Has Anyone Booked a Holiday Yet?

[bovril]

51 minutes ago, FoyleFox said:

 

As soon as you use trains abroad, it emphasises how poor and expensive our trains are. 

I went from Sydney to Wollongong, takes 95 minutes. So, about the same as Leicester to London. It cost £3.70.

Smart double decker train, clean and on time. 

You should try Bulgaria. Could probably walk faster than most of them.

 

Although tbf it cost me like £18 Sofia - Istanbul last time I did it. 

[kenny]

21 minutes ago, bovril said:

You should try Bulgaria. Could probably walk faster than most of them.

 

Although tbf it cost me like £18 Sofia - Istanbul last time I did it. 

We tried the trains in southern Italy last month. Very nice rolling stock but totally unreliable and not at all regular like they are here. There were many delayed or cancelled trains, 20-40% throughout the days we were using them.

 

Not particularly cheap, maybe a bit less than here.

 

Stations were really grim, no way would they be accepted in this country.

[bovril]

3 minutes ago, kenny said:

We tried the trains in southern Italy last month. Very nice rolling stock but totally unreliable and not at all regular like they are here. There were many delayed or cancelled trains, 20-40% throughout the days we were using them.

 

Not particularly cheap, maybe a bit less than here.

 

Stations were really grim, no way would they be accepted in this country.

That's weird, I've always enjoyed trenitalia. Would say from my experience living and travelling in Italy that delays are probably a little more common than here but not loads more. Worse in the south for sure. There was a national strike last month, maybe that was the reason? 

 

Definitely cheaper. Recently travelled from Bari to Milan for like 60 euro. Costs me nearly 40 pounds London to Kings Lynn with a rail card.

 

Cleaner and more comfortable trains imo.

 

Probably agree about the stations although they have a certain charm that British new builds lack. And the ones in big cities have really nice cafes. Which stations did you go to out of interest?

[jgtuk]

Just now, bovril said:

That's weird, I've always enjoyed trenitalia. Would say from my experience living and travelling in Italy that delays are probably a little more common than here but not loads more. Worse in the south for sure. There was a national strike last month, maybe that was the reason? 

 

Definitely cheaper. Recently travelled from Bari to Milan for like 60 euro. Costs me nearly 40 pounds London to Kings Lynn with a rail card.

 

Cleaner and more comfortable trains imo.

 

Probably agree about the stations although they have a certain charm that British new builds lack. And the ones in big cities have really nice cafes. Which stations did you go to out of interest?

Agree with all of this but I found most trains to be on time and regular so if one was delayed or cancelled another came along quite soon afterwards. The stations and most of the outside of the carriages were covered in graffiti which made the area appear worse than it was. Good value compared to our rubbish. 

[bovril]

10 minutes ago, jgtuk said:

Agree with all of this but I found most trains to be on time and regular so if one was delayed or cancelled another came along quite soon afterwards. The stations and most of the outside of the carriages were covered in graffiti which made the area appear worse than it was. Good value compared to our rubbish. 

I actually don't think they're as bad here as people make out but the network has a very shambolic and chaotic feel because of the number of different companies. And it is so ludicrously expensive. 

[kenny]

1 hour ago, bovril said:

That's weird, I've always enjoyed trenitalia. Would say from my experience living and travelling in Italy that delays are probably a little more common than here but not loads more. Worse in the south for sure. There was a national strike last month, maybe that was the reason? 

 

Definitely cheaper. Recently travelled from Bari to Milan for like 60 euro. Costs me nearly 40 pounds London to Kings Lynn with a rail card.

 

Cleaner and more comfortable trains imo.

 

Probably agree about the stations although they have a certain charm that British new builds lack. And the ones in big cities have really nice cafes. Which stations did you go to out of interest?

Pescara and Ortana.

 

We tried to get to Ancona and Salle but were thwarted by the lack of trains. I was determined to be on a car free trip.

 

Also there were barely any buses to anywhere.

[bovril]

2 minutes ago, kenny said:

Pescara and Ortana.

 

We tried to get to Ancona and Salle but were thwarted by the lack of trains. I was determined to be on a car free trip.

 

Also there were barely any buses to anywhere.

Marche and Abruzzo are two regions I've spent loads of time in. Pescara and Ancona are not the nicest stations ever. 

 

Buses really vary from place to place. Around L'Aquila and Macerata I found them pretty good but up and down the coast I agree they are a bit crap.

 

Why Salle? Can imagine it's near enough impossible to get to without a car. 

[kenny]

Just now, bovril said:

Marche and Abruzzo are two regions I've spent loads of time in. Pescara and Ancona are not the nicest stations ever. 

 

Buses really vary from place to place. Around L'Aquila and Macerata I found them pretty good but up and down the coast I agree they are a bit crap.

 

Why Salle? Can imagine it's near enough impossible to get to without a car. 

It has a station and an apparent train so we were looking around. We had the boy with us and he loves trains so the journey is a treat to him.

 

Its a crazy system they have there based upon my limited experience. When you look at people at the station they all have suitcases and it looks like people use the trains 'to travel' rather than just commute to work as we do here.

 

I did a check and train use in this country is considerably higher than in Italy. Having compared the 2, I think its better here even though their trains are much nicer.

[StanSP]

1 hour ago, bovril said:

I actually don't think they're as bad here as people make out but the network has a very shambolic and chaotic feel because of the number of different companies. And it is so ludicrously expensive. 

It's cost per journey which is the worst think. Compared to some European countries it's vastly more expensive. 

 

Not to mention constant delays and cancellations. Some standard of trains on some lines/networks is pretty decent though. 

[bovril]

2 hours ago, kenny said:

It has a station and an apparent train so we were looking around. We had the boy with us and he loves trains so the journey is a treat to him.

 

Its a crazy system they have there based upon my limited experience. When you look at people at the station they all have suitcases and it looks like people use the trains 'to travel' rather than just commute to work as we do here.

 

I did a check and train use in this country is considerably higher than in Italy. Having compared the 2, I think its better here even though their trains are much nicer.

I think I like them because I associate them with going to Verona rather than Peterborough.

[vandamman]

On 29/10/2024 at 09:11, StanSP said:

Going to Nice in a few weeks. Booked it ages ago but only just getting around for planning things to do.

 

Any 'essentials' to see? We're planning a short trip to Monaco for half a day/day. 

The train up and down the coast from Nice is good, lots of nice places to visit Antibes, Cannes, Villafranche and of course Monaco. 

[StanSP]

2 minutes ago, vandamman said:

The train up and down the coast from Nice is good, lots of nice places to visit Antibes, Cannes, Villafranche and of course Monaco. 

Nice one, thank you! 

[grobyfox1990]

4 minutes ago, StanSP said:

Nice one, thank you! 

You have to order a bottle at the yacht club and jimmy’z. After that life is complete 

[FoxesDeb]

We popped down to Monaco for a few hours a couple of years ago on the way back to Spain from Italy.

 

We were very much looking forward to ogling some super yachts, but found the international yacht show or something was imminent, so the whole marina was barricaded and we couldn't see anything 

 

We did go to the Prince's private car collection though, right on the marina, and we drove on part of the formula one track, which obviously you have to do. And bought possibly the most expensive drinks with the shittest view we've ever had 

[RowlattsFox]

Looking at booking a long weekend with the Mrs and considering a York/Harrogate combo. Which would you say is better to stay and then maybe a day trip to the other? 

[CosbehFox]

2 minutes ago, RowlattsFox said:

Looking at booking a long weekend with the Mrs and considering a York/Harrogate combo. Which would you say is better to stay and then maybe a day trip to the other? 

Defo stay in York and visit Harrogate. The latter isn’t that big at all, it’s good enough for about half a day in my opinion. If you have time visit Knaresborough 

[StanSP]

7 hours ago, RowlattsFox said:

Looking at booking a long weekend with the Mrs and considering a York/Harrogate combo. Which would you say is better to stay and then maybe a day trip to the other? 

York is beautiful. Stay there! 

[ajthefox]

On 31/10/2024 at 14:31, RowlattsFox said:

Looking at booking a long weekend with the Mrs and considering a York/Harrogate combo. Which would you say is better to stay and then maybe a day trip to the other? 

 

On 31/10/2024 at 14:35, CosbehFox said:

Defo stay in York and visit Harrogate. The latter isn’t that big at all, it’s good enough for about half a day in my opinion. If you have time visit Knaresborough 

I lived in York and echo the above.

 

Knaresborough is nicer for a wander around I think, but you could do Knaresborough in the morning and Harrogate for afternoon/evening as there are probably more food/drink options there. You have to go through Knaresborough to get to Harrogate on the train anyway so could do both in a day if you really wanted to make the most of it.

 

 

 

[Unabomber]

On 31/10/2024 at 14:31, RowlattsFox said:

Looking at booking a long weekend with the Mrs and considering a York/Harrogate combo. Which would you say is better to stay and then maybe a day trip to the other? 

York 

[Raj]

On 31/10/2024 at 14:31, RowlattsFox said:

Looking at booking a long weekend with the Mrs and considering a York/Harrogate combo. Which would you say is better to stay and then maybe a day trip to the other? 

As stated defo York and a couple of hours in Knaresborough  which is beautiful.

Richmond if you have time, Harrogates a shithole!

We had a week around Northallerton and ventured around the Moors and Whitby and down to York for a day.

[NJFox]

Off to Scotland next week, 3 nights in Edinburgh and 2 nights in Perth. Second time visiting both cities. Already have a tee time booked for one day, also hoping to catch St. Johnstone at home next Saturday. Traveling with a group, but there's time to get away.

 

Any good pub recommendations in Edinburgh or Perth? Staying right on the Royal Mile, by Waverley Station. 

 

 

[Raj]

Thinking about Croatia in Summer as daughter Has GCSE exams in eatsre when we normally go abroad.

 

We like historical things and wandering around rather than Lazing around. I know a few of you have been   so any recommendations would be muchly appreciated. 

Edited 12 November 2024 by Raj

[CosbehFox]

19 hours ago, NJFox said:

Off to Scotland next week, 3 nights in Edinburgh and 2 nights in Perth. Second time visiting both cities. Already have a tee time booked for one day, also hoping to catch St. Johnstone at home next Saturday. Traveling with a group, but there's time to get away.

 

Any good pub recommendations in Edinburgh or Perth? Staying right on the Royal Mile, by Waverley Station. 

 

 

I have little search on the pint/pub threads here - there were some Edinburgh recommendations there. My favourite is Kay's Bar but there's plenty to choose from. 

[Izzy]

19 hours ago, NJFox said:

Off to Scotland next week, 3 nights in Edinburgh and 2 nights in Perth. Second time visiting both cities. Already have a tee time booked for one day, also hoping to catch St. Johnstone at home next Saturday. Traveling with a group, but there's time to get away.

 

Any good pub recommendations in Edinburgh or Perth? Staying right on the Royal Mile, by Waverley Station. 

Where are you playing?

[martyn]

Have now got 2025 mostly sorted. Mexico (family) in April, San Sebastian/Basque country with the wife in June for 4 nights, then Disneyland Florida with kids in October.

 

Always wanted to go to the Basque country so i'm particularly looking forward to that one. Originally planned on using Bilbao as a base, but some reasonably priced flights popped up direct to San Sebastian so heading there instead. Obviously Google has loads of suggestions, but any recommendations for food (from Pintxos to Michelin) and day trips welcomed if anyone has been. 

 

Same for Disney/Florida, if anyone has any suggestions/recommendations, they'd be gratefully received, particularly things kids enjoyed the most, and also any place within 2/3 hours of Orlando/Miami for a few days relaxing on the beach after the mania of Disney.

Edited 12 November 2024 by martyn