Has Anyone Booked a Holiday Yet?

[FoxesDeb]

3 hours ago, Stadt said:

Going to Benidorm for a stag in September and I’m earnestly very excited about it. Never been, sun, cheap pints and lowlife British culture sounds great. 
 

Talking about doing a week in Alicante afterwards too.

Benidorm definitely has it's place, and as a stag venue it's probably hard to beat. The old town is lovely if you get the chance to leave the strip 

 

If you do decide to stay on afterwards the Alicante area is a lovely part of Spain and often overlooked, have a look at Albir, Altea and Alfaz del Pi, places we visit a lot and love. Quaint but vibrant, lovely places to eat and drink, and the tram system between them all is great too. 

Edited 10 April by FoxesDeb
Forgot about Altea

[Lako42]

Anyone been to Thessaloniki? 

[Stadt]

1 hour ago, FoxesDeb said:

Benidorm definitely has it's place, and as a stag venue it's probably hard to beat. The old town is lovely if you get the chance to leave the strip 

 

If you do decide to stay on afterwards the Alicante area is a lovely part of Spain and often overlooked, have a look at Albir and Alfaz del Pi, both places we visit a lot and love. Quaint but vibrant, lovely places to eat and drink, and the tram system between them all is great too. 

Thanks, I’ll check those out. We’re flying out a day before everybody else so we’ll mooch around the old town then.

[kenny]

1 hour ago, Lako42 said:

Anyone been to Thessaloniki? 

Yes....

 

Why would you want to go there?

 

[bovril]

1 hour ago, Lako42 said:

Anyone been to Thessaloniki? 

Yes spent a lot of time there. I have fond memories of it but it's not the prettiest city. Interesting though. And gateway to some wonderful parts of Greece, Rodopi to the east and Epirus to the west. I love northern Greece, really interesting culturally and historically and great food. Quite different from other parts of the country.

[Lako42]

39 minutes ago, bovril said:

Yes spent a lot of time there. I have fond memories of it but it's not the prettiest city. Interesting though. And gateway to some wonderful parts of Greece, Rodopi to the east and Epirus to the west. I love northern Greece, really interesting culturally and historically and great food. Quite different from other parts of the country.

 

51 minutes ago, kenny said:

Yes....

 

Why would you want to go there?

 

 

Bovril answered. 

 

I like the idea of mainland Greece that is less touristy. 

 

Thessaloniki is supposed to be magnificent on a culinary level. 

[bovril]

8 minutes ago, Lako42 said:

 

 

Bovril answered. 

 

I like the idea of mainland Greece that is less touristy. 

 

Thessaloniki is supposed to be magnificent on a culinary level. 

Closer culturally to the Balkans than it is to southern Greece imo. Patrick Leigh Fermour wrote about the difference between the 'Hellenes' in the south and the 'Romios' in the north and got it spot on.

 

Still think it's the most fascinating part of Europe but you have to explore and do your research.

[kenny]

37 minutes ago, Lako42 said:

 

 

Bovril answered. 

 

I like the idea of mainland Greece that is less touristy. 

 

Thessaloniki is supposed to be magnificent on a culinary level. 

Pretty ropey looking when i went, was 6-7 years ago it was very run down.

 

I don't remember anything of significance food wise, though the hotels are very swish for the price. I was there for work and wasn't at all inspired to go back.

[Raj]

Anyone been Budapest?

Decent for a 4-5 day break in August?

Edited 11 April by Raj

[STEVIE B]

31 minutes ago, Raj said:

Anyone been Budapest?

Decent for a 4-5 day break in August?

I've never been, but l know 2 or 3 that have visited twice & love it. Definitely on my list.

Edited 11 April by STEVIE B

[jgtuk]

Has Santorini been spoiled? 

I have the opportunity for a visit but don't want to waste my time when I could be elsewhere that week...

I've been to a few of the islands, some great but some a bit meh.

Not interested in beaches, bars etc. but like walking, historical sites and wildlife.

Anyone been?

Edited 11 April by jgtuk

[Unabomber]

2 hours ago, Raj said:

Anyone been Budapest?

Decent for a 4-5 day break in August?

Went last December and really enjoyed it. 

[Raj]

1 hour ago, STEVIE B said:

I've never been, but l know 2 or 3 that have visited twice & love it. Definitely on my list.

 

8 minutes ago, Unabomber said:

Went last December and really enjoyed it. 

Cheers Boys

[FoyleFox]

2 hours ago, Raj said:

Anyone been Budapest?

Decent for a 4-5 day break in August?

Beautiful and well worth a visit, really enjoyed it.

[FoyleFox]

21 minutes ago, jgtuk said:

Has Santorini been spoiled? 

I have the opportunity for a visit but don't want to waste my time when I could be elsewhere that week...

I've been to a few of the islands, some great but some a bit meh.

Not interested in beaches, bars etc. but like walking, historical sites and wildlife.

Anyone been?

Yes. It is very pretty. Fira gets busy with cruise ship passengers, but general visitor numbers will possibly be lower at the moment due to the recent earthquake, lots of people were cancelling trips.

[Sol thewall Bamba]

15 hours ago, Stadt said:

Going to Benidorm for a stag in September and I’m earnestly very excited about it. Never been, sun, cheap pints and lowlife British culture sounds great. 
 

Talking about doing a week in Alicante afterwards too.

Looking forward to the content this produces 

[Sol thewall Bamba]

3 hours ago, Raj said:

Anyone been Budapest?

Decent for a 4-5 day break in August?

Cool city. We did 4 days I seem to remember and it was perfect. Don't really need to plan all that much, one of those cities that you stumble across most of the cool stuff without trying. Go for dinner in the Jewish quarter if you can get a table. 

 

Only thing to bear in mind is that it could be blazing hot at that time of year. 

[CosbehFox]

13 hours ago, Stadt said:

Thanks, I’ll check those out. We’re flying out a day before everybody else so we’ll mooch around the old town then.

Know an electrician what went last week (ironic) and he said first three days were carnage but they did exactly like you were and spent two days chilling around old town (when it was Monday & Tuesday) and loved it 

[Sol thewall Bamba]

49 minutes ago, jgtuk said:

Has Santorini been spoiled? 

I have the opportunity for a visit but don't want to waste my time when I could be elsewhere that week...

I've been to a few of the islands, some great but some a bit meh.

Not interested in beaches, bars etc. but like walking, historical sites and wildlife.

Anyone been?

Like most places if you plonk yourself in the middle of Fira you're going to get thousands of yanks and people posing for photos all day every day. 

 

We stayed in Imerovigli, nicer and quieter that Fira was imo. Only bit I wouldn't recommend is Oia, rammed to the point that it wasn't enjoyable. Nice walk there and back though. Wasn't actually as expensive as I was expecting either. 

[CosbehFox]

11 hours ago, Lako42 said:

 

 

Bovril answered. 

 

I like the idea of mainland Greece that is less touristy. 

 

Thessaloniki is supposed to be magnificent on a culinary level. 

It’s your bag Lako. It’s untidy and unkept. Like all good port cities although, it’s full of life and little places bars/restaurants which are excellent. It won’t win no prizes for quality of life but it’s worth a visit. Amazing history too if it’s your bag. 
 

That’s generally the very vibe for mainland Greece. As Bovril says, it’s more Balkan in vibe than many realise. 

Edited 11 April by CosbehFox

[CosbehFox]

3 hours ago, Raj said:

Anyone been Budapest?

Decent for a 4-5 day break in August?

Perfect city break. Lots to do. Not expensive.
 

Shame the government are horrible 

[Raj]

7 minutes ago, Sol thewall Bamba said:

Cool city. We did 4 days I seem to remember and it was perfect. Don't really need to plan all that much, one of those cities that you stumble across most of the cool stuff without trying. Go for dinner in the Jewish quarter if you can get a table. 

 

Only thing to bear in mind is that it could be blazing hot at that time of year. 

 

 

Daughter is taking her GCSE's this year and wants a reward going abroad in Summer- we normally go away in Easter, (my son and Mrs are going Madeira next week, im stayng home with her!)

We've told her most places in Europe will be blistering but hopefully we can just dive into the River!

[Sol thewall Bamba]

4 minutes ago, CosbehFox said:

Perfect city break. Lots to do. Not expensive.
 

Shame the government are horrible 

It didn't really feel like a city with a troubled past until you started to notice the bullet holes in the walls everywhere, the parliament square in particular. 

[Stadt]

3 hours ago, Raj said:

Anyone been Budapest?

Decent for a 4-5 day break in August?

3 days, maybe 4, wouldn't do 5 unless you had a day trip elsewhere.

 

Pinball museum and the baths are great. A Hungarian melange is probably the nicest coffee I've ever had.

[Stuntman_Mike]

3 hours ago, Raj said:

Anyone been Budapest?

Decent for a 4-5 day break in August?

Depending on your situation, it's worth taking the full amount of days and getting the 2.5ish hour train to Bratislava whilst you're at it. Vienna only 1 hour from Bratislava too.