Holidays 2026

Chunes

I flew from Hong Kong to Shanghai with China Airlines. The flight was fine, but I will never forget the unidentifiable bright pink 'meat' that I was served for lunch. It looked like it was either from an animal that you wouldn't normally eat, or it had been grown in a radioactive lab.

So I recommend bringing your own snacks. 

Covered End

I'm obviously more risk adverse than people flying out to Cyprus, Turkey and Egypt. 

O-Randy-Hunt

Turkey and Cyprus are my 2 main holidays 😬

Rob7Lee

Covered End said:

I'm obviously more risk adverse than people flying out to Cyprus, Turkey and Egypt. 

I’m getting old, got to live life on the edge 🥴

SporadicAddick

O-Randy-Hunt said:

Turkey and Cyprus are my 2 main holidays 😬

And they will both be great. 

Algarveaddick

PrincessFiona said:

What are people's opinions about tipping at AI resorts?

We had a superb holiday at Secrets Maroma in Mexico last month (I highly recommend it - we have already booked to go back next year). We don't normally tip as we go at AI hotels but do tip at then end where there has been someone who has gone particularly above and beyond and leave a joint tip, to include frontline staff who miss out otherwise. The service at Maroma was exceptional across the board and pretty mich mentioned in every reviews.

I appreciate tipping is different in different countries and so nationals of different countries then have a different view on tipping, even when in other countries. The issue was Americans (in more ways than one (!) - but it is a low key, chilled resort, so that minimised the most extreme loud (and mostly annoying) behaviour. The hotel website says tips and charges are included - so factored into the price you pay, certainly from the UK, with exceptional service one of the hotel's selling points.

But the Americans still tip (every drink and every meal), and it did seem that those that tipped could get prioritised and those that tipped the most, prioritised the most - thus creating an inequality and Brits (and others) potentially looking mean/tight in comparison, although I'm sure the staff will be aware of the Americans tipping more (in frequency and amount)

That's odd. Because at regular restaurants and bars, the general attitude from Americans (and some Canadians, to be fair) when they find out tipping in Portugal isn't necessarily expected, is to take it as an excuse to give the staff sweet FA. Maybe the resort is advertised differently in the USA (the website they see might be different to the European one)? Just a thought... 

Algarveaddick

Rob7Lee said:

Algarveaddick said:

Rob7Lee said:

Algarveaddick said:

Algarveaddick said:

January - London for the Sheff Utd and Derby games, plus want to take in the Gilbert & George and Joseph Wright of Derby exhibitions.
February - Torremolinos for the Rockabilly weekender.
March - Hemsby for the Rockabilly weekender.
June - Algeciras for the Teddy Boy weekender.
July - road trip for the wife's 60th, Oxford, Clovelly, Burgh Island and somewhere TBC.
Got a flight back from the UK booked for the end of August, but not sure when or where are going before, we normally look after Karen's mum in August but if she's still with us then, it will be a miracle (we are hoping she hangs on until this weekend when we are coming over for two nights)... 
September - Coimbra for the Rockabilly weekender.
December - Valencia for the Rockabilly weekender.

Now got two days in Ronda next month. It's a place we have always wanted to go, so when we found out there's a Rockabilly band playing there we tied the two in together. 

August we are now going to Northumberland for ten days, with a few days in London either side, and also looking at yet another Rockabilly weekend in Gijon, northern Spain in October.  

How was hemsby?

Absolutely brilliant thanks, some great bands and met up with a few old pals I hadn't seen for decades. Had a rather marvellous Sunday lunch at a place called The Boathouse in Ormsby too, if you are ever in that area highly recommend it. 

Yes been to the boathouse a number of times for Sunday lunch. Stayed in Winterton a lot over the years (unbeknown to me originally it’s where my family all come from).

We have a picture taken by Karen's grandfather from the top of Winterton church in 1937, the view has hardly changed... 

PrincessFiona

R0TW said:

My comment was purely in jest.

I know, and I why I lol'ed it

PrincessFiona

Chunes said:

I flew from Hong Kong to Shanghai with China Airlines. The flight was fine, but I will never forget the unidentifiable bright pink 'meat' that I was served for lunch. It looked like it was either from an animal that you wouldn't normally eat, or it had been grown in a radioactive lab.

So I recommend bringing your own snacks. 

I flew Air China to North Korea - I don't recall if there was any alternative and I didn't eat the meal!

PrincessFiona

Algarveaddick said:

PrincessFiona said:

What are people's opinions about tipping at AI resorts?

We had a superb holiday at Secrets Maroma in Mexico last month (I highly recommend it - we have already booked to go back next year). We don't normally tip as we go at AI hotels but do tip at then end where there has been someone who has gone particularly above and beyond and leave a joint tip, to include frontline staff who miss out otherwise. The service at Maroma was exceptional across the board and pretty mich mentioned in every reviews.

I appreciate tipping is different in different countries and so nationals of different countries then have a different view on tipping, even when in other countries. The issue was Americans (in more ways than one (!) - but it is a low key, chilled resort, so that minimised the most extreme loud (and mostly annoying) behaviour. The hotel website says tips and charges are included - so factored into the price you pay, certainly from the UK, with exceptional service one of the hotel's selling points.

But the Americans still tip (every drink and every meal), and it did seem that those that tipped could get prioritised and those that tipped the most, prioritised the most - thus creating an inequality and Brits (and others) potentially looking mean/tight in comparison, although I'm sure the staff will be aware of the Americans tipping more (in frequency and amount)

That's odd. Because at regular restaurants and bars, the general attitude from Americans (and some Canadians, to be fair) when they find out tipping in Portugal isn't necessarily expected, is to take it as an excuse to give the staff sweet FA. Maybe the resort is advertised differently in the USA (the website they see might be different to the European one)? Just a thought... 

Interesting

Elthamaddick

MrOneLung said:

Elthamaddick said:

MrOneLung said:

Finally booked, going Zante first week of school hols in July

me, the missus and our 13&15 year old old and sisters mob, 2A and a 16&19 year old

all inclusive with waterpark job.

Caretta Beach ??

yeah that's the one

fantastic hotel, we got married in Zante (Tsilivi) 12 years ago and had about 40 of us staying there for the week. Couldn't fault the place and by all accounts it's got bigger as friends of ours went last year and loved it.

Rob7Lee

Algarveaddick said:

Rob7Lee said:

Algarveaddick said:

Rob7Lee said:

Algarveaddick said:

Algarveaddick said:

January - London for the Sheff Utd and Derby games, plus want to take in the Gilbert & George and Joseph Wright of Derby exhibitions.
February - Torremolinos for the Rockabilly weekender.
March - Hemsby for the Rockabilly weekender.
June - Algeciras for the Teddy Boy weekender.
July - road trip for the wife's 60th, Oxford, Clovelly, Burgh Island and somewhere TBC.
Got a flight back from the UK booked for the end of August, but not sure when or where are going before, we normally look after Karen's mum in August but if she's still with us then, it will be a miracle (we are hoping she hangs on until this weekend when we are coming over for two nights)... 
September - Coimbra for the Rockabilly weekender.
December - Valencia for the Rockabilly weekender.

Now got two days in Ronda next month. It's a place we have always wanted to go, so when we found out there's a Rockabilly band playing there we tied the two in together. 

August we are now going to Northumberland for ten days, with a few days in London either side, and also looking at yet another Rockabilly weekend in Gijon, northern Spain in October.  

How was hemsby?

Absolutely brilliant thanks, some great bands and met up with a few old pals I hadn't seen for decades. Had a rather marvellous Sunday lunch at a place called The Boathouse in Ormsby too, if you are ever in that area highly recommend it. 

Yes been to the boathouse a number of times for Sunday lunch. Stayed in Winterton a lot over the years (unbeknown to me originally it’s where my family all come from).

We have a picture taken by Karen's grandfather from the top of Winterton church in 1937, the view has hardly changed... 

there’s more beach and less land!!

Half the people in the graveyard are my family, they were all lifeboat men.

jimmymelrose

PrincessFiona said:

What are people's opinions about tipping at AI resorts?

Simple rule: Look up if the country you’re visiting has a minimum wage. If so, don’t tip. If, not, tip. 


Edit: Also, why give a shit about what Americans are doing anyway? Their culture is not our culture. 

PrincessFiona

jimmymelrose said:

PrincessFiona said:

What are people's opinions about tipping at AI resorts?

Simple rule: Look up if the country you’re visiting has a minimum wage. If so, don’t tip. If, not, tip. 


Edit: Also, why give a shit about what Americans are doing anyway? Their culture is not our culture. 

The country's minimium wage policy may not be relevant to what the staff are paid at a top end hotel with excellent service

It is relevant that it is AI - as I explained, it says on hte hotel website that all tips are included (which they probably wouldn't be at non-AI)

As I explained, the Americans tip, so staff could prioritise those who tip and those who tip the most even more so

cantersaddick

Definitely different on an AI resort vs not. I generally only use all inclusive resorts for part of a trip rather than a whole trip for a bit of relaxation after a more adventurous/exploring trip so see the difference quite clearly. When off resort we follow local culture/expectations and make sure to have a good grip of the exchange rate. The AI resorts I've been to have generally said tips are included as you say. We kinda like to not be bothered when we are there and find tipping encourages the staff to come up to you and push for you to have more drinks etc. so tend to not tip for drinks in that situation. But for something like a massage (which you usually pay for anyway) we tip, usually tip the person who has cleaned the room at the end of the stay - especially if there have been towel animals! Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania it was a bit more common to tip in a safari lodge even if it was all inclusive - so would tip for service and carrying bags to safari tent, sometimes a long way and my wife doesn't pack light! And will tip if one member of staff goes over and above across a stay. I still remember Eric who was our waiter at Sopa Lodge Lake Naivasha in 2023 who looked after our group amazingly well - even going as far as to stay late one night and keep a bar open an extra couple hours for just us - we gave him a large tip both that night and at the end of our stay.

Chunes

Has anyone done a whisky distillery trip to Scotland? I'm trying to figure one out for September/October. Ideally we don't want to be driving to the distilleries, so either a tour or stay somewhere where they're walking distance. Campbelltown seems to have a few close together, but is there enough there for a weekend? Any recommendations much appreciated. 

PrincessFiona

cantersaddick said:

Definitely different on an AI resort vs not. I generally only use all inclusive resorts for part of a trip rather than a whole trip for a bit of relaxation after a more adventurous/exploring trip so see the difference quite clearly. When off resort we follow local culture/expectations and make sure to have a good grip of the exchange rate. The AI resorts I've been to have generally said tips are included as you say. We kinda like to not be bothered when we are there and find tipping encourages the staff to come up to you and push for you to have more drinks etc. so tend to not tip for drinks in that situation. But for something like a massage (which you usually pay for anyway) we tip, usually tip the person who has cleaned the room at the end of the stay - especially if there have been towel animals! Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania it was a bit more common to tip in a safari lodge even if it was all inclusive - so would tip for service and carrying bags to safari tent, sometimes a long way and my wife doesn't pack light! And will tip if one member of staff goes over and above across a stay. I still remember Eric who was our waiter at Sopa Lodge Lake Naivasha in 2023 who looked after our group amazingly well - even going as far as to stay late one night and keep a bar open an extra couple hours for just us - we gave him a large tip both that night and at the end of our stay.

Similar to you. I have travelled a fair bit and lived and worked overseas in a number of countries. But we do like an AI once a year. When we lived in Africa, we were very aware of how little waiting staff staff, for example were paid so we would tip well. In South Africa, many of the restaurant staff are from Malawi and Zim, for a number of reasons

Stuart_the_Red

Chunes said:

Has anyone done a whisky distillery trip to Scotland? I'm trying to figure one out for September/October. Ideally we don't want to be driving to the distilleries, so either a tour or stay somewhere where they're walking distance. Campbelltown seems to have a few close together, but is there enough there for a weekend? Any recommendations much appreciated. 

We did one many moons ago, but I think you’ll need to drive, or at least have a designated driver. Although the distilleries are quite regional there’s quite a distance between them. 

We stayed on Islay for 4 nights and visited Bowmore, Laphroaig, Caol Ila, Lagavulin, Bruichladdich as well as Bunnahabhain.

(TopTravelTip from my wife: don’t have the kippers for breakfast if you’re going to visit a distillery that produces heavily peated whiskey 😂!)

Speyside is also a great for distillery visits and there’s a glare concentration of distilleries in the lowlands!

Algarveaddick

Chunes said:

Has anyone done a whisky distillery trip to Scotland? I'm trying to figure one out for September/October. Ideally we don't want to be driving to the distilleries, so either a tour or stay somewhere where they're walking distance. Campbelltown seems to have a few close together, but is there enough there for a weekend? Any recommendations much appreciated. 

Clydeside distillery - less than half an hour on the 100 bus from George Square in Glasgow. 

DiscoCAFC

PrincessFiona said:

Chunes said:

I flew from Hong Kong to Shanghai with China Airlines. The flight was fine, but I will never forget the unidentifiable bright pink 'meat' that I was served for lunch. It looked like it was either from an animal that you wouldn't normally eat, or it had been grown in a radioactive lab.

So I recommend bringing your own snacks. 

I flew Air China to North Korea - I don't recall if there was any alternative and I didn't eat the meal!

North Korea? Wow

Bet that was a real eye opener for you. Any issues you encountered or witnessed while you were there?

PrincessFiona

DiscoCAFC said:

PrincessFiona said:

Chunes said:

I flew from Hong Kong to Shanghai with China Airlines. The flight was fine, but I will never forget the unidentifiable bright pink 'meat' that I was served for lunch. It looked like it was either from an animal that you wouldn't normally eat, or it had been grown in a radioactive lab.

So I recommend bringing your own snacks. 

I flew Air China to North Korea - I don't recall if there was any alternative and I didn't eat the meal!

North Korea? Wow

Bet that was a real eye opener for you. Any issues you encountered or witnessed while you were there?

It was very, very interesting and I had a better, more open (well, less closed) view than tourist would -  I could bore you for a least an hour!

MrOneLung

The flight can’t be worse than when my mate went to Russia in the 90’s with Aeroflot and the toilets didn’t have doors, just a curtain you pulled across whilst using 

Greenhithe

MrOneLung said:

The flight can’t be worse than when my mate went to Russia in the 90’s with Aeroflot and the toilets didn’t have doors, just a curtain you pulled across whilst using 

I used Aeroflot a few times early 90s. £350 open return to Delhi or Bangkok you couldn’t go wrong but a few crackers were:

plane landed in Kazakstan and Russia were rowing with them so they refused to refuel us. Cue a two hour wait where they let us all off to have snowball fights under the plane and to smoke as many fags as we could. There was then rumour a hat was going round to buy the fuel 😂

another time our “stewardess” got pissed up and ended up snogging the fella behind us sitting on his lap. 

Another time I witnessed 2 or 3 stewards trying to shut the plane door and when it wouldn’t they got the captain to come out and shoulder barge the door shut. 

Food and drink was basically poison. 

No films. 

Once got on a flight in Bangkok with a chap so off his nut they had strapped him to a sack barrow like Hannibal Lecter. 

As I say it was cheap though 😂✊

Killarahales

Long-planned visit back to Australia at the end of May (via Doha) starting to look a bit dodgy. Have just checked equivalent flights with Singapore Airlines and the cost is now up to £1,850 versus the Qatar booking at around £1,100! Aside from Trump's war there is the related apparent shortage of jet fuel...

lancashire lad

A friend had a novel tipping policy. On arrival he would take out the maximum tip in bank notes, advise the room steward that this would be the tip then if the room service fell below the expected standard he would advise the steward and burn one of the notes from the tip pile !

R0TW

Greenhithe said:

MrOneLung said:

The flight can’t be worse than when my mate went to Russia in the 90’s with Aeroflot and the toilets didn’t have doors, just a curtain you pulled across whilst using 

I used Aeroflot a few times early 90s. £350 open return to Delhi or Bangkok you couldn’t go wrong but a few crackers were:

plane landed in Kazakstan and Russia were rowing with them so they refused to refuel us. Cue a two hour wait where they let us all off to have snowball fights under the plane and to smoke as many fags as we could. There was then rumour a hat was going round to buy the fuel 😂

another time our “stewardess” got pissed up and ended up snogging the fella behind us sitting on his lap. 

Another time I witnessed 2 or 3 stewards trying to shut the plane door and when it wouldn’t they got the captain to come out and shoulder barge the door shut. 

Food and drink was basically poison. 

No films. 

Once got on a flight in Bangkok with a chap so off his nut they had strapped him to a sack barrow like Hannibal Lecter. 

As I say it was cheap though 😂✊

There were some right crackers back in the day for getting to/fro SE Asia.
Went with Balkan Airlines once.
Plane never made it to Sofia airport but a military base some way away.
Landed and went into some sort of lounge with bar.
Mass brawl taking place between pissed up natives.
As you say, cheap though.

Another one was early days Malaysian Airlines where the meal was a pot noodle.

The ones where you constantly focus on the propellers and prey they don’t stop, always added to the excitement.

DaveMehmet

R0TW said:

Greenhithe said:

MrOneLung said:

The flight can’t be worse than when my mate went to Russia in the 90’s with Aeroflot and the toilets didn’t have doors, just a curtain you pulled across whilst using 

I used Aeroflot a few times early 90s. £350 open return to Delhi or Bangkok you couldn’t go wrong but a few crackers were:

plane landed in Kazakstan and Russia were rowing with them so they refused to refuel us. Cue a two hour wait where they let us all off to have snowball fights under the plane and to smoke as many fags as we could. There was then rumour a hat was going round to buy the fuel 😂

another time our “stewardess” got pissed up and ended up snogging the fella behind us sitting on his lap. 

Another time I witnessed 2 or 3 stewards trying to shut the plane door and when it wouldn’t they got the captain to come out and shoulder barge the door shut. 

Food and drink was basically poison. 

No films. 

Once got on a flight in Bangkok with a chap so off his nut they had strapped him to a sack barrow like Hannibal Lecter. 

As I say it was cheap though 😂✊

There were some right crackers back in the day for getting to/fro SE Asia.
Went with Balkan Airlines once.
Plane never made it to Sofia airport but a military base some way away.
Landed and went into some sort of lounge with bar.
Mass brawl taking place between pissed up natives.
As you say, cheap though.

Another one was early days Malaysian Airlines where the meal was a pot noodle.

The ones where you constantly focus on the propellers and prey they don’t stop, always added to the excitement.

Well did you?

AllHailTheHen

Back from a long weekend in Florence. Such a pretty place, easy to get arround, weather and food was great and a quick hop on the train to Pisa to see it's wonky tower. Goes straight into my top 3 city breaks.