Re: Holidays 2013 : Mon Mar 18, 2013 5:20 pm  

Mintball wrote:

Finally, after procrastination brought on by complex work commitments and downright panic, I have booked my first solo trip out of the UK.

Be gentle to me – I'm 50: of course it's going to be nerve-wracking.

In less than a month, I catch the Eurostar to Paris, change and get the sleeper to Hamburg, and then take another train (just 40-odd minutes) to Lübeck, the Queen of the Hansa. I'll have three nights there – to explore all the medieval city, do the literary pilgrimage and sample the food (and beer). Then back to Hamburg and a flight to Amsterdam (saves doing five changes by train) where I'll meet T'Other Half and we'll have four days.

After the panic, now a mad rush of excitement – swotting maps and guides to the extent that I dreamt I was walking certain routes the other night.

Its very liberating to wake up in a strange city with no itinery and only yourself to please all day long

Re: Holidays 2013 : Mon Mar 18, 2013 5:49 pm  

Two weeks in Rhodes this coming August. Nothing better than having the sun beating down on your back after a hard year!

It will be the first time we will have gone away as a family of 4. Just teaching my youngest (3) how to swim in preparation.

Re: Holidays 2013 : Mon Mar 18, 2013 6:10 pm  

kirkstaller wrote:

Two weeks in Rhodes this coming August. Nothing better than having the sun beating down on your back after a hard year!

It will be the first time we will have gone away as a family of 4. Just teaching my youngest (3) how to swim in preparation.

I went to Rhodes last July. Hottest place I've ever been, think there must have been a heatwave as even the locals were struggling. The dancefloors in the clubs were empty as everybody was stood next to the air conditioners.

Re: Holidays 2013 : Mon Mar 18, 2013 7:04 pm  

I went to Rhodes in 1979, one of the best holidays I've still ever had, stayed in the "Old Town", in fact the hotel had the ancient city walls as its back garden, cockroaches in every room and every morning you were expected to shake your duvet out of the window and hang it on the balcony rail for airing.

I never found any in mine but as you walked the narrow 12/13th century streets first thing in a morning you'd be crushing dead roaches underfoot that had been wafted out of duvets and every now and again a dead scorpion.

Fantastic authentic holiday although I'll add the caveat that it was before I met the wife and if I took her back there now she'd would literally be on the next plane home, the VERY next one.

Re: Holidays 2013 : Mon Mar 18, 2013 10:07 pm  

Smiggs wrote:

Looking to go aboard in August with the family for the first time this year (2 girls age 6 & 4). Any serious recommendations, we have been looking at the Algarve and Majorca but haven’t decided on anything yet.

We used to take the car and hire a cottage in France.

Re: Holidays 2013 : Mon Mar 18, 2013 10:10 pm  

Mintball wrote:

Finally, after procrastination brought on by complex work commitments and downright panic, I have booked my first solo trip out of the UK.

Be gentle to me – I'm 50: of course it's going to be nerve-wracking.

In less than a month, I catch the Eurostar to Paris, change and get the sleeper to Hamburg, and then take another train (just 40-odd minutes) to Lübeck, the Queen of the Hansa. I'll have three nights there – to explore all the medieval city, do the literary pilgrimage and sample the food (and beer). Then back to Hamburg and a flight to Amsterdam (saves doing five changes by train) where I'll meet T'Other Half and we'll have four days.

After the panic, now a mad rush of excitement – swotting maps and guides to the extent that I dreamt I was walking certain routes the other night.

I used to like going on German and European trains generally. People so polite. If they get food out they always offer you something if you're sat near them.

Re: Holidays 2013 : Tue Mar 19, 2013 9:28 pm  

JerryChicken wrote:

I went to Rhodes in 1979, one of the best holidays I've still ever had, stayed in the "Old Town", in fact the hotel had the ancient city walls as its back garden, cockroaches in every room and every morning you were expected to shake your duvet out of the window and hang it on the balcony rail for airing.

I never found any in mine but as you walked the narrow 12/13th century streets first thing in a morning you'd be crushing dead roaches underfoot that had been wafted out of duvets and every now and again a dead scorpion.

Fantastic authentic holiday although I'll add the caveat that it was before I met the wife and if I took her back there now she'd would literally be on the next plane home, the VERY next one.

We just stayed in Faliraki, didn't see two many creepy crawlies. Think the 5ft long snakes outside our hotel must have kept them at bay.

Re: Holidays 2013 : Wed Mar 20, 2013 12:01 am  

End of June off to Tenerife for a week with the girlfriend, staying in a little place just outside of Los Cristianos and Playa De Las Americas; but in walking distance of both. Never been there before, and its probably 11 or 12 years since I was last in Spain, so looking forward to it. Staying at a lovely looking little apartment complex, not one of these high rise places, looks quite nice and compact. Gets favourable reviews across the web, too.

Intending to book something for a week with two of the lads for the start of August too. Think that will have to be a "book it now and cross the spending money bridge when I get to it" approach; my bank manager will be up in arms come mid-August. Maybe go back to Albufeira, as one of the lads hasn't been there before and fancies it. Sunny Beach (Bulgaria) is also on the radar, as all we're after is a week somewhere not too grotty, with good weather and plenty of nice local beer. Hence the Malia and Magaluf type destinations are off the list, fingers crossed the scallies haven't made it to Sunny Beach. Although Albufeira is probably the safer bet at this moment in time.

Aside from that, got another small project for the end of August; off to a caravan site just outside Blackpool for four nights with the girlfriend, her mum, her mums chap and the collective brood of kids. Should be cheap and cheerful, stock the caravan with meat for a few barbecues (fingers crossed regarding weather) and hit the supermarket for some beers. It is getting extortionate in Blackpool these days, but will probably still venture there a few times.

Re: Holidays 2013 : Wed Mar 20, 2013 11:02 am  

Cheers for any advice offered but we booked a week in Ibiza, Es Cana last night. It was to good a deal not to.

Re: Holidays 2013 : Wed Mar 20, 2013 11:25 am  

Not strictly a holiday, but I have just put my name in at work to do two weeks for Habitat for Humanity, I give a weeks leave to go and they match it. Not sure where yet, but they have done it before in India, Romania and Central America. I have suggested we should do something in NSW so I can get some RL in. Got to raise £2.5k now (if I am selected).