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Anyone off anywhere this summer? I'm off to Bosnia/Croatia for 2 weeks tonight, bit annoyed about missing the Stoke game but I could do without the sore neck anyway.

Will be in Tenerife for a week from 23rd October.

Koh Samet for a week or so on Monday.

Lovely

Cyprus

You visiting family Fola?

Hoping to go out to Turkey again in October for a week or so

I know I go on about her all the time Ardiles, but the missus has an apartment out there in Kusadasi so its handy enough to go to. Although I would like to spend some time in Istanbul, as its supposed to be a really cool place.

Yep but also going to the Croatian coast for a few days.

Going to Seville in a couple of weeks.

Any tips ?

Bulgaria for a week at the beginning of September

 Lake District in early October.

 :rain:

Hvar, Croatia for a week in September. Can't bloody wait.

Are you spending the whole week in Hvar?

Bournemouth for 1 night next Friday.

1 week in Edinburgh for the Comedy Festival.....and am currently half way through that week today.

flying in and out of Split, so will do a day or two there, and do the other islands too, but yes, in essence.

Wrong person.  ;)

Make sure you take some time to visit Dubrovnik. Hvar is nice, but not very big. Split was nice as well, but preferred Dubrovnik if you can ignore the thousands of tourists!

I loved Croatia, the coastline is stunning.

Someone on here recommended the Plitvice lakes, which are beautiful. Really clear water and we arrived after they had had a big rainfall so the waterfalls were in full flow.

 :D

Sharm for a week in September and Agadir for a week in October. Can't come quick enough :)

i went to hurghada earlier in the year, off to estonia for a week soon

Try as much tapas as possible, I can't remember the names but there are some amazing little tapas bars, google should help with the best. Drink Sherry, go to the Cathedral, use the hire bikes to get around, go to the royal palace, go to the Parc Luisa Maria and gorp at the amazing pavillions then go see the wierd 80s expo buildings. Go see the two footy stadiums, walk the narrow streets, hang out and drink beer. walk around the jewish quarter and suck up the history.

It's a wonderful city. enjoy

Nice one, thanks.

Just leaving for 2 weeks in Florida

See ya later chaps

Going to reading next week, closest thing I've got resembling a holiday this year.

Have a good one fella

off to crete a week tuesday

Oh. If you are going anywhere near Orlando Fred you might want to check out the weather forecast. :rain:

Not got anywhere booked for this year but we are looking at two weeks in Cuba next April.

Think in another thread Samdy said he went out there a few years back - where and any good?

Summer is over here.

:(

Went to Djerba, Tunisia.  Amazing place for a relaxation holiday.

We stayed at a hotel called Playa Pesquero. It's not for from Guardalavaca, but the hotel itself is a little isolated. As it was all inclusive, that didn't really matter as apart from a few bars/shops in Guardalavaca there isn't a lot to do by just wandering from most of the resorts.

The hotel itself was great. I think there were 5 or 6 different restaurants to choose from on the complex, the facilities were good and it had it's own beach access (white sand, crystal clear water).

Would advise doing day trips/excursions though, otherwise you might as well just do an all inclusive in Benidorm. We did a trip out on a catamaran, there were also trips to local towns (inc. a cigar factory) to see the 'real' Cuba. One thing we didn't do which we wish we did was take a trip to Havana. We had the chance but didn't and we plan to go back just to see Havana.

Close, but no cigar?

A week in Cornwall and then a week of day trips (including Stoke with luck) starts tomorrow. Wahaaay.

Cheers Sam, that was the hotel we were looking at.

Not too fussed over day trips and what not - having a holiday of relaxing, eat and drinking will do for me. Thats what I've done the last 2 but then they've only been a week long.

Two weeks all inclusive for just over £1,000 - very tempting.

I think we paid £1800 total for the two of us back in 2008.

I really cannot fault the hotel. If you want to just relax, eat and drink then it'll be perfect for you. The swimming pool is massive. The staff were brilliant, one of the bar men remembered our drinks and for the whole two weeks our drinks were poured before we even walked up to the bar!

Sounds ideal to me. Usually just want to relax but looking at 2 weeks this year so will probably think about getting out and about. Depends on cost, the best thing about all inclusive is once you've paid off the holiday money isnt much of an issue.

...and as I had my holiday form for financial year 2013/2014 last night - I'm starting to give it some serious consideration.

Just got to persuade a few people to put up with me for 2 weeks :)

Really? We're going end of September for a week. Then Center Parcs first weekend in December.

nothing mega this year as trying to save for wedding and honeymoon, just spent a couple days in bournemouth, that was nice, off to legoland tomorrow. :-)

scrap the legoland part, cant find the fucking tickets.

Up early to beat the traffic.

Fuck its too early.

Centreparcs first week of october

Majorca for 2 weeks all inclusive in September.

Booking a weekend in Milan later tonight.

The Milan Derby is on that weekend but I'm finding it a bastard finding tickets.

Anybody been to the Milan derby before and can help me out?

You will need to get an italian identity number before you can buy any tickets, its a nightmare.

Ah right. I read something about these cards that they do which requires a passport as ID.

Romantic 3 days in Paris in ...........November
It's a bloody long journey from here taxi, plane, hire car, Eurostar, metro  :doh:

Then Carribean cruise in Feb - yes I am that old   :cry:

After some beers with the neighbours last night we're looking into hiring a place in somewhere like one of the Greek islands or generally anywhere medish with a pool next summer. 4 adults and 3 kids. Anyone got any little gems they'd like to divulge on here with me?

we stayed in Elounda (crete) think it was the (sailors apartments) 100yds from the nice sandy beach, there's boat trips to spinalonga island and 5 mins walk takes you into the centre of the village, 20 minute drive takes you to Agios Nikolaos (for the night life)
Elounda is  a great place to make your base, hire a car and take a trip up into the mountains and visit a place called Vai at the eastern end of the island, the beach there is reached through a Date tree plantation (or whatever it's called).
Popped a couple of links at the bottom for you







http://www.holidaycheck.com/hotel-travel+information_Sailors+Appartements-hid_185717.html (http://www.holidaycheck.com/hotel-travel+information_Sailors+Appartements-hid_185717.html)

Info on Vai http://www.east-crete.com/vai-itanos.htm (http://www.east-crete.com/vai-itanos.htm)

Has anyone on here been to Istanbul? Looking at heading for a few nights before going to Kusadasi.

Would really love to go to one of the Istanbul team's matches as well, looking at the fixtures the day we arrive, Fenerbache are playing Besiktas and Istanbul BB are playing Genclerbirligi. Anyone been to a game and can provide advice on tickets, the safety aspect etc?

Can't comment on Istanbul, but I do know that the Mugla Province (Marmaris, Dalaman etc) is full of Fenerbache fans, and having been in Marmaris when Fenerbache have won titles or important games, or when the Turkish national team have won, that if you do make it to a Fenerbacke game you should be in for a load of fun as their fans appear to be complete nutters!

I'm looking into doing the Inca Trail, has anyone ever done this?

I bought a caravan saturday.

Cant pretend to be an expert on Istanbul.  I was there for a day and a half, most of it I was working.  Stayed pretty central, it seemed to be an incredibly bustling busy city.  There is a footy stadium right in the centre (I think its Besiktas stadium).  That was pretty stunning really.  Its kind of in the centre of a massive roundabout on a hill so some of it is set into the higher part of the hill and the bottom part more open.  Looked really nice.  Im sure it would be a bit mental on matchday.  Safe, erm, no.  Probably not.

Yeah Fenerbache v Besiktas is a derby match so I would imagine the atmosphere would be hostile to say the least.

Was it Luke Rooney's? I heard somewhere that he sold his.

I did it 16 years ago, so things may well have changed massively but I loved it, its harder than you think if your an incredibly lazy bastard who only did one 3 mile walk in England before leaving.   there's not a flat bit in the whole route, and the first pass is quite high at 4000 metres, however when we were there some people were running the whole thing in 1 day.

because we didn't go on an organised group, we hid at the sun gate until the place shut down then camped there and so it was easy to be there for sun rise in the morning.  That was amazing!!!

If you want any more info let me know

Thanks for the reply. It's just a thought at the moment. I know Intrepid Travel or STA Travel were doing BOGOF on the trips last year so i'm thinking of doing it with a friend. I'm starting to drum up some research on it. The missus has done it but asking her for information is like getting blood from a stone.

Looking in to doing Moscow later this year but again another one i need to read up on. Anyone been there?

I'm going to Tenerife next week. :beers:

Until this year, when I went to New York in the summer, I'd not been on holiday in the last 6 years. Now I'm going twice in a year. \:)/

Holiday time again this weekend. Istanbul Saturday-Tuesday and then Kusadasi Wednesday-Monday.

Weather good over there still and really looking forward to it. Can't wait for a cold Efes!

Not had a holiday for 12 years - fucking dogs!!

Berlin on Thursday to Saturday. Rock & Roll eh ;)

Well stop fucking your dogs and go on holiday you crazy Irish man.

 :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:

Ok got a little bit of feedback about Istanbul before (more related to the football) but for anyone that has been before, what would you advise to see? I have had a quick look on the lonely planet website and there seems to be loads of mosques and palaces and things which sound good, but we are only there for 3 days and one of the days we are on a boat trip so I want to try and go and see the highlights if possible. I'm aware that Istanbul is enormous so probably won't get to see everything in the time we are there.

Will definitely be packing my waterproofs. And maybe some scuba gear.

Where are you staying Sam? I've been up there loads of times.

Lakeland, it's a Haven jobbie.

Are you into fell walking etc? I have some good suggestions :)

Probably not so much with the two little ones in tow. Just going to do typical tourist things like a trip to Windermere.

Like re-turfing it or tarmacing it by any chance, there is a good thread for that.

:)

Ok. They do motor boat hire at derwent water, as well as rowing boats. The eskdale railway might be a nice trip out with the young ones. You get to do the hardknott and wrynose pass too (check your brakes aren't smoking when you get to the other side :) ). The whinlatter forest walks are nice, good cafe there too!

 :D

Thinking of surprising the Mrs with a couple of nights away for her 40th.

Anyone been to Barcelona, or got any better euro suggestions for around £500 for two . Cheapskate me :) Would prefer at least a fair to middling chance of a bit of sun.

I'm off for a weekend on a barge tomorrow with my family and dogs.It has all the hallmarks to be a complete nightmare of a weekend,I'm going to make a Pirate hats.

Think Barcelona probably ticks all your boxes to be honest. Plenty to see and do, and has a beach to boot!

Ta!

Plus, I'm pretty sure she said the number one thing she wanted to do for her birthday was to see the Camp Nou.

Or was it go handbag shopping?

Haha! We never did the Camp Nou tour, but went to see Barcelona v Mallorca. In an odd way, I was underwhelmed a little with it, however that was probably because 4 days before we went to the Real v Barca game at the Bernabau, which was pretty special! We did the Bernabau tour which was very good, and I imagine the Barca one will be equally as good.

Bag shops are few and far between in Catelunya!

Wonder if Yeovil's holiday is going well?

http://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/news/9969220.Workers_battling_to_remove_stricken_boat_blocking_canal_near_Devizes/

i was a bit underwelmed by the nou camp too, be careful in barcelona rammed full of muggers and pickpockets espescially on the ramblas

Yep i had my wallet half inched by some little gypo kid when i was there. It's not great for that but just need to keep your wits about you. I did really like the place though (including Camp Nou).

Thanks for the warning

Yes be careful as same was attempted with me on Las Ramblas, luckily friends walking behind spotted what was going on. It would not have mattered too much though as the pocket the female was trying to pick was just full of Barcelona maps!

  :)

I've been to Barcelona.

Beautiful city, just a shame the people were absolute cunts.

We went the other way,was quite good fun but wouldnt do it again

Dostoyevsky just reminded me to say thanks. We went to Barcelona, it was a lovely city. We didn't get mugged/raped/killed. I got to do the tour round the New Camp

Batch, i'm off there in January from the 3rd-4th

How much was it to get in the Nou Camp for a tour?

http://www.fcbarcelona.com/camp-nou/camp-nou-experience/detail/card/prices-for-camp-nou-experience

about £18/23 Euro

The Bernabau one was brilliant as well. The press room was the size of a cinema and the history with all the trophies etc was pretty interesting.

I can't remember how much it was but you got to see a lot of the place, including sitting on Mourinho's seat in the dug out.

Did you slide on your knees to the edge of the pitch?

Thanks for that!

Got back the other day from 5 months away in USA, Peru, and Ecuador.

We road-tripped the USA from New York to California, over 2 months. Stopped along the way in Philly (crap after NYC, cheese steak was good though), Shenandoah National Park, Asheville, Nashville (incredible music scene), Memphis (shithole, though we did visit Sun Studios and Graceland), New Orleans (loved it, nice and sleazy too), Houston, Dallas (Six Flags rollercoasters), Big Bend National Park, Albuquerque, Grand Canyon (absolutely mind-blowing, needs to be seen), Vegas (celebrated my birthday here in style, and met David Haye who was an utter cock), San Diego, LA (possibly my favourite, got a license for weed from the doctor), San Francisco (never seen so many nutters in one place in my life).

Would love to do something similar but going on the Northern route which has a lot of good nature stuff around the lakes and North West.

Peru was great too, ate chicken heart, and guinea pig, did white water rafting, mountain biking down a volcano, climbed the volcano, trekked colca canyon, Machu Picchu, the amazon. In the Galapagos we saw so many wacky animals. The great thing is that the creatures have never really had any predators or been hunted by humans, so are more or less without fear, meaning you can walk right up to sea lion pups, and swim with sharks and giant sea turtles. It was like being in Planet Earth.

I have no money now, and am unemployed. Ah well!

You'll be able to apply for the Oxford job soon MG

How did you find Albuquerque? I spent 6 months there working.

Lucky bastard, apart from the last bit. How much did you save up for this experience out of interest?

Would also be interested in how much you spend during this trip as would love to do something similar.  Did you work at all while you were over there?  Also where did you stay hotels or hostels?

I think I might give Asia a try next year. Vietnam, Thailand, Laos, Malaysia all sound really interesting.

I wouldn't bother with Laos.

There's very little to see there. Other countries in the region have much more to offer.

Don't people use Laos for a day or two to extend staying in the surrounding countries?

I've heard the tubing in Laos is ace.

Thanks for the feedback Flash, will keep that in mind when we book.

Pretty much yeah. That's the only reason I go there, although I did work there for a while. Saw some really quite surreal things in my time there, mostly drug related.

We drove through the main part of the town and stayed in a great little bit just before you leave. The B&B was a mad little place, it looked like something from the late 1800's, creaky old wood everywhere, skins on the beds, piss pot, loads of character. And apparently there are lots of stories about the building being haunted and famous criminals having stayed there. We only stopped for one night but had a great steak across the cobbled streets.


£10,000 to cover flights, tours, and everything else. The USA was fucking expensive overall, but we didn't hold back and did everything we wanted to/ate in whichever restaurant we wanted to (though their top restaurants probably cost 50% or more less than ours). We weren't living like Kings or anything, but did some pretty sweet stuff.


Didn't work, I volunteered as a teacher in Peru for 2 months but had to pay to do that.

We stayed almost always in hostels, the only hotels where in the National Parks (lodges), New Orleans (lack of hostels), Vegas. It's cheaper and a better way to socialise.


I think they've finally stopped that now, too many people were getting battered and drowning. I've only heard good things about Laos - two of my friends went separately to Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos and said Laos was the best.

You can still tube in Laos, its a bit shit though really, drunk British everywhere.  Depends what you like really, we wouldn't have gone if it wasn't on the road between Luang Prabang and Vientienne.  Laos is a great country, but difficult to travel around because of the size of it and more importantly the state of the roads.  We did a great trip into the countryside for three days, cycling, walking, and kayaking.  You'd struggle to get see anything so untouched in Thailand/Malaysia/Vietnam.

We're off to Sri Lanka for a month in February, then Cambodia to see friends for a week before heading to Malaysia to live.

Very jealous of your trip, Goater.  That sort of thing is my next big trip, except for the teaching thing, done enough of that without being paid.