The Travel Thread

[ToffeeDoug]

Haha, I hadn't actually considered Slovenia but it's probably not a bad shout. Will look into that. If it's anything like the rest of the balkans it should be very nice!

Had 5 days there last summer, Lake Bled and national park surrounds + Ljubljana. Wonderful it was, would love to get back to the country to see more. If you want very hot summer weather, make it June to August.

 

[LocalNative]

Had 5 days there last summer, Lake Bled and national park surrounds + Ljubljana. Wonderful it was, would love to get back to the country to see more. If you want very hot summer weather, make it June to August.

How do you get there? Fly into Ljubljana or to Italy? If so, from which airport?

That's my problem with most of these places, especially Bosnia. No direct UK flights to the place.

 

[ToffeeDoug]

How do you get there? Fly into Ljubljana or to Italy? If so, from which airport?

That's my problem with most of these places, especially Bosnia. No direct UK flights to the place.

EasyJet from Stansted to Ljubljana, 2 hr flight, and as the city airport is to the north you are already halfway to Bled. Just 30 mins tops by a private taxi transfer, about 30€. The only downside of travel in Slovenia is that most things go in and out of Lju., so hard to get to Piran and the coast directly from Bled. During the summer months, Bled has more buses running than normal, to get out and about, e.g. Lake Bohinj, stunning place.

 

[atrottel]

A few years back we drove in from Italy (didn't stop overnight at Trieste unfortunately) and stopped at Piran for a couple of nights. Piran is OK with a more historic centre, Portoroz is a bit more of a summer resort like the Italian ones.

There are some stunning caves in the south - I think it was Škocjan Caves Park that we went to. Ljubljana is an attractive small capital. Bled has a stunning position and scenery but is a bit like Bournemouth decided all to go on holiday there (lots of English accents and discussions about what the tea is like). Much preferred Bohinj, we drove there over a fabulous country road from Idrija (lacemaking centre also worth visiting). The Partisan Hospital in a gorge near Cerkno on the way between Idrija and Bohinj is also worth a visit (rebuilt since a flood in past years). Worth looking at Kranska Gora (ski/walking resort in the north). If you are into walking at all, the hike up Triglav is supposed to be a rite of male passage.

 

[ToffeeDoug]

Despite it being late June and there being a festival on, Bled was just about busy, nothing more. As you say, Lake Bohinj is wonderful, and great mountain walks and views to be had from taking the cable car up from the edge of the lake. Lots of caverns and gorges in the wider Bled area. Bled Castle is definitely worth a visit. Quite a lot of WW1 history in the area, as it was the main front between the Italian and Austro-Hungarian armies.

 

[dion]

Lake Bled and the castle are definetely worth a trip. The view from the castle is stunning. Sadly we only spent a day there on a trip whilst we were on holiday in Croatia.

 

[dannyboy]

Looking at options for the summer and it looks like we're going to start in Stockholm and work our way down to Armenia and Georgia.

On the off chance, has anybody went into Abkhazia? The foreign office put it on the same level as entering Syria, but there's plenty of people saying it's completely fine.

I'd feel a lot more reassured if one of the fine folk from GOT was saying it was completely fine rather than some intrepid Lonely Planet explorer.

 

[dannyboy]

In the process of sorting out summer travel plans and i'm completely torn. Will be heading with my girlfriend for probably around 10 days - depending on where we go. Went to Split in Croatia last year and absolutely loved the place. Also spent a day in Bosnia which was too short a time to experience its beauty.

So, we're stuck between heading to Dubrovnik for a few days, then travelling through to spend a few days in Bosnia and a few in Montenegro. However, it would be just as easy for us to fly into Montenegro and do the same, but maybe experience a bit of Northern Albania too. Although i've heard its very barren in the North.

Plan B, is to head over to Naples and travel down the coast of Italy.

Anyone else going Balkans or Eastern Europe this Summer? Where do you recommend?

Montenegro is incredible, we stayed a small place called Budva which was very picturesque. Probably a smaller version of Dubrovnik. You can't really go wrong in that part of the world though.

 

[LocalNative]

Montenegro is incredible, we stayed a small place called Budva which was very picturesque. Probably a smaller version of Dubrovnik. You can't really go wrong in that part of the world though.

Heard Budva is quite lively to be fair, so would probably spend a day or two there. Been elsewhere in Montenegro? Hearing really nice things about Kotor.

 

[dannyboy]

Heard Budva is quite lively to be fair, so would probably spend a day or two there. Been elsewhere in Montenegro? Hearing really nice things about Kotor.

Only Budva, but you could see from the coastline that were plenty of other gems on offer no doubt.

You could do a lot worse than pay a visit to Lake Ohrid in Macedonia. We were on about day 30 of our trip when we went there not particularly expecting much but it was fantastic. Really lively and stunning scenery.

 

[The Esk]

Some foodie pics from Barcelona - amazing food throughout the city....

 

[barneygumble]

Bird knows me well, and has offered to take me away for my birthday.

She's offered me Krakow, Amsterdam, Vienna or Hamburg (really does know me well), but Amsterdam aside, i've never been to any of these places, so wondering if anyone's been?

Vienna is somewhere i've really wanted to visit, been to Salzburg and that was quite good, and heard good things, but i don't care, free holiday!

 

[AdamEFC]

Bird knows me well, and has offered to take me away for my birthday.

She's offered me Krakow, Amsterdam, Vienna or Hamburg (really does know me well), but Amsterdam aside, i've never been to any of these places, so wondering if anyone's been?

Vienna is somewhere i've really wanted to visit, been to Salzburg and that was quite good, and heard good things, but i don't care, free holiday!

Only been to Krakow out of them, but it was boss and I would highly recommend it.

 

[Roger Milla]

Can anyone recommend a site for a good deal for a hol in the Carribean?

 

[chicoazul]

Can anyone recommend a site for a good deal for a hol in the Carribean?

Thomas Cook, Thomson, First Choice mate. They fly the most planes and have generally the best deals.

I miss the days when you had ten different companies to choose from mind.