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LongLensPhotography

LongLensPhotography

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I am having a difficult time making the decisions.
The criteria is simple - it has to be interesting, picturesque, active and affordable. The timeframe is pretty much from now to the end of autumn, maybe except March.

I have some options short-listed:

  1. Local: Cornwall, Snowdownia, Skomer
  2. Lakes and Scotland
  3. Norway: Tromso for Northern lights
  4. Iceland
  5. Greece: Santorini, the rest of Crete and other islands (spring only)
  6. Northern Italy / Alps

No 1 I can probably handle in a couple days / on the weekend
No2 would be a joint project and would be driving up north, with intention to spend 5-7 days there. In both cases, what's the best plan about the hotels while keeping within budget. I am aware that the costs may be significantly higher than going abroad and very concerned about it.

No 3. I am pretty determined to get there at some point during the winter season. I am not aware of any direct flights, so would it make sense to drive there? What about hotels and other expenses? I'd be looking at a minimum of 4-7d there. I would be looking to share hotel / car rental with a group of people.

No 4. An alternative to 3, but this maybe a summer destination to catch the arctic sun. With easyjet flights starting from april this looks much cheaper and easier than norway. What about the rest?

No 5. The big question is - do I actually want a 'proper' holiday instead? April/May sounds like a no brainer avoiding the heat and high season prices. Easyjet flights to Crete are OK. 7d.

No 6. Proably a long road trip via France stopping over at all nice locations. I dread to think but this may last longer than I'd want.


So what would you take / do? I suppose I'll do 1+2 when I figure out the best options, and at least one of 3-6, but which?

In 2013 I hoping to go to the US, but that's a long way away and not certain.
 
Even May in Crete isn't too hot - hell, we go in early June and although I'm a fat beggar, I can handle it.

Never heard anyone say that the EasyJet flights were good though.
 
Nod said:
Even May in Crete isn't too hot - hell, we go in early June and although I'm a fat beggar, I can handle it.

Never heard anyone say that the EasyJet flights were good though.
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Been there last year in July (conference) to realise I can't stand anything over +24C, and with little vegetation left by then I'd probably opt for Iceland instead. 'Can handle it' is not something I am looking for - it has to be holiday.

Easyjet is fine - affordable and get you from A to B without much hassle, unlike many other airlines and package tour operators.
 
Yup, July can get too hot even for the locals.We always make sure the car and all rooms have AC, so we have somewhere cool to escape to should we miscalculate.

My EasyJet comment was based purely on conversations with other people in Crete who had less than ideal journeys.
 
I went to Tromso in Norway almost 10 yrs ago now, but I was there for the summer solstice (which is also something to experience).

Back then there was no direct flights at all, I flew from Newcastle, and changed in Stavanger, Oslo and then upto Tromso; there are direct flights to Oslo from London. Ryan Air used to fly to Torp which is about an hour or so south of Oslo, but don't know if this route is still in operation.

The roads away from the cities are kept clear of drifts, but they run on compacted snow and ice on studded tyres at fairly normal driving speeds (think 50kph - 80kph). Generaly out of town everyone drives down the centre of the road where there is less accumulated snow; when they meet an oncoming vehicle, they each move over to their side of the road and slow down a little. It is pretty stressfull when you are not used to it, especially if the weather turns and visibility drops.
 
If you go for no2 and are concerned about hotel costs, it may be worth waiting till nearer the time and looking on laterooms and booking hotels that way, although it may be worth once seeing a hotel on there to give the hotel a bell to book as lateroom book the room on your behalf and add their cut to the price, I found out when I asked for a reciept for work and the room was less than the price that lateroom charged me.
 
Instead of the massively expensive Norway look into kiruna in northern Sweden. Loads of tourist info on the web- can't wait to go there!
 
Darthchaffinch said:
Instead of the massively expensive Norway look into kiruna in northern Sweden. Loads of tourist info on the web- can't wait to go there!
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Thanks for the tip. Sadly I can't find a direct / cheap flight that way...

I guess I will have to postpone Norway and get to Iceland first.

Now, should I take Greece or Iceland for April/May? Two very different choices.
 
The only destination I can comment on is Scotland.

If you are thinking of going to the north of Scotland for a week or less then have a look at flying and hiring a car. Driving there and back will take the best part of a day out of you holiday which is significant if you may be there for only 5 of 7 days.

It does depend on when you are able to fly. If you can do mid week then there are some cheap flights. In May, for example, there are EasyJet flights from Bristol to Inverness for about £25 (note EJ have recently introduced an admin fee of £9, but it is per booking, not per flight).

Dave
 
Right, has anyone got an Iceland map with all the good locations marked? I am sure I can compile one looking through flickr, but would prefer to save some time.

Thanks for advice about Scotland. My plan is to spend a day or two in the lakes, so it is definitely driving for me, also avoiding the cost of rental (horrible petrol hungry cars quite typically).
 
I was lucky enough to work on Santorini last summer for 2 weeks and it is a gorgeous island. I have visited many different Greek Islands and I love them all in different ways but Santorini was a great experience.

I was there during July/Aug and it was incredibly hot as you would expect but not unbearable. The old town of Thira was an amazing place and the sunset was better than I expected.

Love the people on these islands, very laid back and really friendly. Could be Skiathos for me this year, with a bit of luck.
 
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