The Travel Thread

[Jimmy Floyd]

I'm booking flights for our cricket pro to come over from Australia for the summer and I've never seen anything like it. They're almost wanting to pay me to fly him here. It's dropped about £100 in two days as well so I might give it another couple and milk it for all it's worth.

It's dropped £50 just during today.

[Shindig]

Man, the next two weeks are going to be tense.

[Lewis]

on 3), The Mezquita in Cordoba is one of the best things I've seen. The city itself is a decent mooch as well.

I was mainly thinking of that and the Alhambra, so I think I could base myself in Seville for four days/nights and then price a day in for each. Unless Cadiz is worth bothering with, which it probably isn't when you consider I grew up with top tier seaside towns like Bridlington on my doorstep.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I have a flight booked to Poland at the end of the month for a few days before flying somewhere hot for a week and a half.

[Raoul Duke]

Seville -> Cordoba -> Granada is what I'd do if I went back. We had an ace time in Seville but would have loved to to to the others too.

We went Sat -> Weds and covered pretty much everything in Seville. By yourself you could do it quicker.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Cadiz is a lovely place to be in (I did a day trip there from Seville last year), but there isn't much of substance to look at other than their cathedrally thing and just the general old timey sea port vibe. It feels a bit like one of the Free Cities in GoT, but with added Burger King and rat faced children.

Granada is miles away from Seville (like, London to Birmingham) so I'd stay in Cordoba and go on to do that the day after.

[Giggles]

I’ve a free day in Munich with flight arrangements soon. Apart from the English Gardens and the tech museum, anything else worth seeing?

[Kikó]

Go to a beer house and see an oompah band. http://www.hofbraeuhaus.de/en/

Or the Olympic Park.

[Giggles]

What’s the Olympic Park? Is it anything to do with the actual Olympics?

[Kikó]

Yeah hosted one years back - https://www.olympiapark.de/en/olympic-park/event-locations/olympic-stadium/

[Giggles]

Actually, I just read the Google description. Cheers, but I might just do an extra day in the English beer gardens.

[Giggles]

Actually scratch that, just had an email saying it’s been coronacancelled.

Thank Christ it’s not my money that Ryanair have.

[Bernanke]

Entire office is corona-closed for the rest of the week so I ended up in Madrid on a whim, but I don't know what to do. Might pop into the museums to see Guernica and a couple of Goya's, and possibly a daytrip to Toledo, but aside from that is there anything I need to check off?

[Lewis]

'Fourteen Places to Eat Standing Up.'

[Raoul Duke]

Retiro park was pretty cool. Madrid was nice but felt a bit empty when I was there.

[Shindig]

So, errr .... if this shitstorm blows over by September, I have a week to play with. I'm thinking DC. Even if San Francisco was sorted by then, that's fire season. In the meantime, I still want to do something this week but that probably means I'll only get as far as Newcastle. :moop:

I was strangely looking forward to SF under these circumstances, too. The place is dead in parts but really well kept.

[Giggles]

Yeah, so I decided not to book Bari after all

[Mellberg]

Washington DC was probably the best city I went to. That or LA, which I thought I'd hate, but is full of character and mad cunts. Chicago, San Diego, New York and Texas incredible too. Only saw San Fran's airport, so can't comment.

You can't really go wrong with the US. Just don't bother with Vegas, unless you're with a load of LADS. In which case just go to Blackpool/Bendiorm.

[Shindig]

Yeah, I think I could only do Vegas to gamble and get out with 48 hours.

EDIT: It gets better. Alcatraz cruises are suspended. I'm in the hat for a refund on that.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Vegas is alright in small doses tbh.

I won a decent amount of money, saw a good show and actually had some nice buffets. There are a hell of a lot of twats knocking around though and I did get about 1000 static shocks a day.

LA, bar the food, wasn't for me but San Fran was brilliant.

[Spikey M]

I can't think of many places less appealing than Vegas.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Unless you're not only a LAD but in a total LAD mindset, it's the worst place on Planet Earth.

[Alan Shearer The 2nd]

I've never understood the appeal.

The idea has been floated for a potential stag-do in the coming years so I can only hope this pandemic is still ongoing.

[Shindig]

It's basically gambling and shows. Two things I'm not keen on, although to see the strip at night would be decent.

[Magic]

EasyJet just sent me this:



IMPORTANT INFO ABOUT YOUR FLIGHT TO HAMBURG

Here’s everything you need to start your journey in a fuss-free fashion. Have a great trip – we’ll see you at the airport.

:D

[Shindig]

Alcatraz Cruises have informed me they have bookings available through the summer and the rest of 2020. Might explain why they haven't refunded me yet.

[Yevrah]

You can still fly to Milan at the moment. Bonkers.

[Andy]

The airports still being open and not putting everyone who arrives straight into a 2 week quarantine really confuses me.

Its completely at odds with everything else we are doing.

[Shindig]

I was going to counter that by saying there's bugger all air traffic. Then I saw Heathrow's departure board. Seoul, Dusseldorf, Dallas, Atlanta, Warsaw, Hong Kong, MADRID, Oslo and the newly shut-the-fuck down Miami.

[Baz]

Finally got through to someone at TUI and paid the finally £4k off the holiday (due to go August 3rd) on a credit card.

PLEASE get officially cancelled so we can have a full proper refund, no problems. :yn:

[Kikó]

My flight to Split is now cancelled but Opodo's help desk takes you to a 404 error. Wicked.

[Giggles]

That’s standard now.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I would have more sympathy for airlines if they weren't all such grasping cunts in the good times. Easyjet's marketing tears in my inbox every day taste just great.

[Shindig]

Newcastle's departure board is completely empty now.

EDIT: Heard something overhead and had to check. KLM's Amsterdam flight is back on, as is Loganair's flight to Aberdeen.

[Shindig]

And after 3 months, my Alcatraz ferry has been refunded. They must be finally back at work. :D

[Kikó]

We've booked a flight to the Algarve in August.

[Shindig]

I've decided if America opens back up this year (Fauci seems to suggest there's no hope of that), I'll head back to New York and try to branch out into more of Brooklyn and the other boroughs I didn't hit. Alternatively I might spend a few days in London or some place. Providing we don't second wave it, that should be on for September.

[Raoul Duke]

Fuck that. I wouldn't go to America right now if they paid me

[Shindig]

I'd chance New York seeing as it's got Covid handled better than the country and I can walk into a pharmacy and get tested over there. Still, Fauci said it's unlikely to be open for travel for months. He said that before the rest of the country ballooned so March 2021's probably my earliest shot.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUiyDPv7KFI

But that looks so nice.

[Josh]

I'd chance New York seeing as it's got Covid handled better than the country and I can walk into a pharmacy and get tested over there. Still, Fauci said it's unlikely to be open for travel for months. He said that before the rest of the country ballooned so March 2021's probably my earliest shot.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUiyDPv7KFI

But that looks so nice.

That's literally where I live. Come say hi Shinners

[Shindig]

Will do .... eventually. Makes me wish I got into Brooklyn more. I crossed the bridge and then got lost looking for the Transport Museum. Turns out that's hard to find when the entrance to it is a subway and there's construction around it.

[Waffdon]

There’s £20 return flights to Budapest for end of August. My taxi home from a night out is double that

[John Arne]

I've just done 700km in three days on my pokey scooter. Now my arse is killing me (wahey).

Went to Dalat, which is very nice.

[Andy]

Weve been thinking about booking a couple of weeks in Cyprus in mid October. Some good deals for an all inclusive break. Going to leave it till last minute to book incase the quarantine rules change.

Seen some TUI deals with £800 per person savings.

[Don]

Was eyeing up a trip to Turkey or Cyprus sometime before NY but the testing and risk of escalation of measures has made me stick to a domestic trip (looking at Cotswolds to minimise travel). On that note, why tf is an open fire/fireplace not a filterable option on Booking or Airbnb? It's the only thing I'm really looking for ffs. A tenner to anyone who can find me a tasty one for 8-11 October. Gwan Baz.

[Offshore Toon]

I'd be surprised if any airbnb owners were encouraging guests to start fires on their property. Just go somewhere near a forest and make a campfire.

[Don]

Yeah, it looks like I'll have to settle for a woodburner. I need to get naked and passionately fornicate infront of it so camping in Autumn ain't the one.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Danger, danger
Pube sandwich

[Spikey M]

Was eyeing up a trip to Turkey or Cyprus sometime before NY but the testing and risk of escalation of measures has made me stick to a domestic trip (looking at Cotswolds to minimise travel). On that note, why tf is an open fire/fireplace not a filterable option on Booking or Airbnb? It's the only thing I'm really looking for ffs. A tenner to anyone who can find me a tasty one for 8-11 October. Gwan Baz.

CentreParcs. I'll pm you my PayPal deets.

[Andy]

Was eyeing up a trip to Turkey or Cyprus sometime before NY but the testing and risk of escalation of measures has made me stick to a domestic trip (looking at Cotswolds to minimise travel). On that note, why tf is an open fire/fireplace not a filterable option on Booking or Airbnb? It's the only thing I'm really looking for ffs. A tenner to anyone who can find me a tasty one for 8-11 October. Gwan Baz.

We have decided on a few UK trips as well instead of going away. Things seemed to turn for the worse pretty quickly.

[Spikey M]

My In Laws booked to go to Turkey last week and cancelled it yesterday. :cab:

[Giggles]

If Dublin is the second friendliest city in Europe then I'd fucking hate to see what the rest of them are like.


1319360503647522818

[Clunge]

I’ve been in Portugal the past 10 days - five in the mainland north of Lisbon and five in the Acores. It’s been mega. Sadly though, quarantine beckons from 7pm tonight when we land...

[Shindig]

My sister and her bloke almost went off the Canaries on a whim but the mask rules are more militant than on the mainland. Masks everywhere in hot weather can do one. Meanwhile, I've been checking out L Train rides on youtube. Chicago looks alright but those trains don't go anywhere quick.

[John Arne]

I've just spent 2 days on a tiny little island. It was bliss, but the food was fucking awful (barely any tourist development). Still, absolute silence, empty roads and lots of fucking sun. Made the 4hr bus and 2hr boat worth it. The island was only opened up to foreigners last year, having previously been closed off due to various military installations.

https://gyazo.com/81413ad4a97b5afcd43c20dde4215795.jpeg

[Don]

Tasty. What I'd give for a quiet beach for a week. Or even just a busy one not full of obese pale Brexit creatures.

[John Arne]

Tasty. What I'd give for a quiet beach for a week. Or even just a busy one not full of obese pale Brexit creatures.

I saw one other foreigner, and judging by his 'tash, he was probably (Eastern) German.

One of the "main" roads on the island :D ... I almost nodded off going for a drive.

https://gyazo.com/6f252065cacd0d3353208ab1180a1bd5.jpeg

[Shindig]

This probably surprises nobody but turns out flying to Heathrow and back is cheaper than training it from Durham to Kings Cross. Only by £20, like.

[Boydy]

Getting from Heathrow into central London will eat up that 20 quid.

[Shindig]

I'd be using the tube for most of my stay there so that's not a bother.

[Don]

What's the deal with these PCR tests for travel, it can be got from whichever scumbag you want? For whatever price they charge? What sort of cowboy shit is this? I have to get 2 for my parents and haven't a clue what's going on.

[phonics]

There’s a list of approved people you can order the self test kits or testing Center you can go to on the website.

[Shindig]

As a last resort, there's probably airport testing available.

[igor_balis]

This probably surprises nobody but turns out flying to Heathrow and back is cheaper than training it from Durham to Kings Cross. Only by £20, like.

It was the same getting to and from Edinburgh/the Midlands, and took about an hour rather than 5, but I just bloody love trains.

[Don]

There’s a list of approved people you can order the self test kits or testing Center you can go to on the website.

Where?

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-testing-for-people-travelling-to-england

[phonics]

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-test-to-release-for-international-travel#how-to-take-part-in-the-scheme

[Don]

Ta, took about an hour to book and sort out, the legacy of these dead fatties continues to cause grief.

[Waffdon]

Anyone else going to Portugal next month? Mon the FACKIN’ sun

[Spikey M]

Need the house move to go through before we can look at booking anything. Are prices as mental as I'm expecting them to be?

[Don]

Do Portugal require vaccination? If not, I'll see you there in August.

[Yevrah]

I daren’t look, but if I had anything to do with holidaying in Portugal or getting there I’d be charging 5 times the price.

[Waffdon]

I can get flights for £25 from Aberdeen to Faro next month. My taxi home on a night out costs more :lol:

[Waffdon]

Do Portugal require vaccination? If not, I'll see you there in August.

As far as I can see, no. Will have to provide a negative PCR test though

[Spikey M]

Just had a look and prices are surprisingly normal all things considered. 800pp for a week all Inc.

[Don]

Faro :drool: I know a cracking brothel near Vilamoura. If that vaccination policy holds I'll book up in a couple weeks.

[Shindig]

Just had a look and prices are surprisingly normal all things considered. 800pp for a week all Inc.

Aye, I had a quick look at New York whilst I was at it. Roughly the same price.

[phonics]

They all got bailouts and demand is high.

[randomlegend]

We're getting married next April. Plan is to go somewhere for a week immediately after and then do a big honeymoon in the summer (we are tied to school holidays because of her being a teacher).

Currently looking to book the April one.

Anyone got any good suggestions for where to go? Preferably in Europe for this one; plan to go further afield in the summer.

[Spikey M]

Croatia is beautiful. Especially Rabac.

[-james-]

Basque Country. Just hop from pintxo bar to pintxo bar and maybe fit in the odd Michelin star restaurant in the hills. The beaches and general vibes are top tier as well.

[-james-]

Fuck I want to go to Bilbao now.

[randomlegend]

Croatia is beautiful. Especially Rabac.

A lot/most of the nice hotels seem to be closed through April. Is it not quite the right time of year to go? We absolutely want to go to Croatia at some point.


Basque Country. Just hop from pintxo bar to pintxo bar and maybe fit in the odd Michelin star restaurant in the hills. The beaches and general vibes are top tier as well.

This looks like the early leader, thanks.

[Spikey M]

It depends what you want really. It might not be a beach holiday in April, but then the same applies to most of Europe really. We went in June, so I don't really know how it is in the spring. It's the most picturesque place I've ever been though.

[Andy]

We got married in April 2019 and did the same thing with a smaller break straight away and then a more traditional honeymoon in the summer.

We went on a seven day cruise from Southampton to Norway, through the fjords. Then on the way back it stopped in Belgium and France.

[Kikó]

We waited about 15 months for our honeymoon as well. No way we could immediately afford a longer long haul break.

Has anyone ever took a ferry from Northern Italy into Croatia before? Is it easy? Or anyone done Slovenia?

[Spikey M]

We waited about 15 months for our honeymoon as well. No way we could immediately afford a longer long haul break.

Has anyone ever took a ferry from Northern Italy into Croatia before? Is it easy? Or anyone done Slovenia?

Our hotel did an excursion via Ferry from Rabac to Venice. IIRC it set off early (6am ish) and got back at night (10pm ish) so it's a long day, but doable.

Probably better to stay the night though.

[Kikó]

Yeah was thinking more to get over to stay for a week or so.

[phonics]

Do Naples instead. If you really want to do that area my friend did Bari > Montenegro but said 90% of the beaches had been bought by Russian bajillionaires and you get hassled by security people to leave any nice place even though it's empty.

[Giggles]

Stay at home and don’t be wasting money.

[Shindig]

I want that on an Uncle Sam / Lord Kitchener poster.

[randomlegend]

Booked 7 night here:

https://www.lasalaplazahotel.com/

In San Sebastian. Very much looking forward to it. Have to twist the girl's arm to let me book one of the 3 Michelin Star Restaurants now.

[phonics]

I want that on an Uncle Sam / Lord Kitchener poster.

Couldn't be bothered to do realistic typography work sorry.

https://i.imgur.com/VuMkE07.png

[Shindig]

Excellent. :D

[randomlegend]

Basque Country. Just hop from pintxo bar to pintxo bar and maybe fit in the odd Michelin star restaurant in the hills. The beaches and general vibes are top tier as well.

Is it worth doing one of the guided Pintxo tours or just do a bit of googling?

[-james-]

I never did anything like that but a bit of local knowledge is probably not a bad thing. Bilbao and San Sebastian are fairly quite condensed so you'll go quite far just mooching, googling and reading menus/peeking inside. Not like you have to sit down and waste an entire meal if you get a hint that somewhere is rubbish. Iirc we spent ages around Plaza Nueva and surrounding streets in Bilbao and the bits around the old town in San Sebastian will do you well.

[randomlegend]

:thbup:

I really want to go to Asador Etxebarri or one of the 3 stars (not Mugaritz...) but I don't know if I can convince the girl (or myself) that we can really afford to drop that sort of cash on one meal.

[Shindig]

Really use that 3% pay rise.

[randomlegend]

We don't get the 3% pay rise because the junior doctor contract is negotiated separately. FML.

When the Tories include "doctors" in the people they claim to be rewarding for their hard work what they actually is consultants.

[Shindig]

The drinks are on Lee, then. I need to get something sorted for September. Might just stay in Britain for less hassle.

[-james-]

I think I spent €250 on lunch at Disfrutar in 2017 and made no mention of how much it was costing to my partner. It was worth it I reckon, I still think about that meal a lot.

[randomlegend]

I think I spent €250 on lunch at Disfrutar in 2017 and made no mention of how much it was costing to my partner. It was worth it I reckon, I still think about that meal a lot.

The 3 stars are 250-290 euros each for the tasting menus. Ooft.

[Spikey M]

I paid €16 for a BigMac meal at Antalya Airport because it just said 16 on the menu and we assumed it was in Lira (which would have been about £4).

Still seething.

[randomlegend]

Yeah that is probably worse.

[-james-]

The 3 stars are 250-290 euros each for the tasting menus. Ooft.


Yeah I don't know if I'd ever do it again unless my bank balance gained another digit, but it's definitely worth doing once if you're into that sort of thing.

[Giggles]

Go get something properly local. You could go for a few sprigs of cress and some foam on a big white plate any time at home.

[Spikey M]

:D

The only food you need in Spain is Gambas Pil Pil, anything else is a waste of time.

[phonics]

250 euros on lunch in Spain is the most hilariously cost-inefficient thing I can think of. The whole point of the region is that the foods fucking great and it costs 3 euros.

[Shindig]

He still thinks about the meal, though.

That sentence is gold.

[-james-]

2017 was a good year for eating. I could probably do a top ten.

[Spikey M]

2017 was the year of the 16€ BigMac. Get out of my face. :happycry:

[Luca]

Why not Mugaritz, RL (besides the fact that it’s not 3*)?

Of the 3* in that area, I’d probably do Arzak, which is probably the most creative of the bunch.

[Kikó]

I booked a resort in Greece the other day on the mainland. 19 days of fuck all. :drool:

[-james-]

I booked a resort in Greece the other day on the mainland. 19 days of fuck all. :drool:

Whereabouts?

[Kikó]

https://www.booking.com/hotel/gr/aegean-melathron.en-gb.html This place. Any tips?

[randomlegend]

Why not Mugaritz, RL (besides the fact that it’s not 3*)?

Of the 3* in that area, I’d probably do Arzak, which is probably the most creative of the bunch.

Because I'm not rich enough to spend £500 on food which might be interesting and thought provoking but doesn't necessarily actually taste nice. Assumed it was 3* because it's ranked so high in the best restaurant in the world list.

I think Arzak is closed or something the week we are there. You can book any other dates in the month except that week.

Edit: my mistake it's Akelarre which looks to be closed.

[-james-]

https://www.booking.com/hotel/gr/aegean-melathron.en-gb.html This place. Any tips?

Nah not really. Used to go to that area a fair bit when I was younger and it's a pretty safe bet.

Thessaloniki is a fun night out (around Ladadika perhaps) if you have a spare night on your way in or out, assuming you're flying from there.

[Kikó]

Yep, flying into there. The night outs will be subdued as the missus can't drink.

[phonics]

Congratulations Keeks.

[Manc]

Get him/her added to The Group.

[Spikey M]

Why can't your bird drink Keeks?

[Kikó]

Because she's gonna be a mummy.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Bit morbid to be thinking about burial plans at such a happy time.

[Luca]

Because I'm not rich enough to spend £500 on food which might be interesting and thought provoking but doesn't necessarily actually taste nice. Assumed it was 3* because it's ranked so high in the best restaurant in the world list.

I think Arzak is closed or something the week we are there. You can book any other dates in the month except that week.

Edit: my mistake it's Akelarre which looks to be closed.

Fair enough, really. My sense is that Arzak is perhaps much more flavour forward and less conceptual.

Berasategui might be the play if you’re looking for something a little more classical.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Because she's gonna be a mummy.

Little lordling born with a platinum spoon.

Amirite Giggles?

[Spikey M]

Because she's gonna be a mummy.

Sorry, Johnny must have had a hole in it. Raise it as if it is your own.

[randomlegend]

Fair enough, really. My sense is that Arzak is perhaps much more flavour forward and less conceptual.

Berasategui might be the play if you’re looking for something a little more classical.

It doesn't need to be classical, but a not insignificant proportion of the dishes at Mugaritz seem to be genuinely unpalatable.

https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g2213415-d988932-Reviews-Mugaritz-Errenteria_Province_of_Guipuzcoa_Basque_Country.ht ml

3.5* on Tripadvisor ffs :D

[Luca]

The ear candle review ffs :D

I mean I’d still probably do it for the experience because I’m a fucking mong, but I understand the hesitation.

I’ve never been disappointed by a 3* though, so I sense that whatever of the 4 of them you choose will be great.

[Jimmy Floyd]

There's nothing better than the oh-so-sincere reviews about those places.


Last October, almost perfect dinner in Mugaritz. Very creative, elegant and delicious, the only regret was we couldn't try the mouldy apple.

And also the reams of 'Let's put it this way, my wife and I are no strangers to three-star dining'. I'm writing that in a 90s breakfast DJ accent.

[Spikey M]

:D

[Giggles]

Little lordling born with a platinum spoon.

Amirite @Giggles (https://www.thethirdhalf.co.uk/member.php?u=26)?

Depends how much leeway the nanny is given between papa’s annual visits.

[Spikey M]

:D

[Shindig]

Here's something I've just found out: Gracelands is near Memphis International Airport. My dad's always wanted to go. I hate Elvis (motherfuck him and John Wayne, who my dad also likes) but it'd be a nice thing to do for him.

[-james-]

Some edgelord has flown to Kabul and is streaming himself thinking he's billy big bollocks in his hotel.

https://www.twitch.tv/milesroutledge1999

[Shindig]

What a gap year fuck-up.

"Ja, I might die here. Ja, really exciting."

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

"If the Taliban assault my safe house I'll grab a gun and defend myself of course, go out all guns blazing..."

Turned it off after that.

[Kikó]

The likes though.

[Lewis]

Lads like that built us an empire. :cool:

[-james-]

He's definitely unhinged but it's quite compelling. Enjoyed watching him shit himself when a helicopter flew overhead.

[Shindig]

He says he's from the Midlands. I don't believe him.

[randomlegend]

"Beauty and Body Art"? He's expecting someone to paint that wall with him before the day is out presumably.

[Spikey M]

He's definitely unhinged but it's quite compelling. Enjoyed watching him shit himself when a helicopter flew overhead.

You're a bigger mong than he is for watching tbh.

[-james-]

You're a bigger mong than he is for watching tbh.

I don't think he's a mong. It strikes me the world would be an incredibly dull place if everyone had your sensibilities.

[randomlegend]

Going to Afghanistan for social media clout is definitely mong behaviour.

[Shindig]

If Bald and Bankrupt was doing it, I wouldn't bat an eyelid.

[Kikó]

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=4217472658289233&id=100000796201722&anchor_composer=false#

Going well for him.

[Spikey M]

Lol

Edit: Not lol, actually. Real people are dying and this snivelling little cunt is whining because his warzone holiday is a bit much for him.

Hopefully the Taliban are big into Twitch and pay him a visit.

[Lewis]

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=4217472658289233&id=100000796201722&anchor_composer=false#

Going well for him.

He isn't having to assemble his meals dressed like a dentist, so his holiday > your holiday.

[Shindig]

Waste of ammo. Best bit would be to stick him in some covid quarantine for six months. See how far that title gets you, Miles.

[Spikey M]

He isn't having to assemble his meals dressed like a dentist, so his holiday > your holiday.

:lol:

[Bernanke]

I got a little over two weeks until I start my new job and since the Dutch weather continues looking shit I'm considering my options. Not being fully vaccinated makes it a bit trickier.

First idea that has been on the to do list for about a decade is Andalusia, but I can do without 45 degrees so I think that's out of the question.

Another option is doing Porto + Lisbon. I haven't been to either and feel like there'd be a decent amount of people traveling there still so the hostels aren't completely empty. If I fly to one and out from the other, is there anything I should add to the list on the way between them?

The one I'm actually leaning towards at the moment is a Balkan alternative. I've been wanting to see Belgrade + Sarajevo for a while, and it doesn't look like it'll be oppressively hot + restrictions seem pretty chill. Plan for now would be fly to Split -> 1 night in Mostar -> Sarajevo -> fly out from Belgrade with some Croatian beaches at the start, maybe head out to Hvar. Dubrovnik seems more effort than it's worth overall route wise.

[Lewis]

Are you ready for bicycle central?

[Bernanke]

Is that some Dutch reference I'm not getting?

[Lewis]

Holland. Bikes. Arse... Never mind. Tell us about the job.

[Bernanke]

Ah. That hasn't been an issue for years, I've gotten annoyingly Dutch with my bike-habits.

I'll bump my Portugal/Balkans queries and take it to the proper thread.

[Raoul Duke]

Lisbon/Cintra/Cascais is what I did a few years ago. Was a great week

[Kikó]

First idea that has been on the to do list for about a decade is Andalusia, but I can do without 45 degrees so I think that's out of the question.

Another option is doing Porto + Lisbon. I haven't been to either and feel like there'd be a decent amount of people traveling there still so the hostels aren't completely empty. If I fly to one and out from the other, is there anything I should add to the list on the way between them?


You could try and fit Obidos in but it's sort of going away from Lisbon rather than towards Porto. There's also the coastal towns like the one for the famous surf, in Nazare. Sintra is also amazing.
Also Coimbra is one of the oldest university towns which you can visit. In Porto, you can go onto the Duoro which is also stunning.


He isn't having to assemble his meals dressed like a dentist, so his holiday > your holiday.

😂😭

[Waffdon]

Anyone been abroad at New Year? Am I best just booking Canaries/Madeira if I’m after decent weather?

[randomlegend]

Going to the Maldives for our second honeymoon, like the basic bitches we are.

[Waffdon]

I was looking at the Caribbean but I’ll get my balls snipped off for spending too much on a holiday when we’re buying a house next year and an engagement ring for her.

I wouldn’t mind Funchal but she’s been there a few times on a cruise at NY for the fireworks so would probably be a waste

[Spikey M]

I would keep it basic this year as there's alot of countries still shitting the bed over Covid. I'd probably just book last minute tbh.

[Giggles]

It got me out of holidays the past couple of years so :yn: for a big wave at the start of next summer.

[randomlegend]

You hating holidays is so on-brand :D

[Waffdon]

I would keep it basic this year as there's alot of countries still shitting the bed over Covid. I'd probably just book last minute tbh.

Yeah, I was just gonna be right before we leave anyway which is what I done pre covid half the time anyway.

[Giggles]

You hating holidays is so on-brand :D

Airports, not holidays. I’m not going to turn into a quivering mess and start soiling myself in them but they’re just one queue after another and I cannot abide queueing. I don’t mind being away so long as it’s not too weird a spot.

[randomlegend]

Airports, not holidays. I’m not going to turn into a quivering mess and start soiling myself in them but they’re just one queue after another and I cannot abide queueing. I don’t mind being away so long as it’s not too weird a spot.

Oh that's more than fair. Airports are the fucking pits.

[Shindig]

It's the waiting around that bores me. Turning up a couple of hours early only to be airside within 30 minutes. :moop: Although that was before covid.

[igor_balis]

Top Ireland is good.

[randomlegend]

It's in the name.

[Spikey M]

:D

[igor_balis]

On the pull with Boydy later

[Don]

It truly doesn't get better than Top Ireland and I say that having only experienced Belfast.

[randomlegend]

Going to the Maldives for our second honeymoon, like the basic bitches we are.

https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g6852323-d1053329-Reviews-Constance_Moofushi_Maldives-Moofushi_Island.html

All booked. 9 nights here in a water villa with a night either end in Doha.

I am now broke af.

[Shindig]

Not gonna lie, Doha looks like the last place you want to be skint in.

[randomlegend]

It's just a stopover to make the flight times more bearable.

[Shindig]

Ah, fair as fuck.

[Spikey M]

Fucking fair as fuck, that is.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

There's no fairer fuck.

[igor_balis]

You'd know all about that aye

[Spikey M]

Go on then. Name one fuck fairer than that.

[randomlegend]

I can't help feeling you're all being a bit unfair.

[Shindig]

All's fair in fuck and fuck.

[Giggles]

Stay with the natives rather than the planters anyway Igor and don’t go down the belligerent proddie route. Much more craic with the fake Irish than the fake British.

[Spikey M]

Probably showing my ignorance here, but I always thought a Englishman in Belfast would have to stay away from the Republican parts for fear of having reversible knees fitted?

[Giggles]

Probably showing my ignorance here, but I always thought a Englishman in Belfast would have to stay away from the Republican parts for fear of having reversible knees fitted?

Not at all. They know the English are largely clueless when it comes to it all, and they’re far less stuck in the ways anyway. I’d rather be English meeting republicans than Irish meeting loyalists anyway. The latter are ten times more hard core.

[Giggles]

Same as an English fella in Dublin or Cork has far less hassle than Irish in Antrim or Carrickfergus.

[Spikey M]

Yeah I has zero problems in Dublin and didn't really expect too. I just expected Belfast to be a bit more on edge, but I suppose you're probably alright unless you go walking walking around the wrong estate. But the same is true for London I suppose.

And Carrickfergus is definitely a made up place. I'm not having that.

[Giggles]

Yeah I has zero problems in Dublin and didn't really expect too. I just expected Belfast to be a bit more on edge, but I suppose you're probably alright unless you go walking walking around the wrong estate. But the same is true for London I suppose.

And Carrickfergus is definitely a made up place. I'm not having that.

Carrickfergus is one of those Lewis jimmy dreamlands that’s black as fuck. Absolute no leeway - fenians out. We used to play them in something as insignificant as American football and you’d middle aged women calling us taigs and spitting on us.
Belfast is grand in the city centre as it’s just taken as no hassle, though the fake Irish are still more craic i somewhere like laverys. You just don’t want to stray outside that.

[igor_balis]

Me and my mate went to a fairly quaint seeming proddy place and Boydy said fucking hell watch out for the UVF :D

It seemed pretty chill but as we left I did spot the jukebox was set on "loyalist favourites"

[Lofty]

If you wander in the wrong pub you'll know. Some lad from work did it a few years back. Barman was pointedly ignoring them and when they complained he pointed to the sword hung above the bar and explained it was used to decapitate Englishmen. They got the hint :D

[igor_balis]

Useless twat Boydy has passed out by the pub. My mate has left in the Uber cus the driver refused to take him. I have 10 minutes to wake up the cunt before the next one arrives.

[Danny]

https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g6852323-d1053329-Reviews-Constance_Moofushi_Maldives-Moofushi_Island.html

All booked. 9 nights here in a water villa with a night either end in Doha.

I am now broke af.

:drool:

Maldives is one place I really want to go. The wife is a terrible flyer though so it might remain a dream.

[igor_balis]

Update: some northern Irish spastics keep shouting stuff like"he's fucked" and keep lobbing fucking bread rolls at us. Boydy currently snoring and unresponsive. I want to die.

[Waffdon]

Put a bit of your gear in his gums.

[igor_balis]

I was too much of a pussy to take any on the ferry.

[Waffdon]

I’m surprised you’re still standing. I can’t handle my drink whatsoever ever since stopping.

[Lofty]

I reckon Boyd is still happily asleep in the gutter surrounded by bread rolls.

[Boydy]

:D

I don't remember any of this.

Starting to feel vaguely human again now. Still a bit rough though.

[niko_cee]

Explain the bread roll thing.

[igor_balis]

:D

I don't remember any of this.

Starting to feel vaguely human again now. Still a bit rough though.

:D

As I said, I'm mostly pleased you didn't choke on your own vomit and die.

[igor_balis]

Explain the bread roll thing.

The bar we was at, the sunflower, was surrounded by big buildings - not sure if flats, hostel/hotels or both, but I heard some lads laughing and talking about how fucked Boydy was, and then they started lobbing fucking bread rolls at us from above. I couldn't identify which window they were coming from.

It wasn't even a short, intense burst, they would just lob one every fifteen minutes or so. I pathetically staggered into the middle of the street and did a kind of 'come on lads' plea, like some shit substitute teacher, to no avail.

[Lewis]

You get any pictures of the lads?

[Lewis]

Don't think we've had a Boyd mugshot since that one of him looking all excited in his room at the Catholic university.

[igor_balis]

You get any pictures of the lads?

Too spasticated to think to get a group photo but I will share two separate ones of us later. Maybe even a video of Boydy in his vomit bed if he fails to pay me the ransom.

[Lewis]

https://i.imgur.com/zpXZbif.png

[Manc]

Saint Lucia booked. :cool:

[-james-]

I'm off to Greece in a couple of weeks. For the first time, I actually give a shit about getting covid. I make myself about 1/100 to catch it.

[Shindig]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-58628491

About time.

[niko_cee]

Do they recognise the AZ vaccine yet though?

[Shindig]

Doesn't look like it. I'm double-Pfizered. It'd be too great a headache to turn back that many Brits.

Actually, does the NHS app specify which jabs you've had? Might get around it by flashing that at check-in. It's not starting til November anyway.

[Yevrah]

Was in Napoli today. Fuck me what a shit hole that place is.

[Manc]

How's the pizza?

[Yevrah]

Haven’t tried any yet. In Sorrento now so probably will have one here tonight.

[Manc]

Pictures welcome.

[Spikey M]

How's the pizza?

Too much crust, not enough cheese, like all Italian Pizza.

[Kikó]

Vafanculo.

[Giggles]

One of the only places I’d go back to.

[Ian]

Apparently I've not been in this thread in ages so I just kept scrolling up. Glad I didn't miss the bread roll stuff. :D

[wullie]

We tried pretty much every place in Marina Grande when we were there, mainly because that's where we stayed and fuck walking up that hill every day.

[Giggles]

Too much crust, not enough cheese, like all Italian Pizza.

You’ll get some telling off for that.

[Dquincy]

Too much crust, not enough cheese, like all Italian Pizza.

So uncouth. Unless it's a 'mighty meaty' you're not interested.

[Dquincy]

Perfect timing.

[Spikey M]

So uncouth. Unless it's a 'mighty meaty' you're not interested.

Spot on.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Just got back from Poland.

There was a guy in the row in front of me who looked like Taz, well if Taz wasn't a manlet.

Also, in Poland my vaccination certificate was checked when entering and when leaving (they also checked my passenger locator form). In the UK though they just checked my passport and that was it. It also turns out that the day 2 LFT that I ordered has not come so fuck knows what I'm meant to do about that. Although given how passport control didn't care at all I suppose it doesn't matter.

[Manc]

Looking to Copenhagen for Xmas/new year. Has anyone been? I hear the food is superb.

[Kikó]

Just got back from Poland.

There was a guy in the row in front of me who looked like Taz, well if Taz wasn't a manlet.

Also, in Poland my vaccination certificate was checked when entering and when leaving (they also checked my passenger locator form). In the UK though they just checked my passport and that was it. It also turns out that the day 2 LFT that I ordered has not come so fuck knows what I'm meant to do about that. Although given how passport control didn't care at all I suppose it doesn't matter.

Genuinely means nothing whether you do it or not. Complete scam.

[randomlegend]

Looking to Copenhagen for Xmas/new year. Has anyone been? I hear the food is superb.

Isn't it packed with Michelin starred places? I'd love to give Noma a try.

I'm too posh to know about normie cuisine.

[randomlegend]

Luca the girl booked Martin Berasategui's place as a surprise for when we go to San Sebastian :drool:

[-james-]

I'm going home for Christmas next month. Getting to Greece is a pain in the arse in winter, so I often go via a European city and spend a day or two mooching about. Usually Berlin or Scandinavia somewhere. Going to do a nice little route through Kyiv this time. No camgirls waiting for me but I'm pretty hyped.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I'm going home for Christmas next month. Getting to Greece is a pain in the arse in winter, so I often go via a European city and spend a day or two mooching about. Usually Berlin or Scandinavia somewhere. Going to do a nice little route through Kyiv this time. No camgirls waiting for me but I'm pretty hyped.

You don't know what you're missing.

[hfswjyr]

Looking to Copenhagen for Xmas/new year. Has anyone been? I hear the food is superb.

I didn't go to any super fancy places, but I do remember this place doing a great brunch http://www.madogkaffe.dk/ and this place with amazing presentation of tap beers https://taphouse.dk/.
I also went around this time of year, and just recall it was bitterly cold and Tivoli was worth a visit.

[Luca]

Luca the girl booked Martin Berasategui's place as a surprise for when we go to San Sebastian :drool:

I want a PM with pics. :drool:

[Pen]

Looking to Copenhagen for Xmas/new year. Has anyone been? I hear the food is superb.

I’ve been. The food scene is indeed great, but fuck me food and drinks are generally expensive there.

Edit: to make this post a bit more helpful, there’s an Ethiopian place called Ma’ed that was great. Not very fancy though.

[Kikó]

I'm going home for Christmas next month. Getting to Greece is a pain in the arse in winter, so I often go via a European city and spend a day or two mooching about. Usually Berlin or Scandinavia somewhere. Going to do a nice little route through Kyiv this time. No camgirls waiting for me but I'm pretty hyped.

Can you book a trip to Chernobyl?

[Spikey M]

Bit of a Busmans Holiday for a resident of Glasgow.

[Waffdon]

Don’t you live in Southend? :lol:

[Spikey M]

No. I fled.

Southend, Birmingham and Coventry is my track record though :sick:

[Manc]

I didn't go to any super fancy places, but I do remember this place doing a great brunch http://www.madogkaffe.dk/ and this place with amazing presentation of tap beers https://taphouse.dk/.
I also went around this time of year, and just recall it was bitterly cold and Tivoli was worth a visit.


I’ve been. The food scene is indeed great, but fuck me food and drinks are generally expensive there.

Edit: to make this post a bit more helpful, there’s an Ethiopian place called Ma’ed that was great. Not very fancy though.

Cheers, gents.

[randomlegend]

No worries.

[-james-]

Can you book a trip to Chernobyl?

I think so. Gf wants to see it though and she's not too keen on my plan on the whole anyway, so I think I might leave it this time.

[randomlegend]

Can you book a trip to Chernobyl?

There's an episode of that Jack Whitehall thing, Travels With My Father, where they go to Chernobyl I think.

[Don]

No gf and in Kiev. What a trip that could be. Truly blessed lands, the harvest is bountiful to say the least.

[Kikó]

There's an episode of that Jack Whitehall thing, Travels With My Father, where they go to Chernobyl I think.

We* did it in 2007 when United played Kiev. Had the full tour including all the radioactive moss filled buildings.

*The we here is because I couldn't find my passport in the morning so couldn't go.

[Shindig]

Testing the waters for San Francisco again. £1500 for two weeks-ish in March. I'm not pulling the trigger but I think I wound up paying £200 more two years back. I think I had it planned for a shorter stay back then. Although that's precisely how much PCR testing's going to hit my pocket for. Actually, an LFT could cover me on the return so an extra £95.

The way over included a 4 hour wait at SEATAC which is a bugger.

[Lewis]

We* did it in 2007 when United played Kiev. Had the full tour including all the radioactive moss filled buildings.

*The we here is because I couldn't find my passport in the morning so couldn't go.

My mate sean reckons you BOTTLED IT.

[Yevrah]

Would love to go to Chernobyl and think I will when circumstances allow.

[Shindig]

TTH Meet 2025.

[7om]

Testing the waters for San Francisco again. £1500 for two weeks-ish in March. I'm not pulling the trigger but I think I wound up paying £200 more two years back. I think I had it planned for a shorter stay back then. Although that's precisely how much PCR testing's going to hit my pocket for. Actually, an LFT could cover me on the return so an extra £95.

The way over included a 4 hour wait at SEATAC which is a bugger.

Not sure I’d spend two weeks in San Francisco. It’s a cool place but you might want to branch out a bit. I’d recommend 3-4 days in Vegas and get the Grand Canyon in.

[Shindig]

Yeah, now that I think of it, there's not that much to fill the time. Alcatraz, maybe the USS Hornet and a couple of other things. I could hop back to the east coast and do some DC stuff or spend a few days in New York again. It would take the edge off the jet lag.

[Kikó]

My mate sean reckons you BOTTLED IT.

He lies. We went out on a massive piss up the night before and I couldn't handle it. Put my passport somewhere for safe keeping which I had no recollection of come the morning.

[7om]

Yeah, now that I think of it, there's not that much to fill the time. Alcatraz, maybe the USS Hornet and a couple of other things. I could hop back to the east coast and do some DC stuff or spend a few days in New York again. It would take the edge off the jet lag.

Can’t recommend DC highly enough. So underrated.