Holidays 2022

[Blair-Waldorf]

I’m a bit panicky over these airport queues. I go in 4 weeks, I’ll be 26 weeks pregnant and travelling with a 3 year old. Our flight is early morning

 

[soymilk]

I keep seeing cassis...it looks stunning!... I’m driving over, so if I end up in cassis I need a good pit stop over night somewhere as I don’t think I’ll do the drive in one day after getting off the boat (driving to newhaven and getting the boat to dieppe)

oh yeah, it's a long drive otherwise, I'm sure you could find a nice village to spend the night along the way!

 

[Scorpihoe]

If you're only going for 5 days, then preferably choose a resort with speedboat transfer - otherwise you could waste at least 1 day waiting for seaplane transfers ( which are not on a strict timetable but will depend on how many waiting from transfer to specific atoll/ island)
Theres a v good page on Facebook for Maldives Holidaymakers- lots of them have been multiple times to multiple islands!...or Trip Advisor Maldives forum has some very knowledgeable posters who can give advice
Depends on your budget too- some islands can be £££ per night and all inclusive in Maldives is not same as all inclusive in say the Caribbean ( often exceptions on where you can eat / what drinks are included)
There are several specialist Maldives tourist operators depending where you live and they can negotiate good deals - (Magic of Maldives, Simply Maldives) and also look at Travelbag website for a starting point- they often have good deals and are a v reputable company- Trailfinders also good
what facilities do you want?....spa/ underwater restaurant/ motorised water sports ( although not really in the spirit of the Maldives)
Do you want to go snorkelling from beach or is a house reef not important and you'd prefer a lagoon type island
do you want beach villa or water villa ( water villas can get v hot and if stormy can feel if you're on a boat)
What size of island ? ....some are tiny and can be walked around in 10 mins others have bikes supplied
Try and avoid an island too close to the main island of Male due to seaplane traffic and light pollution
some islands are adults only, but don't necessarily discount "family friendly islands" for a honeymoon as they can often have more facilities
We've just come back from our second visit to The Maldives and stayed at Kandolhu (although this is a seaplane transfer- I can highly recommend!- it's true barefoot luxury with only 30 villas on a tiny island!)
just a word of warning...once you've been once, you'll want to go again! ....wherever you choose I'm sure you won't be disappointed!

Thank you so much for your detailed reply! We’ve gone for Meeru island and will be taking a private speedboat to the island, as our flight arrives at night

It’s a spa resort too, I think they have a dive centre but fiancé and I aren’t big on diving or snorkelling. I read online our resort has quieter areas too, away from families, so I could request that. We booked through a travel agent and went with full board as well, so all our meals are included.

I’ve heard that the currency over there is actually dollars? Should we take dollars with us?
Also what’s the “dress code” like? I’m very much a dress and heels kind of girl, but not sure if that’s what I should bring? A lot of reviews said you don’t even need shoes and can walk around barefoot?

thank you xx

 

[Notorious PIG]

A little over 4k, obviously i’m not sure what dates you’re restricted to and i had to just make up childrens ages so I don’t know if that changes things, but have a play around. I stayed here in Mexico with my boyfriend and it is a brilliant hotel and resort, it would be great for kids. There’s a massive lazy river too View attachment 1114038

Is this a Tui resort? My husband and I have never been to any resort before, but I’ve been down a rabbit hole looking at Tui resorts worldwide last couple of days and looking at what they offer, it looks interesting, good quality and good value!

At your Mexican resort, how easy/hard was it to do some day trips off site? Is it something that the resort might organise? We like cruises and these resort things remind me a bit of that, sort of like a stationary cruise

Re-booked flights to Spanish Basque for the second time, so now due to go in September this year.

I already spent hours researching which pintxos (regional tapas) I want and where.

Third time lucky I hope. If this date doesn’t happen then I give up

Ok...the airline changed our flight date to Basque (Bilbao airport, then we were gonna head down to San Sebastián) so we took it as fate or God or something doesn’t want us to go . I’m disappointed as I wanted to stuff myself with tapas. I did loads of research and everything, which tapas I wanted and where!

We’ve booked 7 nights Disney Cruise to Norwegian Fjords instead.

 

[Luce0331]

Has anyone flown with Tui recently and can advise on online check in for return flights?

Check in used to open 14 days before for outbound and inbound. But they have recently changed it to 48 hours before.

Checked in this morning for my Wednesday morning flight and got my outbound boarding passes but no option for inbound check in. It doesn't say when inbound check in will open. It just says check in complete!

I’m guessing it will be 48 hours before your inbound flight?

 

[mcfeez]

When do companies usually release the deals for Summer 2023 (as in spend X get X off)

I am impatient lol

I think easyjet are already selling holidays for next year.

 

[Mrspowell]

We stayed at Jardin Tropical on Costa Adeje in Tenerife. Spectacular hotel. Loads of bars and restaurants nearby

Anyone been to canaries (love Tenerife) in feb? Really want to go for half term it says the temp is low 20s which is fine but in reality is it actually nice enough weather to be worth it?

 

[Greentea12]

I'm thinking of choosing Athens as my holiday destination for 2023. I've only ever been to the Greek island's, never mainland Greece. I do love abit of history and culture so just wondering if a week is too long in a city like Athens?

 

[SpindleWhorl]

Anyone flown out of Manchester recently? I'm going next week. How would you know which is the queue for fast track if the queue for entry to the terminal stretches out to the car park?

 

[Sarah123456789]

Oh no! You poor thing, I’m so sorry. My sister (who we were with on Sat) has tested positive today so we are very stressed!

Absolutely gutted... Due to go on a cruise on Tuesday and have tested positive for Covid this morning

 

[emerald]

Was thinking about booking Amsterdam in June, can't tell if it's a good idea with the current situation in Ukraine (in case it escalates) am I being over cautious?

 

[Luce0331]

Anyone flown from Stansted recently? Just wondering what to expect regarding security times. I’ve also seen complaints on Twitter that the car park shuttle has been unreliable lately

 

[BettyCrockerr]

Think some do go back on the 2nd but some go back later

Ours go back on the 5th September

 

[Scorpihoe]

The second and third PCR tests were required for your arrival back to your country if I understood correctly. Every country has different requirements.. I stayed in Voco Hotel and the view was amazing! Where did you stay if I may ask?

Yes I needed them to travel back to England. I stayed in Jumeriah Al Qasr - absolutely incredible hotel, the best I’ve stayed in, in Dubai. And I go to Dubai every year highly recommend

I’ve not stayed in the Voco, how was it?

 

[aimz_yeah]

How does everyone book their holidays? My holiday booking knowledge doesn’t go beyond TUI/Virgin lol

I generally book directly. But booked Majorca in June via British airways in their sale.

 

[Emmelina Ball]

Where’s nice end of October / beginning of November for around 4/5 nights with children?
Thinking Portugal or Spain but not sure. Has anyone any recommendations for hotels or areas in either of those places? Been looking at Vilamoura but never been that time of year.

 

[Former_Antelopee]

Why are you even considering going on holiday with this person?! He sounds like a bloody nightmare.

I usually go on holiday with them so it’s awkward to go with someone else - although I want to go alone but they’d be annoyed if I did that. So my plan is to go with them and then go alone as well - that’s why I’m looking for a not so expensive holiday with them! But it’s seeming impossible

 

[heygirlhey2022]

Hello.. help! I’ll be celebrating my 30th birthday next year in March…and I’m torn between St Lucia and Mexico!
7 nights for both

St Lucia - would be the wellness retreat The Body Holiday

Mexico I was thinking to go to both Cancun and Tulum - Cancun first 4 days , have a day to explore + beach day, a day for activities - horse riding, zip lining, quad biking, cenote swimming, a yacht day trip on my bday , then Tulum- a beach club day with massages, and a day for flexible exploring…

Torn. I originally wanted to go to an absolutely lovely wellness retreat in Bali - this is my number 1 choice but their restrictions make that difficult right now… kinda gutted.

What do you think?

 

[Tublet83]

We are flying with them in 2 weeks. Thankfully not from Manchester.

Seems like my local airport is struggling air side because people are turning up so early for their flight, getting through security quickly and then they are all wanting to eat in the restaurants/bars and they can't cope with demand!

We have booked the lounge so hopefully won't have the same issue.

Hopefully it calms down - won’t be school holidays then so shouldn’t be as bad as it has been the last week!

 

[Pulltheotherone]

I’m going to Switzerland next month for 5 nights. I have booked an Airbnb apartment.
The apartment was expensive - if the airline cancels the flights out from Bristol apart from standard holiday insurance is that enough or do I need more ? Say the flight doesn’t take off and they put us on the next one we would miss the first night as it’s the last of the day ?
Any thoughts appreciated!