Travel thread 3.0

[YoboCopter]

Yeah, I’ll be combining it with a lads trip to Bangkok and Pattaya.

Sounds abit of me

 

[JimmyJeffers]

Yeah, I’ll be combining it with a lads trip to Bangkok and Pattaya.

There was a lad on the crypto thread who loved Pattaya so much his user name was a hotel there @nikom court I think.

Sadly he asked to be banned as the forum wasn’t providing him with any gains. Think he’s back now.

I thought Pattaya was going to become a higher end destination and clean up its act a bit. Last time I visited that part of the world, most the sex tourists seemed to have moved on to Cambodia.

 

[Paris]

There was a lad on the crypto thread who loved Pattaya so much his user name was a hotel there @nikom court I think.

Sadly he asked to be banned as the forum wasn’t providing him with any gains. Think he’s back now.

I thought Pattaya was going to become a higher end destination and clean up its act a bit. Last time I visited that part of the world, most the sex tourists seemed to have moved on to Cambodia.

Pattaya is full of Russians these days so it feels crap, but I did enjoy going to sanctuary of truth and elephant sanctuary the last time I was there.

 

[KaiserEFC]

Lake Matheson. It’s a whole 3.5 hours from my house so it’s such a ballache to get to but I guess it’s worth it

 

[Daveysgingerlovechild]

Mrs k and I been looking tonight for our holiday this year …. She loves oludeniz but I’ve been twice and she’s been 4 times so I don’t wanna go back just yet … we had to cancel Kos last September for reasons not worth going in to but I do fancy going there. She likes beaches etc but I like a bit of history and sightseeing… I reckon one of the Greek islands would suit us both but choosing where is the dilemma.

Crete is fantastic mate. We stayed in a small resort on the north coast midway between Chania and Heraklion, nearer Rethymnom. Hired a car to get around. Chania and Rethymnon are more charming, Heraklion arguably has the big hitters for culture but is a busy city. The best beaches are on the south coast, which is more remote but they were stunning. Defo need a car to reach them and to get anywhere else.

 

[RufusCat]

Crete is fantastic mate. We stayed in a small resort on the north coast midway between Chania and Heraklion, nearer Rethymnom. Hired a car to get around. Chania and Rethymnon are more charming, Heraklion arguably has the big hitters for culture but is a busy city. The best beaches are on the south coast, which is more remote but they were stunning. Defo need a car to reach them and to get anywhere else.

First time we stayed in Crete was in a village called Piskopiano, which is situated on the hillside above Hersonisos. Its one of 3 villages on the hillside which have numerous restaurant/bars so plenty of choice in the evening. I would agree that a car would be best if you want to visit anywhere on the south coast. We stayed on the north coast and walked a lot, and also used the buses which pass through Hersonisos (which was within walking distance) particularly to visit Agios Nikolaos and Spinalonga, both of which were worthwhile

 

[evertony]

Kids booked us weekend away end of February yes Everton aren't at home. to Belfast is it any good bit nervous I'm a proddy she's a cogger jokes apart believe it's great is this true

One of my absolute favourite cities for a quick weekend break. Been going there for work since early 80's and still love it. Miles friendlier than Dublin and Cork, superb food for the most part, good beer and really the nicest bunch of folk you could wish to meet. Don't miss the Titanic Museum (it's so good) and do the hop-on hop-off bus so you don't miss the Crumlin Road jail, Stormont, Belfast City Hall etc.
If you have time take a train up the Antrim coast and do Londonderry, Port Rush, Giants Causeway...and if you get the chance book in the restaurant at Bushmills Distillery.
You'll love it.

if you want a interesting read before you go try The Shankhill Butchers.....one of many harrowing books about the Troubles.

 

[IrishBlue2022]

Kids booked us weekend away end of February yes Everton aren't at home. to Belfast is it any good bit nervous I'm a proddy she's a cogger jokes apart believe it's great is this true

It's a very different city compared to 10 years ago so nothing to worry about mate. Difficult for me to suggest good touristy thing as being from here i probably haven't done most of them myself.

Plenty of good bars and food around. Tourists gravitate to the cathedral quarter but its overpriced. Only two bars worth a vist there in my opinion are Duke of York and The Spaniard which is a tiny bar but the 2nd floor has interesting decor.

Other decent pubs are The Sunflower, The Garrick, Kelly Cellars, Whites and Maddens. But again all still expensive as they are in the city centre.

For cheaper drink you need to venture out into local areas into social clubs and most tourists don't take that risk.

 

[WA Toffee]

Mrs k and I been looking tonight for our holiday this year …. She loves oludeniz but I’ve been twice and she’s been 4 times so I don’t wanna go back just yet … we had to cancel Kos last September for reasons not worth going in to but I do fancy going there. She likes beaches etc but I like a bit of history and sightseeing… I reckon one of the Greek islands would suit us both but choosing where is the dilemma

Me and the mrs went to Santorini and Crete in November, absolutely loved both. Heraklion as a city really impressed me, great vibe, great food, great people. Santorini was pretty much empty so no fighting the instagram crowd for decent photos. There are plenty of ferries between all the islands (Omio is the app we used and it is the same price or less than booking direct) so you can really get a taste of everything very cheaply.

 

[davep]

Kids booked us weekend away end of February yes Everton aren't at home. to Belfast is it any good bit nervous I'm a proddy she's a cogger jokes apart believe it's great is this true

I thought Belfast was a very friendly City when I went a few years a go.

We did all the normal tourist bits and I would recommend the taxi tour. Black cab round the city centre and the driver stopped at important points and we would jump out whilst he chatted and pointed things out. I must have looked rough from the night before though because he spent the entire time taking the mick. His knowledge of the history of the city was fantastic.

The pubs were rammed though in the afternoon because the 6 nations was on.

Cracking city mate. The murals up the Falls and Shankill roads are worth looking at. We did both on foot. In the city there loads of characterful pubs. Theatres and museums. The docks are worth a mooch too.

One of my absolute favourite cities for a quick weekend break. Been going there for work since early 80's and still love it. Miles friendlier than Dublin and Cork, superb food for the most part, good beer and really the nicest bunch of folk you could wish to meet. Don't miss the Titanic Museum (it's so good) and do the hop-on hop-off bus so you don't miss the Crumlin Road jail, Stormont, Belfast City Hall etc.
If you have time take a train up the Antrim coast and do Londonderry, Port Rush, Giants Causeway...and if you get the chance book in the restaurant at Bushmills Distillery.
You'll love it.

if you want a interesting read before you go try The Shankhill Butchers.....one of many harrowing books about the Troubles.

Agree with all these, Belfast is cool. Do the tour at the old jail (Crumlin Road is it?), was really interesting when we went, great guide. Titanic Museum as well, v interesting but quite sobering. Robinson's Bar in the centre was cool. Proper (?) Irish music in the back room in the evenings, and a big pool hall upstairs with sports on. Apparently Alex Higgins used to play there. Mates bro (local lads) dragged him in off a bench in the street one time!

 

[Del-boy]

Going to Abu Dhabi at the end of the month. Never been before. Just wondering if anyone who’s been could recommend how much cash you’d need for 10 nights. People have said it’s expensive.

 

[BigMick]

Back from 5 days in Palestine for a family wedding. Saw a small herd of Nubian ibex about 20 yards away from a busy road just a mile or two from Jericho. This one was particularly inquisitive.

 

[Bkk Andy]

Going to Abu Dhabi at the end of the month. Never been before. Just wondering if anyone who’s been could recommend how much cash you’d need for 10 nights. People have said it’s expensive.

I think these types of questions are always very difficult to answer as it depends on your plans and habits. As a non-drinker who can happily spend a week or so living on American junk food, I think almost everywhere is reasonable.

 

[YoboCopter]

Going to Abu Dhabi at the end of the month. Never been before. Just wondering if anyone who’s been could recommend how much cash you’d need for 10 nights. People have said it’s expensive.

Expensive to drink unless its happy hour
Id say overall its pretty expensive in the middle east.

Traveling alone? Id say you would be fine on a couple grand

 

[BigMick]

Back from 5 days in Palestine for a family wedding. Saw a small herd of Nubian ibex about 20 yards away from a busy road just a mile or two from Jericho. This one was particularly inquisitive.
View attachment 291111

Further to the above I'd add that if, or rather when (I'm an optimist), the political situation eases sufficiently for tourism to become more feasible I'd recommend Ramallah as the best place to stay. It's a beautiful city and certainly the most liberal in Palestine. There are plenty of restaurants and hotels, ranging from plush 5 star ultra-modern to more modest to older, traditional ones.



The wedding reception we attended was held here at one of the more traditional hotels, the Alhambra Palace Hotel which was built for a powerful local family in the 1920s during the British Mandate. After 1948 when the West Bank was part of Jordan it became the favourite spot for visiting dignitaries, including Jordanian King Abdullah. In the 1967 war it was used as a field hospital for Jordanian troops, but has been a hotel since 2009. It's in a beautiful part of the city and just a short walk from the Muqata'a, the HQ of the Palestinian Authority government.

Ramallah also has the best ice cream in the world - Rukabs!