Has Anyone Booked a Holiday Yet?

[grobyfox1990]

1 hour 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, horrendous plastic Westernised overpriced island. Just the same as everywhere else. I'm sure, like Dubai, it was fun once before western families started booking package holidays there. Would advise going to Albania instead, before anxiety-ridden westerners imminently ruin that coastline too.

[jgtuk]

8 minutes ago, grobyfox1990 said:

Yes, horrendous plastic Westernised overpriced island. Just the same as everywhere else. I'm sure, like Dubai, it was fun once before western families started booking package holidays there. Would advise going to Albania instead, before anxiety-ridden westerners imminently ruin that coastline too.

Thanks, confirmed my suspicions. 
Sounds like the exact opposite of my preferences.

[bovril]

Mentioned it before but Skopelos is a lovely Greek island. Feels like halfway between northern Balkan and southern Mediterranean Greece. Very relaxed, some lovely beaches, pretty town and villages, good food etc. 

[Raj]

2 hours ago, Stadt said:

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.

 

2 hours ago, Stuntman_Mike said:

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.

Flight out Sunday earliest back is Friday EMA on Ryanair

[Unabomber]

1 hour ago, Raj said:

 

Flight out Sunday earliest back is Friday EMA on Ryanair

We did jet2 from Birmingham which was good flight times. 

[Spudulike]

5 hours 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?

It's got more donkeys 🫏  than Seagrave! Not been for years but stayed on the other side of the island, Kamari, to escape the Caldera madness and used the local buses (it's not far). Fira rammed when the cruise ships arrive. Was walking through a narrow alley one morning full of the worlds tourists when a random voice calls out 'oi, have you heard that Pearson has been sacked?' Wasn't expecting that.

[VLC86]

Off to Morocco for 4 nights in May. 1 in Marrakesh (taking my mum otherwise I would have done longer there, she is going to hate the madness of it) and 3 in Agadir.

 

Any tips?

[FoxesDeb]

3 hours ago, VLC86 said:

Off to Morocco for 4 nights in May. 1 in Marrakesh (taking my mum otherwise I would have done longer there, she is going to hate the madness of it) and 3 in Agadir.

 

Any tips?

Spend the whole time in Marrakech is probably not a helpful tip at this point 

[VLC86]

55 minutes ago, FoxesDeb said:

Spend the whole time in Marrakech is probably not a helpful tip at this point 

I completely get that that’s the right advice, but as above my mum is going to hate it and we want to chill out on the beach for a few days.

 

Im sure I’ll get back to Marrakesh to do it properly at some point.

[FoxesDeb]

32 minutes ago, VLC86 said:

I completely get that that’s the right advice, but as above my mum is going to hate it and we want to chill out on the beach for a few days.

 

Im sure I’ll get back to Marrakesh to do it properly at some point.

My husband thought he'd hate it too, but he loved it, so hopefully your mum will be the same.

 

Report back on Agadir please, I have a new found love for all things Morocxo especially since I've realised it's not only pretty much on my doorstep but also lovely, cheap, amazingly friendly and has beautiful food so we're keen to explore more of it

[VLC86]

32 minutes ago, FoxesDeb said:

My husband thought he'd hate it too, but he loved it, so hopefully your mum will be the same.

 

Report back on Agadir please, I have a new found love for all things Morocxo especially since I've realised it's not only pretty much on my doorstep but also lovely, cheap, amazingly friendly and has beautiful food so we're keen to explore more of it

You don’t know my mum  

 

I think Agadir looks very much like a generic beach resort which I am absolutely fine with for this trip. 

[Unabomber]

Off to Verona soon. We will go to lake Garda and are thinking Venice. Is Venice actually any good or just a tourist trap?

[SemperEadem]

1 hour ago, Unabomber said:

Off to Verona soon. We will go to lake Garda and are thinking Venice. Is Venice actually any good or just a tourist trap?

Huge tourist trap. It’s worth seeing but no more than an afternoon there.

[bovril]

1 hour ago, Unabomber said:

Off to Verona soon. We will go to lake Garda and are thinking Venice. Is Venice actually any good or just a tourist trap?

Venice is amazing. Maybe the city I've gone back to most in the world. Very easy to get away from the tourist areas, find some little backstreets and some nice places to eat and drink. Beautiful place with a unique atmosphere. Great art, architecture, food.

Edited 13 April by bovril

[Unabomber]

10 minutes ago, SemperEadem said:

Huge tourist trap. It’s worth seeing but no more than an afternoon there.

 

5 minutes ago, bovril said:

Venice is amazing. Maybe the city I've gone back to most in the world. Very easy to get away from the tourist areas, find some little backstreets and some nice places to eat and drink. Beautiful place with a unique atmosphere. Great art, architecture, food.

Interesting 

[hackneyfox]

1 hour ago, Unabomber said:

Venice

 

1 hour ago, Unabomber said:

Off to Verona soon. We will go to lake Garda and are thinking Venice. Is Venice actually any good or just a tourist trap?

Boat No.1 takes you the length of the grand canal. We were staying on the island where it started so we’re guarantee a great seat and view every time. As mentioned above it’s very easy to get away from the crowds and well worth it.

[hackneyfox]

Off to Matera and then Otranto in September.

Zanzibar in December, Stone Town, 2 day safari and then 6 days on the beach.

[bovril]

Just now, hackneyfox said:

Off to Matera and then Otranto in September.

Zanzibar in December, Stone Town, 2 day safari and then 6 days on the beach.

Went to Otranto last September. Cool place. Lots of history, laid back atmosphere, some nice city beaches and then some great stretches of beach a bus ride away, or a short bike ride. We hired bikes most days, think it was like 10 euros a day or something stupid like that. 

[grobyfox1990]

1 hour ago, Unabomber said:

Off to Verona soon. We will go to lake Garda and are thinking Venice. Is Venice actually any good or just a tourist trap?

Huge tourist trap. Makes the rest of Italy seem actually ok 

[bovril]

I think walking alone through the backstreets of Cannaregio or Castello or pretty much any part of Venice away from the centre very early in the morning out of season, or late at night in the summer, is one of the greatest experiences you can have on this earth. Unbelievable atmosphere. 

[JonnyBoy]

2 hours ago, Unabomber said:

Off to Verona soon. We will go to lake Garda and are thinking Venice. Is Venice actually any good or just a tourist trap?

Venice is really nice but we went a bit out of season last September and stayed in Venice so was a lot quieter in the Evenings. Had numerous eats literally on a table next to the water. 
 

 

Venice packed during the day due to day trippers (like yourself) but still well worth visiting. 
 

if you can go and see the historic buildings the architecture is incredible. Bit of a queue for some but they go down quick. The best gelato I have ever had was in Venice as well. 

 

Edited 13 April by JonnyBoy

[jgtuk]

I have to agree with @bovril, it’s an amazing place to visit but timing is key, don’t go in the height of summer, the heat, queues and crowds ruin it. Spring/late autumn, early mornings and late nights and it’s wonderful. (Just realised I’ve pretty much repeated what @bovril said 😂) 

 

[FoyleFox]

Venice is beautiful, it is easy to find nice quiet streets to wander. I went in July and didn't find it excessively busy, although it was a few years ago now.

[Unabomber]

Thanks all bit of a mixed bag then. Reckon we will go there for a day even if bits are touristy as it’s only just over an hour on the train. Sounds like it is worth seeing at least. 

[Sol thewall Bamba]

On 11/04/2025 at 15:16, VLC86 said:

Off to Morocco for 4 nights in May. 1 in Marrakesh (taking my mum otherwise I would have done longer there, she is going to hate the madness of it) and 3 in Agadir.

 

Any tips?

Souk El Had in Agadir is an enjoyable few hours, plus the cable car up to the castle. That's all I've got as we stayed further up the coast and only went there for the day.