Has Anyone Booked a Holiday Yet?

[bovril]

6 hours ago, stretch1965 said:

Booked a week in skopelos then moving over to skiathos for a week. Looked them up on booking.com  then contacted hotels direct and saved £300. 

Skopelos is great. We used to eat most nights at a place called Molos in Skopelos town which was always very nice, though that was 10 years ago. Kastani and Milia beaches are good on the west coast and Stafylos just south of the town.

[FoxesDeb]

Getting very excited now, only one day left at work and then we leave for Madrid to fly to the Dominican Republic for a week, followed by 2 weeks cruising around the Caribbean, Central and South America.

 

I've never been to that part of the world so it's all new, really can't wait! 

[LcFc_Smiv]

Has anyone done San Francisco? We are at a wedding next September in Denver and it's pretty cheap to fly on to somewhere else. It will only be for 3 nights but never been to the west coast and the mix of the city and nature seems like we can pack a lot in. Just don't know if its worth moving onto somewhere like that or staying in Colorado and hiring a car to explore a bit further for our remaining time.

[Izzy]

3 minutes ago, LcFc_Smiv said:

Has anyone done San Francisco? We are at a wedding next September in Denver and it's pretty cheap to fly on to somewhere else. It will only be for 3 nights but never been to the west coast and the mix of the city and nature seems like we can pack a lot in. Just don't know if its worth moving onto somewhere like that or staying in Colorado and hiring a car to explore a bit further for our remaining time.

We did SF about 25 years ago so I’m sure it’s changed a bit since.

The Golden Gate Bridge was spectacular and Alcatraz was pretty cool. The 49 mile drive was nice and the food in China Town was amazing.

Only downside was lots of homeless and smack heads if you end up down the wrong streets.

If you get the chance I’d definitely go.

[Kopic]

Currently in Iceland, **** me it's expensive. I expected it but thought (hoped) everything I'd read and been told was surely an exaggeration. Nope.

 

But it's absolutely beautiful and I'm gonna suck it up for the week.

[09bballer]

Has anyone done Norway by car or train? (Not by cruise). Any advice or recommendations?

[NJFox]

4 hours ago, LcFc_Smiv said:

Has anyone done San Francisco? We are at a wedding next September in Denver and it's pretty cheap to fly on to somewhere else. It will only be for 3 nights but never been to the west coast and the mix of the city and nature seems like we can pack a lot in. Just don't know if it’s worth moving onto somewhere like that or staying in Colorado and hiring a car to explore a bit further for our remaining time.

Will echo @Izzy’s remarks. From a nature perspective, San Francisco is worth it to see Muir Woods National Monument. If you want the Pacific Ocean experience, San Diego is a better choice for the weather.

 

You will not be disappointed with 3 extra days in Colorado. A brewery on every corner, and some of the best scenery the country has to offer. Several close friends moved there and don’t regret it. My folks just came back from 2 weeks of a driving tour in Colorado, Utah and New Mexico with their highest endorsement of the hiking, national parks, and more.

 

There’s no wrong decision!

[HowardsBulletHeader]

2 hours ago, Kopic said:

Currently in Iceland, **** me it's expensive. I expected it but thought (hoped) everything I'd read and been told was surely an exaggeration. Nope.

 

But it's absolutely beautiful and I'm gonna suck it up for the week.

Agree with that, it's such a great place though I'd do my best to convince someone to never let it put you off.

 

Super sights in Reykjavik and Northern Lights are just incredible to see in the flesh. We stumbled across Europe's largest darts bar as well which was a great find! 

 

 

[VLC86]

1 hour ago, 09bballer said:

Has anyone done Norway by car or train? (Not by cruise). Any advice or recommendations?

Do you mean driven all the way there? Or travelling by train or car in Norway?

 

I went to Tromso a while ago in January and loved it. Hired a car, drove into the arse end of nowhere chasing the northern lights. Then had to catch a train from Narvik to Northern Sweden so had to drive from Tromso to there in the middle of the night. 
 

Depends when/where you go but the reason we had to drive is because there was a lack of transport around there on the day we travelled, presumably Sunday, so the only thing I can say if you don’t want to drive is check all of that out well in advance.

 

Driving was a piece of piss though, it’s no exaggeration to say I don’t think we say another car for about 3 hours. I guess nobody else was mental enough but with studded tyres it never felt unsafe.

[Blackboots only]

Just booked Las Vegas for April next year. 
This will be our 3rd trip in the past 2 years. 

After our first trip we now get free hotel deals and they throw in some gambling and food and beverage credit. 

I get it’s not for everyone, but me and the OH love it.   
 

Downtown Vegas is where it’s at, Gambling, drinking, Visual overload with crackheads, Cops and cowboys thrown into the mix. 

I was sitting drinking at the bar in a casino at 5am wearing a sombrero that I had randomly acquired, with a small poodle sitting on my lap after some old lady asked me to look after it whilst she went for a piss 

 

Standard Vegas stuff. 

[09bballer]

10 hours ago, VLC86 said:

Do you mean driven all the way there? Or travelling by train or car in Norway?

 

I went to Tromso a while ago in January and loved it. Hired a car, drove into the arse end of nowhere chasing the northern lights. Then had to catch a train from Narvik to Northern Sweden so had to drive from Tromso to there in the middle of the night. 
 

Depends when/where you go but the reason we had to drive is because there was a lack of transport around there on the day we travelled, presumably Sunday, so the only thing I can say if you don’t want to drive is check all of that out well in advance.

 

Driving was a piece of piss though, it’s no exaggeration to say I don’t think we say another car for about 3 hours. I guess nobody else was mental enough but with studded tyres it never felt unsafe.

Thanks, roads sound easier than the M6!👍🏼. I was wondering about driving all the way there in stages or all the way by train. 

[FoyleFox]

17 hours ago, LcFc_Smiv said:

Has anyone done San Francisco? We are at a wedding next September in Denver and it's pretty cheap to fly on to somewhere else. It will only be for 3 nights but never been to the west coast and the mix of the city and nature seems like we can pack a lot in. Just don't know if its worth moving onto somewhere like that or staying in Colorado and hiring a car to explore a bit further for our remaining time.

We did 3 nights in SF last year and enjoyed it. Also echo Izzy's comments. Definitely areas to avoid, if you're booking a hotel, go for one in the Fisherman's Wharf area. 

[LcFc_Smiv]

18 hours ago, Izzy said:

We did SF about 25 years ago so I’m sure it’s changed a bit since.

The Golden Gate Bridge was spectacular and Alcatraz was pretty cool. The 49 mile drive was nice and the food in China Town was amazing.

Only downside was lots of homeless and smack heads if you end up down the wrong streets.

If you get the chance I’d definitely go.

 

14 hours ago, NJFox said:

Will echo @Izzy’s remarks. From a nature perspective, San Francisco is worth it to see Muir Woods National Monument. If you want the Pacific Ocean experience, San Diego is a better choice for the weather.

 

You will not be disappointed with 3 extra days in Colorado. A brewery on every corner, and some of the best scenery the country has to offer. Several close friends moved there and don’t regret it. My folks just came back from 2 weeks of a driving tour in Colorado, Utah and New Mexico with their highest endorsement of the hiking, national parks, and more.

 

There’s no wrong decision!

 

1 hour ago, FoyleFox said:

We did 3 nights in SF last year and enjoyed it. Also echo Izzy's comments. Definitely areas to avoid, if you're booking a hotel, go for one in the Fisherman's Wharf area. 

Thanks all, looks like I'll start making plans for it, seems like so much to do and plenty to pack in. Will be mindful about where we visit, I appreciate the heads up!

[SemperEadem]

Looking at just short of a week with the family in Valencia.

[StanSP]

9 hours ago, SemperEadem said:

Looking at just short of a week with the family in Valencia.

Lovely place! 

[CosbehFox]

Spent weekend doing my groundhopping bullshit in Bari. Three places visited 

 

Bari - more built up in the centre than I was expecting but perfectly decent base for North Puglia. 
 

Matera - anyone go. Quite simply incredible. It’s not big but you can do a trail walk and view the top from a higher vantage point above a gorge 

 

Barletta - clearly busier in the summer, what a pretty town/small city on the coast. Had a cracking meal there. 

[Kopic]

Just got back from Iceland. Stunning.

 

Slipped on some ice on Monday and im fairly certain I have broken a rib. Couldn't get anything stronger than paracetamol but soldiered on, exploring in immense pain. Climbed a bloody volcano in tears. Driving the rental in tears. Still managed to do everything we had planned.

 

Successfully bid on an upgrade to business class on the flight home which was lovely, dont think I could've sat in a normal seat.

 

Overall, despite the injury, 10/10 holiday, one of my favourites ever.

[VLC86]

20 hours ago, Kopic said:

Just got back from Iceland. Stunning.

 

Slipped on some ice on Monday and im fairly certain I have broken a rib. Couldn't get anything stronger than paracetamol but soldiered on, exploring in immense pain. Climbed a bloody volcano in tears. Driving the rental in tears. Still managed to do everything we had planned.

 

Successfully bid on an upgrade to business class on the flight home which was lovely, dont think I could've sat in a normal seat.

 

Overall, despite the injury, 10/10 holiday, one of my favourites ever.

I broke a rib 4 days before boarding a 13 hour flight to Japan last year, horrendous isn’t it.

 

Sounds like you had a good time though, Iceland is class and I need to go back.

[DerbyshireFox]

Got Porto booked for February and Krakow for March! Any tips appreciated 

[STEVIE B]

On 02/12/2025 at 13:28, DerbyshireFox said:

Got Porto booked for February and Krakow for March! Any tips appreciated 

Krakow - go to Kazimierz, it's a 10 min walk from the main square. It's the famous Jewish quarter, really nice, less hectic than the tourist areas. There's a fantastic bar there too -  Hevré. It has wallpaper dating back to the WWll from memory. 

Edited 3 December 2025 by STEVIE B

[CornwallFox]

On 23/11/2025 at 17:28, Kopic said:

Currently in Iceland, **** me it's expensive. I expected it but thought (hoped) everything I'd read and been told was surely an exaggeration. Nope.

 

But it's absolutely beautiful and I'm gonna suck it up for the week.

Might get a few bargains if you do that

[Unabomber]

6 hours ago, DerbyshireFox said:

Got Porto booked for February and Krakow for March! Any tips appreciated 

Cumplice was a great steak restaurant in Porto if you like steaks. 

[JonnyBoy]

Tromso in Norway booked for February, any recommendations from people that have been? 

 

Looking at Reindeer feeding and dog sledding. Whale watching slightly out of season for that, hoping to see Northern lights. 

[Miquel The Work Geordie]

On 27/11/2025 at 15:00, Kopic said:

Just got back from Iceland. Stunning.

 

Me after picking up 24 prawn rings and an arctic roll from Beaumont Leys

[VLC86]

1 hour ago, JonnyBoy said:

Tromso in Norway booked for February, any recommendations from people that have been? 

 

Looking at Reindeer feeding and dog sledding. Whale watching slightly out of season for that, hoping to see Northern lights. 

You’ve got the viewing platform looking over the city which is worth a visit.

 

I hired a car and drove around as far north as I could get to see the lights, easy enough to do as not many out driving that time of year but could see it getting dicey quite easily.

 

How long you there for?