Holiday Destinations

[starrymarkb]

Can you guys suggest anywhere interesting to go on holiday next year. I'm wondering whether to do a couple of weekends in Europe, or to save for further afield.

I'm generally interested in architecture and exploring. It doesn't have to be rail related, I'll probably ask this in a few other places and stick pins in a map.

Thanks

 

[Lee_Again]

Not sure where you live but given your interests, architecture, exploring and presumably railways, why go 'further afield'?

A few days based in London with all its museams and architecture is always time well spent. Then of to Edinburgh (to test the new EC services). You can't fail to be impressed by the architecture in that city. One of the finest in the world. A few days on the west coast of Scotland exploring the Western Isles would finish it off perfectly.

All that money you save will pay for 'nice' hotels and 1st class rail travel. Not an airport in site.

 

[ACE1888]

Last year, me and the Girlfriend walked the Bridport branch over two days, such a laugh it was, going back for a further visit in August, in between other 'railway' orientated things...and weather providing, walking the Princetown branch, definitely from the Princetown end though, all 'downgrade' that way!
Walking Old railways can be so relaxing...and cost free!!

 

[WestCoast]

Not sure where you live but given your interests, architecture, exploring and presumably railways, why go 'further afield'?

All that money you save will pay for 'nice' hotels and 1st class rail travel. Not an airport in site.

Holidays are a personal thing, it depends on many things such as what you want to do, budget e.t.c

As much as enjoy rail travel in the UK (well, maybe not the morning pacer from my local station ), it's great to go elsewhere in Europe (or even further afield). It's a different atmosphere, culture, and different trains! I also like aviation and flying, so airports and aircraft are fine with me.

I'm doing a bit of Spanish rail travel this year, basing near Gibraltar. Then doing the scenic line up to Ronda, Granada and eventually Madrid. I've not travelled much with RENFE, so I'm definitely looking forward to it!

One of the most interesting trips was the Tangier to Marrakech train with ONCF in Morocco, that was definitely an experience!

 

[starrymarkb]

I'm going to Glasgow in July and Yorkshire later in the year

So Far I've had suggestions for Prague, Eastern Europe and Hong Kong!

 

[Lee_Again]

Don't get me wrong, I love going abroad. This year, so far, I have been to;
Nigeria (twice)
Algeria
Belguim
Switzerland (twice)
Monaco (twice-and next week for the hat-trick)
Just that the OP said 'weekends'. It's very easy to overlook our great country and instead spend money looking for stuff that exists on our very doorstep. And in the time you spend getting to these places you'd be already running staying here; not to mention the benefit to the economy.


If you are going aboad, you'd little wrong with Switzerland. And the trains are briiliant.

 

[WestCoast]

Just that the OP said 'weekends'. It's very easy to overlook our great country and instead spend money looking for stuff that exists on our very doorstep. And in the time you spend getting to these places you'd be already running staying here; not to mention the benefit to the economy.

Oh yes, it's important to definitely not overlook anything you haven't done (or want to do again) in the UK. It's just a shame the weather always turns nasty when I stay here!

 

[flymo]

So Far I've had suggestions for Prague, Eastern Europe and Hong Kong!

Well if you make it out here, let's meet up for a beer!!

Quick rule of thumb for the weather though Jan, nice, 11 - 15C, Feb/early March cooler, maybe 5 - 15C but nowhere has heating!, April - May warming up 21-27C, June - September, 31-34C and 80 - 99% humidity every day - expect rain and typhoons (Asian version of hurricanes). October - December, best time of the year. 18 - 25C and low humidity.

Wherever you end up - have a fab time. (Is Australia too far.....?)

 

[starrymarkb]

Thanks for that *makes note for december*

Suspect Australia is a bit far, would love to do Japan at some point though (but inital pricing looks out of my budget at least with JAL)

 

[Clip]

Thanks for that *makes note for december*

Suspect Australia is a bit far, would love to do Japan at some point though (but inital pricing looks out of my budget at least with JAL)

If you time it right and dont mind going via Rome then Japan is acheiveable with ALitalia. Friend of mine done it for around £500 return.

 

[starrymarkb]

If you time it right and dont mind going via Rome then Japan is acheiveable with ALitalia. Friend of mine done it for around £500 return.

I've just found (thanks to a link a colleague gave me) that Air Frog do it for £700 from Bristol (flying via Paris JAL CDG to Tokyo) - if I can avoid Heathrow bonus!

 

[flymo]

Not sure if this is anything like what you want but one other possibility is to have a stopover on the way back if you fly a long distance. Many Asian airlines used to offer this when flying Asia - Europe. From Hong Kong for example (I'm sure it is similar for other destinations too) Thai used to offer Hong Kong - Bangkok (change planes) - UK. Return was UK - Bangkok (break for 3 or 4 days) - Hong Kong. I know a lot of people who used to do this sort of trip to have 2 holidays in one type of thing. The only difference in the prices of the flights was the accommodation in the stopover location. I haven't checked these out recently though, they may be a lot more expensive these days.

I don't know if these sorts of deals are still out there but it did used to help break up a long flight. I know Thai Airways, Malaysian Airlines, Singapore Airlines and Qantas did offer these sorts of deals.

Anyhoo, I don't know if this is anything like what you would want to do. I'm just throwing this out there.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Rome has enough in its environs, with the added attraction of Vatican City, to keep you so busy, that you do not need to go elsewhere. It covers a long period of historical time and travelling does not take long from Britain.

 

[Clip]

I've just found (thanks to a link a colleague gave me) that Air Frog do it for £700 from Bristol (flying via Paris JAL CDG to Tokyo) - if I can avoid Heathrow bonus!

Thats not too bad but you could use Air Asia to KL as they are bargain basement stuff - Ive not been long haul on them yet only local - but from there you could plan where you wanted to hit as the air asia fares are about as cheap as ryanair here.

 

[Zoe]

Can you guys suggest anywhere interesting to go on holiday next year. I'm wondering whether to do a couple of weekends in Europe, or to save for further afield.

Devon or Cornwall? That wouldn't be very expensive for you.

 

[starrymarkb]

Well me and some friends regular do day trips to places locally so that's already covered

 

[The Barlow Boy]

Holidays are a personal thing, it depends on many things such as what you want to do, budget e.t.c

As much as enjoy rail travel in the UK (well, maybe not the morning pacer from my local station ), it's great to go elsewhere in Europe (or even further afield). It's a different atmosphere, culture, and different trains! I also like aviation and flying, so airports and aircraft are fine with me.

I'm doing a bit of Spanish rail travel this year, basing near Gibraltar. Then doing the scenic line up to Ronda, Granada and eventually Madrid. I've not travelled much with RENFE, so I'm definitely looking forward to it!

One of the most interesting trips was the Tangier to Marrakech train with ONCF in Morocco, that was definitely an experience!

I went around Spain by rail last year. Their system for the most part make the British one look a bit silly at times. The only things that I didn't go a lot on were the new AVE stations, they're a bit Euston and souless.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Venice, either late or early in the year to avoid the hordes. Nothing can prepare you for Venice, especially arriving there by train. See it before it sinks.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Well me and some friends regular do day trips to places locally so that's already covered

As a matter of interest, have any of the postings made by forum members been of use to you in helping you to make your decision?

 

[starrymarkb]

As a matter of interest, have any of the postings made by forum members been of use to you in helping you to make your decision?

Well they've been noted on a list along with FB and LJ contributions, then budget and availability will come in to it. Oh and avoiding the Olympic chaos

Something I am considering is getting a budget flight to somewhere and then train back to the UK making various stops on route. A friend of mine did an interrail a couple or years back,

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Something I am considering is getting a budget flight to somewhere and then train back to the UK making various stops on route. A friend of mine did an interrail a couple or years back,

There are many "one-way" flights now advertised by the budget air carriers. It seems to be the norm these days. It is one way of making the price look cheaper.