NPR

Slick wrote: Fri Jan 27, 2023 2:50 pm Thinking of taking the wife to San Sebastián for her birthday in April but finding it very difficult to find decent flights from Edinburgh. Anyone got any ideas? I presumed you flew into either Bilbao or Biarritz and drove but not really getting anything

Also, recommended restaurants?

Blackmac wrote: Fri Jan 27, 2023 5:30 pm

Slick wrote: Fri Jan 27, 2023 2:50 pm Thinking of taking the wife to San Sebastián for her birthday in April but finding it very difficult to find decent flights from Edinburgh. Anyone got any ideas? I presumed you flew into either Bilbao or Biarritz and drove but not really getting anything

Also, recommended restaurants?

As an alternative, we have been to Santander a couple of times from Edinburgh. Brilliant little city.

Slick wrote: Tue Nov 08, 2022 7:37 am

Dinsdale Piranha wrote: Tue Nov 08, 2022 1:16 am

Blackmac wrote: Mon Nov 07, 2022 11:28 pm We've booked 5 days in Marrakesh in December. We have hired a guide for the first day to get our bearings but any advice would be appreciated.

As you have a few days, take a trip to the High Atlas mountains. They're really not far from Marrakesh.

Maybe lunch here :

https://kasbahtoubkal.com/

This is worth a look if you are in the area :

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tinmal_Mosque

Yes, 100% do this

Blackmac wrote: Fri Jan 27, 2023 7:07 pm

Slick wrote: Tue Nov 08, 2022 7:37 am

Dinsdale Piranha wrote: Tue Nov 08, 2022 1:16 am
As you have a few days, take a trip to the High Atlas mountains. They're really not far from Marrakesh.

Maybe lunch here :

https://kasbahtoubkal.com/

This is worth a look if you are in the area :

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tinmal_Mosque

Yes, 100% do this

Yep, had a great day trip into the Atlas Mountains. We were right in the middle of the Medinah in Marrakesh and if i am being honest it was quite hard work. It was nice to experience the culture and we were there for the WC semi final, but it's not somewhere I would rush back to.

GogLais wrote: Fri Jan 27, 2023 7:40 pm

Blackmac wrote: Fri Jan 27, 2023 7:07 pm

Slick wrote: Tue Nov 08, 2022 7:37 am

Yes, 100% do this

Yep, had a great day trip into the Atlas Mountains. We were right in the middle of the Medinah in Marrakesh and if i am being honest it was quite hard work. It was nice to experience the culture and we were there for the WC semi final, but it's not somewhere I would rush back to.

I know it’s a different culture but I quickly became sick to death of being fleeced by taxi drivers, so-called guides, etc.

GogLais wrote: Fri Jan 27, 2023 7:40 pm

Blackmac wrote: Fri Jan 27, 2023 7:07 pm

Slick wrote: Tue Nov 08, 2022 7:37 am

Yes, 100% do this

Yep, had a great day trip into the Atlas Mountains. We were right in the middle of the Medinah in Marrakesh and if i am being honest it was quite hard work. It was nice to experience the culture and we were there for the WC semi final, but it's not somewhere I would rush back to.

I know it’s a different culture but I quickly became sick to death of being fleeced by taxi drivers, so-called guides, etc.

GogLais wrote: Fri Jan 27, 2023 7:40 pm

Blackmac wrote: Fri Jan 27, 2023 7:07 pm

Slick wrote: Tue Nov 08, 2022 7:37 am

Yes, 100% do this

Yep, had a great day trip into the Atlas Mountains. We were right in the middle of the Medinah in Marrakesh and if i am being honest it was quite hard work. It was nice to experience the culture and we were there for the WC semi final, but it's not somewhere I would rush back to.

I know it’s a different culture but I quickly became sick to death of being fleeced by taxi drivers, so-called guides, etc.

Blackmac wrote: Fri Jan 27, 2023 9:12 pm

GogLais wrote: Fri Jan 27, 2023 7:40 pm

Blackmac wrote: Fri Jan 27, 2023 7:07 pm

Yep, had a great day trip into the Atlas Mountains. We were right in the middle of the Medinah in Marrakesh and if i am being honest it was quite hard work. It was nice to experience the culture and we were there for the WC semi final, but it's not somewhere I would rush back to.

I know it’s a different culture but I quickly became sick to death of being fleeced by taxi drivers, so-called guides, etc.

Yeah I'm the same, I'm pretty shrewd and balshy enough to talk myself out of most situations but it does get bloody tiresome.

Blackmac wrote: Fri Jan 27, 2023 9:13 pm

Blackmac wrote: Fri Jan 27, 2023 9:12 pm

GogLais wrote: Fri Jan 27, 2023 7:40 pm
I know it’s a different culture but I quickly became sick to death of being fleeced by taxi drivers, so-called guides, etc.

Yeah I'm the same, I'm pretty shrewd and balshy enough to talk myself out of most situations but it does get bloody tiresome.

Plus I got bit by a fucking camel which isn't to be recommended.

GogLais wrote: Wed Apr 20, 2022 12:42 pm

Kawazaki wrote: Wed Apr 20, 2022 9:03 am

GogLais wrote: Wed Apr 20, 2022 7:46 am

Approx what age?

6 and 11, both girls.

Nothing secret that you wouldn’t find on Google but …
Llandudno has a little pier and you can go up the Great Orme headland by funicular and cable car. Not sure - there might be a traditional Punch and Judy sometimes.
Conwy has the castle and walls and is a nice little town as well.
Ditto for Beaumaris with boat trips from the pier. There’s a butterfly place by Menai Bridge called Pili Palas but I’ve never been there. The Sea Zoo on Anglesey is really good. Fine beaches at Llanddwyn and Rhosneigr.
There are the well known narrow gauge railways. Might be too old for them but there’s some sort of trampoline place in the old slate mines at Blaenau Ffestiniog.

Uncle fester wrote: Sat Sep 16, 2023 4:58 pm Betws-y-Coed a bit away from sea but looks nice?

8 year old in tow btw.

Biffer wrote: Fri Sep 22, 2023 6:56 pm Spent the week in Matera, Southern Italy for work reasons. Absolutely lovely, would very much recommend it.

Hugo wrote: Wed Jan 24, 2024 4:15 pm Bump. Not sure if this is the correct thread to use (just did a search) hope so.......

Going to Hanoi in November for a week..... It was a coin toss between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh city but we opted for the former given it is more of the traditional, old world Vietnamese city.

If we are there for seven days is it worth doing the train to HCM city given it takes fully 35 hours or would it be better to stay local and do day trips in and around Hanoi? I mean if we do the train to HCM city and back thats fully 70 hours on a train, or three days, on a seven day holiday that doesn't really seem doable.

Anyone have any thoughts/suggestions?

Slick wrote: Wed Jan 24, 2024 4:21 pm

Hugo wrote: Wed Jan 24, 2024 4:15 pm Bump. Not sure if this is the correct thread to use (just did a search) hope so.......

Going to Hanoi in November for a week..... It was a coin toss between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh city but we opted for the former given it is more of the traditional, old world Vietnamese city.

If we are there for seven days is it worth doing the train to HCM city given it takes fully 35 hours or would it be better to stay local and do day trips in and around Hanoi? I mean if we do the train to HCM city and back thats fully 70 hours on a train, or three days, on a seven day holiday that doesn't really seem doable.

Anyone have any thoughts/suggestions?

Definitely the right choice to pick Hanoi and definitely not worth that trip to SGN on that timeframe when you can get out to Halong Bay and up into the mountains from Hanoi

Slick wrote: Wed Jan 24, 2024 4:21 pm

Hugo wrote: Wed Jan 24, 2024 4:15 pm Bump. Not sure if this is the correct thread to use (just did a search) hope so.......

Going to Hanoi in November for a week..... It was a coin toss between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh city but we opted for the former given it is more of the traditional, old world Vietnamese city.

If we are there for seven days is it worth doing the train to HCM city given it takes fully 35 hours or would it be better to stay local and do day trips in and around Hanoi? I mean if we do the train to HCM city and back thats fully 70 hours on a train, or three days, on a seven day holiday that doesn't really seem doable.

Anyone have any thoughts/suggestions?

Definitely the right choice to pick Hanoi and definitely not worth that trip to SGN on that timeframe when you can get out to Halong Bay and up into the mountains from Hanoi

Dinsdale Piranha wrote: Wed Jan 24, 2024 4:36 pm

Slick wrote: Wed Jan 24, 2024 4:21 pm

Hugo wrote: Wed Jan 24, 2024 4:15 pm Bump. Not sure if this is the correct thread to use (just did a search) hope so.......

Going to Hanoi in November for a week..... It was a coin toss between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh city but we opted for the former given it is more of the traditional, old world Vietnamese city.

If we are there for seven days is it worth doing the train to HCM city given it takes fully 35 hours or would it be better to stay local and do day trips in and around Hanoi? I mean if we do the train to HCM city and back thats fully 70 hours on a train, or three days, on a seven day holiday that doesn't really seem doable.

Anyone have any thoughts/suggestions?

Definitely the right choice to pick Hanoi and definitely not worth that trip to SGN on that timeframe when you can get out to Halong Bay and up into the mountains from Hanoi

Good choice on Hanoi, also a good choice to plan some trips.

You might consider a trip to Hoi An which is about halfway. There are also some very impressive caves at Phong Na if that's your sort of thing.

Sapa is the main tourist town in the mountains. It was getting a little too busy for me last time I was there.

Stranger wrote: Wed Jan 24, 2024 4:57 pm

Dinsdale Piranha wrote: Wed Jan 24, 2024 4:36 pm

Slick wrote: Wed Jan 24, 2024 4:21 pm

Definitely the right choice to pick Hanoi and definitely not worth that trip to SGN on that timeframe when you can get out to Halong Bay and up into the mountains from Hanoi

Good choice on Hanoi, also a good choice to plan some trips.

You might consider a trip to Hoi An which is about halfway. There are also some very impressive caves at Phong Na if that's your sort of thing.

Sapa is the main tourist town in the mountains. It was getting a little too busy for me last time I was there.

Hoi An was great when I was there - 22 years ago

Hugo wrote: Wed Jan 24, 2024 4:15 pm Bump. Not sure if this is the correct thread to use (just did a search) hope so.......

Going to Hanoi in November for a week..... It was a coin toss between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh city but we opted for the former given it is more of the traditional, old world Vietnamese city.

If we are there for seven days is it worth doing the train to HCM city given it takes fully 35 hours or would it be better to stay local and do day trips in and around Hanoi? I mean if we do the train to HCM city and back thats fully 70 hours on a train, or three days, on a seven day holiday that doesn't really seem doable.

Anyone have any thoughts/suggestions?

Glaston wrote: Wed Jan 24, 2024 7:58 pm

Hugo wrote: Wed Jan 24, 2024 4:15 pm Bump. Not sure if this is the correct thread to use (just did a search) hope so.......

Going to Hanoi in November for a week..... It was a coin toss between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh city but we opted for the former given it is more of the traditional, old world Vietnamese city.

If we are there for seven days is it worth doing the train to HCM city given it takes fully 35 hours or would it be better to stay local and do day trips in and around Hanoi? I mean if we do the train to HCM city and back thats fully 70 hours on a train, or three days, on a seven day holiday that doesn't really seem doable.

Anyone have any thoughts/suggestions?

Tràng An, its an Unesco World Heritage site about 100km S of Hanoi.

Cat Ba island in the Haiphong archipelago but looks like its getting very touristy.

I watched a Twitch Travel streamer who recently visited Northern Vietnam , some amazing scenery.

Hugo wrote: Mon Feb 05, 2024 11:22 pm Great advice for Vietnam, thanks all.

Quick question on Paris, Versailles and the Eiffel Tower. Taking my daughter and mum and was wondering if its worth buying tickets for both places far in advance?

We will be in Paris in August and would rather get tickets in advance so that it is all booked up but I also think it might be better to just play it by ear. Versailles in particular only give you a 30 minute window in order to enter (based on the time you booked) and that to me seems too restricting.

Sandstorm wrote: Tue Feb 06, 2024 10:39 am

Hugo wrote: Mon Feb 05, 2024 11:22 pm Great advice for Vietnam, thanks all.

Quick question on Paris, Versailles and the Eiffel Tower. Taking my daughter and mum and was wondering if its worth buying tickets for both places far in advance?

We will be in Paris in August and would rather get tickets in advance so that it is all booked up but I also think it might be better to just play it by ear. Versailles in particular only give you a 30 minute window in order to enter (based on the time you booked) and that to me seems too restricting.

ALWAYS buy tickets in advance for attractions in Europe in August! Queues will be insane and having timed entry tickets will save you hours. Showing up on the day, you probably won't even get in.

Simian wrote: Tue Feb 06, 2024 12:04 pm

Sandstorm wrote: Tue Feb 06, 2024 10:39 am

Hugo wrote: Mon Feb 05, 2024 11:22 pm Great advice for Vietnam, thanks all.

Quick question on Paris, Versailles and the Eiffel Tower. Taking my daughter and mum and was wondering if its worth buying tickets for both places far in advance?

We will be in Paris in August and would rather get tickets in advance so that it is all booked up but I also think it might be better to just play it by ear. Versailles in particular only give you a 30 minute window in order to enter (based on the time you booked) and that to me seems too restricting.

ALWAYS buy tickets in advance for attractions in Europe in August! Queues will be insane and having timed entry tickets will save you hours. Showing up on the day, you probably won't even get in.

totally

petej wrote: Tue Feb 06, 2024 4:46 pm

Simian wrote: Tue Feb 06, 2024 12:04 pm

Sandstorm wrote: Tue Feb 06, 2024 10:39 am

ALWAYS buy tickets in advance for attractions in Europe in August! Queues will be insane and having timed entry tickets will save you hours. Showing up on the day, you probably won't even get in.

totally

Suspect it will be mentaler as in early August Paris has the Olympics.

laurent wrote: Tue Feb 06, 2024 5:11 pm

petej wrote: Tue Feb 06, 2024 4:46 pm

Simian wrote: Tue Feb 06, 2024 12:04 pm

totally

Suspect it will be mentaler as in early August Paris has the Olympics.

fixed

assfly wrote: Thu Apr 18, 2024 10:41 am Next year on my way to the UK with the family I'm stopping via Frankfurt. Thinking of taking a few days to see the city and surrounding areas. Anywhere notable worth looking at? Or should I get the train down to Munich instead?

assfly wrote: Thu Apr 18, 2024 10:41 am Next year on my way to the UK with the family I'm stopping via Frankfurt. Thinking of taking a few days to see the city and surrounding areas. Anywhere notable worth looking at? Or should I get the train down to Munich instead?

petej wrote: Tue Feb 06, 2024 5:27 pm

laurent wrote: Tue Feb 06, 2024 5:11 pm

petej wrote: Tue Feb 06, 2024 4:46 pm

Suspect it will be mentaler as in early August Paris has the Olympics.

fixed

I was surprised nobody else had mentioned it tbh.

Hugo wrote: Sun Apr 21, 2024 3:10 pm The only place I have been in Germany was the Mosselle valley, on a school trip in 1992. Of course it been 30+ years but I remember it being a very nice part of the world.

Slick wrote: Sun Apr 21, 2024 6:30 pm

Hugo wrote: Sun Apr 21, 2024 3:10 pm The only place I have been in Germany was the Mosselle valley, on a school trip in 1992. Of course it been 30+ years but I remember it being a very nice part of the world.

It’s a country I’d love to see more of having really enjoyed Hamburg and really, really enjoyed Berlin (if that’s the right word for Berlin….). Trouble is I also know there are many other places I’d rather go

Dinsdale Piranha wrote: Sun Apr 21, 2024 7:53 pm

Slick wrote: Sun Apr 21, 2024 6:30 pm

Hugo wrote: Sun Apr 21, 2024 3:10 pm The only place I have been in Germany was the Mosselle valley, on a school trip in 1992. Of course it been 30+ years but I remember it being a very nice part of the world.

It’s a country I’d love to see more of having really enjoyed Hamburg and really, really enjoyed Berlin (if that’s the right word for Berlin….). Trouble is I also know there are many other places I’d rather go

I have been to Germany many times - I go most years, often Bavaria but further North as well. Berlin a couple of times. Cologne and the Ruhr frequently.

I keep going back because I keep having a good experience when I visit.