The Travel Thread

[Raoul Duke]

Where did you go in 2016?
Barcelona, Toulouse/south of France, Lisbon, Cambridge

Most I've travelled in ages and the first two-week holiday (France/Portugal) one that I've had in about ten years

What was your favourite country and/or city?
Probably Barcelona. It was a surprise trip and we got engaged. Cracking city, loads to see and do and a good combo of cultural shit and a great nightlife. The south of France was immense for a relaxation-type holiday. Lisbon was really cool but could have done with 5-days there instead of 7. Great place though.

What was your best experience?
La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona is utterly bonkers. Cascais in Lisbon was brilliant and in France visiting a local vineyard, buying a load of wine and then drinking/BBQ-ing for a week was so relaxing.

What was your worst experience?
1) Flying from Toulouse -> Lisbon in some shitty little two-engine fucking plane. 2) Fiancée almost walking backwards off a 40-ft high drop trying to take a photo was a bit hairy

Where have you got booked for 2017?
Nothing yet, although I've kicked off some ideas. We're probably going to elope for the wedding so will either book that this year or next. It's going to be expensive and will dictate other plans

Where are you hoping to visit in 2017?
We'd both like to go to Amsterdam, so this seems the most likely. Budapest, Stockholm and probably some trips around the UK are on the cards. Vienna as well, seeing as James rates it so highly.

[niko_cee]

Where did you go in 2016?

Jersey, Amsterdam>Lille>Lyon>Marseille, Elveden Forest, Brighton

I don't really go anywhere anymore

What was your favourite country and/or city?

Of those Lille was probably the biggest surprise as I had it down as some industrial shithole and it's not. I liked the feel of Marseille.

What was your best experience?

The Welsh were decent in Lyon, but I wouldn't really rank it as an 'experience'.

What was your worst experience?

Eating in a McDonalds in Lyon because the people I was with were fucking idiots.

Where have you got booked for 2017?

Probably the same as 2016 without the Euro excursion. Maybe St Malo.

Where are you hoping to visit in 2017?

Nowhere, ideally.

[Magic]

Looking at flights to Portugal in mid-June. Can get the flights for about £300 return (to Lisbon, return Faro) all in with baggage and seat reservations and probably parking too it'll be about £450.

Looking at 10-14 days, with 3 or 4 of them spent in Lisbon. The problem is the hotels there are fucking extortionate (at least, LEAST, £100 a night) for a shitty one. Any ideas? The flights are way cheaper on a Thursday but that means the hotels are miles more expensive over the weekend.

[Raoul Duke]

Get an Airbnb or stay a little further out

[Magic]

Get an Airbnb or stay a little further out

I'm with my family, I don't want to be murdered. Also convenience is key here (but maybe not as key as £££).

[Adamski]

You're such a freak

[Kikó]

My uncle stayed in an airbnb with his family in Lisbon. It was brilliant stop being a dick.

[Magic]

Give me some tips then you cunt.

[Giggles]

You wouldn't know what sort of shanty kip you'd end up in. And with your kids? Not worth it just for a few stories over the chardonnay.

[Kikó]

Of areas? Chiado, around avenida liberdade, Alfama and Lapa. That should get you started.

[Kikó]

You can read reviews you know giggles...

[Giggles]

You can read reviews you know giggles...

How real are the reviews though? Ever read one on Amazon these days?

[Magic]

Of areas? Chiado, around avenida liberdade, Alfama and Lapa. That should get you started.

We stayed near there last time, at the Inspira. The Jupiter hotel looks alright, bit further out than that basically North.

[Spikey M]

Why not just go somewhere else? It's fucking Portugal, not the Seychelles. They let Saint live there once ffs.

[Magic]

because the other 7 or so days will be basically free staying with my relatives in the Algarve.

[Giggles]

Just go for the free week.

[Magic]

Just go for the free week.

I did that last time, but the fukkers didn't get up until lunchtime and given we were up at like 7am it was kind of boring and we missed a lot of time doing stuff. I asked my uncle if he would put me on his 535d insurance so we don't have to wait for them to get up.

[Kikó]

You can stay anywhere along the avenida. We were near the marques Dr pompal (?) In an apartment hotel, decent enough.

[Spikey M]

make the second week a camping trip.

[Adamski]

Barcelona, Girona, San Sebastián and Bilbao for us this summer. Been to Barca about 6 years ago for Sonar so looking forward to heading back, loved it.

We're going for a wedding too, so looking at getting a massive places as there will be 7 adults and 3 kids.

Anyone been to Bilbao?

[Magic]

Might be going to Alicante on a cycling holiday with my old man.

Murcia. 5 days in April with my little brother too. £75 return flights.

[Mellberg]

Currently in a motel in Lebanon (lol), Missouri. Have so far done New York, Washington, Pittsburgh, Chicago, Springfield (Illinois) and now we're here. Brilliant trip. Couldn't live here as I'd be a fat bastard by the end of the year, but it's a fantastic place full of mostly very friendly people.

[Mellberg]

Me, Abe and the Chinese are thinking of you all back home. Back to work today isn't it?

[Magic]

Did you figure out the bus problem? That sounded like the most exciting part.

[Kikó]

Mellin

[Giggles]

Always wanted to visit that.

[phonics]

Currently in a motel in Lebanon (lol), Missouri.

I've decided that, this year, I'm going to go on my first ever proper holiday with my own big-boy money. I just have to decide which side of the world to go to. I'd really like to see Cuba before it goes full-Starbucks but I think Tokyo/Seoul/Singapore seems way more my jam with it's cold dystopian cyber future. Decisions, decisions.

Anyone got tips on how to go about booking something big like that? Do you just do it all individually or what?

[Jimmy Floyd]

I'd only want to see Cuba AFTER it goes full Starbucks. In its present state I'd rather get a cheaper flight to Burkina Faso and see the same stuff.

[Adamski]

I've decided that, this year, I'm going to go on my first ever proper holiday with my own big-boy money. I just have to decide which side of the world to go to. I'd really like to see Cuba before it goes full-Starbucks but I think Tokyo/Seoul/Singapore seems way more my jam with it's cold dystopian cyber future. Decisions, decisions.

Anyone got tips on how to go about booking something big like that? Do you just do it all individually or what?

Yeah everything individually. Try and plan it around flying into the bigger airports from Dubai (Bangkok, Singapore, Tokyo etc) and flying back from another one and just cheap flights inbetween.

[Pen]

Barcelona, Girona, San Sebastián and Bilbao for us this summer. Been to Barca about 6 years ago for Sonar so looking forward to heading back, loved it.

We're going for a wedding too, so looking at getting a massive places as there will be 7 adults and 3 kids.

Anyone been to Bilbao?

I went there in 2011. Much better than Barcelona in my opinion.

[Spoonsky]

Going to Europe with a backpack for five months. @Magic I'll send you a postcard from Sarajevo.

[Giggles]

I think we've finally decided not to go on a honeymoon for the forseeable future

[Kikó]

Thank God for that. Sounds way too pleasant.

[Giggles]

Thank God for that. Sounds way too pleasant.

Sounds like added stress after all the stress of the wedding itself. I'd much rather let all calm down and do it 6-12 months later.

[Offshore Toon]

You're getting married, Giggles? Didn't have you down as the type.

[Jimmy Floyd]

'Will you marry me?'
'I don't see the point.'
'Come on.'
'Oh alright then, if you really want to.'

[Offshore Toon]

I hope you're making her pay for it, Giggles, cause there's no way you care about it.

[Giggles]

I hope you're making her pay for it, Giggles, cause there's no way you care about it.

17 grand apiece saved in a joint account for it.

I'm looking forward to it, but organising it all is a pain. That's why, like I said, after it's all over I'd rather relax a bit than add airports and strangers into the mix.

[Offshore Toon]

But do you actually want to get married?

[phonics]

The things I'd do with 30 something grand that isn't a wedding

[Offshore Toon]

I'd probably wash up dead on some beautiful beach in Thailand, but what a month it'd be.

[Giggles]

But do you actually want to get married?

I don't think it's the type of thing you ask someone to do or that you do if you don't want to. So that'll be yes.

[Kikó]

Sounds like added stress after all the stress of the wedding itself. I'd much rather let all calm down and do it 6-12 months later.

Ah that makes sense. We've not done ours yet and likely to be doing it in the winter this year. Agree with you about the stress.

[Giggles]

Ah that makes sense. We've not done ours yet and likely to be doing it in the winter this year. Agree with you about the stress.

We've been living together for a couple of years anyway so it's not like it'll be a honeymoon and big introduction to married life. I'm looking forward to the day itself and pushing the holiday will be something to look forward to one everything calms down afterwards.

The day itself will be grand but planning it is mad. You think you've everything but something always pops up. She's been a star, I'd never manage most of it.

[wullie]

We didn't really have a honeymoon, we were on holiday the week before and then looking at going to Paris for a few days over Easter. If we go anywhere in summer I'd imagine 11 months is a bit too long to wait to flash a marriage certificate to try get a load of upgrades and freebies.

[Spikey M]

If you're cutting something out of the Wedding experience, the honeymoon is the wrong bit. I'd axe 90% of the guests in hindsight.

[Kikó]

It's not cutting anything in my mind. It gives you something else to look forward to beyond the slow march to death.

[Giggles]

I don't see it as part of the wedding so I'm not really cutting anything. Just pushing out a holiday. Though don't talk to me about guests, that list must be 75% of the headache.

[Danny]

'Will you marry me?'
'I don't see the point.'
'Ah go on.'
'Oh alright then, if you really want to.'

[Adamski]

It's not cutting anything in my mind. It gives you something else to look forward to beyond the slow march to death.

Yeah we did this too. Wedding in Italy then 6 months later Australia and Thailand. Not been happy since.