Has Anyone Booked a Holiday Yet?

[SecretPro]

2 hours ago, Lako42 said:

I'd recommend staying in lucca over pisa personally 

Almost twice the cost to stay anywhere decent in Lucca sadly, but given we are only using the hotel as a literal base to go anywhere and everywhere I'm not fussed, I'll be sleeping in it and hopefully that's it! 

[Stuntman_Mike]

Going Bologna, San Marino and Rome in May. Can't wait! 

 

Planning on going the Lazio v Lecce game to make up for missing City's game against Roma as well.

[izzymuzzet]

44 minutes ago, Stuntman_Mike said:

Going Bologna, San Marino and Rome in May. Can't wait! 

 

Planning on going the Lazio v Lecce game to make up for missing City's game against Roma as well.

Bologna is amazing. San Marino is quite a strange place. Interesting though. 

[Stuntman_Mike]

9 hours ago, izzymuzzet said:

Bologna is amazing. San Marino is quite a strange place. Interesting though. 

San Marino was purely to tick the country off, it will be a quick visit! Really looking forward to it. We were going to Venice first but looking at the cost I'd sooner put that towards a week in another country later in the year 

[SemperEadem]

Bologna I would love to visit.

[izzymuzzet]

13 minutes ago, Stuntman_Mike said:

San Marino was purely to tick the country off, it will be a quick visit! Really looking forward to it. We were going to Venice first but looking at the cost I'd sooner put that towards a week in another country later in the year 

Don't get me wrong, it's worth a visit. The views from the top of are amazing. Just quite an odd place. When I went there were loads of market stalls selling fascist and Nazi paraphernalia. 'Mussolini wine' and the like. This is 20 years ago though, it's probably changed a lot.

[bovril]

12 hours ago, Stuntman_Mike said:

Going Bologna, San Marino and Rome in May. Can't wait! 

 

Planning on going the Lazio v Lecce game to make up for missing City's game against Roma as well.

Try and get to Ravenna. The early medieval churches and mosaics are the must see in Northern Italy in my opinion. 

[Raj]

where are peoples goto websites for booking flights/ hotels nowadays?

there are SO many options!

[Izzy]

9 minutes ago, Raj said:

where are peoples goto websites for booking flights/ hotels nowadays?

there are SO many options!

I mainly use Booking.com for hotels because I also use it for work and get loyalty discounts through them.

 

For flights I tend to check on Skyscanner first then go to the cheapest/most suitable option.

 

[NJFox]

 

2 hours ago, Raj said:

where are peoples goto websites for booking flights/ hotels nowadays?

there are SO many options!

For flights- matrix.itasoftware.com. You can't book flights through this portal, but you can search all manner of airports/itineraries, including several at a time. You can build your trip here, then use the info for your sample itinerary to book directly with the airline.

 

I prefer RocketMiles for hotels- allows you to earn rewards (airline miles, Amazon gift cards, etc.) for normal hotel bookings.

[CosbehFox]

On 03/02/2025 at 09:12, SemperEadem said:

Bologna I would love to visit.

As many know, big Bologna advocate here. Ideal base for any exploring Italy - you could do a good week using Bologna as HQ and see some decent places near and far. 

 

Biggest beer culture and you won't get a bad meal. 

 

Italy wise for me it's looking like Puglia at end of the year. Bari or Lecce as a base. 

[STEVIE B]

3 minutes ago, CosbehFox said:

As many know, big Bologna advocate here. Ideal base for any exploring Italy - you could do a good week using Bologna as HQ and see some decent places near and far. 

 

Biggest beer culture and you won't get a bad meal. 

 

Italy wise for me it's looking like Puglia at end of the year. Bari or Lecce as a base. 

Was in Bari for a couple of days last summer. The old town is very nice. Moved onto Naples from there, so didn't see much of the surrounding area. 

[bovril]

11 minutes ago, CosbehFox said:

Italy wise for me it's looking like Puglia at end of the year. Bari or Lecce as a base. 

You could do both. The two areas are quite different.

 

As Stevie B says the old town of Bari is nice. Then nearby you've got Trani, Polignano, Monopoli, Ostuni, Cisternino. I love Monopoli - pretty town and very laid back. If you go there let me know and I'll recommend some beaches and restaurants.

 

The Salento is quite different. Much more Greek influence, a bit wilder. Near Lecce you've got Gallipoli, Taranto and Otranto, all of which are worth exploring. Otranto is great. Lots of historic places round there and some stunning beaches. There's a great little narrow gauge railway that goes down from Lecce to Otranto. I trained it all the way back from Otranto to London last year which was good fun if a bit expensive. 

[Stadt]

18 minutes ago, CosbehFox said:

Biggest beer culture

Interesting to know RE Bologna.

 

Maybe a touch sad but Italy's lack of pubs and bars does put me off. Kicking around generic cafe bars or drinking in restaurants isn't quite the same.

 

If you go to Lecce, I'd say do you research in advance. The stumble-ability factor wasn't great when I went after Rome in 2022..

[CosbehFox]

9 minutes ago, Stadt said:

Interesting to know RE Bologna.

 

Maybe a touch sad but Italy's lack of pubs and bars does put me off. Kicking around generic cafe bars or drinking in restaurants isn't quite the same.

 

If you go to Lecce, I'd say do you research in advance. The stumble-ability factor wasn't great when I went after Rome in 2022..

We are bordering the Pub thread here - but here's my map of Bologna (& Modena & Emilio-Reggio)

https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?mid=1ovcAE0YYz008aYybYAHO2zto8GSbZJI&usp=sharing

 

Via del Pratello on the west of the city towards Dall'Ara & the east towards the University where it gets really lively. Although Blackfire Pub was a really good vibe 

 

Note map is from last year so knowing Italy's rate for things closing, most of them are probably gone. 

 

My knack of finding a decent pub has ended up with mates asking me where to drink ala our very own COG on here. 

Edited 4 February by CosbehFox

[Stadt]

1 hour ago, CosbehFox said:

 

My knack of finding a decent pub has ended up with mates asking me where to drink ala our very own COG on here. 

Yep, me too haha.

 

My pinned places on my phone's maps looks like Lamby.

[boots60]

Anyone who likes to go to places before they become too commercialised & full of tourists get yerself over to the Gaza strip before it becomes the Vegas of the middle East.

[jgtuk]

18 minutes ago, boots60 said:

Anyone who likes to go to places before they become too commercialised & full of tourists get yerself over to the Gaza strip before it becomes the Vegas of the middle East.

I’ve been into Israel and Egypt a few times and it was virtually impossible to get access to Palestine due to the occupation, even in the 90’s and 2000’s. I know your comment was tongue in cheek but I think it’s entirely possible that we’re witnessing possible genocide/ethnic cleansing in real time and no one is doing anything about it. 
Who will be brave enough to stand up to the economic and military might of the US and Israel? 
 

[Lako42]

2 minutes ago, jgtuk said:

Who will be brave enough to stand up to the economic and military might of the US and Israel? 
 

Nobody

 

It's genocide in broad daylight 

 

 

 

 

[Sir Steve Howard]

On 03/02/2025 at 09:12, SemperEadem said:

Bologna I would love to visit.

Bologna is absolutely beautiful, my favourite Italian city, and I've done the vast majority outside of Sicily/Sardinia.

Genoa a close second.

Reggio Emilia stone dead last, dump.

Edited 5 February by Sir Steve Howard

[Raj]

Looking at Seville for a few nights in August flying Ryanair from Brum

Any tips etc?

[Grebfromgrebland]

1 hour ago, jgtuk said:

I’ve been into Israel and Egypt a few times and it was virtually impossible to get access to Palestine due to the occupation, even in the 90’s and 2000’s. I know your comment was tongue in cheek but I think it’s entirely possible that we’re witnessing possible genocide/ethnic cleansing in real time and no one is doing anything about it. 
Who will be brave enough to stand up to the economic and military might of the US and Israel? 
 

Actually we are doing quite a lot. We're supplying planes, bombs, military aid and training. At the same time cancelling any reporters daring to question Israel or discuss genocide or ethnic cleansing. 

 

 

[jgtuk]

56 minutes ago, Grebfromgrebland said:

Actually we are doing quite a lot. We're supplying planes, bombs, military aid and training. At the same time cancelling any reporters daring to question Israel or discuss genocide or ethnic cleansing. 

 

 

Dozens of Arab journalists on the ground in Palestine have been murdered by Israeli forces in the past year. Even if you wear clothing that identifies you as a journalist/medic/aid worker you are a target for snipers, drones or bombing

[Grebfromgrebland]

So conclusion the holiday to Gaza isn't happening just yet. I am going to Egypt next week which is about as close as you can get.

 

Hopefully the sea isn't too rough for snorkeling.

[CosbehFox]

4 hours ago, Raj said:

Looking at Seville for a few nights in August flying Ryanair from Brum

Any tips etc?

Don't piss the police off. 

 

Visit the Real Alcazar & Plaza de Espana. It's one of those places no plan aint a bad plan with its tapas bars