Has Anyone Booked a Holiday Yet?

[Nalis]

On 04/06/2025 at 13:33, JonnyBoy said:

just come back from Lisbon - probably best city break i have done, food scene is unbelievable. Felt less metropolitan than other cities. Almost like a hybrid between Dubrovnik/Nice in terms of the feel. People generally really friendly, was a lot cheaper than i had envisaged. 

 

A lot of walking up hills so not great for the less abled. We visited the famous aquarium, day trips to Sintra and Cascais as well. 

 

I also didn't realise how football mad they are - in Cascais the kids probably 200+ came on the beach after school and there must have been 20-30 footballs and groups of lads and girls all doing keepy ups in groups for hours. No wonder they have a good football team in relation to their population. 

 

Makes you realise how much of our country is a mess with costs of everything 

Sounds like you'd love Porto and the Douro valley too

[Stadt]

Brussels Midi-Zuid is an incredible shithole

[Unabomber]

Off to Porto in September staying in Gaia though.

[bovril]

2 hours ago, Stadt said:

Brussels Midi-Zuid is an incredible shithole

Ahh Brussels. I sometimes used to travel between Europe and England by bus and we'd often stop at Brussels for 20-30 mins. Usually with those kind of stops I'd sleep through them but Brussels was the only place I'd get out and watch the luggage compartment until just before the bus was about to go. 

[Stadt]

26 minutes ago, bovril said:

Ahh Brussels. I sometimes used to travel between Europe and England by bus and we'd often stop at Brussels for 20-30 mins. Usually with those kind of stops I'd sleep through them but Brussels was the only place I'd get out and watch the luggage compartment until just before the bus was about to go. 

It’s amazing an area of a western capital is so run down, not just filthy but lawless too.

 

Antwerp had the standard European dicey station environs (station itself is great) but it really picks up and culminates into an attractive centre.

[Paninistickers]

45 minutes ago, Stadt said:

It’s amazing an area of a western capital is so run down, not just filthy but lawless too.

 

Antwerp had the standard European dicey station environs (station itself is great) but it really picks up and culminates into an attractive centre.

Brussels kinda fascinates me. It ain't a European city. It's Cairo, or Beirut or Syria. I had a fantastic meal there recently at a cheapjack Syrian gaff. 

 

Just can't work out if I like the place for its middle Eastern vibe or I'm appalled. It's essentially a bigger, better Leicester, except substituting Indians for the middle Eastern immigration 

[Stadt]

17 minutes ago, Paninistickers said:

Brussels kinda fascinates me. It ain't a European city. It's Cairo, or Beirut or Syria. I had a fantastic meal there recently at a cheapjack Syrian gaff. 

 

Just can't work out if I like the place for its middle Eastern vibe or I'm appalled. It's essentially a bigger, better Leicester, except substituting Indians for the middle Eastern immigration 

Funnily enough I disembarked at Leicester and got a taxi from Conduit St which completely goes toe to toe with Brussels MZ.

 

I wasn’t overly keen on it but didn’t dislike it either. However the beer (fantastic breadth and depth) food culture is redeeming. La fleur en papier doré is European Bar Guide’s #1 for 2025 and I can totally see it - more romantic than English pubs.

Edited 14 June 2025 by Stadt

[09bballer]

Had a brilliant Beef stew and Leffe at the Brasserie de la Gare just outside Brussels Midi last October.

[CWC1983]

Got back today from Scotland v Lichtenstein on Monday.

 

Zurich for 3 nights. Very expensive, dead on a Sunday, I wouldn't go back. 

 

Vaduz for the game. Easily the most stunning scenery for a football match and the fan zone was brilliant. 

 

Took the train to Austria, 3 nights in Zell am see, absolutely brilliant. 

 

Then 2 days in Salzburg which I'd definitely recommend as a city break. Walkable, picturesque, airport accessible, and the Austrians are so hospitable. 

 

 

[JonnyBoy]

On 14/06/2025 at 21:25, CWC1983 said:

Got back today from Scotland v Lichtenstein on Monday.

 

Zurich for 3 nights. Very expensive, dead on a Sunday, I wouldn't go back. 

 

Vaduz for the game. Easily the most stunning scenery for a football match and the fan zone was brilliant. 

 

Took the train to Austria, 3 nights in Zell am see, absolutely brilliant. 

 

Then 2 days in Salzburg which I'd definitely recommend as a city break. Walkable, picturesque, airport accessible, and the Austrians are so hospitable. 

 

 

 

How did you find Zurich? I went around Christmas time and one of the best cities I have visited, albeit extremely expensive. I am into my watches which helps with the endless amount of watch shops. 

 

We took the train from Innsbruck to Zurich the views were incredible 

[CWC1983]

20 minutes ago, JonnyBoy said:

 

How did you find Zurich? I went around Christmas time and one of the best cities I have visited, albeit extremely expensive. I am into my watches which helps with the endless amount of watch shops. 

 

We took the train from Innsbruck to Zurich the views were incredible 

I probably didn't see Zurich at its best. 

 

The Sunday was dead, really struggled to find anywhere open until around 5pm, and it didn't help the Monday was a bank holiday. 

Very clean, very up market. The locals were friendly. 

We had an airbnb in Wipkingen, and the local bars were nice. Nice weather sitting outside drinking weissbeers. 

 

I did that train journey in reverse, as you say, stunning scenery. 

[martyn]

Got back from San Sebastian yesterday. Probably goes to the very top of my list of favourite ever city breaks. Beautiful place and will definitely go back and explore more of the Basque country in the near future. Enjoyable day trips to Bilbao and Hondarribia as well. 

 

 

Edited 17 June 2025 by martyn

[The Blur]

Booked a week in Slovenia in July.   I have briefly researched the itinerary and am planning to take in Ljubljana,  Lake Bled, Vintar Gorge and Piran off my head along with two famous caves and a built in castle that I cannot remember the names of.  

[The Blur]

Just now, martyn said:

Got back from San Sebastian yesterday. Probably goes to the very top of my list of favourite city breaks. Beautiful place.

Lucky sod.  That is at top of my bucket list.  How long did you stay for?

[martyn]

4 minutes ago, The Blur said:

Lucky sod.  That is at top of my bucket list.  How long did you stay for?

5 days total, based all the time in San Sebastian, with a day trip to Bilbao and half day in Hondarribia before flying back.

 

I'd go back in a heartbeat. Perfect place to just go and enjoy the surroundings and drink/eat like a king.

 

 

Edited 17 June 2025 by martyn

[Nalis]

On 14/06/2025 at 18:10, Unabomber said:

Off to Porto in September staying in Gaia though.

Short tram or long walk from central Porto though.

 

Hilly city but not as hilly as Lisbon if you've been there.

 

Love Porto, Mistu does great food, decent street bars in the Aliados, or sort of west of Aliados Metro stop.

 

Taste Porto did an amazing food tour if you are into that sort of thing, guy called Ricardo knew his shit.

 

Douro Valley is worth it if you can fit it in for the vineyards and scenery, there's a few places that do day trips out there.

 

Whatever you do you'll have a great time, fairly chilled out city with decent architecture too.

[CosbehFox]

On 14/06/2025 at 16:00, Stadt said:

Brussels Midi-Zuid is an incredible shithole

Isn't it just? 

 

Missus' anxiety went through the roof. The Carrefour is like a ****ing circus. You walk out the front door for some fresh air and question where the fcuk you are. 

[grobyfox1990]

5 minutes ago, CosbehFox said:

Isn't it just? 

 

Missus' anxiety went through the roof. The Carrefour is like a ****ing circus. You walk out the front door for some fresh air and question where the fcuk you are. 

The market outside is good though. Get anything you want for about 5 euros.

[CosbehFox]

11 minutes ago, grobyfox1990 said:

The market outside is good though. Get anything you want for about 5 euros.

Heroin and anthrax included 

[fleshdaddy]

Got back from a week in Tenerife last Friday, and seem to have picked something up either on the way there or back. Dunno if it's Covid, but man I've felt rough as a badgers arse the last two or three days.

[Dr Marco]

Going to Berlin for a week in August

any tips for beer gardens, restaurants/bars?

[Stadt]

2 hours ago, CosbehFox said:

Isn't it just? 

 

Missus' anxiety went through the roof. The Carrefour is like a ****ing circus. You walk out the front door for some fresh air and question where the fcuk you are. 

Didn't help there was a motorbike cavalcade of (50-100?) pro-Palestine protestors balaclava'd up blocking traffic and pavements circling around either  

[HighPeakFox]

1 hour ago, Dr Marco said:

Going to Berlin for a week in August

any tips for beer gardens, restaurants/bars?

Probably about 10%

 

[CosbehFox]

2 hours ago, Dr Marco said:

Going to Berlin for a week in August

any tips for beer gardens, restaurants/bars?

Your lucky day as I went there last week. I’ll try to keep it general rather than outright recommendations. 
 

Beer / Drinking 

 

Beer gardens we went were Prater, Schleusen Krug and Cafe In Neun See (or something similar spelling) this is a cafe with a beer garden arounr the lake at the rear)
 

Berliners (and Germans) have no harm in street drinking. Rather it’s a culture to drink and walk, then go chill on a park like Mauer Park and as a result the bars only really get full at night. 
 

You’ll find plenty of ‘Kniepe’ which are small pubs aimed at locals, wet trade only. 
 

If you are into craft beer, we went about 6/7 drinking establishments with an eye for that. So can pass on a list. 
 

As a rule, in my experience, Berlin feels like a tapestry of cities. KuDamm & Mitte are tourist hotspots but really refined and have some good places to eat/drink. Then you go East and South and it’s certainly more in your face. Quite untidy, but very Berlin chic. 
 

I can recommend Boxhagener Platz, Rosa-Luxembourg Platz, Prenzlauer Berg as nice bases for a night of drinking and eating. Certainly more chill around here. 
 

If you want the Berlin experience I described of seeing drug dealers, an attack on the senses, but really cool bars then you are looking at visiting Kreuzberg more. So Kottbusser Tor / Kottbusser Straße is your lead there. That leads into Neukollen which is more relaxed but still ungenetrifed containing some nice places to eat. 
 

We had an amazing brunch at Annelies & a superb dinner at a Restaurant Hasenheide (German cuisine). They are some very cool spots like Pluto, Bar Elizabeth, Trio, Barra if you are really into your food and cocktails (pricey). We are lots of Asian cuisine over there 

Edited 18 June 2025 by CosbehFox

[Grebfromgrebland]

16 minutes ago, HighPeakFox said:

Probably about 10%

 

Should be 15%!