Suggestions for a last minute photography based holiday please

[Patrick1964]

We're looking to go away for a week in September on a low budget. Ideally we'd go back to Havana for a week but the boss won't wear the expense, so I'm looking for suggestions. So far I'm thinking Iceland (but it may be too expensive), Georgia or Skye. Any suggestions ?

 

[Hairyduck]

Iceland is probably more expensive than havana!

How about doing some nice lanscapes in wales, the lakes or scotland. Or a city break to Paris for some street photography or something?

Depends what you like to take pics of really?

 

[mattmajor]

paris isnt cheap :/
but sure enough you can find something great here in the UK
Just hunt around for some bargains!!

 

[MisterE]

Santorini. Never been there but I'd love to try it.

 

[DaveRed]

I'm also in the market for a last minute holiday in sept. Santorini is on the short list too, as is Kefalonia.

 

[EMA747]

Patrick, I went to Iceland for four day about 3 weeks ago and it was fantasic. I didn't find it that expensive at all to be honest. Maybe only 10-20% more than in the UK. The economic trouble in their country has made the exchange rate very good for us from the UK. I read before we went that this is THE best time there has ever been to visit Iceland but to the lower than normal prices.
If you are thinking about going I would say DO IT. The country is outstanding for togs, the people are ultra friendly and of course the scenery is breathtaking.

We got a good 4 day package deal with Icelandair. Maybe have a look around their website.

 

[PandyD40]

How about the Chanel Islands, great scenery, interesting history and close to France for a day trip. I love Jersey, see what you think!

 

[redhed17]

I'm off to Venice at the beginning of Sept. Flight was only £80 all in.

I'm staying in Venice itself, but if you stay in Marghera or Mestre just on the mainland, you can get somewhere really cheap. And the train into Venice is just €1.

If it's Photography you're after Venice is hard to beat.

As with any place, it can be as cheap as you want it to be, go in and out of bars all day and the costs can rocket, stock up in the supermarkets and it's quite reasonable. I do the latter. Depends on how much you want to spend, and what kind of holiday you want. :shrug:

Barcelona and Rome are also nice places to think about.

For somewhere a bit different, Krakow is nice and relaxing and wasn't that expensive when I went a few years ago, though I don't know how the exchange rate has gone.

For somewhere really cheap try Kaunas and Riga.

I think your options may depend where you're flying from too.

 

[Arkady]

Right now I'd choose Pakistan...

 

[Briony]

Some fantastic deal at the mo I was offered 14 night all inc to Jamaica yesterday for £995.

Kenya has some good deals at the moment also.

 

[jamesb84]

Right now I'd choose Pakistan...

You know if it wasn't for the plane crashes, flooding and links to terrorism I wouldn't mind going to Pakistan. Supposed to be an amazing country in terms of scenery.

You've not been have you?!

I still want to go to India and see where my gran grew up...but it's the expense, and the remote-ness...Darjeeling involves about 5 trains and a moped.

 

[Arkady]

You know if it wasn't for the plane crashes, flooding and links to terrorism I wouldn't mind going to Pakistan. Supposed to be an amazing country in terms of scenery.

You've not been have you?!

I still want to go to India and see where my gran grew up...but it's the expense, and the remote-ness...Darjeeling involves about 5 trains and a moped.

I was thinking more for the flooding, plane crashes and terrorism...lol

Swat Valley looks good, much like the other side of the border in Afghanistan, obviously, where I have been...

For a busman's holiday them I'd like to 'do' the Ho Chi Minh trail going north to south...

 

[jamesb84]

I was thinking more for the flooding, plane crashes and terrorism...lol

Swat Valley looks good, much like the other side of the border in Afghanistan, obviously, where I have been...

For a busman's holiday them I'd like to 'do' the Ho Chi Minh trail going north to south...

Well yes, that certainly makes for a good photo holiday!

I found myself watching BBC News this morning and seeing Mazar-i-Sharif and thinking "one day that will be an amazing tourist destination".

I've toyed with the idea of Vietnam, if only for the food and the photography.

 

[Arkady]

Well yes, that certainly makes for a good photo holiday!

I found myself watching BBC News this morning and seeing Mazar-i-Sharif and thinking "one day that will be an amazing tourist destination".

I've toyed with the idea of Vietnam, if only for the food and the photography.

MES (Masar-e-Sharif) as we call, it is pretty cool...at the airport (single runway) there are lots of old MiGs and Ilyushins bulldozed into the weeds at one end and the most fabulous terminal building - straight out of Beau Geste...Unfortunately overshadowed by the NATO base nearly which was manned by Spanish troops when I was there last - excellent - the (very fit/tidy/sultry/gorgeous - you name it) female troops all wore skin-tight under-armour t-shirts and no bras...

The Blue Mosque is one of Islam's main holy sites that Hajj Pilgrims are all supoosed to visit, so the infrastructure in MES itself is very good.
You used to be able to pick up a $5000 rug for $50, but that's all changed as merchants realised how much money they were missing out on - they had no idea of the prices commanded by their products in the West...
The surrounding countryside is green and lush with mountains to the South which are an amazing shade of purple at twilight...it was wierd being surrounded by green when we'd previously been surrounded by brown...

 

[petersmart]

You know if it wasn't for the plane crashes, flooding and links to terrorism I wouldn't mind going to Pakistan. Supposed to be an amazing country in terms of scenery.

You've not been have you?!

I still want to go to India and see where my gran grew up...but it's the expense, and the remote-ness...Darjeeling involves about 5 trains and a moped.

Many years ago (approx 35) I went to India by coach and buses.

Six of us got to Peshawar (on the Afghanistan border) in the evening and we'd planned to stay there a few days before travelling on to India.

As soon as we got to Peshawar we decided to leave - immediately!

Everyone was carrying guns - even little kids had guns - and they weren't plastic imitations!

I have never seen such an assortment either - from modern guns to old blunderbusses - but they all looked capable of inflicting severe damage.

We left that night - but it was a real eye opener as to the sort of people they were - scary!

.

 

[Arkady]

Many years ago (approx 35) I went to India by coach and buses.

Six of us got to Peshawar (on the Afghanistan border) in the evening and we'd planned to stay there a few days before travelling on to India.

As soon as we got to Peshawar we decided to leave - immediately!

Everyone was carrying guns - even little kids had guns - and they weren't plastic imitations!

I have never seen such an assortment either - from modern guns to old blunderbusses - but they all looked capable of inflicting severe damage.

We left that night - but it was a real eye opener as to the sort of people they were - scary!

.

Cultural: Real men carry guns...
Arguments involving personal honour are dealt with as a matter of life and death - and frequently result in the latter for at least one party...

Also it's considered bad manners to rob a traveller within the confines of the village - Islam emphasises hospitality towards stangers...
But...
The same villagers that warmly greeted you the night before, fed and sheltered you, will see nothing out of the ordinary in ambushing you a few miles outside the village, robbing you of all posessions, cutting your throat and leaving your naked body in a ditch.

As they see it: You should have been carrying a gun, see, you silly tourist...
It's what real men do here...

 

[Darren1978]

I'm also in the market for a last minute holiday in sept. Santorini is on the short list too, as is Kefalonia.

Santorini is fantastic...went there a couple of years ago with my girlfriend and it was the best holiday I have ever been on...the island was just superb, had such a good feel about it!

On a photography note, you should take plenty of memory cards, photo opportunities around every corner

 

[akr]

I'm off to Corsica in Sept. You can fly on easyjet then make your way around the Island easily on car. Great scenic beaches, mountainous interior, historic towns. Our flights were £75 each return (quite a few months ago mind) on easyjet.

You say budget, but what is the budget you had in mind? Plenty of places in the UK to explore then as well.

 

[Bail]

How about the Chanel Islands, great scenery, interesting history and close to France for a day trip. I love Jersey, see what you think!

Choose somewhere with some sun, Jersey is dull at the moment.

 

[Arkady]

Zadar on the Croatian (Dalmatian) coast is currently £22 return from Stanstead via Ryanair...like Greece but better...

 

[purpleclouds]

Ryanair got some great offers on at the moment. I booked 4 flights for October to go to Dublin and Bratislava (tying them both in with some work) for £66. Can't argue with that

For somewhere a bit different, Krakow is nice and relaxing and wasn't that expensive when I went a few years ago, though I don't know how the exchange rate has gone.

Redhed, the exchange rate at the moment isn't too bad I don't think - £1 = 4.6PLN. I know it used to be around and above 5.. but it had dropped down to almost 4. I love Krakow though, very cheap (and extremely cheap if you know the right places!) and so much to see and do. Been 6 times in 2 years and still want to go back again and again

 

[purpleclouds]

I've toyed with the idea of Vietnam, if only for the food and the photography.

I didn't book return Air Asia X flights from Stanstead to Kuala Lumpur then onward to Vietnam for £219 once. I still kick myself for that.

 

[Yardbent]

Prague............110%

 

[Arkady]

Prague............110%

10 years ago maybe - too expensive now though.
I'd opt for the Baltic states now - Vilnius is the new Prague (though they've banned stag-parties there so it's even better!!!)

 

[gman]

Zadar on the Croatian (Dalmatian) coast is currently £22 return from Stanstead via Ryanair...like Greece but better...

Haven't been to Zadar, but went to Cavtat just south of Dubrovnik last year and loved it. You can even hire a car and visit Bosnia for the day, in particular Mostar Bridge.

Oh, just one other thing....probably not best to bring the camera out when sunbathing

 

[Nick T]

Marrakech?