I’m off to Mauritius on 1st October for 10 nights staying in the north of the island near Grand Baie, we have hired a car for four days in the middle of the holiday to look around the island, any recommendations v
Off to Carvoeiro (Portugal) next Thursday for a week. Shame it couldn't be longer, but having a dog has put an end to a long holiday. My mum will look after the dog, and I wouldn't put either of them through a longer period than that.
Might try and squeeze a west country weekend in, we will see.
I’m off to Mauritius on 1st October for 10 nights staying in the north of the island near Grand Baie, we have hired a car for four days in the middle of the holiday to look around the island, any recommendations v
So much to see, it’s a great place.
Black River National Park, Chamarel Waterfall, Pamplemousses, North West beaches, Port Louis.
And for a fun day out, go to Champ de Mars Racecourse. If you can get a seat in a box, even better, it’s very enjoyable … and I’m not even a racing fan!
I’m off to Mauritius on 1st October for 10 nights staying in the north of the island near Grand Baie, we have hired a car for four days in the middle of the holiday to look around the island, any recommendations v
So much to see, it’s a great place.
Black River National Park, Chamarel Waterfall, Pamplemousses, North West beaches, Port Louis.
And for a fun day out, go to Champ de Mars Racecourse. If you can get a seat in a box, even better, it’s very enjoyable … and I’m not even a racing fan!
Also visited Pamplemousse and the Black River.
We had a private driver to take us around ( was not expensive at all) and saved any hassle of planning routes etc.
very nice holiday. Plenty of sea life to look at just near the coast too if your hotel provides the trips.
Anyone been to Kuala Lumpur?. We're stopping off for 3 days in January en-route to Melbourne. Any tips of where to visit/ restaurants would be much appreciated. Thank you
I was there over 30 years ago so not up to date with restaurants etc. However, there’s some great architecture to look at, including some really lovely colonial buildings. Highlight is the Sultan Abdul Samad building. Naturally the main train station is also worth a visit. The central market is also good.
Thank you. Looking forward to a mouch around the city. Will defiently add your suggestions to my list of places to see 👍
Petronas towers (particularly at night) are very impressive there's also another tower that you can go up for great city views....can't recall it's name though (it's round at the top) also Merdeka Square is worth looking at. If there is time Malacca is nice....but maybe another time.
Thank you for the info. Both of the towers are on the list. Will definetly look at Merdek if we have time. Cheers
Off to Carvoeiro (Portugal) next Thursday for a week. Shame it couldn't be longer, but having a dog has put an end to a long holiday. My mum will look after the dog, and I wouldn't put either of them through a longer period than that.
Might try and squeeze a west country weekend in, we will see.
We had a week in Carvoeiro last month - loved it there. And going to go back next June
My annual visit to Gandia in Spain for a month in October booked. Am also thinking of nipping over to Budapest for 5 days in September (never been). Any recommendations on the most convenient place to stay…I’ve heard the Jewish quarter is central?
Very difficult to recommend a hotel in any city given the abundant choice and everyone has different requirements, but we stayed here. Clean, central, well priced, pleasant enough breakfast etc etc
My annual visit to Gandia in Spain for a month in October booked. Am also thinking of nipping over to Budapest for 5 days in September (never been). Any recommendations on the most convenient place to stay…I’ve heard the Jewish quarter is central?
My annual visit to Gandia in Spain for a month in October booked. Am also thinking of nipping over to Budapest for 5 days in September (never been). Any recommendations on the most convenient place to stay…I’ve heard the Jewish quarter is central?
The 5th district is the best overall neighborhood to stay in Budapest for tourists. Plenty of attractions, and loads of restaurants and cafés to enjoy. While it isn't exactly a nightlife hub, the 5th is well-connected by public transit – you'll be able to hop over to the Jewish Quarter if its bars you crave.'
You may remember my mission to track down relatives in Japan to coincide with my trip to Tokyo?
Well we fly out on Thursday and on Sunday I have a family lunch with my Grandma's niece plus about 10 other family members. She came back to a letter I sent out and has organised everything.
A week in Tokyo, then on to Sydney to launch the AUNZ office for my business before meeting the family for 2 weeks in New Zealand. Then to Singapore for 3 days before we get home.
Off to Crete for a week in the summer holidays, cannot wait for a break. Never been Crete before but suspect hot hot hot is going to be a culture shock after our summer
How did the Space Cadets get on with their first boys trip oohaah?
think 9 of them in a villa my son is even more abysmal than me at drinking but much more mature, they were out there for 5 nights and he didn't drink two of the nights , said he threw up a couple of times , one cadet slept beside his sick one night and left it there the next day one fella cheated on his bird and felt guilty the rest of the trip . standard cadet first holiday stuff they watched the semi on big screens out there and said it was a bit carnage
edit: and the usual scenario 'it was cock heavy out there ' blokes blokes more blokes
Ah I’m so jealous of all your plans, just back from my hols and have proper post holiday blues!
We spent 2 and a bit weeks in the Southern US. Started out with 5 days in New Orleans, then took the train travelling up through the states of Louisiana and Mississippi, stopping over in Jackson, Mississippi for a couple of days before heading to Memphis, Tennessee (Memphis was amazing). Then we weren’t to Nashville for five days (inc July 4th, which is also our wedding anniversary) before stopping off in New York on the way home for 48 hours.
Was a great trip, but have nothing planned now and am feeling very sad about the matter!
Fair play to you. Jackson, New Orleans and Memphis three of the most dangerous cities in the US. Did you feel safe?
I’m off to Mauritius on 1st October for 10 nights staying in the north of the island near Grand Baie, we have hired a car for four days in the middle of the holiday to look around the island, any recommendations v
Ah I’m so jealous of all your plans, just back from my hols and have proper post holiday blues!
We spent 2 and a bit weeks in the Southern US. Started out with 5 days in New Orleans, then took the train travelling up through the states of Louisiana and Mississippi, stopping over in Jackson, Mississippi for a couple of days before heading to Memphis, Tennessee (Memphis was amazing). Then we weren’t to Nashville for five days (inc July 4th, which is also our wedding anniversary) before stopping off in New York on the way home for 48 hours.
Was a great trip, but have nothing planned now and am feeling very sad about the matter!
How were the trains?
Brilliant - pretty slow as they roll through every little town in Louisiana and Mississippi but it’s a great way to see parts of the country you never would.
Ah I’m so jealous of all your plans, just back from my hols and have proper post holiday blues!
We spent 2 and a bit weeks in the Southern US. Started out with 5 days in New Orleans, then took the train travelling up through the states of Louisiana and Mississippi, stopping over in Jackson, Mississippi for a couple of days before heading to Memphis, Tennessee (Memphis was amazing). Then we weren’t to Nashville for five days (inc July 4th, which is also our wedding anniversary) before stopping off in New York on the way home for 48 hours.
Was a great trip, but have nothing planned now and am feeling very sad about the matter!
Fair play to you. Jackson, New Orleans and Memphis three of the most dangerous cities in the US. Did you feel safe?
Yeah, absolutely no problems at all. We took the same precautions you should take when you visit any city, we weren’t exactly wandering around the back streets and we’ve travelled a lot so have fairly good instincts. Jackson, particularly has a bad rep (murder capital of the US or something), even people from New Orleans were trying to talk us out of it!
All I can say is the parts of Jackson we visited were incredibly friendly (especially as I don’t think they had ever seen a British person in their lives before!). New Orleans you need to be careful straying too far outside the French Quarter or Garden District. This was our third time visiting NOLA but first time was a few years ago when we had relatively less money so we stayed in a fairly dodgy neighbourhood. Nothing happened, but it wasn’t my brightest idea. It was my first time in Memphis and we didn’t see any issues nor did we experience anything negative at all (though we were strictly in the touristy areas in Memphis).
Got back from 6 1/2 week tour of Italy via Europe last week. Hot but not too hot, food was terrific. We varied it which really made it work. Visted Lake Garda, Lake Como and the Amalfi coast amongst much else and Italy is so dog friendly. We were even able to take JJ to Pompeii. If anybody wants any tips, this was our second trip of this type and we have learned a lot. What an experience driving through the Alps is. I love it.
Ah I’m so jealous of all your plans, just back from my hols and have proper post holiday blues!
We spent 2 and a bit weeks in the Southern US. Started out with 5 days in New Orleans, then took the train travelling up through the states of Louisiana and Mississippi, stopping over in Jackson, Mississippi for a couple of days before heading to Memphis, Tennessee (Memphis was amazing). Then we weren’t to Nashville for five days (inc July 4th, which is also our wedding anniversary) before stopping off in New York on the way home for 48 hours.
Was a great trip, but have nothing planned now and am feeling very sad about the matter!
How were the trains?
Brilliant - pretty slow as they roll through every little town in Louisiana and Mississippi but it’s a great way to see parts of the country you never would.
A normal window and seat simply wouldn’t capture the majestic views.
My annual visit to Gandia in Spain for a month in October booked. Am also thinking of nipping over to Budapest for 5 days in September (never been). Any recommendations on the most convenient place to stay…I’ve heard the Jewish quarter is central?
I stayed in District 5 last year and it was perfect for visiting a lot of places on foot, and there was a decent amount of restaurants/cafes/night food market all within a few streets too.
You can take a local bus to other side of river, takes around 10 minutes, and from there hop on the funicular railway, best panoramic view of the city is at the top.
My annual visit to Gandia in Spain for a month in October booked. Am also thinking of nipping over to Budapest for 5 days in September (never been). Any recommendations on the most convenient place to stay…I’ve heard the Jewish quarter is central?
I highly recommend you download the BudapestGO app for comprehensive public transport in BP. It's one of the easiest apps I've ever used, and a 72 hour pass for all forms of public transport is HUF 5500 (about twelve quid). You just scan the qr code on the side of the bus or tram as you board and away you go.
Don't know what time of year you are thinking of travelling @Sage but I have been in Paphos for the last 4 weeks and it has been absolutely sweltering. Last year we left the UK on 5 July and it was only too hot just before we went home on 26 July. We thought that we would come out earlier this year, leaving the UK on 18 June, but it has been staggeringly hot the whole time, with several times the actual temperature being around 32°c, but the feel like temperature being 41/42°c, due to humidity. We are returning home tomorrow and for the first time ever, I'm actually happy for a holiday to be ending.
We’re looking at going around the week of 7th October, hoping the weather is good but cooled down enough to be able to enjoy it. Thank you
Don't know what time of year you are thinking of travelling @Sage but I have been in Paphos for the last 4 weeks and it has been absolutely sweltering. Last year we left the UK on 5 July and it was only too hot just before we went home on 26 July. We thought that we would come out earlier this year, leaving the UK on 18 June, but it has been staggeringly hot the whole time, with several times the actual temperature being around 32°c, but the feel like temperature being 41/42°c, due to humidity. We are returning home tomorrow and for the first time ever, I'm actually happy for a holiday to be ending.
We’re looking at going around the week of 7th October, hoping the weather is good but cooled down enough to be able to enjoy it. Thank you
Weather should be great then, with none of the extreme temperatures. Enjoy!
My annual visit to Gandia in Spain for a month in October booked. Am also thinking of nipping over to Budapest for 5 days in September (never been). Any recommendations on the most convenient place to stay…I’ve heard the Jewish quarter is central?
I stayed in District 5 last year and it was perfect for visiting a lot of places on foot, and there was a decent amount of restaurants/cafes/night food market all within a few streets too.
You can take a local bus to other side of river, takes around 10 minutes, and from there hop on the funicular railway, best panoramic view of the city is at the top.
That is a cracking picture, so pleased you managed to squeeze a train into it!
My annual visit to Gandia in Spain for a month in October booked. Am also thinking of nipping over to Budapest for 5 days in September (never been). Any recommendations on the most convenient place to stay…I’ve heard the Jewish quarter is central?
Budapest is lovely mate, was quite a few years ago we went but text me if you need any recommendations on what to see out there.
We've got 2 weeks in a villa near Albufeira from next Saturday, can't wait. Also looking to book 4 nights AI in the Canaries in late November with a few mates.
Haven't hired one for years so I took the advice of Which mag. and used Zest Car Rental to book and manage.
Absolutely excellent service all round, they actively assist you in avoiding being scammed into unnecessary extra insurance when you pick up you car, and if you have any questions you can call and an actual human who works for them immediately answers your questions faultlessly. When we got back and on their feedback form I complained that we'd ordered a Corolla and got a Hyundai Bayon, they actually picked it up and wrote back that if something like that happens again I should call them first before accepting a car. I mean this is just all how it should be, but in 2024, how often do you get this level of service? And obviously, you don't have to be a UK resident to use them.
One of the issues was that in France (and other countries, I'm told) you must have a credit card with you on pick up because they assert that they cannot use a debit card to block an amount for damage. I had to get a credit card just for this. Which mag told me it's a known problem but that as it's foreign territory they have no influence. As it happens when I picked up the car, I found to my horror that I hadn't noted the PIN of my new card in my passport app. However the nice lady at Europcar looked at my debit cards and liked the look of the HSBC Global one because it was Visa, and used that (I had paid for the basic rental and extra driver using my Mastercard debit card with a euros currency partition) So I'm generally pro Europcar but of course it can vary by country or just the person on the counter. Shows the credit card thing is a load of bull, tho"....
My annual visit to Gandia in Spain for a month in October booked. Am also thinking of nipping over to Budapest for 5 days in September (never been). Any recommendations on the most convenient place to stay…I’ve heard the Jewish quarter is central?
I stayed in District 5 last year and it was perfect for visiting a lot of places on foot, and there was a decent amount of restaurants/cafes/night food market all within a few streets too.
You can take a local bus to other side of river, takes around 10 minutes, and from there hop on the funicular railway, best panoramic view of the city is at the top.
That is a cracking picture, so pleased you managed to squeeze a train into it!
Comments
Shame it couldn't be longer, but having a dog has put an end to a long holiday.
My mum will look after the dog, and I wouldn't put either of them through a longer period than that.
Might try and squeeze a west country weekend in, we will see.
very nice holiday. Plenty of sea life to look at just near the coast too if your hotel provides the trips.
Very difficult to recommend a hotel in any city given the abundant choice and everyone has different requirements, but we stayed here. Clean, central, well priced, pleasant enough breakfast etc etc
https://www.booking.com/hotel/hu/ambra.en-gb.html
https://wheretostayinbudapest.com/where-to-stay-in-budapest-best-neighborhoods-overview/
Well we fly out on Thursday and on Sunday I have a family lunch with my Grandma's niece plus about 10 other family members. She came back to a letter I sent out and has organised everything.
A week in Tokyo, then on to Sydney to launch the AUNZ office for my business before meeting the family for 2 weeks in New Zealand. Then to Singapore for 3 days before we get home.
How did the Space Cadets get on with their first boys trip oohaah?
my son is even more abysmal than me at drinking but much more mature, they were out there for 5 nights and he didn't drink two of the nights , said he threw up a couple of times , one cadet slept beside his sick one night and left it there the next day
one fella cheated on his bird and felt guilty the rest of the trip .
standard cadet first holiday stuff
they watched the semi on big screens out there and said it was a bit carnage
edit: and the usual scenario 'it was cock heavy out there ' blokes blokes more blokes
Haven't hired one for years so I took the advice of Which mag. and used Zest Car Rental to book and manage.
Absolutely excellent service all round, they actively assist you in avoiding being scammed into unnecessary extra insurance when you pick up you car, and if you have any questions you can call and an actual human who works for them immediately answers your questions faultlessly. When we got back and on their feedback form I complained that we'd ordered a Corolla and got a Hyundai Bayon, they actually picked it up and wrote back that if something like that happens again I should call them first before accepting a car. I mean this is just all how it should be, but in 2024, how often do you get this level of service? And obviously, you don't have to be a UK resident to use them.
One of the issues was that in France (and other countries, I'm told) you must have a credit card with you on pick up because they assert that they cannot use a debit card to block an amount for damage. I had to get a credit card just for this. Which mag told me it's a known problem but that as it's foreign territory they have no influence. As it happens when I picked up the car, I found to my horror that I hadn't noted the PIN of my new card in my passport app. However the nice lady at Europcar looked at my debit cards and liked the look of the HSBC Global one because it was Visa, and used that (I had paid for the basic rental and extra driver using my Mastercard debit card with a euros currency partition) So I'm generally pro Europcar but of course it can vary by country or just the person on the counter. Shows the credit card thing is a load of bull, tho"....