The Holidays Thread

[Baz]

Just had 7 days in Somerset of all places with the kids. They thoroughly enjoyed themselves so that's all that really matters. Also I managed to bring home some local beers so it's not all bad right?

 

[IanH]

Just had 7 days in Somerset of all places with the kids. They thoroughly enjoyed themselves so that's all that really matters. Also I managed to bring home some local beers so it's not all bad right?

You make it sound like you had no say in the matter. Did you win the contents of your holiday on the back of a box of Coco Pops?

 

[Abertawe]

Got three weeks booked off in October so I'm thinking of going on a mission. I'd rather sample different places than be stuck down in one place so I'm thinking fly to Amsterdam, stock up. Then Amsterdam > Cologne > Antwerp > Paris > Montpellier > Barcelona > Valencia.

Travel & accom is working out at £690 for 15 nights. Going to stay at places booked on Airbnb so hopefully I can book in with some like minded people.

 

[Aber gas]

Just had 7 days in Somerset of all places with the kids. They thoroughly enjoyed themselves so that's all that really matters. Also I managed to bring home some local beers so it's not all bad right?

Somerset is lovely , only place my parents could afford to go when I was little . Nothing bad about it !!

 

[TomPNE94]

Going to Dubrovnik in September. Spoken to a few people who have all said its a fantastic place so really looking forward to it!

 

[Baz]

You make it sound like you had no say in the matter. Did you win the contents of your holiday on the back of a box of Coco Pops?

I didn't have a say in the matter no, the wife chose the destination haha.

Somerset is lovely , only place my parents could afford to go when I was little . Nothing bad about it !!

It is a lovely little area yeah. We didn't venture too far from Doniford, but we did Minehead, Dunster and the like. The only complaint I had was some of the locals were obviously a bit slow when you constantly had comments like "You aren't local are you" well duh the Welsh accent gives it away right?

 

[Van Der Graaf]

The other day I picked up a one-way flight to Ohrid in Macedonia for £11 from Luton in September. This part of the trip is 100% happening; Ohrid - Skopje - Belgrade (the derby is the weekend I intend to arrive conveniently) - Novi Sad....

Now, I have absolutely no plans beyond this, not even a return flight. I'm in half a mind to make the most of this and travel from Ohrid to Kaunas/Gdansk and fly back to Nottingham for the start of freshers......If I do it I want to take in Ohrid - Skopje - Belgrade - Novi Sad - Budapest - Bratislava - Ostrava - Katowice - Poznan - Warsaw - Gdansk/Kaunas.....I have absolutely no clue how to go about planning this so does anyone have any tips how to go about planning an interrail trip properly and how to keep costs down? How long would be ideal in each place (obviously variable) but travelling Eastern Europe/The Balkans is something I've wanted to do for a very long time.

 

[Cardsfan]

The other day I picked up a one-way flight to Ohrid in Macedonia for £11 from Luton in September. This part of the trip is 100% happening; Ohrid - Skopje - Belgrade (the derby is the weekend I intend to arrive conveniently) - Novi Sad....

Now, I have absolutely no plans beyond this, not even a return flight. I'm in half a mind to make the most of this and travel from Ohrid to Kaunas/Gdansk and fly back to Nottingham for the start of freshers......If I do it I want to take in Ohrid - Skopje - Belgrade - Novi Sad - Budapest - Bratislava - Ostrava - Katowice - Poznan - Warsaw - Gdansk/Kaunas.....I have absolutely no clue how to go about planning this so does anyone have any tips how to go about planning an interrail trip properly and how to keep costs down? How long would be ideal in each place (obviously variable) but travelling Eastern Europe/The Balkans is something I've wanted to do for a very long time.

I'm guessing you know this already but this -http://www.interrail.eu/interrail-passes - offers good value and you can choose the amount of days you need (not sure if it covers the countries you're interested in)

 

[Van Der Graaf]

Yeah, since I actually posted this I've booked another cheap flight from Gdansk....Makes it easier to choose options!

 

[RavenBish]

Anyone been to Vancouver? Some girl I went to school with has posted pictures of it on Facebook and it looks like the nicest place on Earth, just wondering if there's actually anything there worth doing aside from it looking pretty. I'm gonna splash out on a US/Canada trip, somewhere I haven't been before (basically not Florida or Mid-West). No interest in Vegas or New York though

 

[blade1889]

For the first time ever I've gotten back off holiday and not been cold...although not quite the 40'C I'm used to! Did nothing but sun bathe in Los Alcazarez (spelt sumat like that) and watch an air show...anybody ever seen an F16? Magnificent thing, sounded like thunder right above you when it flew

 

[NiallQuinnDiscoPants]

Went La Palma for a week. Beautiful little island off Gran Canaria. Surreal location, you've got gorgeous blue seas on one side of you, and on the other side you have steep volcanic hills. Locals were really friendly too.

 

[Techno Natch]

Yeah, since I actually posted this I've booked another cheap flight from Gdansk....Makes it easier to choose options!

When we were looking at inter-railing it actually worked out cheaper in eastern europe to buy the tickets through the train lines so keep that in mind too.

 

[KevinMcallister]

not going anywhere until October , thinking somewhere European like Prague or Budapest

next year i'm saving for my 3 week American extravaganza, usually do 2 weeks in the States , 1 week in one place and 1 week in another etc, however this time i want to try 3 new locations all in different parts of the US, definately want to get in Wisconsin this time, maybe Green Bay (not sure there's much else there

 

[Alty]

Going to visit Israel in August.

Has anyone been?

Briefly. Did Masada via Eilat. If you like history and insanely hot weather you can have a great time, I'm sure. Whereabouts are you going?

 

[Alty]

I'm planning to go to Cuba in September. Any recommendations from anyone? I'm thinking of going for around 10 days. Maybe 3 or 4 in Havana, then 6 or 7 relaxing elsewhere. Seen a few deals for Varadero recently. I'm wondering whether it has to be 5* or nothing in Cuba? I went to a 4* hotel in Crete last year and it definitely wasn't a 4* in my book. I can't imagine standards are higher in Cuba...

 

[lordofthepies]

Gotta go there before all the Americans do...

 

[Alty]

Gotta go there before all the Americans do...

TBH having heard Americans talking about their perception of Cuba I'm doubtful very many will go at all. They seem convinced it's a massive shit tip.

EDIT: But it would be nice to see Havana before the inevitable McDonalds and Starbucks springs up.

 

[Alty]

I was looking at Cuba not long ago and was recommended the Paradisus Rio De Oro and Iberostar Varadero.

I was also told to knock a star off 4 and 5 star resorts and a couple off of the 3! I've been told that for pretty much every country I've been to though.....

Cheers. Iberostar Varadero looks really good. Hoping to get flights and hotels for £1,000. Might be optmistic but will see what I can get.

 

[Habbinalan]

I'm planning to go to Cuba in September. Any recommendations from anyone? I'm thinking of going for around 10 days. Maybe 3 or 4 in Havana, then 6 or 7 relaxing elsewhere. Seen a few deals for Varadero recently. I'm wondering whether it has to be 5* or nothing in Cuba? I went to a 4* hotel in Crete last year and it definitely wasn't a 4* in my book. I can't imagine standards are higher in Cuba...

Although it was a few years ago and we avoided the beach resorts (essentially fly/drive), the food in the hotels was appalling but the food and welcome in the Casas Particulares, private home businesses, (B&B and small restaurants) was superb - as were their Mojitos.

If you have the slightest interest in chocolate, Museo del Chocolate (a café) is an essential visit. Our Havanna hotel was nearby so we visited a few times - everything we tried was superb.

 

[nousername]

Briefly. Did Masada via Eilat. If you like history and insanely hot weather you can have a great time, I'm sure. Whereabouts are you going?

Flying into Tel Aviv, and will base myself there.

Going to do a night or two in Jerusalem and onto the Dead Sea.

Not too fussed about the weather, already frighteningly hot in Hong Kong...

 

[nousername]

Anyone been to Vancouver? Some girl I went to school with has posted pictures of it on Facebook and it looks like the nicest place on Earth, just wondering if there's actually anything there worth doing aside from it looking pretty. I'm gonna splash out on a US/Canada trip, somewhere I haven't been before (basically not Florida or Mid-West). No interest in Vegas or New York though

I was looking forward to visiting Vancouver, but I found it quite underwhelming. I imagine it's a great place to live, but it's too spread out for the typical visitor, and the nightlife was piss poor in my opinion.

If you do the west coast fly into San Francisco and rent a car. You'll have a really good time. California is full of nutters and good watering holes.

 

[IanH]

Cheers. Iberostar Varadero looks really good. Hoping to get flights and hotels for £1,000. Might be optmistic but will see what I can get.

I went to Cuba for my sister's 30th in January. We stayed in Royal Hicacos resort, which I really liked. Good choice of restaurants and the swimming pool / beach were really nice.

There's a tonne of Canadians in Cuba.

 

[RavenBish]

I was looking forward to visiting Vancouver, but I found it quite underwhelming. I imagine it's a great place to live, but it's too spread out for the typical visitor, and the nightlife was piss poor in my opinion.

That's a shame, was planning on flying into Vancouver and then probably moving onto Seattle which is only a couple of hours down. I've always fancied a proper trip on the west coast but been put off by the fact the obvious places tend to be massively disappointing, and as you say, full of weirdos.

 

[Cardsfan]

That's a shame, was planning on flying into Vancouver and then probably moving onto Seattle which is only a couple of hours down. I've always fancied a proper trip on the west coast but been put off by the fact the obvious places tend to be massively disappointing, and as you say, full of weirdos.

You'd fit in just fine then.

 

[IanH]

I was looking forward to visiting Vancouver, but I found it quite underwhelming. I imagine it's a great place to live, but it's too spread out for the typical visitor, and the nightlife was piss poor in my opinion.

That's a shame, was planning on flying into Vancouver and then probably moving onto Seattle which is only a couple of hours down. I've always fancied a proper trip on the west coast but been put off by the fact the obvious places tend to be massively disappointing, and as you say, full of weirdos.

Think your putting words into our Glasweigan chum's mouth there. (unless he said that elsewhere, in which case I'll shut up).*

Couple of my friends have visited Canada and particularly loved Vancouver. They managed to get visas in this years quota (seemingly a one-day lottery raffle?) and are heading straight there to live.

* edit: realised he also memtioned California and the nutters. I'll get back in my box.

 

[nousername]

That's a shame, was planning on flying into Vancouver and then probably moving onto Seattle which is only a couple of hours down. I've always fancied a proper trip on the west coast but been put off by the fact the obvious places tend to be massively disappointing, and as you say, full of weirdos.

Oh ok, from your original post I got the impression that you only wanted to visit to Vancouver. If you're going to use it as a base from which to start a road trip on the west coast then it's a good a place as any.

My friend and I drove from San Francisco to Vancouver a few years back. Fantastic trip. Two nights in Vancouver was enough for us though.

 

[Womble98]

Berlin next Monday for 9 days for a bunch of mates, first holiday together now we are all done with a-levels. Any tips/suggestions?

 

[nousername]

Depends what you guys are into.

Some great clubs, but you'll struggle to get into them being in a big group of young lads. Try Tresor, awesome night club that was quite easy to get into when there was 4 or 5 in our group.

Prenzlauerberg and Kreuzberg were the places to go when I was last there in 2012. I'm sure quite a few others on here have been and will have more up to date information.

 

[Techno Natch]

Berlin next Monday for 9 days for a bunch of mates, first holiday together now we are all done with a-levels. Any tips/suggestions?

Lots of stuff to do as Nousername says though depends what you want to do.

The area around suicide circus is good to hang out at. Its probably one of my personal favourite clubs too.

Lots of historical stuff to do of course and although I don't like tours normally the alternative tour was good.

I'm going out on Monday as well. We were planning on going to Schonhausen Concentration camp but not sure now as there are a few good nights on Monday night. I was thinking of maybe heading to the infamous Kit Kat club.

Only in Berlin for two days and then down south for Freqs of nature festival. One week of psy trance.... Can't wait.