Any of you lot from Edinburgh?
Any of you lot from Edinburgh?
Don't think so, know a fair bit about it though depending on what you're after.
Igor lived there for a bit too. Think Foe did too maybe?
I'm over for a stag in Feb. About three quarters are going to rugger on the Saturday (Sunday?) so need a decent spot near the rugger ground for pints while they're at it. Or is it even near pubs?
You won't be stuck. I think Igor lived around there.
Haymarket has some decent pubs. Edinburgh is good but it's all quite spread out. Stockbridge in the north is good, as is the grassmarket and a few bits down at Leith docks.
Any of them near the rugby ground? If we stay in the city and they start scooping on the way back we'll lose them.Originally Posted by Adamski
Haymarket can't be far. Never actually been to Murrayfield but it's not far from Tynecastle. Maybe 20 mins walk id say @igor_balis?
Aye, pretty much. I don't think there's any decent pubs RIGHT by Murrayfield, it is a bit of a dump around there in all honesty, but if you'd be willing to walk a mile or so up the road towards Haymarket station there's plenty.
I'd definitely do it if you can find a ticket for a reasonable price. The Lakers have been complete dog shit for a few years now but they're still the Lakers.
Did most of these, Kiko cheers. Didn't get to Joes Shanghai as we were down in Lower East Side on Monday before we left and Katz deli for a pastrami sandwich won me over first.
What a city. 5 days of absolute mayhem. Did about 28k steps on two separate days just walking up and down the island. Had so much amazing food, Vietnamese, Greek, Mexican, Korean, Italian, pizzas, pancakes, burgers, fried chicken.
Put on about a stone easy
No problem. Great city.
I like that Italian and pizza are separate entries.
Reread that a few minutes ago and thought about changing it
To be fair, it was totally different to any pizza I've had in Italy so I'm sticking with it!
Anyone got any advice on European city destinations for 3-4 days in February for me, my wife & 4 year old daughter? Shortlisted so far are Krakow, Copenhagen, Dusseldorf & Budapest.
I've already been to Paris, Rome, Prague & Barcelona so wouldn't want to go back to those.
Looking for somewhere with a few sights to see but also semi-kid friendly, I would like to go to Auschwitz when going to Krakow but don't really think that's appropriate for a 4-year old, but from what I've seen there's a fair bit else to do, that's also the reason we've discounted Amsterdam as there's a lot we'd want to do that's probably not suitable for a 4 year old.
Any other city suggestions are welcome, ideally with relatively low flight prices < Ł100 pp return.
I've been to Bremen and that's not too bad. Maybe Brussels- I like it there even though others don't.
I preferred Leuven to Brussels, smaller and nicer atmosphere. I wouldn't worry about taking a 4 year old to Auschwitz either, I seen a good few kids when I was there, definitely do the Salt Mines if you go to Krakow too.
Going to Brussels next week for the Christmas market hence why that once isn't on the list, should have mentioned that.
Krakow could be bumped up to the top of the list, salt mines look interesting and I'd like to go to Auschwitz, surprising you saw a lot of kids there though @Giggles, although I'm assuming it's probably a lot more sombre than it actually is in reality.
From what I've heard it's down right creepy, rather than sombre.
The first part is a bit more like that to most I'd say as you are in and out of small rooms, but when you go to the second part it's all out in the open. I'd say the second got me more but that's because you know the history of it (has the train platforms and all) but a child wouldn't even notice. You can take photos in most parts of it but you kind of feel funny doing it after a while and I ended up stopping.
Now that I think of it though, most I seen were probably bigger than four.
Who the fuck would take a kid of any age to that?
Americans mainly. But then again, if you take your kids on holiday it's probably a better option than leaving them in a hotel room all day.
Unless I want another Madeleine on my hands then I wouldn't have much choice...
I also saw kids when I went to Auschwitz.
Camgirls don't count.
So my aunt and uncle's villa in Portugal got broken in to and ransacked. This has the potential to ruin my trip next year. Damn it! Fucking refugees.
Anyone been to Belarus? It sounds like I might have to go in the Summer.
Not for a camgirl might I add.
Must be a brass this time then.
I guess this goes in here
I'm getting the train from Glasgow to Bristol. My ticket is telling me to change at Wolverhampton and Birmingham. My first train goes through Birmingham. Why's it telling me to change at Wolverhampton?
Does it definitely stop at Birmingham?
The man on the tannoy said so.
I guess it's because it's a virgin train and I'm meant to switch onto some poxy 1970s effort. Might chance it.
Urban dictionary suggests a prostitute, right?
No. I'd never stoop to that but if I did, why fly to 'Europe's last dictatorship' to do so?
My god Birmingham New Street is grim. Has to be the worst major station in the country.
Really? They've literally just redone it. It's been under construction for about 7 years now. Haven't been through since it opened.
What's wrong with it? I went through it a couple of months back and thought it was quite nice now.
Vietnam
Thinking about a holiday next year; Lisbon first for a few days then down to the Algarve for the rest. Thinking between 10 or 12 days. Only problem is the flights are quite cheap in June but the fucking hotels in Lisbon are extortionate (for anything decent). All over Ł100 a night.
Lisbon has loads of great hotels. I'd be surprised if they were all overpriced for you.
Americans (and anyone else in the know). Best site for booking intercity trains for the US? Is $178 for two between New York and Washington reasonable?
Can you recommend any? We stayed at the Inspira Santa Marta last time but fuck paying that again.
I'm using Amtrak and the prices are decent. We were planning on driving New York-Washington-Chicago and then off down Route 66, but rail for first three cities works aout Ł400 cheaper and that's excluding fuel. Will pick the car up in Chicago. Main question is what are the trains like, as 18 hours Washington to Chicago is giving me piles just thinking about it.
Flights are cheap as fuck. Feels like cheating but needs must. Thanks for the help.
Yank trains are (used to be) amazing. I once did 50 odd hours LA to New Orleans and it was survivable. I found the way to do it was use their month (week?) passes and make sure you got big journeys in at the beginning and the end of the pass.
That said, once you get onto the east coast they did turn from the double decker beasts of the west/midwest into more UK style commuter trains. I think I did Chicago - Washington though and it was on a big one. It's quite amazing the amount of proper hillbilly country you go through on that one.
With car hire are there still some states (Florida?) that allow you to rent with zero insurance if you want?
I don't think there is anything else apart from Amtrak.
Check Megabus, it is going to be way cheaper and the buses are good.
Most do as far as I know.With car hire are there still some states (Florida?) that allow you to rent with zero insurance if you want?
I couldn't believe it when they let me drive off with no insurance at all, to the point that I almost immediately crashed.
The buses (Greyhounds) are only good if you want to meet the (criminally) insane.
I remember talking to some nut on a bus from LA to Vegas who was going all the way to South Carolina or some shit. 98 hours. Dear lord. That said, I also met a marine on the train from Yosemite down to Bakersfield who I am fairly sure was going home to murder his wife and was really keen for me to go along with him. No thanks. I suppose, generally speaking, if you are on public transport in America there is something wrong with you one way or another (if being poor counts as having something wrong with you, which, I am led to believe, is the case on the good ol').
Megabus is considerbly better than Greyhound despite also being cheaper. My favorite buses were the Asian operated ones going from NYC to Schenectady. The buses were thirty years old and The crowd in there was something special. Don't even get me started on the drivers, who couldn't (or wouldn't) even speak English. Still, way cheaper than Amtrak.
Megabus is shit over here.
2016 in review. FIlled out for elsewhere, feel free to follow
>Where did you go in 2016?
Santorini, Mykonos, Skiathos: Santorini is obviously stunning and the beaches are pretty good. A must-visit. Mykonos has the nicest town of any Greek island I've been to but it is fucking ridiculously expensive, worth going for a day or two if you can. Skiathos has the best beaches I've been to in Greece, the town is pretty pleasant and the public transport system works great, probably my favourite Greek island I've been to.
Barcelona: Been before, always good fun. The city doesn't do a great deal for me but the food (you should go to Can Paixano) and the beaches are good enough for that not to matter.
Bratislava: Great to spend a couple of days, though I wouldn't recommend any more than that. Was very impressed with the food, some of the best I've had in central Europe. Halušky is the one. Try and not go on the weekend though, it was pretty quiet on the Monday I was there, went back on the Friday and stag do apocalypse had descended on the place.
Vienna: My god it's stunning. Spent 3 days mostly just wandering about staring at things. Very keen on going back.
Krakow: Very fun city if you're into eating and drinking. Was not anticipating eating incredible sushi (http://youmiko.pl/) in Poland.
>What was your favourite country and/or city?
Vienna wins.
>What was your best experience?
Some of the sights in Santorini were pretty incredible. Grabbing some cold beers and sitting on a quiet beach in Skiathos stands out as well.
Oh, the imperial crypt in Vienna is amazing as well.
>What was your worst experience?
I had my phone stolen from my pocket on our first night in Barcelona. Felt like an idiot for letting it happen and was incredibly annoying/inconvenient thing to have happen.
>Where have you got booked for 2017?
Barcelona again for Primavera.
>Where are you hoping to visit in 2017?
Next year should be great, girlfriend has some money banked and is quitting her job, and I don't really have any restrictions at the moment, so options are very wide. Some combination of Costa Rica, Cuba, Chicago, California, Japan, Hong Kong, Tbilisi, Bavaria and Lisbon would be considered a success.
Wanker.
Where did you go in 2016?
Berlin - Work trip but Berlin is always great. Went to a pretty cool Munich style beer house with the colleagues that we were visiting and got my share of German beer. I haven't scratched at the surface of the place though.
Lisbon - I think I ended up being in Lisbon about 5 or 6 times this year due to my wedding. It's a brilliant place, great food, great people, cheap and the weather and light is stunning. Last visit I even did some touristy stuff and visited the castle then enjoyed some of the nightlife. Top place, shame there is no real economy.
Jersey/ Guernsey - Quite nice actually. The food was great and the closeness to the sea means it's competing with Lisbon with best seafood dishes. I could imagine spending a few days there on holiday, very pretty.
Palermo - A bit run down in places but has some beautiful buildings. I'd say it's not worth staying for too long here and exploring. The agro-toursimo place we stayed at was amazing for peace and quiet.
Brussels - Cool city, good cuisine. Shame about all the Belgians as I could live here.
Paris - Visited for the Euro final so the party atmosphere was great. Even got to meet Spoons which was a bonus.
Jaipur, Bangalore, Agra - Another work trip. Bangalore is absolutely mental and the infrastructure is failing to keep up with the modernisation of the place. The roads are genuinely the craziest thing I've ever experienced and seeing the taxi driver raz it 100mph didn't help. Jaipur is a lot more civilised in comparison and has some history worth seeing. The fort on the water, pink city and the palace/fort on the hill are all great. Avoid the elephant ride as the guys selling you garbage makes you want the elephant to bludgeon them to death. Agra for the Taj was great, genuinely stunning building and worth the 5+ hours in the taxi to get there.
>What was your favourite country and/or city?
Lisbon - it's just a top, top city.
>What was your best experience?
(Other than getting married in Lisbon) 1) Being in the Stade de France to see Portugal win the cup (and delighting my missus in turn) and the subsequent party around the champs elysees. 2)the Taj , a wonder of the world ticked off.
>What was your worst experience?
Some street kinds in Jaipur banging on the class of the taxi we were in trying to get some money and not being able to give any as I had spent it all on this taxi journey. Abject poverty that you just don't see in the UK - pretty tragic seeing these kids living next to a cow. Ruined my breakfast.
>Where have you got booked for 2017?
I've been on a booking spree with all the sales on so
Antwerp for a friends birthday
Siena, Florence and Bologna
Madrid
>Where are you hoping to visit in 2017?
My friend is getting married at the end of 2017 so likely India again and maybe Goa. Maybe a trip to Warsaw as my friend has a place there and Milan as my brother in law is there.
Otherwise - maybe Talinn.
>Where did you go in 2016?
Gliwice, Dresden, Oxford, Hamilton, Krakow. All Work, I holidayed in 8 different locations in Ireland and Northern Ireland. Also did Paris and Lille for Euro 2016.
>What was your favourite country and/or city?
Kinsale on my holidays was the best.
>What was your best experience?
Lille.
>What was your worst experience?
I was in Glasgow.
>Where have you got booked for 2017?
Nothing. It'll be the honeymoon but we haven't even talked about it yet. I'm supposed to go to a stag in Edinburgh too but I'll be skipping it as it's rugby based. Determined not to have a stag of my own at all, but if I have to then it'll be here.
>Where are you hoping to visit in 2017?
As above, don't know. Preferably one week city based and doing stuff, and one week lying at a pool drinking cocktails on an all-inclusive gig. No idea where, probably let her pick as travel really isn't something I'm too fussed with.
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