Holidays 2013

[Simo86]

Italy has to be my favourite place in the world! Stayed in sorrento for almost a week. Make sure you go Pompeii, its literally a train journey away and the train station is opposite the entrance to the ruins. If you can, hire a car and drive along the amalfi coast. Some seriously stunning scenery and the town of amalfi itself is a nice little cliffside harbour town. A trip to vesuvius is also worth it as it offers stunning views over the bay of naples!

On a less cultured note, I'm going Kavos this year. Anyone been? I'm assuming they're all pretty similar.

I went in 2005. The actual place during the day is an absolute hole! The beach isn't much better (parasols, breeze blocks etc. in the sea ). If you have a decent pool at your hotel best to stay there during the day (our hotel was brand new and had pretty decent facilities). At night you can't see the mess in the street although you still have the smell of the drainage . That said its still a good night out, so if you're there to have a laugh and get pissed with your mates, you'll have a whale of a time

[Kenners]

I went in 2005. The actual place during the day is an absolute hole! The beach isn't much better (parasols, breeze blocks etc. in the sea ). If you have a decent pool at your hotel best to stay there during the day (our hotel was brand new and had pretty decent facilities). At night you can't see the mess in the street although you still have the smell of the drainage . That said its still a good night out, so if you're there to have a laugh and get pissed with your mates, you'll have a whale of a time

Forgot to mention I went Zante last year hence they're all the same bit! Our hotel has mixed reviews but last year we hardly went to the beach anyway.

[Jordan]

I was going to fly over for the home first leg of a possible playoff semifinal but it looks like that's not likely to happen... So, it looks like I'll have about a week in May where I'll be off with nothing to do. I was thinking of just getting away somewhere, flying solo and getting lost in a cool place. I'm thinking Reykjavik, Iceland. Have any of you been there, and is it worthwhile? I know it's a pricey city but I think I can spring it for a week (and the krona is still exchanging for stupidly low rates). And if anybody gives me good advice, I'll see if I can return the favor by trying to find some of the British money that fell in an Icelandic black hole, or stop that damn volcano from erupting every now and then and ****ing up European air travel.

[Soar Fox]

Going Magaluf in June with a load of friends.

Staying in the Sol Trinidad hotel, anyone stayed there before?

[Guest MattP]

Going Magaluf in June with a load of friends.

Staying in the Sol Trinidad hotel, anyone stayed there before?

Stayed here on a stag do. We got chucked out an hour after checking in as one of the boys threw an old lady in a wheelchair in the pool.

Gave the security guard 300 euros and he still lobbed us out.

[Manwell Pablo]

Stayed here on a stag do. We got chucked out an hour after checking in as one of the boys threw an old lady in a wheelchair in the pool.

Gave the security guard 300 euros and he still lobbed us out.

Even King Fox would view this as bad banter.

[lavrentis]

Stayed here on a stag do. We got chucked out an hour after checking in as one of the boys threw an old lady in a wheelchair in the pool.

Gave the security guard 300 euros and he still lobbed us out.

[Guest MattP]

Even King Fox would view this as bad banter.

I still to this day have no idea what he was thinking.

[Soar Fox]

Stayed here on a stag do. We got chucked out an hour after checking in as one of the boys threw an old lady in a wheelchair in the pool.

Gave the security guard 300 euros and he still lobbed us out.

lol

So there's know point in asking you what the hotel is like. Heard its pretty close to BCM though.

[Manwell Pablo]

I still to this day have no idea what he was thinking.

Is it possible to swim without physically being able to move your legs?

Only one way to find out.

[Bayfox]

Call me harsh but the last few posts on here on the funniest thing i have read on here in a long time.

[Deucalion]

I was going to fly over for the home first leg of a possible playoff semifinal but it looks like that's not likely to happen... So, it looks like I'll have about a week in May where I'll be off with nothing to do. I was thinking of just getting away somewhere, flying solo and getting lost in a cool place. I'm thinking Reykjavik, Iceland. Have any of you been there, and is it worthwhile? I know it's a pricey city but I think I can spring it for a week (and the krona is still exchanging for stupidly low rates). And if anybody gives me good advice, I'll see if I can return the favor by trying to find some of the British money that fell in an Icelandic black hole, or stop that damn volcano from erupting every now and then and ****ing up European air travel.

I spent about half a day in Iceland. I visited Reykjavik, the Blue Lagoon and had a small drive around to see a geyser and lots of black rocks. I think it was in February and it was around 15 years ago.

Certainly don't go if you want a beach holiday! Although it is an island, swimming opportunities look few and far between. Although you can swim in the Blue Lagoon. I did so and it was a strange experience. It felt odd to be walking around in my swimming shorts when it was below zero. The geothermally heated lake steams away and it is lovely and warm when you get in. The whole lake is covered with steam to a few feet up, so glimpses of the volcano on the bank are few and far between. One difference from a swimming pool is that there are rocks below the surface which you end up swimming into. They are covered in a white gunk which is supposed to be good for the skin. I'm glad I did this.

There is not much of interest in Reykjavik itself. We had a meal in a Viking restaurant, which was expensive, and then walked around a shopping centre. I got a kick from being in the most northerly capital so it depends whether you will be able to content yourself with this. It looks very Nordic and there are views out over the harbour and inlet to the sea. I seem to remember a lighthouse too.

In our short time there, we didn't have much time to explore further afield, but we did manage to get to see a geyser. Being a geeky kind of person, I thought this was a good thing to do. Probably the enduring memory of Iceland for me is the contrasting black, volcanic rock covered by snow and ice. Plenty of opportunities for atmospheric photos, if that is your thing. I would've loved to have looked further afield and see an active volcano and a glacier but time did not allow.

So, if you are interested in seeing a very unusual place, then go to Iceland. Unless you intend to go deep inland and are interested in landscapes and geography, you probably won't find enough to fill a couple of weeks there. If you have longer, why not visit somewhere in Scandinavia proper?

But for a day or two...why not !!

[Guest MattP]

lol

So there's know point in asking you what the hotel is like. Heard its pretty close to BCM though.

Right next to it pretty much. Everything is walking distance anyway.

Get to a bar on the beach calles Mambos. Really was a cracking place. Also, Eastenders bar is also a secret bookies if you fancy a bet.

[Vardinhio]

going to Malia again this year, bit old to be going at 26 but it is a good laugh and the girls are decent. Yes ok I'm a bad man!

[Ross-Kemp]

Bump.

Alcudia on Tuesday morning for 8 nights all inclusive.

Give the other half a rest before baby's here.

[James.]

Booked flights for a 10 day little adventure round Laos in November with friends who are moving to Thailand later this year. Laos looks bloody lovely.

[MooseBreath]

Booked flights for a 10 day little adventure round Laos in November with friends who are moving to Thailand later this year. Laos looks bloody lovely.

Laos is pretty damn nice. Well and truly on the banana pancake trail these days but I suppose for an 11 day trip that doesn't matter too much. Right down south near Cambodia is my favourite area. Really fond memories of lazy days and hazy nights down there at various times in the last ten years. I'm thinking of going back next year, probably for the last time before everything changes beyond recognition

[James.]

Laos is pretty damn nice. Well and truly on the banana pancake trail these days but I suppose for an 11 day trip that doesn't matter too much. Right down south near Cambodia is my favourite area. Really fond memories of lazy days and hazy nights down there at various times in the last ten years. I'm thinking of going back next year, probably for the last time before everything changes beyond recognition

Yeah we're doing the banana pancake itinerary as well - heading north from Khon Kaen in Thailand to the border at Vientiane then north again to Vang Vieng (a very different animal to what it used to be this time last year after the Laos government cracked down on all the nonsense going on there) and finally to Luang Prabang before flying to Bangkok for our flight home.

Would love to get off the beaten track but given the time constraint we're going for accessible highlights and from what I've seen the three places we're headed are stunning.

Not spent enough time in SE Asia (only 2 weeks in Thailand years ago) so will be good to be back - food, people, culture, geography - hard to beat.

[Guest]

Off to Tignes tomorrow for some end of season boarding. Starting to wrap my head round some freestyle stuff so really looking forward to the parks there.

Anybody else going that way soon or been this season?

[MooseBreath]

to Vang Vieng (a very different animal to what it used to be this time last year after the Laos government cracked down on all the nonsense going on there)

Not surprised they've cracked down on Vang Vieng. It had started to get a bit rowdy when I was last there in 2011. Toning it down a bit is probably for the best. As long as you can still float down the river and have a few beers along the way then it's all good.

[Ric Flair]

Not surprised they've cracked down on Vang Vieng. It had started to get a bit rowdy when I was last there in 2011. Toning it down a bit is probably for the best. As long as you can still float down the river and have a few beers along the way then it's all good.

I'd heard they'd banned that pal, I was gutted as that's possibly one of the best gigs i've ever been on and was planning another month based around that and a load more of Thailand and Vietnam. It's not going to stop me going but I was hoping to get stuck in to a bit of tubing.

I've been looking in to a private boat to travel around South East Asia on, an absolute pipe dream but I got talking to some Aussies a few years back who did it and it was probably no more expensive between the 8 of them than 2 weeks in Ibiza. I've grown accustomed to getting so much for my money out in Thailand and co so it might be time to splash out a little over there.

[Alexikokopops]

Off to New York a week tomorrow. It kind of slipped my mind with the marathon training and all. Also looking to book a weekend in Prague with the missus. Anyone have any hotel recommendations for there?

[James.]

I'd heard they'd banned that pal, I was gutted as that's possibly one of the best gigs i've ever been on and was planning another month based around that and a load more of Thailand and Vietnam. It's not going to stop me going but I was hoping to get stuck in to a bit of tubing.

From what I've read they closed down the river side bars which were encouraging people to get absolutely battered before going tubing and killing themselves. I'm pretty sure you can still go tubing with a beer or two, they just don't want people doing it wasted or taking unecessary risks (e.g. jumping in the river from high up, etc).

Apparently it's a really nice vibe there nowadays, just a much more toned down version of what was going on before.

[Ric Flair]

From what I've read they closed down the river side bars which were encouraging people to get absolutely battered before going tubing and killing themselves. I'm pretty sure you can still go tubing with a beer or two, they just don't want people doing it wasted or taking unecessary risks (e.g. jumping in the river from high up, etc).

Apparently it's a really nice vibe there nowadays, just a much more toned down version of what was going on before.

Nice one pal, that's good to hear. That sounds more up my street anyway as i'd no doubt end up getting leathered and being the one who snuffed it. I think I might get the boat along the river and it to Laos, takes a few days but is meant to be spectacular scenary.

[MooseBreath]

Nice one pal, that's good to hear. That sounds more up my street anyway as i'd no doubt end up getting leathered and being the one who snuffed it. I think I might get the boat along the river and it to Laos, takes a few days but is meant to be spectacular scenary.

Don't take the speedboats, those things are rough. The slow boat takes two long days but the scenery is worth it and the boat is full of backpackers to talk to. You used to be able to go the other way up into China too but not many people did it so I'm not sure if that company is still running the trip.