Has Anyone Booked a Holiday Yet?

[Stadt]

5 minutes ago, FoxesDeb said:

I watch through IPTV but I believe DAZN broadcast the Championship over here, although maybe not all games

Thanks - I'm in Benidorm for a stag on Saturday and there'll be a few Leicester who'll want to watch our game. Given it's early it may help? Then in Alicante the following Saturday but as it;s a derby it probably makes it? Wishful maybe

[CosbehFox]

4 minutes ago, Stadt said:

Thanks - I'm in Benidorm for a stag on Saturday and there'll be a few Leicester who'll want to watch our game. Given it's early it may help? Then in Alicante the following Saturday but as it;s a derby it probably makes it? Wishful maybe

You should be good in both Stadt I'd think. Some pubs will have the SKY Coverage. I am looking forward to hunting down a bar in Rhodes for the Cov game. Suspect an arrest Maguire style when the only other punter is some JLR worker from Kenilworth. 

Edited 8 September 2025 by CosbehFox

[Dr Marco]

5 hours ago, CosbehFox said:

Funny question that as it's been a long running drama 

 

I'll pre qualify it by saying that my partner can't have dairy to eat, so having vegan or vegetarian restaurants/bakeries et al nearby is useful. So if we are out all day and she struggles to find anything she can eat with confidence, we will wait out - so nearby is good for brekkie and late dinner. 

 

We were originally booked in Saint Germain des Pres (6th) as I read it was very traditionally Parisian but safe, if slightly taken over by instagrammers. As I started to plot vegan eateries, it was clear there was not much around the 6th as the traditionalism was more French cuisine restaurants. 

 

So we have ended up in 11th nearby Rue Oberkampf nearby Bataclan. Lots of food and bars around there I'd like to try and thankfully some completely vegan options. 

 

Generally speaking, we will spend a night in 5th/6th and another day head towards Pigalle but probably early evening after doing Montmartre, so we avoid it when it gets chaotic. 

 

 

you can go to Bouillon Pigalle or Bouillon Republic! cheap food and drinks. good value 

[FoxesDeb]

16 minutes ago, Stadt said:

Thanks - I'm in Benidorm for a stag on Saturday and there'll be a few Leicester who'll want to watch our game. Given it's early it may help? Then in Alicante the following Saturday but as it;s a derby it probably makes it? Wishful maybe

You'll be fine in Benidorm, plenty of places will have IPTV if they don't have the game on legally, Alicante might be a bit trickier though

[Stadt]

53 minutes ago, CosbehFox said:

You should be good in both Stadt I'd think. Some pubs will have the SKY Coverage. I am looking forward to hunting down a bar in Rhodes for the Cov game. Suspect an arrest Maguire style when the only other punter is some JLR worker from Kenilworth. 

That’s always the fear watching out of the shire. You can picture the sort of Cov gobshite with a sleeve and McKenzie man bag 

39 minutes ago, FoxesDeb said:

You'll be fine in Benidorm, plenty of places will have IPTV if they don't have the game on legally, Alicante might be a bit trickier though

Thanks, I’ll do some research for Alicante or may just head back into Benidorm If I can stomach it 

[bovril]

6 hours ago, CosbehFox said:

Funny question that as it's been a long running drama 

 

I'll pre qualify it by saying that my partner can't have dairy to eat, so having vegan or vegetarian restaurants/bakeries et al nearby is useful. So if we are out all day and she struggles to find anything she can eat with confidence, we will wait out - so nearby is good for brekkie and late dinner. 

 

We were originally booked in Saint Germain des Pres (6th) as I read it was very traditionally Parisian but safe, if slightly taken over by instagrammers. As I started to plot vegan eateries, it was clear there was not much around the 6th as the traditionalism was more French cuisine restaurants. 

 

So we have ended up in 11th nearby Rue Oberkampf nearby Bataclan. Lots of food and bars around there I'd like to try and thankfully some completely vegan options. 

 

Generally speaking, we will spend a night in 5th/6th and another day head towards Pigalle but probably early evening after doing Montmartre, so we avoid it when it gets chaotic. 

 

 

We usually stay in the 5th which still feels at least a bit studenty and boho, at least the eastern bit. Around St Michel is very touristy. 6th always seemed a little dull to me, lots of high end shops, so you maybe did well to choose elsewhere (edit - maybe I'm thinking of further west). I really like Le Marais although again it's more sterile than it used to be. Au Petit Fer a Cheval is one of my favourite places though probably doesn't have much in the way of vegan food. Great bar opposite too.

 

Paris really makes you weep for London's nightlife. 

 

Edited 8 September 2025 by bovril

[FoxesDeb]

Just now, Stadt said:

Thanks, I’ll do some research for Alicante or may just head back into Benidorm If I can stomach it 

I was going to suggest that but didn't know how feasible, or welcome, it would be 

 

If you do decide to go back to Benidorm from Alicante it's very easy on the tram, it's pretty central in Alicante and although the walk is all uphill on the way back in Benidorm it's only a few Euro to get a cab up to the station

[Grebfromgrebland]

2 hours ago, Stadt said:

@FoxesDeb are Championship games readily broadcast in Spain? 

Just take your firestick with you

[CosbehFox]

28 minutes ago, bovril said:

We usually stay in the 5th which still feels at least a bit studenty and boho, at least the eastern bit. Around St Michel is very touristy. 6th always seemed a little dull to me, lots of high end shops, so you maybe did well to choose elsewhere (edit - maybe I'm thinking of further west). I really like Le Marais although again it's more sterile than it used to be. Au Petit Fer a Cheval is one of my favourite places though probably doesn't have much in the way of vegan food. Great bar opposite too.

 

Paris really makes you weep for London's nightlife. 

 

I was highly recommended Belleville out in the 20th but given its our first time probably a touch too far from central Paris. 

 

It's my first time ever. I am interested to see how it comes to the other big European hitters. Amsterdam disappointed greatly (Rijksmuseum aside) - prefer Rotterdam. Berlin I loved this summer and probably went to the top of my list within the big cities of Europe. 

[bovril]

13 minutes ago, CosbehFox said:

I was highly recommended Belleville out in the 20th but given its our first time probably a touch too far from central Paris. 

 

It's my first time ever. I am interested to see how it comes to the other big European hitters. Amsterdam disappointed greatly (Rijksmuseum aside) - prefer Rotterdam. Berlin I loved this summer and probably went to the top of my list within the big cities of Europe. 

I love it. Loads of tourists of course but still retains its character. Love the food. I know plenty of people who dislike it though.

 

Bari is cool too. You've probably heard about the spaghetti all assassina but I also remember a not very salubrious looking grill place in the old town that does bombette sandwiches for like 4 euros which is great. 

[DerbyshireFox]

Encouraging to read about Sicily. Headed to Palermo for a family holiday for a week in ten days or so time. Back for two weeks then off to Split with a friend for a week in October 🙌

[Jattdogg]

Montego Bay over the upcoming xmas holidays.  It was my last holiday (December 2019) before covid shut the world down. 

 

Got back to traveling abroad last year and making up for lost time. Let's hope for no repeat of a global pandemic!

[STEVIE B]

Off to Bergamo, Northern Italy on Tuesday. Never been, but a fella that l know has been 4 or 5 times, so it must be nice. 

[bovril]

30 minutes ago, STEVIE B said:

Off to Bergamo, Northern Italy on Tuesday. Never been, but a fella that l know has been 4 or 5 times, so it must be nice. 

Try and go north into the mountains. Glorious this time of year.

[blue is the colour]

Off to the Dominican Republic in March for my belated honeymoon. Never been to that part of the world so hoping it’s a bit special!

[JonnyBoy]

back from 10 nights in Paxos and Kalami in Corfu - lurvelyyy. 

 

 

 

 

[NJFox]

On 09/09/2025 at 09:31, blue is the colour said:

Off to the Dominican Republic in March for my belated honeymoon. Never been to that part of the world so hoping it’s a bit special!

Beautiful country, but beware of tipping culture and ripping off tourists. For instance, if you stay at a resort and book an excursion (let's say you want to go sailing), the driver will expect a tip. You'll have two people trying to help carry your belongings onto the boat or getting you a towel, angling for a tip. There might be someone on the sailboat with an exotic bird who might place the bird on your shoulder before you can say no, take a picture, then put their hand out for a tip. Tipping a server is normal practice, but there will be plenty of other angles at play.

[boots60]

On 09/09/2025 at 13:02, STEVIE B said:

Off to Bergamo, Northern Italy on Tuesday. Never been, but a fella that l know has been 4 or 5 times, so it must be nice. 

There are tourists but Bergamo unlike the bigger Italian cities is not overrun with them.

Be sure to take the Funiculore up to the old town where the narrow streets are lined with bars & restaurants used by locals as well as tourists.

The Stracciatella gelato is the best in Italy.

If you're still there on Sunday, Atalanta are playing Lecce, tickets should be easier to obtain than if they were playing a bigger side.

[Mark 'expert' Lawrenson]

Rome in 3 weeks time, Tickets booked for The Vatican, the Colosseum and Pompeii.

Beats working. 

[VLC86]

Just leaving Naxos, great island if you want a quieter holiday on empty beaches this time of year.

 

Did a boat trip which dropped us on Koufonisia which was absolutely stunning, crystal clear waters.

[Unabomber]

Off to Porto on Thursday but staying in Gaia. Never been before but looking forward to it 

[waddadamadda]

On 15/09/2025 at 17:17, Mark 'expert' Lawrenson said:

Rome in 3 weeks time, Tickets booked for The Vatican, the Colosseum and Pompeii.

Beats working. 

Head to the Jewish Quarter as it has amazing cafes and eateries - it’s a stop on the hop on hop off bus.

 

I have to say that I wasn’t the biggest fan of Rome. I’m such a city girl and love just wandering around but found Rome to be really dirty and quite overwhelming. I’m thinking of going back there at a different time of the year to see if it was just a me thing.

 

The food though was insane! We ate away from the main tourist traps and were absolutely spoilt for choice.

 

And remember your water bottle! There’s a whole load of fresh water fountains throughout the city to fill up at. 

[waddadamadda]

Any campervan owners here? We’ve covered the obvious - France, Belgium, Switzerland, Luxembourg Italy, Belgium and my favourite, the Netherlands - and wanting to try a couple of new countries next summer. Any suggestions? Site wise, I need electric hook up and facilities and the smaller the better. 
 

Looking for areas with lakes to swim in, cycling, running etc. A farm based stay would be my heaven so not averse to an Airbnb.

 

[VLC86]

5 hours ago, waddadamadda said:

Any campervan owners here? We’ve covered the obvious - France, Belgium, Switzerland, Luxembourg Italy, Belgium and my favourite, the Netherlands - and wanting to try a couple of new countries next summer. Any suggestions? Site wise, I need electric hook up and facilities and the smaller the better. 
 

Looking for areas with lakes to swim in, cycling, running etc. A farm based stay would be my heaven so not averse to an Airbnb.

 

Used to have one and the best place I went to was the Isle of Harris. Maybe not what you are looking for though but some stunning beaches.

[CosbehFox]

8 hours ago, waddadamadda said:

Head to the Jewish Quarter as it has amazing cafes and eateries - it’s a stop on the hop on hop off bus.

 

I have to say that I wasn’t the biggest fan of Rome. I’m such a city girl and love just wandering around but found Rome to be really dirty and quite overwhelming. I’m thinking of going back there at a different time of the year to see if it was just a me thing.

 

The food though was insane! We ate away from the main tourist traps and were absolutely spoilt for choice.

 

And remember your water bottle! There’s a whole load of fresh water fountains throughout the city to fill up at. 

My experience of Rome was much like yours on first visit. Second time I stayed in Trastevere/Jewish Quarter and being much calmer; often starting and finishing our day there made me have a better opinion of the city