Did Paris for a weekend first weekend in January, was excellent . Did the Eiffel Tower, Louvre, Napoleon's tomb. Really interesting Sharm-el-Sheik for a week in March Then 2 weeks in California with the kids for October half term as their school do all their inset days the week after. Asking to do San Fran/ LA and couple of days in Vegas if possible. Can't wait!
A few days caravan in Weymouth in April (love Weymouth), and currently looking for somewhere suitable abroad and sunny for the school summer holidays
Very nice down by the quayside. You might even get to see them play in their final relegation battle games. Nice ground if you fancy a pint and a game. Dorchester (short bus ride) also a nice place to visit.
We are off to Rome next month and will be celebrating our 68th and 67th birthdays and 50 years since our first date,
Anyone have any recommendations for a decent restaurant?
How lovely. Will be interested in any Rome restaurants as we're going in May We're off to St Lucia in a few weeks to celebrate our 65th and 60th birthdays mid-way between the 2
Its almost that time for planning your holidays for 2025.
Some of my trips have already been booked up the end of the Caribbean cruise but will finalise the extension on to South America next month. This will be my first time on a cruise and still apprehensive about doing this kind of travel but unless I try it I should not make a judgement. I’m also doing this cruise in order to do a recce on the islands just in case I want to return and do some island hopping and staying longer on the islands. Jamaica is still on my list of places to visit especially Montego Bay (probably because of the song and reggae) but I hear its too dangerous unless going to an all inclusive fenced in which is not my scene. Anyway, my rough itinerary for 2025 starts with:
* Early sun trip to Gran Canaria from 2 jan. * Flight to Barbados for 3 nights before a 2 week Caribbean Cruise from 30 Jan. Whilst in this neck of the woods I’ll head to Colombia after the cruise (Bogota, Santa Marta, Barrenquilla) before heading to Santiago (Chile) and Easter Island, Peru, Bolivia and finish up with some real R&R in Rio de Janeiro before heading back to Blighty sometime at the end of March. * Budapest (April or May) * Play off Final 🤓 * Madrid (April or May) * South of France (June) * London for the summer (July, August, September) * Spain (October)
F***ing hell!! I’ve some green eyes reading this thread but that opener is a banger!!
I’ve no idea how you’ve navigated through life to get to coining a year like that, but many congratulations @Solidgone and I hope it is as amazing for you as it is just to read it!
I’ve always loved travel and retirement has given me the luxury to spend longer away.
We are off to Rome next month and will be celebrating our 68th and 67th birthdays and 50 years since our first date,
Anyone have any recommendations for a decent restaurant?
How lovely. Will be interested in any Rome restaurants as we're going in May We're off to St Lucia in a few weeks to celebrate our 65th and 60th birthdays mid-way between the 2
We're going up to Edinburgh in March as well and have a villa booked in Portugal in June. Well that's the first half of the year sorted.
We're going to get married towards the end of the year, but nothing booked yet and looking at Singapore and the Maldives for honeymoon. So we'll book something in between then and June
I haven't retired yet as I can wfh and we still need to be around for Shrek's parents, but will retire fully and move when we don't need to be here
I will still retire early - can't wait so we can travel more!
Mainly cricket breaks for me, will take in Kent's 4 day match at Blackpool but not made up with the slovenly pace of 4 day cricket, particularly over rate. Have discovered National, formerly Minor, Counties Cricket played over 3 days Sun Mon Tue. Much more rewarding, nil cost, largely u25 players, better over rate, frequent use of spinners, approachable players and officials, attractive grounds. So off to Eastnor, near Ledbury including walking in Malvern hills and Helston, with assorted Cornish attractions. Might also manage some interailing in Europe in May if house repairs don't interfere. Trying to tick off a few bucket list things in early retirement!!
Venice, cheaper than England tips. Start with your flights, Easyjet or Ryan Air. When at the airport get the AVTO coach to Piazza Roma (town centre) 18 euro return 20 mins no stops one every half hour, 5am to late times. Then get through booking.com Piazzo Martinelli Dolfin, smart hotel, nice room with fridge, air con, heating, balcony, 129 euros for two nights and very near where the coach stops. Then cafe near hotel overlooking canal is very cheap - Apperol Spritz 3 euros 50. For meals there is a nice Pizzeria in the Piazza Roma centre, We (my wife and I) got bread which we dipped in Olive Oil and balsamic, lovely big pizzas, a mixed salad, a litre of the local wine and a bottle of sparkling water for 54 euros. There is another nice place called the Dolfin nearby which is about the same price wise. They give you a free lemoncello at the end of your meal.
In terms of exploring Venice, the bus services are obviously boats. You can get unlimited travel cards for 25 euros for one day or 10 euros more for 48 hours. The ticket activates the first time you use it so if you start using it say at 1pm in the afternoon, you can use it up to 1pm on the third day for a 48 hour ticket. This allows you to explore and not get lost as you can hop on a bus which will take you somewhere you know. There are inside and outside seats and it is a great way to see the beauty of Venice especially the sight as you exit the Grand Canal into St Marks. You can also use the bus tickets to take you to the islands of Murano and Burano. Murano is where the glass is blown and you can see demonstrations which are very interesting, after they lead you into a show room where the glass is expensive but you can buy the things they demonstrate very cheaply as they have lots of them to get rid of.
The general rule is that Venice like any other tourist city gets more expensive the more you get to the centre. The santa Croce area ( around Piazza Roma) is known as the student area is is the cheapest. Also by the water bus station there is a supermarket. Great for drinks to take back and presents (chocolates etc...). Also students will often drink at little bars where they can get wine and Spritz cheap and eat Cichetti which are pieces of bread with different toppings at very reasonable prices as they are mostly used by students and local workers.
Hope this helps anybody who fancies going but fears it will be too expensive. It is a place everybody should go to at least once in their lives. There is no other place like it.
@Athletico Charlton cracking city is Lisbon - went on a stag there in April. I recommend Cervejaria Trinidade as a good feed (octopus was fantastic) if you do an expensive-ish dinner one night. Lots of good places to drink around Barrio Alto and Pink Street. We didn't go to Sintra but apparently well worth it from other recs.
Discreto is also a good restaurant. Well worth it. And British Bar (a bit shit but does karaoke and serves yards of lager) and the Irish Bar that are about 100 yards away from each other are both good fun. Enjoy!
@Athletico Charlton cracking city is Lisbon - went on a stag there in April. I recommend Cervejaria Trinidade as a good feed (octopus was fantastic) if you do an expensive-ish dinner one night. Lots of good places to drink around Barrio Alto and Pink Street. We didn't go to Sintra but apparently well worth it from other recs.
Discreto is also a good restaurant. Well worth it. And British Bar (a bit shit but does karaoke and serves yards of lager) and the Irish Bar that are about 100 yards away from each other are both good fun. Enjoy!
Thanks @PaddyP17 we will definitely be going to Sintra. Will likely check out many of your other suggestions, particularly Carejaria Trinidade. I am looking forward to it.
going to a wedding in Hungary. it's in a small town on the Ukraine border.
We're going to drive there in whatever new car i buy in the summer
This may seem an obscure suggestion, but one of Europe's last surviving car-carrying night sleeper trains runs from Prague to Kosice in east Slovakia, which almost certainly is close to your destination. Might be worth considering at least for the return journey.
Never done a Black Forest holiday but the main city is Freiburg and it is great. Over-achieving footie team there too. As you say @IdleHans, Germany is underrated. You won't get ripped off or have complaints about the accommodation. Apart from the really big but soft and soggy pillows; I hate them.
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https://www.inturotel.com/en/hotels/inturotel-esmeralda-park/
Sharm-el-Sheik for a week in March
Then 2 weeks in California with the kids for October half term as their school do all their inset days the week after. Asking to do San Fran/ LA and couple of days in Vegas if possible.
Can't wait!
Nice ground if you fancy a pint and a game.
Dorchester (short bus ride) also a nice place to visit.
Anyone have any recommendations for a decent restaurant?
Barbados ✅
Caribbean cruise - nearly half way through. 😎
We're going to get married towards the end of the year, but nothing booked yet and looking at Singapore and the Maldives for honeymoon. So we'll book something in between then and June
I haven't retired yet as I can wfh and we still need to be around for Shrek's parents, but will retire fully and move when we don't need to be here
I will still retire early - can't wait so we can travel more!
And congrats on your wedding plans !
Have discovered National, formerly Minor, Counties Cricket played over 3 days Sun Mon Tue. Much more rewarding, nil cost, largely u25 players, better over rate, frequent use of spinners, approachable players and officials, attractive grounds.
So off to Eastnor, near Ledbury including walking in Malvern hills and Helston, with assorted Cornish attractions.
Might also manage some interailing in Europe in May if house repairs don't interfere.
Trying to tick off a few bucket list things in early retirement!!
In terms of exploring Venice, the bus services are obviously boats. You can get unlimited travel cards for 25 euros for one day or 10 euros more for 48 hours. The ticket activates the first time you use it so if you start using it say at 1pm in the afternoon, you can use it up to 1pm on the third day for a 48 hour ticket. This allows you to explore and not get lost as you can hop on a bus which will take you somewhere you know. There are inside and outside seats and it is a great way to see the beauty of Venice especially the sight as you exit the Grand Canal into St Marks. You can also use the bus tickets to take you to the islands of Murano and Burano. Murano is where the glass is blown and you can see demonstrations which are very interesting, after they lead you into a show room where the glass is expensive but you can buy the things they demonstrate very cheaply as they have lots of them to get rid of.
The general rule is that Venice like any other tourist city gets more expensive the more you get to the centre. The santa Croce area ( around Piazza Roma) is known as the student area is is the cheapest. Also by the water bus station there is a supermarket. Great for drinks to take back and presents (chocolates etc...). Also students will often drink at little bars where they can get wine and Spritz cheap and eat Cichetti which are pieces of bread with different toppings at very reasonable prices as they are mostly used by students and local workers.
Hope this helps anybody who fancies going but fears it will be too expensive. It is a place everybody should go to at least once in their lives. There is no other place like it.
Discreto is also a good restaurant. Well worth it. And British Bar (a bit shit but does karaoke and serves yards of lager) and the Irish Bar that are about 100 yards away from each other are both good fun. Enjoy!
Thanks @PaddyP17 we will definitely be going to Sintra. Will likely check out many of your other suggestions, particularly Carejaria Trinidade. I am looking forward to it.