes the other site here is for caravan sales and long-lease static caravans and isn't open to tourers.
 * Rossnowlagh campsite is closed in 2021; they accept touring caravans but offer no on-site facilities. Hayes the other site here is for caravan sales and long-lease static caravans and isn't open to tourers.
 * Rossnowlagh campsite is closed in 2021; they accept touring caravans but offer no on-site facilities. Hayes the other site here is for caravan sales and long-lease static caravans and isn't open to tourers.

Mid-range

 * In normal times the town has over 30 B&Bs, but they mostly didn't open in 2020-21 because of the impracticality of covid precautions. Check with the TIC (above) for a listing.

Splurge

 * Castle Murray House on the coast 12 km west of town is closed for renovation in 2021.
 * Castle Murray House on the coast 12 km west of town is closed for renovation in 2021.
 * Castle Murray House on the coast 12 km west of town is closed for renovation in 2021.

Connect
As of July 2021, the town has 5G with Vodafone, and 4G with Eir and Three.

Go next

 * Ballyshannon south is a small market town. Continue south for the brooding limestone crags and prehistoric sites of Sligo.
 * Enniskillen is between the two Erne lakes. These are connected by navigable waterways all the way to Limerick, Waterford and Dublin.

title: Donegal Town


text:
Donetsk

Donetsk (Ukrainian: Донецьк, Russian: Доне́цк) is a city in the Donetsk People's Republic, on the banks of the River Kalmius.

Understand
Donetsk has a population of around a million people, making it the fifth largest city in the country. Donetsk is the unofficial capital of Donets Basin (Donbass) region, the most industrialized part of the country, and as with the surrounding region, it is mostly populated by ethnic Russians, who consistently favour pro-Russian candidates in the elections.

The swift development of Donetsk began in 1869 due to John Hughes, a Welsh businessman, who started to exploit the coal mines on what was then the southern reaches of the Russian Empire, and established the local steel industry, founding "Yuzovka" (Hughes' village). It was renamed "Stalino" and greatly expanded during the Soviet period.

World War II shook the city hard, leaving it not much more than mounds of rubbles. After the war, the city was extensively rebuilt, losing its original layout and architecture reminiscent of British towns. After Stalin's death, it was as well renamed Donetsk.

Donetsk's Donbass Arena was one of the venues for UEFA Euro 2012, the only European football championship that took place in Eastern Europe so far, which was jointly hosted by Poland and Ukraine.

Climate
Lying on the Eurasian steppe inland from the sea, Donetsk has a typical continental climate: While temperatures lower than -30°C (-25°F) were recorded, a more realistic expectation from winter lows (Oct–May) would be -7°C (19°F). Summers, on the other hand, can go up as much as 38°C (100°F), although expecting around 27°C (81°F) would be more typical.

While spring and summer months (May–Jul) are statistically the wettest, rains are more or less evenly distributed throughout the year. But an average year sees about 492 mm (19.37 inches) of precipition anyway, which is about half of what is typical for oceanic climates common in northwestern Europe.

Get in
Donetsk International airport was destroyed in the war in 2014.

By car
The drive from Kyiv can be 6-8 hours depending on how fast you drive, how many stops you make, etc.

By train
There is also a direct train once or twice a week from Almaty (Kazakhstan) via Atyrau and Volgograd. However, you will need at least a Russian transit visa, which is generally quite expensive.

Public transportation
Public transportation is cheap but can be crowded. Be prepared to stand up most of the time, and you may have to make waves when you want to get out. There are four main types: the trolleybus, bus, tram and minibuses (marshrutki). Trams and buses will get you just about anywhere in the city for a fixed price for as long as you want to be on the tram or bus. Tickets are to be bought from the conductor, which is on board of every tram and bus. At the central market there is one of the many depots. These forms of transport stop at every stop on the route.

Semi-public transportation (minibuses)
The minibuses (singular marshrutka, plural marshrutki) operated by non-municipal companies can be found throughout the city. They are like the buses, but faster, smaller, and they stop on request. If you are on board you must yell to the driver that you want out at the next stop, and if you are waiting for one, you must flag it down. Depending on the driver, these can get very crowded.

Taxi
Most tourists find the taxi to be their best option. Taxi cabs are on every corner and they are relatively cheap.

There are numerous dispatch taxi services. For example, 381-0000 or 0-67. Keep your eyes open for more numbers, usually printed on the side of the cab in large font.

Also, on the first ride in the taxi, ask the driver if he would like to drive you around on a regular basis. Usually, they will be delighted to do so and give you their ID number for dispatch (pozivnoi) or their cell phone so you can call him directly. That way, you can have a chauffeur for the time of your stay.

Eat
There are various restaurants in or around the centre of the city:

 * Legenda - Russian cuisine
 * Tequila Boom - A Mexican restaurant
 * Shato - Russian cuisine
 * Marakesh - A Moroccan restaurant
 * Netske - A Chinese restaurant
 * Tri Tolstjaka - Western style restaurant
 * Yakitoriya - Sushi bar
 * Latin Quarter - Western style restaurant
 * Tri Tolstjaka - Western style restaurant
 * Yakitoriya - Sushi bar
 * Latin Quarter - Western style restaurant

Drink

 * Liverpool Live Music Bar in Liverpool Hotel
 * The Golden Lion - an Irish pub
 * Liverpool Live Music Bar in Liverpool Hotel
 * The Golden Lion - an Irish pub

Diplomatic missions

 * Armenia, Honorary Consulate (Почётное консульство "Армении"). Lazarenko str., 45. +380 623 35-97-19
 * Austria, Honorary Consulate. Artema str., 131. +380 62 381-08-72, +380 62 381-76-50
 * Belarus, Honorary Consulate (Почётное консульство "Беларуси"). Il'icha ave., 15. +380 62 345-51-45
 * Germany, Consulate General (Генеральне консульство Німеччини в Донецьку). Mira ave., 15 (office 71), +380 62 3434547, +380 62 3434548, http://www.donezk.diplo.de, Centre
 * Slovakia, Honorary Consulate. (Почесне консульство Словаччини в Донецькій області) Shevchenko blvd., 3. +380 62 345-36-69

Go next

 * Dnipro - 250 km to west. It has one of the world's longest downtown river promenades, about 5 km long.
 * Kharkiv - 290 km to northwest. The 'other' 20th-century Ukrainian capital.
 * Luhansk - 155 km to east.
 * Mariupol - 100 km to south. Visit the Azov Sea's biggest port town with a couple museums and city beach

title: Donetsk


text:
Dong Dang

Dong Dang is a town in northern Vietnam, near Pingxiang just across the Chinese border.

Get in
Once you cross the border from Pingxiang to Vietnam, there are several taxis waiting for you. Prices should be around US$5 and it takes about 15 min to Dong Dang. The taxi will probably take you to some private minibus company which will offer you transportation to Hanoi. Initially, they will ask US$10/person, but don't pay more than US$5/person. The trip to Hanoi takes a few hours.

Go next
To Pingxiang, China (凭祥):
 * You can catch a local bus from Hanoi's eastern bus station (Ben Xe Street, Gia Lam District, to Lang Son, where you have to switch transport to minibus or motorbike to reach the border at Dong Dang. Alternatively there are many offers from open-tour providers; for those in a hurry, they might be a good option if they offer a direct hotel to border crossing transfer. You can change money with freelance money changers, but check the rate carefully beforehand. Border formalities take about 30 minutes. On the Chinese side, walk up past the "Friendship-gate" and catch a taxi (bargain hard!) to Pingxiang, Guangxi. A seat in a minibus is cheaper. There is a Bank of China branch across the street from the main bus station; the ATM accepts Maestro cards. You can travel by bus or train to Nanning.

title: Dong Dang


text:
Dongguan

Dongguan (东莞; Dūnggún in Cantonese, Dōngguǎn in Mandarin) is in the Pearl River Delta region of China, about 100 km from Hong Kong. It's a major manufacturing center, producing an estimated one fifth of the world's smartphones and one tenth of the world's shoes.

Dongguan isn't really on the radar for most tourists. Its factories attract a steady flow of business travellers, but not many people visit unless they have a specific reason to. However, it does have a handful of fascinating Qing Dynasty historic sites, especially from the Opium Wars in Humen Town, as well as typical big-city amenities, lots of shopping, and some quite nice hiking trails.

Towns
The Dongguan government administers a whopping 28 towns outside the central urban districts. Here are a few of the most important:

 * Chang'an (长安, Cháng'ān) is a well-off manufacturing center and the gateway to Lianhua Mountain.
 * Changping (常平, Chángpíng) was once a notorious red light district, but has cleaned up its act (with encouragement from police crackdowns) and is now a perfectly respectable, though not particularly glamorous, manufacturing town. It's also something of a transportation hub.
 * Houjie (厚街, Hòujiē) is an industrial town of 400,000 people, mostly temporary residents, 30 minutes southwest of Dongguan.
 * Humen (虎门, Hǔmén) was an important site in the Opium Wars (with two museums to show for it) and is now a well-known spot for clothes shopping and has a major high-speed rail station.

As often happens in China, the name "Dongguan" is ambiguous: colloquially it refers just to the central urban area, but officially it is the entire prefecture-level city, including the urban center as well as the towns.

Talk
Cantonese is the traditional local language spoken in Dongguan. The local dialect has distinctive features relative to standard Cantonese, but if you are already fluent in standard Cantonese, this should not pose too much of a challenge, and locals can usually communicate in standard Cantonese too. Most people can also speak Mandarin, and due to high migration from other provinces, a significant number of people don't speak Cantonese.

By plane
The Pearl River Delta has one of the largest concentrations of international airports in the world, including Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Hong Kong.
 * Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport is just over an hour from the Dongguan city center. There is a shuttle bus to the Dongguan airport check-in station at the South China Mall in Wanjiang. If hiring a car, the fare should be about ¥300. Also, there is Intercity Bus  at Baiyun Airport. And the pick  up port:Gate A9 of the Arrival Hall and South China International Auto Parts City of Dalang Town. Buses to/from other bus stations, such as the Dongguan City Terminal, are likely to be available as well, enquire locally.
 * Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport is also about an hour from the center city but much closer to some Dongguan towns, especially Chang'an and Humen, expect to pay ¥100-300 by car. By bus, it will cost ¥46-55, and the last one going to Dongguan departs (as of May 2024) at 20:50, at least if going to the Nancheng Bus Terminal in central Dongguan (See also the information on Shenzhen airport website). The airport is also connected to Dongguan by the Guangzhou-Shenzhen Intercity Railway. There are stops in Chang’an, Humen, Houjie, and several other towns in Dongguan.
 * Hong Kong International Airport can be reached by buses that depart on regular schedules from hotels across Dongguan. It is also accessible by a special ferry from Dongguan's Humen town that connects directly to the international flights area of the airport. To catch the ferry from the airport, go directly to the ticket counter without passing through Hong Kong immigration or customs; see Hong Kong International Airport for details.

By train
There are several train stations in Dongguan; here are some of the most important:

By bus
The most popular method for Hong Kong locals to travel to Dongguan is by bus. There are several companies that offer bus travel to Dongguan from Hong Kong. A good place to find a bus, would be at the bus stands inside the arrival terminal at Hong Kong Airport. Prices are usually HK$80–100 for a one-way ticket or HK$150 for a two-way ticket. Travel times usually are 1½-2½ hours depending on traffic conditions. If you are traveling from another part of China, you can also travel to Dongguan by bus, most major cities in China will have bus routes to the Dongguan Main Bus Station in Nancheng. There buses to several bus stations in Dongguan from the main Luohu border crossing bus terminal, so be careful that you choose the correct one.

From Shenzhen, take the metro to Songgang metro station, and exit the station through exit G to connect to the Dongguan-Shenzhen Line 1 (莞深001线) bus. Pay for the bus with a regular payment QR code, not Shenzhen Tong or Yangcheng Tong.

By boat
One of the less used ways to get to Dongguan from Hong Kong is by ferry. This allows you to avoid the queues at the busy customs checkpoints on the border between Hong Kong and mainland China. Ferries are operated by CKS. They depart from Hong Kong International Airport's Skypier and arrive at (虎门港澳码头, Hǔmén Gǎng Ào Mǎtou) in Humen Town.

Get around
The best method for visitors to get around is taxi. Taxis are cheap, and a 30 minute ride should not cost more than ¥80. Beware however, some taxis are used for kidnapping. Be sure to only use the green, licensed Dongguan taxis.

By rail
The metro system, Dongguan Rail Transit, opened in 2016 with a single line (Line 2) serving 15 stations between Dongguan Railway Station and Humen Railway Station. The system is being expanded, with plans for three additional lines and connections to the Guangzhou and Shenzhen metros. Line 1 of the Dongguan Metro is expected to be completed in 2025.

Besides the metro, travellers also have the option of taking either the Dongguan-Huizhou Intercity Railway or the Guangzhou-Shenzhen Intercity Railway. Both lines have multiple stations in Dongguan.

By bus
Most buses cost ¥2 per ride. The Yang Cheng Tong pass from Guangzhou works for the buses in Dongguan. Announcements are made in Mandarin and Cantonese, no English.

See
Dongguan has an exhibition center in Dongguan city, which hosts many exhibitions and conferences. There is also a sports center for locals. If you only have a day and want to stay in one area, you might start at Jin'aozhou Pagoda (金鳌洲塔), go east and see Keyuan Garden (可园), and then walk along Dongcheng Avenue (东城大道) for shopping and food. It is not too far to bar street, where you can check out some pretty hopping clubs.

Houjie Town
See Houjie.

Humen Town
Humen Town played a pivotal role in the Opium Wars, which were a central part of the decline of the Qing Dynasty and China's "century of humiliation" at the hands of foreign powers. The wars were fought between China and the United Kingdom in the 1800s over trade policy, in particular the UK's insistence on selling opium to China. Humen was the site of the destruction of a huge amount of seized opium, the event which sparked the First Opium War, and some battles were fought around here too. The Opium Wars are now commemorated by two museums and some historic fortifications, which make for an interesting, if one-sided, day of learning about this period of history.

Liaobu Town

Do
Most four star hotels will have various "foot" massages and sauna services for upwards of ¥150. Saunas and foot massage parlors might be brothels.

Buy
Dongguan is well known for its Huanghe Fashion Town located in the Humen District along Renming Road, Renyi Road, Jinglong Road and Yinglong Road. The district houses one of China's largest clothing and textile wholesale markets, which extends over an area of about one square kilometre. Many of the products sold there are exported to Hong Kong and the rest of the world. Everybody can enjoy low wholesale prices, even when buying in small quantities.

Eat
Dongguan is known for its Chinese sausages (腊肠 làcháng in Mandarin, laahpchéung in Cantonese) and lychees (荔枝 lìzhī in Mandarin, laihjī in Cantonese).

Most 5-star hotels offer buffets, these are around ¥30-60 for breakfast, ¥100-200 for lunch, and ¥100-300 for dinner.

There are many expat-oriented western restaurants in the bar area, particularly on Dongcheng East road. Expect to pay the prices a bit higher than is typical for China, however (but generally cheaper than Hong Kong).

Smaller Chinese restaurants are the likely choice if you wanna be more on a budget - if (not unusually for mainland China) you can manage the lack of the English menus and limited English skills of the staff.

Drink
The most popular bars are on or around "Bar Street" (Jiǔbājiē) in Dongcheng. However, like many parts of China, various kinds of services are popular, including prostitution. One should be careful with local girls if they seem to be getting too friendly if you are not looking for such services. Beware of your drink, it is not unheard of foreigners being drugged and robbed. Beer at supermarkets should not cost more than ¥4 a bottle for Tsingtao. Red wine costs from ¥10 a bottle.

Splurge
Dongguan has more than 30 government-rated 5-star hotels.
 * The Hyatt Regency is decent and big, but very inconvenient in location. It is also expensive compared to the other hotels, and the buffet is overpriced.
 * The Hyatt Regency is decent and big, but very inconvenient in location. It is also expensive compared to the other hotels, and the buffet is overpriced.
 * The Hyatt Regency is decent and big, but very inconvenient in location. It is also expensive compared to the other hotels, and the buffet is overpriced.

Stay safe
As anywhere, be careful. However, be more careful in Dongguan because the city is known to have a relatively high crime rate. Violent crime is more common here than in nearby cities; you can be robbed by thieves riding on motorcycles, especially in less populated areas, and despite the city government's total ban on motorcycles.
 * Beware of and stay away from pyramid schemes, as they are known to operate in the city and use coercion.
 * Prostitution was widespread for years, with many men from Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and especially Hong Kong flocking here on the weekends. But after a major government crackdown that began in 2014, the industry has diminished.
 * Do not gamble. You will end up in jail, with a maximum administrative detention period of 15 days if you are caught gambling, so save it for Macau.
 * Lastly, a lot of the police force is corrupt, but since the government is still watching over them, they are discreet. So if a policeman tries to get money from you, calmly ask to see a superior.

Newspapers

 * HERE! Dongguan, the local English-language magazine with a nice guide to the city

Go next

 * Guangzhou
 * Hong Kong
 * Huizhou
 * Shenzhen

title: Dongguan


text:
Dong Ha

Dong Ha (Vietnamese: Đông Hà) is a city in central Vietnam. It's the closest major city to the DMZ, or Demilitarized Zone, the area around the former border between North and South Vietnam.

Get in

 * Travel agents in Hue offer cheap buses to and from Dong Ha as part of their DMZ tours. It also has connections to Savannakhet in Laos.
 * Minibuses to and from Hue (50,000 dong) and Da Nang (100,000 dong) all day, every day.
 * Vans to the Lao Bao border crossing cost 35,000-50,000 dong and run all day.
 * The Saigon-Hanoi express trains (Trains S1, S2, S3, S4) do not stop at Dong Ha station. Only local (slow) trains stop here.

Get around
It is difficult to find any motorbike rentals along Le Duan, and walking is impractical given the long, dusty, hot roads. There are no city buses, so your best option is to take a motorbike taxi to your destination, and have a tour pick you up from your hotel if you plan to do the DMZ.

See

 * The DMZ is an interesting one-day outing from Dong Ha.

Buy

 * ATMs are everywhere in the city.

Go next
Minivans run to Lao Bao (50,000 dong). The Dong Ha train station grants you access to any other city you may wish to travel to in Vietnam.
 * DMZ
 * Khe Sanh
 * Dong Hoi
 * Hue

title: Dong Ha


text:
Donghae

Donghae (동해) is a coastal city in Gangwon, South Korea.

Understand
Donghae is a sizable port on the east coast of Gangwon province in South Korea.

Earliest records show that a settlement was built here in 1631 by King Injo of the Joeseon dynasty.

In the 1980s, Mukho-eup, Myeongju-gun, and Bukpyeong-eup, Samcheok-gun, were merged and promoted to the city of Donghae due to their urbanization as a thriving heavy chemical industry, fishing base, and trading port. The name is derived from the nearby East Sea.

By bus
Bus is the most convenient public transport around Donghae for most people. The bus terminal is a 20-minute walk north of the downtown area (5 minute cab ride.) There are frequent buses to the Express Bus Terminal in Seoul (takes a little over 3 hours), and less frequent buses to Dong Seoul (East Seoul.)  There are also buses leaving every 10 minutes for Gangneung (35–40 minutes) as well as buses to most other cities in Gangwon Province. There are 3 overnight buses to Busan.

By train
The Yeongdong line goes through Donghae, stopping at Donghae Station (south of downtown) and Mukho Station (north of downtown). There aren't a lot of trains, however, and those there are don't go to too many places that are appealing to tourists, making the bus more convenient for most tourists.

By ferry
Donghae serves as the main access point to Ulleungdo, (₩51,000 each way) with regular ferry service throughout the year (usually once or twice a day in each direction, more frequent in the summer.)

Donghae has international connections operated by DBS Cruise Ferry to Vladivostok in far east Russia and Sakai Minato in Japan.

Ferries leave from Mukho Port, a 5-minute drive north of downtown.

By car
Highway 65 ends in Donghae and connects the city to Gangneung further north. From Seoul take highway 50 to Gangneung which then leads to the 65. The trip from Seoul takes about 3 hours when there is little traffic.

South Korea uses a toll system for their inter-provincial highways. Seoul to Donghae costs ₩11,400 one way in tolls. However, if you are a group of people (at least 3) driving is a cheaper option than the bus.

By plane
Donghae has limited options for flying. The best option is Seoul's Incheon International Airport, with the fastest bus connection being about 4 hours.

Yangyang and Wonju have closer airports, but the lack of flights and onward bus connections would mean that your total travel time would probably be much longer.

By bus
For visitors who want to go to other places in Donghae City, local buses can be a good way to get around. However, the number of buses that run after 18:00 decreases, so visitors looking to catch a bus should be aware of this.

By taxi
Compared to the bus, it's more comfortable and less time-consuming. The base fee is 3,800 \, with a 20% night surcharge from 00:00 to 04:00.

See

Eat
Donghae has limited food options but "Soma" is quite good. there are actually 2 locations located about a block away. They offer Korean food with a slight western twist (like pizza ddockboki and pork cutlet with pepper sauce), worth a try. The fast food options are limited to KFC, Dunkin Donuts and Lotteria (the Korean McDonalds). They have good pizza at Buena Pizza (try the bacon cheeseburger). Moreover, there are of course the ubiquitous galbi and kimbab restaurants. However, those hoping for authentic western food may be disappointed.

Drink
Most of the options here are Hof and Soju bars that are all pretty much the same - they offer beer by the truckload (₩2,500 for 500ml) and soju. Many of them will expect you to order food as well since this is Korean tradition. Just politely say "no thanks" and most will leave you with you beer. Those looking for cocktails have to go to a cocktail bar and these are priced very highly. Your best bet is to head to E-Mart and get a few bottles of cheap booze if you want liquor.

Sleep

 * Love Motels. As with everywhere else in South Korea, there are love motels abound and Donghae is no exception. Don't be fooled by the name however, some of them can be seedy, however some can be quite special with huge beds and themed kitsch. Try the hotel . A room with a pool table can be had for ₩90,000. Most rooms go for ₩50,000 a night (more on weekends).
 * Jjimjilbang (찜질방). Donghae has a few of these as well. You can sleep in them for ₩6,000 a night (give or take). However its a communal experience and those looking for privacy won't find it here. For those that are willing to try a more authentic Korean experience, they are clean, safe and really cheap. The one close to the very six hotel is the best in town (near E-MART)

Go next

 * Take a ferry from Mukho Harbor to the island of Ulleungdo.

title: Donghae


text:
Donghae Coast

The Donghae Coast (Korean: 동해 연안) is a region of North Korea stretching along the entire east coast of the North Korean part of the peninsula. It encompasses the provinces of North Hamgyong, South Hamgyong and Kangwon as well as the special Rason city region.

Cities

 * - Special Economic Zone slowly opening up North Korea to capitalism
 * - Port city in the South
 * - Special Economic Zone slowly opening up North Korea to capitalism
 * - Port city in the South

Other destinations

 * (Diamond Mountain) Tourist Region
 * Hoeryong
 * Kimchaek
 * Munchon
 * Namyang
 * Sinpo
 * Tanchon

Understand
Donghae is the Korean name for the "East Sea" (Generally known internationally as the "Sea of Japan"). The coast stretches for about 800 kilometers northwest from the border with South Korea to the Russian border at Tumangan/Khasan.

The northern part of the region contains the site of some of North Korea's nuclear tests (near Kimchaek) it should come as no surprise that traveling around here independently, or even just traveling, is not going to be easy.

Rason to north and Wonsan to the south are both possible tour group destinations, as well as the Kŭmgangsan 'diamond mountain' tourist destination.

Get in
There are occasional flights to Wonsan and Chongjin  with Air Koryo using a fleet of veteran Soviet era planes. You need to be a high-ranking North Korean official to book a spot on those flights and so you are at the mercy of the whims of your travel agent.

Slightly more possible is catching a train, there is a railway running along the entire coast connecting to the Russian railway at the border town of Khasan. From Khasan it's possible to book trips as far as Rason through Russian Tour companies, since this is a special economic zone. Through service to Pyongyang via the Donghae coast is not available to foreigners, although unauthorized journeys have been made before.

See

 * Chilbosan (Chilbo Mountain)
 * Kaesim Temple

title: Donghae Coast


text:
Dong Hoi

Dong Hoi is the capital city of Quang Binh Province in Central Coast of Vietnam. Dong Hoi on the Nhat Le River and by the South China Sea with its 12 km of white sandy beaches.

Understand
There is not much to do in Dong Hoi but relax, enjoy its beaches and drink a beer; get there now before the masses do. Many hotels and tour groups operate tours to these nearby beaches and caves. There are few tourists in Dong Hoi, so you will be greeted with many hellos. Nhat Le Beach is nearby, but the focus of the town is very much on the river and canals.

History
Dong Hoi had been a small village before Vietnam was divided during the time of the Trinh-Nguyen War (1558–1775), after which Vietnam was divided into two countries: Dang Trong (south) and Dang Ngoai (north) with the Gianh River as the frontier. Dong Hoi was an important fortress of the southern Nguyễn Lords. The Đồng Hới Wall was considered the barrier which protected the Nguyễn Lords from the attack by northern Trịnh family. The site of Dong Hoi today is just south of this boundary.

During the Indochina War (between the French and the Viet Minh in 1950s, the Đồng Hới airbase was used by the French to attack both the Viet Minh in north-central Vietnam and the Laotian Pathet Lao Army in central and southern Laos. During the Vietnam War, Đồng Hới was heavily devastated by bombardments from US B-52s due to its location near the seventeenth parallel and the demilitarized zone between North and South Vietnam. The city was almost leveled and was rebuilt slowly after the war ended in 1975. The town was planned and rebuilt on a large scale especially after 1990 when it became the provincial capital.

Climate
There are four distinct seasons in Đồng Hới. In the spring, it is cool, humid and foggy. The average annual temperature is 24.4°C, average rainfall varies from 1,300 to 4,000 mm, total sunshine hours per year is 1,786 hours, average annual moisture is around 84%. The city has a monsoon climate with three types of wind: southeast wind, southwest wind, and northeast wind.

It is rainy in the fall but the weather is comfortable with the temperature being 26-31°C. In the winter, due to the northeast wind blowing from the Chinese mainland, the temperature may go down below -18°C, and there may be slight rain. The highest precipitation gets highest level in August (118.4 mm), compared to just 38.9 mm in January. The best time to visit this city is from April to September when it's cool enough to go swimming.

By bus

Most buses will drop you off on Hung Vung, which is closer to town than the bus station. You can easily walk to a hotel from Hung Vung.

From Hue, local buses take about 3–4 hours, and cost 80,000 dong (Mar 2012), departing from the Northern Bus Station. Tourist buses cost 4-5 times that: i.e., Sinh Cafe (400,000 dong), Mandarin Travels (300,000 dong).

Buses from/to Hanoi cost around 250.000 dong. The schedule at bus stations (Ben Xe Dong Hoi and Ben Xe Nam Ly) as of Apr 2017:.

By train

The Reunification Express makes a stop in Dong Hoi and seater carriage is often cheaper than tourist (aka ooe tour) buses.

On foot
On foot is the preferred way to explore the city.

By bus
The local bus is slow and notoriously unreliable with respect to timing, but cheap and with surprisingly good geographic coverage.

Map and partial schedule at http://m.imgur.com/gallery/9ue4K.

See

Do
See also: Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park and UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Buy
Several markets can be found all over the city. The biggest however is, where you can also find the Fish Market between 05:00–09:00.

Otherwise, you can find smaller convenience stores at every corner in the city.

What
Specific dishes for this region are:
 * Cháo canh – A sweet and sour fish soup, but you will barely taste the fish actually.
 * Cơm tấm – Broken rice grains, grilled pork ribs, omelet, scallion and oil garnish, and vegetables, served with a sweet, sour, salty, savory or spicy sauce in a small bowl beside.

Connect
The free SmartCity Wi-Fi is available at many major plazas throughout the city.

Stay safe
Locals maintain that Dong Hoi is a major stop on the heroin smuggling trail: the drugs come in by boat and trickle along to Laos. Although you don't often see traces in the town itself, maybe the rare needle or cracked syringe - just keep an eye out.

Go next

 * Hanoi
 * Hue

title: Dong Hoi


text:
Dongying

Dongying is a little city in the north of Shandong province which is an eastern province of China. It has the second biggest oil field in China, and the estuary of Yellow River (the second longest river in China) is found here.

Understand
There are about 1,800,000 people live in Dongying, but it is still only a small city of China. Because of the oil field, the oil industry is developed in Dongying and the University of Petroleum located there. Furthermore, it was oil that created this city, in 1974 people discovered the first oil well in a village called Dongying, so they named this new city after the name of this village. Now the city is divided into two districts called Eastern City which is new and has the city government, and the Western City which has more business streets. Both of them have perfect high ways which are ones of the best high ways in China. However, you have to be careful to the taxis, because they drivers always drive too fast and carelessly, but taxis are very cheap in the city (¥6). Dongying could be boring to travelers since the soil contains a lot of salt so that almost no plants can grow there healthily. However, it is suitable to do business here because of the oil field and the citizens who have large disposable incomes.

Dongying is split into two areas, West City and East City. West City is the older and more developed area of Dongying, whilst East City is quieter and more residential. For expats the main difference is that West City has the Western restaurants and bars.

In 2008, Dongying received a formal introduction to the West when photos of the city and its people appeared in American travel photographer Tom Carter's photobook China: Portrait of a People. Carter was an English teacher in Dongying and began photographing the city during his first year. Included in his journalistic photoessays are behind-the-scenes at Shengli Oilfield, KTV girls from Dongying's infamous karaoke street, nightlife at the old JJ's Disco, and many of Carter's primary school students. The tributary photos capture perfectly the sights most evident to expats living in Dongying.

By bus

 * Huanghe Lu Coach station - this is the main coach station and has links to many places in Shandong (such as Weihai and Yantai), and also to Beijing. Many coaches from here also visit the other coach stations, and generally seem to roam the streets for a while collecting other passengers before actually getting on the expressway.
 * West City Coach station
 * East City Coach station

By car

 * there are motorways passing through Dongying
 * it more expensive to take taxi

By plane

 * One airport in East City, which has domestic flights to Beijing, Shanghai, Chongqing and Dalian

By railway

 * One railway station station in the west city for Jinan and another station just south of the city for Beijing.

Get around
To travel in Dongying, you have 5 ways to choose: Bus There are many cars; even the bus system is not good enough. In weekday, the buses are not enough, you'll stay for 15 minutes to wait for your bus. The price is cheap, from ¥1 to ¥2, it depends on distance.

Taxis Taxis in Dongying are common. They are not cheap, but you can reach wherever you want. First 3 km will cost you ¥7 (2012), and then 1 km will cost you ¥1. There are also 'black cabs', private cars that will stop and offer a ride to where you need to go. These are especially useful when there aren't any taxis for whatever reason.

Bicycle Bikes are the cheapest way to travel. You can hire a bike to get where you want. You'd better ride on pavement.

Electric bike Electric bike is the bike which can move by electricity. It is a machine which speed can reach like a motor bike. Sometimes it is dangerous, because it is quiet, and some people will be hit. So you must be careful of it. It can save fuel, so it is good for the environment.

Motor bike It is a machine which uses fuel, and its speed is very fast. Sometimes it is not easy to control. If you are not able to control it, you'd better to choose another way to travel.

See

 * temple of Guandi in Guangrao town
 * many birds around city, because here is a great habitat of birds
 * Yellow River and the bridge, because Dongying is the delta of this river
 * many wetlands, some of them are beautiful
 * many fairs in Dongying every year

Do

 * KTV (karaoke).Dongying has lots of ktvs. Some of them are big and some are small. However, there is almost no price difference between them. KTVs in Dongying are really cheap.
 * Do not go to the very small KTVs, they may be illegal (drug .etc)
 * TangGuo and Royal QianGui are the two best KTVs. They are clean, cheap and safe. Do not miss them.
 * Bars. There are many small bars on Qingdao Lu (Road). They are quiet. One big Bar called 0546 is fantastic, the atmosphere is big. It can offer you many kinds of wine. But pay attention that this bar may not be safe for teenagers who are under 18.
 * Shopping. Dongying has lots of clothing shops along the Jinan Lu (Road). The clothes are fashion and cheap. Some big malls are also good choice for shopping such as Yinzuo, but the goods are more expensive. Window shopping is many Dongying girls favourite.
 * Walking. Walking is a popular activity in Dongying. Just use your feet and legs It is pretty cheap but foreigners might have to pay more. Enjoy!

Eat
Dongying has all types of food from all over China, such as Sichuan food, northern food and southern food. Sichuan food is the most popular in Dongying

 * Hot Pot (the one that like a fondue with boiling water instead of cheese, you can put vegetables, meat to cook) Restaurant: chongqing xiao tian e
 * donkey meat Do not miss donkey meat in dongying
 * Fish Head It is really tasty, many people like to eat it. Restaurant: A Wa Shan Zhai
 * Sea Cucumber with rice Really nutritious and healthy. It can cure asthma. Star restaurant
 * Pepper spicy fish This is a dish that from Sichuan; you can eat it on Zi Bo road.

For Western food there are a few MacDonalds, KFCs and a newly-opened Pizza Hut in West City.

Drink
In a restaurant it is best to order beer or green tea like the locals. There are plenty of soft dinks like coke available. You can buy sweet soy-milk piping hot in restaurants and also from little shops on the street.

If a place does serve coffee it will most likely be instant coffee so good luck if you are a caffeine fiend.If you are desperate for a coffee you could try Simple Coffee on Qingdao/Bei lu. It is fairly drinkable but be warned that the cappuccino will be served with fake whipped cream on top. Otherwise there is Cite Coffee on Xi Si Lu.

For beer there are plenty of bars to choose from. The famous (in China) Tsingdao beer from Qingdao city on the coast is good. The most popular one is Snow Beer (xue hua pi jou). You can find other foreigners if you check out the small Music Bar on Xi Si Lu (near Cite Coffee). Jay Jays on Yu Hua Jie is for those who like to get drunk with other ex-pats who aren't coping with life abroad; opening hours are anyone's guess and you really need to find someone who knows where it is to show you.

Casablanca on Qingdao Lu has a good mix of foreigners and Chinese locals and the staff are all dressed up in pretty cowboy uniforms. Also you can play foozeball there for free and buy expensive, and prettily-made, cocktails. There are other bars on Qingdao Lu too, and all are worth a visit if you're missing Western-style bars.

If you want to burn your throat try the spirit Báijiǔ 白酒 often referred to as "white wine". The hangover will probably leave you unable to move for hours.

Buy
Jiale Shopping Plaza

Wanda square

Ginza Mall

title: Dongying


text:
Don Khon

Don Khon (ດອນຄອນ) is an island in Si Phan Don with cheap accommodation and a more relaxed feeling than Don Det.

Understand
This is a small island next to Don Det, but more upmarket and more quiet with fewer party-goers. Note that this is not the same island as Don Khong (ດອນໂຂງ).

Get in
From Ban Nakasang on the mainland you can reach Don Khon in 25 minutes by longtail boat.

A bridge formerly used for the French railway connects the island to Don Det. The bridge is free (February 2024).

Get around
By foot or rent a small bike for 15.000-20,0000 kip (February 2024) a day.

See

 * Visit Li Phi falls (30,000 Kip) which are 2 km south of the French railway bridge that connects Don Det and Don Khon.
 * Relax at Khon Tai, a small stretch of sand optimistically called a "beach". Visitors can climb rocks and jump into the river, and there's a small restaurant-cafe.

 * The trail following the former railway (starting from the bridge) showcases the old steam locomotives previously used by the French. The southern end of the trail offers the Old French Port with a beautiful panorama on the Mekong from an elevated platform.

Buy
Many guesthouses exchange foreign currencies (mainly EUR, USD and THB). There are a couple of small shops along the road, that sell drinks and snacks.

Eat
Most restaurants are along the main road/tourist strip in Ban Khon village. Just as on Don Det, expect significantly inferior food quality compared to the rest of the country; food is more often than not bland, too salty or has way too much spices added to it. All places have nearly identical menus featuring Western dishes such as burgers and pasta, basic Asian dishes like fried rice/noodles and a few Lao ones such as laap (minced meat salad with herbs). Prices hover around 30,000 - 50,000 Kip (February 2024). If you found a dish you enjoy at a particular place, it's probably best to stick to it for the duration of your stay.

A few shops sell fruits, baguettes and sometimes a small selection of other groceries (canned tuna, yogurt, etc.) but expect these to be more expensive than on "the mainland".

Sleep
Most guesthouses are along the main road/tourist strip in Ban Khon village. Accommodation facing the river here, especially northeast of the boat landing, receives a lot of loud noise from the longtail boats, particularly in the mornings. As absurd as it may sound, the quietest places to stay may well be in the south of Don Det's sunset side rather than Don Khon - although you don't have to worry about late night parties on the latter.

Connect
Free Wi-Fi is widely available in the guesthouses and restaurants.

Go next
See the get out article of Si Phan Don

title: Don Khon


text:
Don Khong

Don Khong (ດອນໂຂງ) is an island in Si Phan Don in Laos. It is very often confused with the smaller but more popular Don Khon (ດອນຄອນ) to the south.

Understand
The island has about 20 villages with many inhabitants on Don Khong making a living by fishing. It is not as built for tourism as the other islands nearby but offers a glimpse into the lives of Laotian locals who depend on the Mekong River.

title: Don Khong


text:
Donnybrook

There's more than one place called Donnybrook:

Australia

 * Donnybrook (Queensland)
 * Donnybrook (Western Australia)
 * Donnybrook (Victoria)

Ireland

 * Donnybrook - a district of Dublin

South Africa

 * Donnybrook - in the province of KwaZulu-Natal

United States of America

 * Donnybrook (North Dakota) - in Ward County (North Dakota), in the Lakes and Gardens region of North Dakota

title: Donnybrook


text:
Donsol

Donsol is in Sorsogon, Philippines.

Understand
There are 2 main areas in Donsol - what is called the town center, with small shops and food stalls, home stays hotels and Dancalan, which is around the beach about 2 km west of the city center.

Donsol town is a small rural town of a few thousand people. Before the arrival of tourists the local economy was based on fishing, rice farming and copra (dried coconut meat). With the arrival of tourists to see the whale sharks there has been an injection of money into the area which has meant better infrastructure. The town has a nice church, wet market and near the quay side are a fishing community and fish dealers.

About 2 km out of town is Barangay Dancalan. In Dancalan you will find the Visitor Center, most dive shops and beach resorts. Most resorts do not accept credit cards.

Most Resorts and hotels in Donsol are open only during the whaleshark season (December to May), with two exceptions listed below. The number of visitors have been declining in the 2010s with 2018 showing a new low. Locals seem to connect this to the similarly declining numbers of whaleshark sightings in the area.

There are no landlines in Donsol and internet access is only in the town center, with the exception of most resorts.

By plane
You can fly from Manila or Cebu to Legazpi City, then take a public minivan to Donsol.

By minivan
Public minivans to/from the terminal in Legazpi city cost per person. Private vans cost from per van, and you can get them outside the airport when you arrive. They have A/C and will drop you directly at your hotel.

To get to the Public Minivan Terminal in Legazpi you have to take a tricycle from the airport to the Van Terminal, then wait for the van to be full (12 people). It costs per person, and the driver will drop you at the Donsol Bus Station in the city center.

Buses also are available from Manila direct to Donsol (daily) or via Legazpi.

Get around
There are lots of tricycles in Donsol that will get you wherever you want. To go from the city center to Dancalan the price is for 2 people.

See

 * Whale Sharks. Whale sharks, locally known as butanding, used to gather in the area six to nine months a year (November - June), with the numbers peaking from February to early May. However, they have now become almost non-existent and can mostly only be experienced while scuba-diving. The largest fish in the world can grow up to 12 meters in length, and weigh many tons. They're considered a vulnerable species, and are protected in the Philippines. The first recorded sightings of baby whalesharks (under $$ worldwide were recorded in 2009 in Donsol.
 * Fireflies. One of the few places in the world that holds night time firefly tour. Fireflies light up entire trees, giving off a serene scene. This can be done at the Donsol River or at the Ogod River. The tours are done via small river boats that fit 4 - 6 people.

Do
Most of the hotels can organize the activities for you, including transportation. However some of them tend to add a fee on top of the usual price.

 * Scuba diving is a popular activity here, and there are a handful of operators available:
 * Scuba diving is a popular activity here, and there are a handful of operators available:

Buy
It is difficult to change money, so cash up before heading to Donsol. To exchange euros or US dollars, ask at Amor Resort or Hernandez Guest House, but the rate can be more than 10% less than the official one (teling you false numbers on rates in Legaspi). Alternatively in a pinch you can purchase meals and avail of accommodations and activities at Giddy's Place PADI Dive Resort using a credit card.

Except for the payment for the rooms, Casa Bianca accepts U.S. dollars and euros for the meals, strictly following the exact exchange rates in Legazpi.

Eat

Most of the resorts along the beach have their own restaurant where you can eat even if you are not staying in the resort.

Go next

 * Legazpi City
 * Metro Cebu via Masbate
 * Sorsogon

title: Donsol


text:
Doolin

Doolin (Dúlainn) is a small community in County Clare on the west coast of Ireland. The main attraction is the Cliffs of Moher, and it's also an access point for reaching the Aran Islands and The Burren. Doolin pubs have a lively trad music scene.

There isn't really a village here, but several small collections of buildings: the Harbour, Fisher Street leading up from it, Fitz's Cross 1 km inland, and Roadford another km inland. Another 7 km brings you to the short street that is Lisdoonvarna (Lios Dúin Bhearna, "fort of the gapped keep"), also described on this page.

Get in
The main road is N67, which branches off M18 at Ennis and loops north through Ennistymon. The turn off to Doolin is 5 km south of Lisdoonvarna while N67 continues through Ballyvaughan and Kinvarra to Galway.

A slow scenic route is along the cliff tops, northwards branching off N67 at Ennistymon for Lahinch, Liscannor and Cliffs of Moher to Doolin, and southwards branching off at Ballyvaughan to arrive via Black Head and Fanore.

Bus 350 follows that slow route from Galway six times a day via Kinvarra, Ballyvaughan, Fanore,, Doolin village and pier, Cliffs of Moher, Liscannor, Lahinch, Ennistymon, Corofin and Inagh to Ennis.

has summer ferries to the Aran Islands, for foot passengers only. The islands also have ferries from County Galway so you don't have to return the same way.

Get around
Doolin is a straggly but small place. It's 7 km to Lisdoonvarna or to the Cliffs of Moher.

North Clare can be a great place to cycle and Doolin is the start of 4 cycle routes.

The Paddywagon is a minibus that shuttles between Doolin pier and village, Cliffs of Moher, Kilconnell, Liscannor, Lahinch and Ennistymon. So you can ride one way and hike the other, and avoid bringing a vehicle to the crowded Cliffs car park. It runs every couple of hours, adult €8.

See

 * Crab Island is the uninhabited lump 500 m off Doolin pier. Nothing there except the remains of a 19th century police post, showing that Victorian authorities were as concerned with seaborne goings-on as on land.
 * See Lahinch for the cliffs further south to Kilconnell and Liscannor.
 * The Burren: Doolin and Lisdoonvarna are good bases for exploring this area of limestone scenery.
 * See Ballyvaughan for Fanore Beach, Caherconnell Stone Fort, Poulnabrone Dolmen and Aillwee Cave.
 * See Lahinch for the cliffs further south to Kilconnell and Liscannor.
 * The Burren: Doolin and Lisdoonvarna are good bases for exploring this area of limestone scenery.
 * See Ballyvaughan for Fanore Beach, Caherconnell Stone Fort, Poulnabrone Dolmen and Aillwee Cave.
 * See Ballyvaughan for Fanore Beach, Caherconnell Stone Fort, Poulnabrone Dolmen and Aillwee Cave.

Do

 * Visit the Aran Islands. April-Oct there are several daily sailings from Doolin pier, for day trips or point-to-point ferry rides, foot passengers only. Boats take about 30 min to Inis Oirr, 75 min to the largest island Inis Mór. Inis Meáin is in between but takes 90 min as the boat calls on its way back from Inis Mór. Adult fares are €20-25.
 * The main operator is
 * Sail to Cliffs of Moher: Apr-Oct they also have hour-long boat trips beneath the cliffs, adult €15.
 * Walk along the cliff tops between Doolin, Cliffs of Moher, and Kilconnell near Liscannor. Guided walks led by a local farmer also go as far as the Cliffs visitors centre.
 * Caving: the real thing, not show-caves. The limestone bedrock is riddled with caves, and Poll na gColm is Ireland's longest, with over 12 km of mapped passages. You need suitable training and equipment; the caves can flood rapidly in wet weather. They continue west beneath the sea, and the Green Holes of Doolin just north of the harbour is one that non-cavers can peer into through a gash in the rock.
 * Doolin Motorcycle Fest
 * Matchmaker Festival throughout September in Lisdoonvarna continues a tradition from 1831 of trying to fix up the local farm boys once they'd finished the harvest. It was boosted from the 1880s when the spa fashion brought Victorian visitors to take the waters. It's nowadays mainly a singles music festival.
 * Matchmaker Festival throughout September in Lisdoonvarna continues a tradition from 1831 of trying to fix up the local farm boys once they'd finished the harvest. It was boosted from the 1880s when the spa fashion brought Victorian visitors to take the waters. It's nowadays mainly a singles music festival.

Buy

 * Village Crafts Shop is open daily Apr-Oct, Sa Su Nov-Mar.
 * Village Crafts Shop is open daily Apr-Oct, Sa Su Nov-Mar.

Eat
Food is served at all the pubs, and there is a small grocery store on Fisher Street. Beware that several places only take cash, and there's no ATM in Doolin.

Drink

 * Fitzpatrick's Bar is within Hotel Doolin, see Sleep.
 * Fitzpatrick's Bar is within Hotel Doolin, see Sleep.
 * Fitzpatrick's Bar is within Hotel Doolin, see Sleep.
 * Fitzpatrick's Bar is within Hotel Doolin, see Sleep.

Splurge

 * See Kilfenora for Smithstown or Ballynagowan Castle, available for self-catering lets, sleeps 8.
 * See Kilfenora for Smithstown or Ballynagowan Castle, available for self-catering lets, sleeps 8.
 * See Kilfenora for Smithstown or Ballynagowan Castle, available for self-catering lets, sleeps 8.

Connect
As of July 2020, Doolin has a good mobile and 4G signal from all Irish carriers, but 5G has not yet reached this area.

Go next

 * The Burren is a wild sparse landscape a few km inland.
 * Northeast along the coast brings you via Fanore and Ballyvaughan into Galway Bay, with lively Galway city sparkling across the slate-and-indigo waters.
 * West are the Aran Islands; most visitors are day-trippers but the islands deserve a longer stay.
 * Southwest follow the coast through Lahinch and picturesque Ennistymon towards Kilkee and dramatic Loop Head.
 * Ennis inland is a pleasant market town ringed by ruined abbeys and other historic sights.

title: Doolin


text:
Door County

Door County is a scenic part of the state of Wisconsin on a peninsula in Lake Michigan.

Cities

 * — the county seat and largest city in Door County (pop. 9,000 in 2019) serves as a gateway to the peninsula, and has many hotels, restaurants and popular tourist attractions
 * — a village of 1,000 people
 * — a small village on the Bay
 * — a town borders Peninsula State Park, a main attraction of Door County, and feels much like a New England seaside resort or town

Other destinations

 * — Located almost in the center of the peninsula, between the two shores, close to Baileys Harbor.

Understand
Considered the Cape Cod of the Midwest, Door County sits on a peninsula on Lake Michigan and is a very popular destination for vacations. The peninsula offers a unique mix of leisure, recreation, and natural beauty. The culture has a rich history of the arts, with more than 80 cultural establishments within the county, including galleries, museums, and theatres. Many offer courses to enjoy while vacationing there. For the nature lovers, Door County offers five state parks, over 300 miles of shoreline, and more than a dozen conservation areas. The ten lighthouses on the peninsula are popular attractions to history and nautical buffs.

By plane

 * Green Bay-Austin Straubel International Airport in Green Bay has direct flights across the county on American Eagle, Delta Air Lines, Frontier Airlines, Sun Country Airlines, and United Express. The airport is a 45-minute drive from the county seat (Sturgeon Bay).
 * Three general aviation airports are located in the county: Door County Cherryland Airport in Sturgeon Bay, Ephraim-Gibraltar Airport  in Ephraim, and Washington Island Airport  on Washington Island.

By boat
S.S Badger is a car ferry that travels from nearby Manitowoc (75-minute drive from Sturgeon Bay) to Ludington, Michigan.

By bus
While there is no direct bus service to Door County, there is bus service to the nearby city of Green Bay.

 * Indian Trails stops in Green Bay, coming from Milwaukee from the south and going north to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
 * Megabus stops in Green Bay, coming from Milwaukee from the south and going west to Minneapolis.
 * Coach USA terminates in Green Bay, coming from Madison from the south.
 * Amtrak Thruway terminates in Green Bay, coming from Milwaukee from the southeast. Connections can be made in Milwaukee to the Empire Builder and Hiawatha train routes.

By road
WI-57 from Green Bay and WI-42 from Manitowoc are the two major roads going into Door County.

Get around
Car is probably the only real practical way of getting around, but biking is great in the state parks and on Washington Island

Do

 * Washington Island is a must-do adventure! Get on the ferry at Northport Pier at the tip of the Door County Peninsula. It's $10 per person, and $24 for a car round trip. It is not necessary to take a car; once on the island, walk just a short distance to Annie's Rentals to rent a moped (get there early before they sell out). They're $90/day, and well worth the splurge! Very easy to ride, even for someone who's never driven a motorcycle - if you can ride a bike, you can ride these. Spending the whole day riding around the island is a very romantic and fun adventure.
 * Hike the Ice Age Trail

Kayaking

 * Kayak the Mink River Estuary in Rowley's Bay, which is owned by the Nature Conservancy. Gravity Trails +1 920 854-9292
 * Cave Point Paddle and Pedal explores Cave Point County Park with guided eco-tours using zodiacs, kayaks and paddle boards.

Biking
Cave Point Paddle and Pedal offer surrey bike rentals

Buy
Fish Creek has plenty of shops selling all sorts of arts & crafts, furniture, and knicknacks.

Sleep

Camping
Door County offers campers a choice of 5 state parks.
 * Rock Island State Park
 * Newport State Park
 * Potawatomi State Park
 * Whitefish Bay Dunes State Park
 * Ahnapee State Trail

Stay safe
Bike off of the Highway on the inner roads of the peninsula.

Go next

 * The city of Green Bay has numerous sightseeing options, like the National Railway Museum and Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame

title: Door County


text:
Dorado

Dorado is a city in the northern coast region of Puerto Rico.

Get in

 * San Juan: Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport
 * Aguadilla: Rafael Hernández Airport
 * Ponce: Mercedita Airport

By car
Located just west of San Juan, from Luis Muñoz Marín Int'l Airport, take exit 22B on PR 22 and head north.

Get around
Publico is available throughout the area, though for the vacation traveler a car is handy.

See

 * Enjoy panoramic views of the coast as you drive west on PR-165 from San Juan.
 * Enjoy panoramic views of the coast as you drive west on PR-165 from San Juan.

Do
Visit Nolos Morales Park and Beach.

Eat
Most all major chains and a few special ones

Connect
Reliable cell coverage from all carriers is available.

Go next

 * Morovis
 * Toa Alta
 * Vega Alta
 * Vega Baja

title: Dorado


text:
Doraville

Doraville is in Metro Atlanta. It was once the location of the Doraville GM plant, which closed in 2005 and now a mixed-use shopping district is proposed to be built at that location. Doraville is well known throughout the Metro Atlanta area for the Buford Highway Corridor, which is an international enclave that offers stores, restaurants, and bars of many different nationalities, most commonly Mexican, Korean, Vietnamese, and Chinese.

By car
Interstate 285 runs close to Doraville, and close to the interchange with the Buford Connector (GA 13).

By train
The Northeast Rail Line of MARTA terminates at Doraville Station.

By bus
Numerous MARTA buses serve the Doraville area, plus Route 10 of Gwinett County Transit and Route 408 of GRTA.

title: Doraville


text:
Dorchester

Dorchester is the county town of Dorset. A market town with an undoubtedly long history, Dorchester has connections to Thomas Hardy, the Tolpuddle Martyrs and Roman Britain, and today features a wide range of visitor attractions, independent retailers and eateries.

Get in
A new park and ride service is now available, see National Park and Ride Directory

By train
Dorchester has two train stations. The tourism website has advice on https://www.visit-dorset.com/visitor-information/travel-information/getting-here/by-train/ travelling via rail].

By bus
National Express Coaches stop at Dorchester from London Victoria.

Get around
Travelling around Dorchester in particular and West Dorset as a whole is easy by private or public transport.

Do
Come on a Wednesday and experience the lively atmosphere of market day in town. On the first Saturday of the month you can take a trip to Prince Charles' internationally renowned Poundbury and enjoy the Farmers' Market.

Buy
Local produce from the regular markets and farmers' markets in town. These are a great opportunity to discover local handcrafted and home-produced items and pick up a bargain!

Eat
Dorchester has a varied selection of restaurants, but is fairly limited in quality.

Drink
There are many excellent pubs and bars in the county town of Dorchester, so prepare to be spoilt for choice!

Go next

 * Weymouth and Isle of Portland

title: Dorchester


text:
Dordogne

The Dordogne is a region of Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France. Dordogne is one of France's best-loved areas.

Castles, châteaux, and other important historical museums are sprinkled throughout the region, offering enough historical interest for any aficionado, but attractively distributed throughout a breathtaking scenery that needs no scholarly tendencies to enjoy it.

While long a favourite with visitors, the region has escaped much of the overdevelopment of some of France's other regions.

Cities

 * — nicknamed the "Venice of the Périgord"
 * — merged with Bézenac to form Castels et Bézenac
 * with Roman remains
 * — merged with Bézenac to form Castels et Bézenac
 * with Roman remains
 * with Roman remains
 * with Roman remains
 * with Roman remains
 * with Roman remains

Other destinations

 * - The prehistoric cave paintings of Lascaux. A UNESCO World Heritage site.
 * in is an excellent example of a 16th-century French castle, well preserved and with lovely gardens.
 * in is an excellent example of a 16th-century French castle, well preserved and with lovely gardens.

Understand
The Dordogne department roughly follows the shape of the historic Périgord, a former province and one of the primary battlegrounds during the Hundred Years' War. The name is still commonly used by the French, as the Dordogne is divided into four regions, named after the historic province. They're the Périgord Vert (Green, in the north), the Périgord Blanc (White, in the north-east), Périgord Noir (Black, in the south-east) and the Périgord Pourpre (Purple, in the south-west).

Get in
By car to the Dordogne, the A20 and then the A89 to Périgueux.

Get around
There isn't much in the way of public transport around the Périgord Noir area of which Sarlat is the main town. Railway: Trains from Paris to Souillac or Paris to Libourne and then change for Sarlat using the Bergerac line. A number of trains operate from Bordeaux to Sarlat each day, which takes about 3 hours and is a reasonably scenic journey. Bus: There is no bus station in Sarlat but some services operate from the railway station. The Transperigord links Souillac to Sarlat via the Dordogne valley twice daily and the Sarlat Bus services various areas of Sarlat itself. Taxi: There are several taxi companies operating around Sarlat and the Dordogne valley. Taxi Faugére and taxi Cy

See

 * Visitors from around the world flock to see the prehistoric caves of Lascaux, thought by many scholars to be the world's best. However, due to the damage resulting from too many people visiting the caves, they have been permanently closed to the public. The French government has built Lascaux II near the site where tourists can see a copy of the original cave.
 * A wealth of story-book chateaux such as Losse in Thonac, Château de Beynac in Beynac-et-Cazenac, and the excellent museum of medieval warfare at the fortified Chateau de Castelnaud in Castelnaud-La Chapelle.
 * A lovely countryside, dotted by the golden stone houses native to this region, makes Dordogne seem a little like a cross between a fairy tale and a movie set.
 * The legendary stone villages of Dordogne, including Monpazier, Rocamadour, Domme and La Roque Gageac, are unforgettably picturesque. The market of Sarlat-la-Canéda is just one of many remarkable markets in the area, but this is one that is truly a shopper's dream come true.

Do
In the region there is some amazing caves full of stalactites and stalagmites.
 * Canoeing down the River Dordogne is a fantastic way to see the region. It is also great for seeing towns and castles.
 * Small group tours departing from Sarlat la Caneda with Ophorus.
 * The Dordogne is a wonderful area for walking and hiking. There are various good maps of the region or otherwise quite a few local, independent walking holiday providers can help you on your way.

Eat
A magnificent cuisine - famous especially for its pâtés - is often rated by native French as the country's best. Some local specialties:
 * Pommes Sarladaises -- potatoes roasted in duck fat, with garlic and parsley.
 * Confit de canard -- slow-cooked duck leg.
 * Foie gras -- liver from the fattened duck (canard) or goose (oie). Although controversial for its production process, foie gras remains a popular delicacy and is prepared in any number of ways, including pâtés.
 * Black truffle of Périgord -- best season for this is when it's fresh, late November through February.
 * Tourain blanchi -- garlic soup with egg whites.

Sleep
As in most popular holiday destination regions in France, you'll find a range of places to stay, varying from large and small camp grounds and village bed & breakfasts to high end hotels and resorts. Family holiday houses are also widely available.

title: Dordogne


text:
Dordrecht

Dordrecht is a historic city in South Holland, Netherlands that was, at the end of the Middle Ages, one of the six important trade cities of the County of Holland. Its centre still shows off the rich history of the city.

Understand
Dordrecht is a really old city that grew wealthy on its position at a river confluence with important commercial, military and private boat building. It held significant regional and international importance, hosting the 'Synod of Dordrecht' and other important religious meetings.

Thankfully, it escaped much of the widespread destruction of the Second World War. Consequently, it is brimming with interesting old architecture and displays an old-time sense of wealth that belies the peaceful and laid-back character of its modern-day economic relaxation. The locals are educated and generally proud of their city, which is the sort of place to wander around and explore leisurely, rather than rushing in and out.

By boat
There is a fast ferry (waterbus) from Rotterdam, which is part of the public transport system and costs the same as the train.

By car
Two important highways go to and through Dordrecht. A16 from Rotterdam to Belgium border and N3 from Papendrecht to the A16 in Dordrecht.

Get around
While the city is small enough to walk around, if you are in a hurry or have a lot of bags, consider the frequent buses which serve the city and nearby areas. Also, bicycles can be rented from a bike shop next to the train station ( deposit).

Qbuzz has timetables and maps of buses in the region.

See
There are nearly 900 listed buildings in the city. There are also a few other museums about town, plus some interesting shops, parks, an old windmill, and a few boat harbours (havens in Dutch). There's a huge supply of ancient architecture which you will see everywhere with years and Dutch language explanations. (If interested in specifics, get a local to translate for you.)

Do
You can walk through the city centre and you can cycle in the nature park Hollandse Biesbos or even as far as Kinderdijk.

There are also many sports clubs and soccer fields you can visit. Dordrecht is a green city that has many parks and recreation areas in the suburbs.

Buy
Shopping in the centre of Dordrecht is centred around the Voorstraat, the Sarisgang and the Statenplein (Staten Square). The Voorstraat is long, making it the longest shopping street in the Netherlands. Markets are held every Friday and Saturday on the Statenplein and in the Sarisgang and on Tuesday in the Dubbeldam quarter.

Eat
You can find a lot of foreign food, albeit with varying levels of authenticity, spread about the town: Chinese, Greek, Italian, Macedonian, Thai, Turkish and Vietnamese, at least.
 * Many nice restaurants are around the Statenplein and outdoor tables abound in good weather.
 * Scheffersplein off Wijnstraat (Wine Street) is also ringed with many restaurants and outdoor tables.

Drink
Other than a range of restaurants serving alcohol, and a few other bars apparently chiefly peopled by older local alcoholics, nightlife seems to be mainly centered around the Scheffersplein bridge/square.

In town
There is a relative shortage of hotels in the city. Judging from old maps of the town, there used to be more, but they have faded with the regional economy.

There are no real budget options in Dordrecht proper. There are two bed and breakfasts near the central bridge over the harbour behind the big church that is potentially cheaper than the hotels. One reported budget option, unconfirmed, is a Luthier's shop around the corner to the southeast of the Bellevue Hotel.

Go next

 * The historical and picturesque city of Gorinchem is nearby. See the intact bastions.
 * Dordrecht is also within cycling distance of the Kinderdijk. Route maps are available at the VVV visitor information bureau.

title: Dordrecht