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homealone
23-02-2007, 23:50
just an idea - a thread for members to post their holiday plans, get advice from members who have 'been there' and feedback when they return??

To start Mrs Gaz & myself recently visited Barcelona for 3 nights - all booked online by Mrs Gaz :tu:

There are some pics I took in this link

http://picasaweb.google.co.uk./gazfan/barcelonamycamera/

We found the 'bus turistic' a fantastic option, €23 for 2 days unlimited touring on an open top bus, get on & off as you like :tu:

Air quality isn't too good, loads of traffic & loads of smokers make it a bit fuggy ;)

We found a great restaurant right next to the hotel which averaged €30 for a meal & soft drinks, for both of us.

We bought stuff from local supermarkets, whenever we could, - litre of wine in a box €1 , for example ;) - we got some nice prawns & fresh bread on the last day & sat in the 'Industrial Park' to eat them :cool:

Still can't get used to everything closing in the afternoon, in Spain :)

Chris W
24-02-2007, 00:09
I'm thinking about where to go this year, possibly going back to Thailand in the summer, but this time to go island hopping... have to save up my pennies for that though :p: Hard to find a flight for under £500 for when i want to go :(

Also thinking about planning a weekend in Europe sometime soon but haven't thought about the details yet. Perhaps Holland or Italy as they are the only countries (excluding the scandanavian and new EU countries) that i haven't been to.

homealone
24-02-2007, 00:19
I'm thinking about where to go this year, possibly going back to Thailand in the summer, but this time to go island hopping... have to save up my pennies for that though :p: Hard to find a flight for under £500 for when i want to go :(

Also thinking about planning a weekend in Europe sometime soon but haven't thought about the details yet. Perhaps Holland or Italy as they are the only countries (excluding the scandanavian and new EU countries) that i haven't been to.


Mrs Gaz mentioned Prague 'next', it looks like it is worth looking into ;)

Fingy
24-02-2007, 00:23
Going to Orlando for 3 weeks and I can't wait to get away! Don't really need much advise as I've been out there quite a few times but if anyone needs any advise, especially Disney related feel free to give me a shout.

Chris W
24-02-2007, 00:24
Been there :)

Went 5 years ago and it is indeed a very nice city. Stayed outside prague and it is recommended- it was very cheap (food, beer, cigarettes etc) but i hear that prices have increased recently as it has become a more popular destination.

Bulgaria is supposed to be a good place to go as well

---------- Post added at 23:24 ---------- Previous post was at 23:23 ----------

Going to Orlando for 3 weeks and I can't wait to get away! Don't really need much advise as I've been out there quite a few times but if anyone needs any advise, especially Disney related feel free to give me a shout.

you going there again?! :shocked: don't forget to bring Tigger back with you :p:

danielf
24-02-2007, 00:26
<snip>
We found a great restaurant right next to the hotel which averaged €30 for a meal & soft drinks, for both of us.

Sounds a bit out of character :)


We bought stuff from local supermarkets, whenever we could, - litre of wine in a box €1 :)

Ah, there you go. Not showing great style though :D

Our last vacation: Two weeks in Laos. Very similar to Thailand in terms of the friendliness of the people, but with the pace several gears down. The capital, Vientiane has a whopping 200,000 inhabitants. Travelling up the country things get even more relaxed (and the scenery is stunning), though some places (Vang Vieng in particular) suffer from backpacker abundance.

R&R notes: Beer Lao is exceptionally good. Right up there with Carlsberg, Heineken (both of the export variety). Readily available and cheap.

homealone
24-02-2007, 00:50
Sounds a bit out of character :)



Ah, there you go. Not showing great style though :D

Our last vacation: Two weeks in Laos. Very similar to Thailand in terms of the friendliness of the people, but with the pace several gears down. The capital, Vientiane has a whopping 200,000 inhabitants. Travelling up the country things get even more relaxed (and the scenery is stunning), though some places (Vang Vieng in particular) suffer from backpacker abundance.

R&R notes: Beer Lao is exceptionally good. Right up there with Carlsberg, Heineken (both of the export variety). Readily available and cheap.

the wine was surprisingly palatable, Dan :)

- we found it in another shop at €0.76 per litre, but I didn't start this as a cheapest wine thread, so your Laos comments are more than welcome :)

Hugh
24-02-2007, 00:52
Hopefully (if I get a job to pay for the flights) going to Northern Cyprus, near Kyrenia, in July/August; some friends are having a villa built there, and we are (hopefully) going out with them to stay for a fortnight.

Can anyon recommend any good bars/restaurants/beaches around there?

AntiSilence
24-02-2007, 00:55
Not had a holiday since about 1989 :(

lauzjp
24-02-2007, 05:38
Mrs Gaz mentioned Prague 'next', it looks like it is worth looking into ;) ooh my future in laws - especially Anton's mum loves Prague. they've been there a few times. it does sound nice... they booked flight and hotel with british airways I believe.

Halcyon
24-02-2007, 13:01
I would reccomend that anyone that is thinking of booking hotels / guest houses / bed & Breakfasts check out the following website www.tripadvisor.co.uk (http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk)
you can find reviews of many hotels from people that have stayed there and see user's photos that give a more realistic look of the hotel compared to a hotel's marketing shots.

I'm often in France due to having family there so if anyone ever needs any help with looking into places in France, just let me know.


Other places I have been to that are quite nice...... Austria.....More specifically the little town of Zell Am see.
More info here:

http://www.europasportregion.info/en/winter/region/zell_am_see.html

http://www.zellamsee.at/pinzgauerisch/winter.html

Venice is also worth going to. Lot's of lovely historical buildings, cathedral, opera, etc.

homealone
24-02-2007, 22:38
Not had a holiday since about 1989 :(

then you should treat yourself - go and have fish & chips in Whitby ;)

I would reccomend that anyone that is thinking of booking hotels / guest houses / bed & Breakfasts check out the following website www.tripadvisor.co.uk (http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk)
you can find reviews of many hotels from people that have stayed there and see user's photos that give a more realistic look of the hotel compared to a hotel's marketing shots.

I'm often in France due to having family there so if anyone ever needs any help with looking into places in France, just let me know.


Other places I have been to that are quite nice...... Austria.....More specifically the little town of Zell Am see.
More info here:

http://www.europasportregion.info/en/winter/region/zell_am_see.html

http://www.zellamsee.at/pinzgauerisch/winter.html

Venice is also worth going to. Lot's of lovely historical buildings, cathedral, opera, etc.

nice offer and good links, thanks Halcyon :tu:

Wicked_and_Crazy
24-02-2007, 23:00
Mrs Gaz mentioned Prague 'next', it looks like it is worth looking into ;)

Prague is well worth a visit, lots to see, cheap beer and food, i have an address for an excellent Czech restaurant if your interested.

Budapest is good too

---------- Post added at 22:00 ---------- Previous post was at 21:58 ----------

Anyone been to the Canadian Rockies + Seattle? starting to plan a trip for this summer

homealone
24-02-2007, 23:07
Prague is well worth a visit, lots to see, cheap beer and food, i have an address for an excellent Czech restaurant if your interested.

Budapest is good too

---------- Post added at 22:00 ---------- Previous post was at 21:58 ----------

Anyone been to the Canadian Rockies + Seattle? starting to plan a trip for this summer

Thanks - I'm interested :)

We spent a short time in Seattle prior to our Alaska Cruise, a couple of years ago, - allocate a whole day for 'Pike Place' market, if you can, you won't regret it :tu: Having a meal in a restaurant that was sending staff into the market to get the freshest stuff available was one highlight ;)

Wicked_and_Crazy
24-02-2007, 23:16
Thanks - I'm interested :)

Jachymka
Jachymova 4
Praha 1

Tel 224 819 621

its a pub, VERY good czech beers but also very good Czech food

http://www.praguepubs.co.uk/pubs_details.php?id=54

Go for the Pork Knuckle, so so tender and about a foot long! comes to the table on a spit instead of a plate.


We stayed at the Arcotel Teatrino

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g274707-d276516-Reviews-Arcotel_Teatrino_Prague-Prague_Bohemia.html

homealone
24-02-2007, 23:40
Jachymka
Jachymova 4
Praha 1

Tel 224 819 621

its a pub, VERY good czech beers but also very good Czech food

http://www.praguepubs.co.uk/pubs_details.php?id=54

Go for the Pork Knuckle, so so tender and about a foot long! comes to the table on a spit instead of a plate.


We stayed at the Arcotel Teatrino

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g274707-d276516-Reviews-Arcotel_Teatrino_Prague-Prague_Bohemia.html

Thankyou - setting bookmarks now ;)

LSainsbury
25-02-2007, 11:43
Going to Orlando for 3 weeks and I can't wait to get away! Don't really need much advise as I've been out there quite a few times but if anyone needs any advise, especially Disney related feel free to give me a shout.

Lucky you....time it right and you might see a Shuttle launch :disturbd:

June 28+ STS-118 (http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts118/index.html)
STS-118 will deliver the S5 Truss and will be the twenty-second mission to the International Space Station.

Aug. 26+ STS-120 (http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts120/index.html)
STS-120 will be the twenty-third mission to the International Space Station and deliver the U.S. Node 2.

---------- Post added at 10:43 ---------- Previous post was at 10:43 ----------

BTW - Thinking of Disneyland Paris - anybody been there?

Virgin Mary
25-02-2007, 11:57
Skorepka Restaurant, Skorepka Street 2, Prague 1 - Old Town. The best Pork knee in Prague, that's a traditional Czech dish. Frankovka is the only drinkable wine in this Beer town.

And another must, is a restaurant near the main square that serve heated liqueur in gigantic glasses -can't remember the name but everyone knows it.

Fingy
25-02-2007, 14:26
Clever, hadn't ever thought about looking that up. Normally go later on in the year and have to hurricane watch.

I'll be there for this one, must investigate. Thanks. :tu:

Lucky you....time it right and you might see a Shuttle launch :disturbd:

June 28+ STS-118 (http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts118/index.html)
STS-118 will deliver the S5 Truss and will be the twenty-second mission to the International Space Station.

Shaun
25-02-2007, 14:34
Thanks - I'm interested :)

We spent a short time in Seattle prior to our Alaska Cruise, a couple of years ago, - allocate a whole day for 'Pike Place' market, if you can, you won't regret it :tu: Having a meal in a restaurant that was sending staff into the market to get the freshest stuff available was one highlight ;)

Don't eat at the first place you see wither - there's so many little places in nooks and crannies. We ate in one of the smallest places there and the food was great. :D You have to stand and watch the fish throwing too!:D

homealone
25-02-2007, 14:46
Don't eat at the first place you see wither - there's so many little places in nooks and crannies. We ate in one of the smallest places there and the food was great. :D You have to stand and watch the fish throwing too!:D

:LOL: yes, the fish throwing is amazing - I swear some of the King Salmon were nearly as big as me & probably weighed more ;)

We were lucky that in the short time we were there, there was a festival going on & lots of streets were closed off, allowing live bands to play at the street corners & things like sand-sculpture competitions building life size sculptures - amazing atmosphere, it was almost a shame when we had to go & board the ship :)

LSainsbury
25-02-2007, 14:51
Clever, hadn't ever thought about looking that up. Normally go later on in the year and have to hurricane watch.

I'll be there for this one, must investigate. Thanks. :tu:

If you go to NASA website, I think you can get a visitor pass for the space center on launch day - all I can say is...

YOU LUCKY SOD!

I want to see a Shuttle launch - baring no more accidents, I have three years to see one!

Janusian
02-03-2007, 17:01
Anyone been to the Canadian Rockies + Seattle? starting to plan a trip for this summer

Flew to Vancouver about 7 years ago and did a loop up through Banff and Jasper.

Recommendations

Whale Watching off Victoria on Vancouver Island
White Water Rafting on the Kicking Horse River (done from Banff)
Icefields Parkway including the Columbia Icefields, Give yourself at least a day for this drive. The scenery is spectacular to say the least.
Vancouver is a splendid place to spend a day in. We had jet lag when we got there - wide awake a 5am. Walked round Stanley park (about 4 miles) then big breakfast on the way back into Vancouver.Hope that helps!

orangebird
02-03-2007, 17:15
the wine was surprisingly palatable, Dan :)

- we found it in another shop at €0.76 per litre, but I didn't start this as a cheapest wine thread, so your Laos comments are more than welcome :)

The Aldi near where my dad lives (in spain) sells an unlabelled litre bottle of red wine for 55 cents - just a bit more than 30p... Bloody lovely it is too. :drunk: