Holidays #5 2025 onwards

[CherryAcid]

I think painting my toe nails is the thing where I'm like ok going away now as I don't regularly do it

Mine are either dark purple or dark red. When I go on holiday they are always a bright colour like coral or pink.

 

[ElectricDreams]

We have just booked a river cruise for April, on the Danube. Starting and ending in Budapest and taking in Vienna (overnight) Bratislava, Linz and Durnstein. Really looking forward to it as we are usually ocean cruisers but fancied something different.

 

[SarcasmSpecialist]

Tokyo is absolutely amazing, we had a fantastic time there.
And two weeks from now, some winter sun in Gran Canaria, assuming that all is okay with my biopsy appointment on Wednesday.

 

[Former_Antelopee]

Just bought one as they are on offer so perfect timing

 

[Tatooine_legend1]

Do any of you find the appeal in the central Asian region and countries? I wouldn't mind visiting the "stans" and the heart of the silk road. I've been reading up on that region and it is fascinating with lots of history. Not to mention the region has great scenery. Not sure how simple it is to travel that region though.

 

[Lucie1001]

Budapest is a fabulous city.
Let us know how your cruise goes. We're ocean cruisers but have looked at a few river cruises and MrLily mentioned one again yesterday. We've done a Nile one but I'm not sure that's comparable to a European river cruise.

Looking at booking Budapest for a weekend in February, just hope it’s not too grey and depressing at that time of year! Was meant to be going to Copenhagen on Friday but cancelling as dogs not been well so looking at Budapest as a replacement trip!

 

[Former_Antelopee]

I’m headed to Tromsø solo soon to try spot the northern lights and I can’t wait I just wish the Nordic’s/scandi weren’t so expensive though I’m penny pinching at the moment to make sure I’m not so worried about money while I’m there

Let me know how it goes I've been looking at doing the same for a while but always picked something else. Definitely top 2 on my bucket list though

 

[bellinibobble]

Also was googling flights to the Stans yesterday after watching RATW… it’s a sickness 🫣🫣

 

[ElectricDreams]

We've been in early July and it's unbearably hot at Pompeii-there is absolutely no shade whatsoever, so I'd go as early as you can. Herculaneum is also a must see, much smaller and more compact than Pompeii and much better preserved. I preferred it. In both cases make sure you get a guide as Pompeii in particular is so vast, a guide will.make sure you see the important bits.

We did a boat trip to Positano and Amalfi and took a bus back along the Amalfi coast which was beautiful. I didn't think Amalfi lived up to the hype though, Positano was much prettier. The Amalfi coast is best seen from the water.

If you're staying in Sorrento then Capri is a must too!

 

[NoHintOfDrama]

Has anyone gone through passport control with the new EES system? Does it take ages?
I have an hour connection soon in Zurich and I’m so nervous about it
Apparently airlines aren’t responsible if you miss connections due to passport control

Yes went through in the Canaries last week. My passport wouldn’t scan in the machine so they sent me to the booth where a man took my photos and fingerprints. Took about four minutes in total.

 

[OnlyHereForTheLolz]

I land at the main airport at 7pm, my luggage will be transferred to my finally destination, I have 2 layovers both just over an hour long.
Then sleep overnight at the airport and fly on a different airline to my final destination.
I've never had a bad experience but know of friends who had delayed flights which meant they made the flight but their luggage didn't.
I do have trackers. I could change my internal flight to later in the day or could get a back up ticket for a late ferry just in case.

I just wasn't sure that if my original airline did have a delay with the luggage id they'd transfer it to my hotel since I am getting on another flight to a different part of the country the next day

This has happened to me. If your luggage is delayed they take all your and your luggage details. Then take your destinations and the next thing you know an uber turns up a couple of days later with your luggage.
I just took it in my stride ad I knew getting stressed would not help.
Just make sure you have good insurance and keep all your receipts for everything

 

[NoHintOfDrama]

Does anyone know of alternatives to Maldives? I'd like to visit similar places, but for less expensive. I've heard Sri Lanka has some equally beautiful areas, but not sure if it would be quite the same.

Friends have been to Mauritius and Sri Lanka, both looked stunning!

 

[CallaLily]

I’m headed to Tromsø solo soon to try spot the northern lights and I can’t wait I just wish the Nordic’s/scandi weren’t so expensive though I’m penny pinching at the moment to make sure I’m not so worried about money while I’m there

If you find a black bobble hat at the top of the cable car, can you bring it back for me please. I lost it about 6 years ago but you never know....

I genuinely don't convert the prices when I've visited any of the Scandinavian countries, it's just too painful

 

[Former_Antelopee]

I'm glad I saved money and booked worse flights now. Instead of going through the middle east my flights go via Singapore so hopefully I can still go. Not for a few months yet so hopefully it'll all have stopped

 

[Former_Antelopee]

 

[Notorious PIG]

This is my dream. Share your itenirary and what companies you booked etc after. This is on my list to do in the next couple of years

All of the hotels we booked (apart from in Key West) are from the Bonvoy group - this is the group that includes Marriott, Sheraton, Moxy and loads of other brands which vary in budget.

For anyone who travels frequently, I’d strongly recommend trying to stay with one group (eg Bonvoy, Accor, IHG, etc) to rack up points. Our Bonvoy loyalty has earned us loads of points and really good perks and it has really helped with this trip (and others!)

Also same for flights. We try to only book Lufthansa group (which also includes Aegean, Austrian, Brussels and more). We booked our flights yesterday and used points to partially pay for upgrades.

We booked two cruises (East and West Carribean) with Holland America special offers (irrc it worked out to around a third off the regular price) which they started to email us with after our first cruise with them in October. So when booking a cruise, with any cruise line, always tick the checkbox for correspondence/offers via email.

Key West we booked some hotel called Havana Cabana cos all the Bonvoy options were crazy expensive! But it looks fine, and it also provides a shuttle into town.

Over the weekend I gotta look into Disney and Universal. There are so many different ticket options. There are four different Universal parks, but honestly I think just the main one will do. So I will see how much the fast pass for a day will cost.

 

[CallaLily]

Haneda for Tokyo is super easy. Narita a little more tricky I believe.

Unfortunate, Emirates go to Narita, but I'm sure we can work it out.
Edit - it appears they do both.

Overnight the cruise dropped £700, which is a happy result

 

[Former_Antelopee]

I messed up booking my transfer for my holiday booked it for this month instead of next month. Changed it then realised I gave them the wrong date again Now my plans have changed, I'm going to stay at a different hotel so I'll have to contact them again but I'll give it a few weeks first luckily the new hotel is only a few minutes drive away

 

[Tatooine_legend1]

Has anyone been to Jordan? It's only around 5 hours from London non-stop. I have wanted to visit Wadi Rum and Petra for a while. Apparently you can stay at the desert camps too, which would be a nice experience I'd imagine.

 

[JE172]

Looking at booking Budapest for a weekend in February, just hope it’s not too grey and depressing at that time of year! Was meant to be going to Copenhagen on Friday but cancelling as dogs not been well so looking at Budapest as a replacement trip!

We went in February this year and the weather was gorgeous, cold but sunny and dry so great for sightseeing. We did an evening river cruise in a covered boat as it would have been too cold otherwise. We stayed at the Mercury city centre which was a great location.