Holidays 2023

That's the same traveling time as driving up from here in the Morvan to Calais. We had wondered if a house in Brittany might have been closer , but from the sound of things probably not.

Out of interest, if you self-catered, how did you find food prices and quality? I ask because the price of fruit and veg here seems higher while the quality is much lower than I'm used to - both Intermarche and E.Leclerc. Haven't managed to get to a market yet. Meat is ok, just a bit more expensive.
 
ancient_mariner said:
That's the same traveling time as driving up from here in the Morvan to Calais. We had wondered if a house in Brittany might have been closer , but from the sound of things probably not.

Out of interest, if you self-catered, how did you find food prices and quality? I ask because the price of fruit and veg here seems higher while the quality is much lower than I'm used to - both Intermarche and E.Leclerc. Haven't managed to get to a market yet. Meat is ok, just a bit more expensive.
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Food quality was really good, from both local shops and large supermarkets. Slightly more expensive, but worth paying for the quality. The local market was asking ridiculous prices for fruit and veg. The fish, ham and deli produce in French supermarkets seems to be consistently good.
 
Meat and deli stuff is great. I'm wondering if it a seasonal and local produce thing - there was lots of salad stuff, but peas, beans, peppers were all imported and disappointing.
 
andya700 said:
Food quality was really good, from both local shops and large supermarkets. Slightly more expensive, but worth paying for the quality. The local market was asking ridiculous prices for fruit and veg. The fish, ham and deli produce in French supermarkets seems to be consistently good.
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The local markets in Chania (Crete) were extremely cheap for fruit and vegetables. Around €1.5/kg for tomatoes and peaches/nectarines. Didn't look at meat or fish since although we were self catering, we let other do all the cooking (and, more importantly, the washing up!!!) The quality of the F&V was great and one stall holder even gave us a couple of very ripe peaches after we had paid, with the advice to eat them that day - better than him throwing them away, I suppose!
 
just got back from Italy, first time driving abroad and for anyone worried about driving over there, don't be! I did 1100km and in all honesty found it better than here! There was only a couple of occasions, one a van driver opening his door onto me as I drove past, but he held his hands up and apologised, and only 3 or 4 cars burning up behind me, but if you either pull over a little and let them past or get into the right lane quickly there's no issue at all. Take a small car though, I was upgraded from a Focus to an SUV for free but , while it was a lovely car, was totally unsuitable for the town roads and single lane roads around Lake Como. Stay small and you'll be fine :)
 
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AshleyC said:
just got back from Italy, first time driving abroad and for anyone worried about driving over there, don't be! I did 1100km and in all honesty found it better than here! There was only a couple of occasions, one a van driver opening his door onto me as I drove past, but he held his hands up and apologised, and only 3 or 4 cars burning up behind me, but if you either pull over a little and let them past or get into the right lane quickly there's no issue at all. Take a small car though, I was upgraded from a Focus to an SUV for free but , while it was a lovely car, was totally unsuitable for the town roads and single lane roads around Lake Como. Stay small and you'll be fine :)
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Or go on a motorbike! ;)
 
Too hot in Crete for a bike. Well, for decent riding clobber anyway! And I wouldn't want to ride there in less than leathers and Kevlar with a full face lid!!!

Completely agree with Ashley's "take a small car" comment - far easier to squeeze through gaps on narrow roads and I can put up with slumming it for a week or 3!
 
So what has everyone got planned for next year then? I’m still making plans.
 
Usual Crete trips in June and late Summer, possibly a few filthy 48s long weekends away once Mrs Nod has her weekends free again.
 
mj4456 said:
Off to Madeira week on Monday,
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One of our favourite places - I envy you.... Maybe year after next.

I don't know if you are in Funchal, but if you are, am I allowed to put a good word in for Restaurante Londres. NOT posh, but great value, excellent food (go when your're hungry), and where the locals eat? (Its opposite the late and much lamented Madeira Photography Museum - Atelier Vincente's) Actually this "might" have re-opened?
 
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Nod said:
Usual Crete trips in June and late Summer, possibly a few filthy 48s long weekends away once Mrs Nod has her weekends free again.
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Just booked our June trip to Crete- a bit of a tour along the north coast from Chania to Agia Pelagia vis Rethymno.

Agia was sadly the worst hit in recent bad weather but they should have it all tided up by next year. Went June and October this year but maybe only once next year as I want to go back to Croatia again.
 
Winter sun in February for Mrs Mariner's 60th birthday o_O then back to the French house in April or May to see what the builders have done.
 
well im sick of the cold and the doom and gloom of the new prime minister already so booked a quick week away mid November to Cyprus for me, the missus, all the kids and grandchildren...never been before, be good just to unwind in the sun( hopefully) and drink a few beers with the family...who knows by the time i get back we might have another prime minister
 
Moved my Kos week from last month due to partner having covid 2 days prior to travelling. Have now got 2 weeks in the same apartment for an extra £199 at the end of June ... bonus!:)

Currently in the process of booking 3 weeks in Oz in February, flights are blooming dear though.
 
Brendan Mulachy said:
well im sick of the cold and the doom and gloom of the new prime minister already so booked a quick week away mid November to Cyprus for me, the missus, all the kids and grandchildren...never been before, be good just to unwind in the sun( hopefully) and drink a few beers with the family...who knows by the time i get back we might have another prime minister
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Last time we went abroad, we came back to both a new PM and Monarch!
 
Whitefiver said:
One of our favourite places - I envy you.... Maybe year after next.I don't know if you are in Funchal, but if you are, am I allowed to put a good word in for Restaurante Londres. NOT posh, but great value, excellent food (go when your're hungry), and where the locals eat? (Its opposite the late and much lamented Madeira Photography Museum - Atelier Vincente's) Actually this "might" have re-opened?
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Yep in Funchal, staying in Penha de Franca -not far from Ronaldo's hotel- so easy walk to town, will check out that place, always like recommendations, know a couple of good places since we've been to the island before but thanks, more the merrier.
 
Not a "holiday" but after 4x14 hour NHS NICU shifts, I need a short break. Tonight, a little 5 van site (no one else here) and the pub with food and real ale is literally 100 yards away and its very rural! Tomorrow night? Dunno yet!

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Booked 15 days at the end of June...

Day one 300 miles 5hrs 11 drive to Travelodge Ashford .. (Booked)

Day 2 our first ever channel tunnel crossing (Booked £220 -always used ferry before) and drive to Luxembourg northern quarter. aftrenoon stop then continue to top end of Black Forest just before Stuttgart for Best Western Hotel Total 441 miles 7hrs 7 mins drive (avoiding tolls)

Day 3 Drive 388 miles 7hr 2 min drive time to Rum/Innsbruck where we have booked a flat (first floor or 2 floor building) for 9 nights/10 days stay... Mountian views from own balcony and a sauna :) its a 8 minute walk to station and 9 minute train into center of innsbruck)
While there we will go for an overnight stay in venice... Not booked this yet as cant see train times so will decide if 4 hr drive or train in new year) also planned outings to switzerland and other places ...

3 day trip back but havent organised that yet :) but channell tunnel and same tarvelodge in ashton booked.. just need overnight stay and different route from innsbruck to calaise

car serviced and proper full check before going.. also as am in RAC goingfor there holiday abroad package.. 320 quid i think and your covered for everyhting inc rent car to see your holiday out .. Its a BMW 320d 2 ltr diesel but its old.. however... I drive a thousand miles in a weekend no problem and its 1100 miles to innsbruck so shouldnt be too much of a problem..

I am lucky that i love driving.. Because I ahve never been on or will ever go on a plane :)

Anyhone drove a simmilar route? I ahve driven around europe before but mainly france and spain

PS this was a holiday planned just before covid and was going to be for a month.. had to tone it down to 2 weeks.... I like the look of innsbruck and its a good point to go places from... Top of my list is venice .. long time desire... finally get there :)
 
A mate of mine drove to Venice from Milan and wished he'd taken the train. That was a few years ago though so things may have changed.
 
Nod said:
A mate of mine drove to Venice from Milan and wished he'd taken the train. That was a few years ago though so things may have changed.
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Did he say why.. Doesn't make any sense otherwise :)
 
Being able to take in the scenery rather than getting white line fever and parking at Venice IIRC.
 
I watched the Ben Fogle programme about Cyprus and was amazed at the "buffer zone"! My father served there in 45/46 and I have never been. Such a beautiful island, spoiled by politics and war. As Ringo says, "Peace and Love!"
 
Nod said:
Being able to take in the scenery rather than getting white line fever and parking at Venice IIRC.
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We had a car when traveling around Sorrento, Naples, Positano etc. Parking was a real nightmare, and we failed twice to get into Sorrento because the traffic was so heavy and the town was gridlocked. Rome was actually quiet *by comparison*. I got a parking fine in Vico Equense for parking with the locals. This shouldn't be an issue for Kipax, of course.

Not everyone likes driving, and also not everyone is happy being a passenger - my wife hates doing the drive to/from the house in france (510 miles, 10-12 hours actual travelling time) because she gets so uncomfy. OTOH I've had friends do the drive to Italy in a single session, their family having become used to mega roadtrips across Africa.
 
ancient_mariner said:
We had a car when traveling around Sorrento, Naples, Positano etc. Parking was a real nightmare, and we failed twice to get into Sorrento because the traffic was so heavy and the town was gridlocked. Rome was actually quiet *by comparison*. I got a parking fine in Vico Equense for parking with the locals. This shouldn't be an issue for Kipax, of course.

Not everyone likes driving, and also not everyone is happy being a passenger - my wife hates doing the drive to/from the house in france (510 miles, 10-12 hours actual travelling time) because she gets so uncomfy. OTOH I've had friends do the drive to Italy in a single session, their family having become used to mega roadtrips across Africa.
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My wife actually likes being a passenger so that also handy :) juts a shame she wont drive my car.. she has a peogot 207 and wont drive anything bigger :( I think 7 hrs a day will be enough at my age.. might get a bit too tired any more :) i quite regular travel 3 + hrs to a football game and back same day so treating it same... like calais to stuttgart wiht a couple of hrs in luxembourge about half way
 
KIPAX said:
My wife actually likes being a passenger so that also handy :) juts a shame she wont drive my car.. she has a peogot 207 and wont drive anything bigger :( I think 7 hrs a day will be enough at my age.. might get a bit too tired any more :) i quite regular travel 3 + hrs to a football game and back same day so treating it same... like calais to stuttgart wiht a couple of hrs in luxembourge about half way
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That's a good way to break it up. We've done road-trips across the Canadian Rockies, and will always try for a decent lunchtime stop at midday, plus mid-morning and mid-afternoon. For the big drives, it's almost always the last couple of hours that are toughest, especially if they're in traffic jams on the M25 by Heathrow..
 
ancient_mariner said:
That's a good way to break it up. We've done road-trips across the Canadian Rockies, and will always try for a decent lunchtime stop at midday, plus mid-morning and mid-afternoon. For the big drives, it's almost always the last couple of hours that are toughest, especially if they're in traffic jams on the M25 by Heathrow..
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We will see plenty of scenery.. lots of places to stop for pics:) We once did Inverness to Glasgow down the very scenic A82 route a 4 hrs drive took us 11 hrs haha.. just stopped at everyhting we saw :)
 
KIPAX said:
Booked 15 days at the end of June...
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Well our big adventure to innsbruck and surrounding (venice, switz etc) sneaked up in price... We knew it would but before spends and food its now £3k ... I thought 2 to 2.5 .. I should ahve known better really.. every holiday it sneaks up with bits and bats... just renewed the passports 75 quid each erk...
 
I'd be taking sarnies and a flask of coffee to Venice too!
 
Just booked a week away for my wife’s birthday. We’ve had a really busy year one way or another so just wanted to slob out in the sun for a while. Only issue is she was born in January so I’m a bit limited for somewhere warm to take her. Finally settled on Cape Verde Islands. Neither of us have been before but it looks ok and we should be getting high 20s temperature wise.
 
we're heading to South Korea basing ourselves in Seoul for 13 nights at the end of March, Currently planning our day's/ Evenings to be able to fully explore the food (alcohol), History and Culture of the country. . after that summer will probably be a weekend in Wales in the campervan....
 
Having not been abroad for so many years my passport had well and truly run out... just over 75 quid for a new one but aftre all the stories I was impressed that 9 days later its just landed on my doorstep :) Very quick..

Dumb question... Do they now stamp your passport for each country like the old days?
 
KIPAX said:
Having not been abroad for so many years my passport had well and truly run out... just over 75 quid for a new one but aftre all the stories I was impressed that 9 days later its just landed on my doorstep :) Very quick..

Dumb question... Do they now stamp your passport for each country like the old days?
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Yes, now after brexit they do, always did in USA too
 
Really struggling with holidays - cost of flights seems a lot more than last year. Plus still undecided about what to do. Was thinking USA but need to do some work in the house. Greece looks possible, maybe with a few weekend trips and a week in Cornwall
 
KIPAX said:
Having not been abroad for so many years my passport had well and truly run out... just over 75 quid for a new one but aftre all the stories I was impressed that 9 days later its just landed on my doorstep :) Very quick..

Dumb question... Do they now stamp your passport for each country like the old days?
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They're supposed to but don't always... Caused a slight (minute or 2) delay in September when the officiousal couldn't find my entry stamp from 3 weeks before (long delay and late night meant that it apparently didn't get stamped on entry...) and we'd been in June as well so it could appear that we had overstayed. This was Greece (Crete).

FWIW, a long weekend in Edinburgh was the same cost as a week in Crete - and we had a car in Crete.
 
KIPAX said:
Dumb question... Do they now stamp your passport for each country like the old days?
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Yes at the point of entry to the Schengen zone, but not usually between countries within.
 
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