Bayfox Posted 15 February 2013 Posted 15 February 2013 Not a holiday as such but anyone on here got and experience of brussels on the eurostar for a long weekend. Places to stay. Where to eat drink etc?
Carl the Llama Posted 15 February 2013 Posted 15 February 2013 Not a holiday as such but anyone on here got and experience of brussels on the eurostar for a long weekend. Places to stay. Where to eat drink etc? I can't help you out w/r to places to stay, but I can recommend places to drink: Delirium's a very popular place with tourists and locals alike because of their insane amount of beers - so popular in fact that in the years since I've been living here they've bought out the the establishments around them and now have an entire mini alleyway all to themselves, with a beer place, an absinthe place and a cocktail place. Celtica's the spot everyone goes first though: half price beers until 12 (I think, maybe 11, I never remember). Both are always rammed at weekends - I recommend going to Delirium earlier in the day if you wanna sit down and gently sample your way through some tipples. As for food it entirely depends on your budget: I can recommend anything from the best place to get a durum (avoid the places on the main road - they don't put chips in the wrap foc), to arguably the best burger in town (gourmet style burgers in a comic-book based restaurant), to classy little places for the more discerning eater. If you'd like we could arrange to meet one night and I can take you on a tour of the aforementioned bars.
Frost Posted 15 February 2013 Posted 15 February 2013 I've spent a lot of time in Bulgaria and Croatia. Bulgaria has nicer beaches - Croatia's coastline is quite rocky. You have to really search to find some wild beaches in Bulgaria though - down south near the Turkish border is beautiful. The towns along the Croatian coast are really nice, quite Venetian in architecture and atmosphere. The Bulgarian mountain scenery is also stunning if you prefer hiking to sunbathing. Bulgaria is also obviously cheaper. Pula is really nice and laid back. It's a nice base but there isn't loads to do and there aren't a load of beach options nearby. Do you have the chance to travel around? From Rijeka you can get ferries to some of the islands. Rab and Cres island are really unspoilt. It's a beautiful area, I'd be happy to give you more info. Me & my girlfriend are going and we're pretty sure we're heading to Bulgaria, which seems like a good option considering what you've said. We're keen to be near a nice beach, that's for sure.
Libertine Dream Posted 15 February 2013 Posted 15 February 2013 Keen to go to Coratia and Bulgaria, is the climate similar to Turkey or does it warm up late and cool down earlier?
bovril Posted 16 February 2013 Posted 16 February 2013 Bulgaria gets warmer a little later than Southern Turkey. From May to September it's warm. In high summer it can be scorchio. Croatia is a bit cooler until June. Like I said, Bulgaria's coastline is really overdeveloped but there are a few gems left. And even the touristy spots are ok. Transport is a bit ropey but if you're going from Croatia to Bulgaria you'll pass through some beautiful scenery. Bosnia is lovely. Sofia is a nice city in the summer, if you pass through let me know and I'll buy you a beer (same goes for all City fans!)
Unabomber Posted 16 February 2013 Posted 16 February 2013 Just booked to go to Brussels for 4 nights with 2 mates. It's £191 each including the eurostar and that is for a city centre apartment, so good value I think. We will also be going to Bruges for a day so im sure plenty of quality ale will be sunk.
Carl the Llama Posted 16 February 2013 Posted 16 February 2013 Just booked to go to Brussels for 4 nights with 2 mates. It's £191 each including the eurostar and that is for a city centre apartment, so good value I think. We will also be going to Bruges for a day so im sure plenty of quality ale will be sunk. Beer. Ale's an English drink which isn't very popular outside the isles for some reason. Maybe foreigners find it too watery or something? You're right though, you'll be drinking a lot of fine brews, Belgium probably has the widest variety of types of beer of anywhere in the world: You've got your Trappists (which are all different amongst themselves), your doubles, your triples, blondes, browns, wheats/whites, reds, lambics, geuzes and krieks. And your combinations therein. If I haven't forgotten anything.
Libertine Dream Posted 16 February 2013 Posted 16 February 2013 Bulgaria gets warmer a little later than Southern Turkey. From May to September it's warm. In high summer it can be scorchio. Croatia is a bit cooler until June. Like I said, Bulgaria's coastline is really overdeveloped but there are a few gems left. And even the touristy spots are ok. Transport is a bit ropey but if you're going from Croatia to Bulgaria you'll pass through some beautiful scenery. Bosnia is lovely. Sofia is a nice city in the summer, if you pass through let me know and I'll buy you a beer (same goes for all City fans!) What's it like weather wise first two weeks in October when its international break? Not got a clue on where to look to stay for either, heard great things about both but don't know much about them
bovril Posted 16 February 2013 Posted 16 February 2013 Usually the weather in the Balkans is beautiful in early October, still warm but a bit fresher than the summer. In terms of where to stay, it depends on what you're after. City break, nature, relaxation, booze-up? Split's a great city and near to some islands, think there's a flight from Stansted. Sofia's good for a beer and monuments kind of break. Think they've just started an East Mids - Sofia flight, too. It's a large area so you've got a lot to choose from.
Unabomber Posted 16 February 2013 Posted 16 February 2013 Beer. Ale's an English drink which isn't very popular outside the isles for some reason. Maybe foreigners find it too watery or something? You're right though, you'll be drinking a lot of fine brews, Belgium probably has the widest variety of types of beer of anywhere in the world: You've got your Trappists (which are all different amongst themselves), your doubles, your triples, blondes, browns, wheats/whites, reds, lambics, geuzes and krieks. And your combinations therein. If I haven't forgotten anything. Don't worry I refer to all alcohol as ale, I know that it is all about beer in Belgium. I have been to Bruges before and I love it, even their local beers on tap are better than we have here. I personally love pretty much all beer so I can't wait to try some new drinks!
Libertine Dream Posted 16 February 2013 Posted 16 February 2013 It depends how long I end up going for, but if I go for two weeks then I want to be able to relax in the sun but Id also like to be able to see a bit more of the country. I wouldnt go there for a nightly piss up but some nightlife would be nice. Monarch now fly to Split from BHX, so that might be a winner. How close is it to some of the nice beaches?
bovril Posted 16 February 2013 Posted 16 February 2013 Like I said, the Croatian beaches are a bit pebbly, but there are still a lot of nice stretches within Split itself and the surrouding area, and they won't be too crowded at that time. From Split it's about an hour south to the 'Makarska' riviera (where Alan Boksic was born) which has some nice sandy beaches, and from there it's a short ferry to Brac island which has some fantastic beaches (check out 'Bol' beach on Flickr or Google). From that island you could get another short ferry back to Split, to make it a nice little round trip. Split has one of the most beautiful football stadia in the World, right between the mountains and the sea.
Guest Posted 16 February 2013 Posted 16 February 2013 Two weeks today I'll be in Andorra for a week of shredding on my new board
Libertine Dream Posted 16 February 2013 Posted 16 February 2013 Need to get a couple of friends to come round to the idea. Seriously considering Split or somewhere nearby or somewhere nearby, 150 quid from Birmingham with Monarch, fly out on the Sunday (hoping we ply on the Saturday) and get back on the Friday before we play on the Saturday so 12 days across the international break
Fox in the North Posted 1 March 2013 Posted 1 March 2013 Just booked to go for a week in Gumbet in September, can't wait already.
Deucalion Posted 1 March 2013 Posted 1 March 2013 Just booked to go for a week in Gumbet in September, can't wait already. Nice !!
Ozwin Posted 1 March 2013 Author Posted 1 March 2013 Right what are some good solo holidays? Sick of my mates pissing around now.
Deucalion Posted 1 March 2013 Posted 1 March 2013 Right what are some good solo holidays? Sick of my mates pissing around now. Interailing? (Does that have one 'r' or two?)
Guest Col city fan Posted 1 March 2013 Posted 1 March 2013 Going on a big family holiday to Northumberland over Easter. With my two little cousins so that's gonna keep Col on the go for the whole bloody week!!
Walker Posted 2 March 2013 Posted 2 March 2013 Going interailing this summer, anyone ever done it? Don't really know where to start as regards planning it all..
foxfanazer Posted 2 March 2013 Posted 2 March 2013 Going to book a short holiday to Brugge today. Anybody recommend going anywhere else in Belgium whilst we are there?
Alf Bentley Posted 3 March 2013 Posted 3 March 2013 Going to book a short holiday to Brugge today. Anybody recommend going anywhere else in Belgium whilst we are there? Ghent is a beautiful town - and close to Brugge. Likewise Antwerp (but a bigger city and further away). I walked Ypres-Paeschendaele/Tyne Cott cemetery (took me 3 hours, took them 3 years in WW1) & attended a ceremony at Menin Gate, which was very moving....however, that's a fair distance west towards French border & Ypres is otherwise unremarkable. I'm hoping to return this year and to take the coastal tram (runs all along Belgian North Sea coast & you can buy a day pass). Also strongly recommend a few Belgian beers (some of the world's best) - esp. Lambic Geuze & Kriek/Frambozen fruit beers!
Alf Bentley Posted 3 March 2013 Posted 3 March 2013 Going interailing this summer, anyone ever done it? Don't really know where to start as regards planning it all.. This site is a good start: http://www.raileurope.co.uk/Default.aspx?tabid=39 Back in the pre-internet days (showing my age), the Thomas Cook Rail timetables were THE Inter-Rail bible & they're still published: http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=thomas+cook+rail+timetable&tag=googhydr-21&index=aps&hvadid=8877474493&hvpos=1t1&hvexid=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=270448780733434080&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=b&ref=pd_sl_pp895u4g5_b Could still be useful, though the Summer 2013 one only comes out on 1st June. For getting a general idea, though, could be worth looking at the old one in the library, if the internet info isn't good enough Depending on your budget, couchettes are a good idea for overnight journeys - cheaper than a bed for the night, half-decent sleep and cover ground overnight. I've used them in recent years for Paris-Madrid; Madrid-Lisbon, Brussels-Hamburg & Berlin-Brussels. If your budget is very tight and you're reduced to sleeping on train seats overnight, I recommend looking scruffy & unshaven with a bottle of wine prominently displayed so you get 2-3 seats to yourself and can lie down! Accommodation: could be worth taking out YHA membership - though Backpackers are fairly widespread in some places A great adventure....have fun!
Alexikokopops Posted 3 March 2013 Posted 3 March 2013 Went to Ukraine for 6 days a couple of weeks ago with a Geordie friend to watch Metalist Kharkiv vs. Newcastle. That was a laugh. Off to New York in May to see a friend that lives there, and then heading to Australia later in the year to see some family (and the Ashes) via Malaysia (got another friend who lives there). That's the plan at the moment anyway.
Unabomber Posted 3 March 2013 Posted 3 March 2013 Going to book a short holiday to Brugge today. Anybody recommend going anywhere else in Belgium whilst we are there? Nice I went last year. I am going to Brussels in May with some mates and we are going to get the train to Brugge for a day. Make sure you go to Bierbrasserie Cambrinus, I would also recommend Ribs n Beer.
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