Holidays 2022

[soymilk]

the majority of Spain will be so busy right now as Spaniards tend to take their holidays in August - you will find less busy places away from the beach, like Madrid, Sevilla, etc! - but they'll be boiling hot

Anyone got any recommendations for this time of year that aren’t crazy busy? Thinking somewhere in Italy, or Spain/Mediterranean vibe

 

[Felix08]

I know it’s a vague question but does anyone have any recommendations for things to do in Tenerife? We’re staying in the North (Puerto De La Cruz) but happy to travel to the South

Ive been to Tenerife beginning of the year and we did a trip with guide over the island and visited Masca and Teide. Its really nice!

 

[noseybirdxo]

No recommendations but avoid Sidari in Corfu like the plague. It’s the biggest shit hole I’ve ever been to.

Oh this is interesting cos a friend was telling me they loved it

What sort of hotel are you after? Big all inclusive, small family run etc?

Probably all inclusive I think!

 

[Former_Antelopee]

Where are you flying from? If you are entering from outside the Schengen zone may need to clear immigration.

UK manchester

 

[justheretoread99]

TUI aren't going into administration. They are one of the most financially stable travel companies out there.

With the amount of refunds and compensation they’re having to give out … it isn’t looking good for them.

 

[Lonewolf]

Yes when we went I packed for artic weather's and badly regretted it as it was soooo mild although on our day at the statue of liberty I've never felt cold wind like it when we where on the ferry, oh my days its was horrendous and that was January 1st

ETA- We also had 1 day of torrential rain I think was around new years!

 

[SpindleWhorl]

Looking at booking rhodes for June.

Hoping they might remove testing requirement by then

I was looking at Rhodes for June as well. I like a mixture of sun, sea and history in my summer trips. I don't know whether to do Rhodes or Sicily or maybe Athens and get the ferry to another island.

 

[Rippedjeanmaybe]

Back from Oslo. Getting through Manchester security can turn very irritating at times but generally okay. One of the machines broke and it took about 10 minutes extra. This was at like 9am, I think gradually as the day wore on it got a lot worse, kept hearing people talking about kick offs as they got through.

Landing in Oslo passport control took AGES, don't know if anyone else has found this in other countries?

Norway was great again though. The terrorist attack was a bit of a dampener but amazing to see everyone was out in the street in full force not being scared by it. (We'd gone off camping the day before the attack, happened right outside the hotel I was staying)

Yep I had the same thing in Majorca with passport control. Took 40 minutes to get through.

 

[ElectricDreams]

I'm off to the Maldives in September....postponed from 2020! ....works out very well as it's our 35th Wedding Anniversary when we're there! ....we've pushed the boat out and flying business class with Qatar
We first went to Maldives in 2019 and fell in love with it.....we stayed on a tiny island (Kandolhu) with only 30 villas and felt totally spoiled and felt as if it was our very own private island ....the marine life is amazing and there were several resident turtles on the reef...the water is incredible- so clear and turquoise and warm!
We first went to The Indian Ocean for our 30th Wedding anniversary and went to a couple of the islands in The Seychelles archipelago which were also incredible but I think The Maldives are just so very special and the seaplane arrival is something else!

My fiancé suggested we go to the Maldives for our honeymoon (not that we've even booked the wedding yet, but we love holidays!) from what I've seen online it looks absolutely gorgeous, but I worry that we'll be bored as neither of us are sun bathers. We like snorkelling, boat trips, wildlife etc, so is there plenty to do to keep us busy?

 

[whisperchat]

Has anyone here been to Cuba? in 2019 me and my partner travelled to Guardalavaca, we had a lovely time but wouldn't go back, when we talk to people about it who have also been they say they would love to go back, just seems like its only us that wouldn't haha, not to mention I got bitten to bits by mosquitos and got ill from it. Just wanted to see what your personal thoughts are on it? or any other part of Cuba ?

 

[AutumnSpring]

Has anyone here been to Mexico in June before? It’s the start of the “rainy hurricane season” so we were happy to go at the start of the month but all the good hotels are booked up and only available 20th onwards… not sure if it’s worth risking it with the weather. How bad can it really be though? Any help is very appreciated!

 

[Cariad]

Hi guys! My fiancé and I are doing a little mini moon in the maldives for 5 nights we only decided to go because we’re having a destination wedding and the maldives is just a 5 hour flight from our wedding destination I’ve never been before. Any tips?

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!

 

[noseybirdxo]

Does anyone recommend Turkey as a holiday? If so, what area and any particular holidays?

I’m in desperate need of sun and can’t decide where I want to go

 

[Shinythings]

Thank you! I think I’ve saved a couple from that area and it’s good to know it’s near Lindos as I had heard the same about it being beautiful

If you visit go as early as you possibly can or late afternoon so you miss the tourist rush. Take time to wander down the side streets as that's where the real charm is IMO. I know Rhodes like the back of my hand so feel free to ask stuff.

 

[whoareyouu]

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

Not much you can do except bring entertainment and snacks for the toddler and be as organised as you can be so you’re not getting stressed on the day.

From you saying you’re panicky now, it sounds like you’re like me and you’ll be dead organised anyway

 

[Welshgal]

Anyone have any recommendations for Dubai? We’re flying there in August (I know it’s going to be hot) and I’m not sure about what all there is to do except the super obvious things like Burj Khalifa, Dubai Mall etc.

 

[Warpaint]

Anyone know how Manchester airport is at the moment? Going through next week. I'm hoping because the holidays have ended it might have calmed down

 

[L.S]

Going to Berlin next month does anyone know what I need for entry?

To me it looks like being double vaccinated is fine and just wear a mask on public transport?!

 

[Cariad]

I did go to Gili T and a day visit to Gili Air, I’d say Gili T was probably my favourite place I went in Bali. I think I like the small islands as Koh PhiPhi in Thailand was my favourite place I went in Thailand, I think (harder to pick favourite place in Thailand). I want to definitely go back to Thailand maybe next year still undecided where to go. I want to do the north and do a small jungle trek - although I prefer beaches but I can get 3 weeks off work at a time so I think it’ll be enough to do a bit of both. I just don’t know whether to ask my friend to come, I’d rather go alone and I know she won’t be able to do the trek due to health but also she’ll probably be mad if I don’t ask her. But if I do ask her she’ll probably want to come but change plans on what activities I want to do so she can come. May go the year after as this year I’d probably have to go in June which I don’t think is a great time to go so maybe early 2023
I normally always get car/seasick but that never happen in Thailand for some reason, so maybe that’s another reason I preferred it.

We went in July and September, so chose east coast places as were wanting to avoid monsoon weather in West at that time , so make sure you take this into account when planning your trip.....early in year sounds like it would be good time for your adventire and maybe you could do trek and friend could join you afterwords ?
We did a Thai cookery lesson and had a great time going to the market and seeing all the exotic looking fruit and vegetables as well as strange looking fish!....I also particularly liked spending time in the spa and treating myself to some incredible massages!
....however would love to go to Chang Mai and Krabi or Khao Lak
Our daughter went to an elephant rescue sanctuary near Chang Mai ( which is ethical) and had a wonderful day caring for the elephants who had been mistreated by previous owners / abused for tourist reasons
I'd also love to go to Costa Rica ! ....in fact so many places I'd love to go ( daughter has inherited my travel genes and has been to several S American countries already )
I'm hoping to retire in a couple of years, so will have more time to travel ....just hope I have the health and money to do some more adventures!

 

[Romy]

Where’s everyone off to for a city break this winter? wanted to go to amsterdam but we don’t meet the entry requirements

so we need some new options for October time

Entry requirements?