Holidays 2025

Just got back at the weekend from completing half of the great river road route.
Flew into ST Paul/Minneapolis and headed up to Lake Itasca for the Mississippi head waters for a couple of nights in a log cabin in the state park, then followed the river north to Bemidji then took in all these towns and cities on the way down to to finish at St Louis.

St Cloud MN (meh)

La Crosse MN (meh)

Madison WI (watched the UCL final in a local sports bar which was home to local Liverpool & Spurs American supporters clubs, wore my Charlton shirt obviously)

Galena IL (Fantastic town which was home to Ulysses Grant and they filmed parts of Field Of Dreams there, but dressed up as Chisholm MN)

La Claire Davenport IA (meh)

Hannibal MO (Home to Mark Twain/Samuel Clemens, did the house tour)

St Louis MO (Did the arch visit, boat trip and went to watch the St Louis Cardinals lose to Kansas City, great entertainment but very tame atmosphere compared to football)

Saw real small town America, over 1500 miles driven, going back next year to finish the bottom half of the route to New Orleans

R0TW said:

Do you plan on going back during the WC?

We are just working that bit out now, finances etc

As I’m 60 next year, decided to splash out and go to a resort in the Maldives which has just been voted fifth best hotel in Asia

AllHailTheHen said:

bobmunro said:

AllHailTheHen said:

Recently had a few days in Barcelona. Been twice before with mates so they weren't exactly cultural visits! Such a great place.

Got a week in Javea in August. Staying in a villa which we did last year.

A weekend in Gibraltar in September visiting a mate who lives there so expecting that to be boozy. Lastly a week in Dubai in October staying on The Palm.

Great place for a short break. I love Gib.

My mate works for your old lot out there Bob!

blackpool72 said:

Guardy said:

As I’m 60 next year, decided to splash out and go to a resort in the Maldives which has just been voted fifth best hotel in Asia

Please adopt me.

I’d rather take my girlfriend tbh mate lol.

PrincessFiona said:

Guardy said:

As I’m 60 next year, decided to splash out and go to a resort in the Maldives which has just been voted fifth best hotel in Asia

which one is it? We're looking to go to the Maldives in Feb/March time, as looking for ideas

Hurawalhi

Guardy said:

PrincessFiona said:

Guardy said:

As I’m 60 next year, decided to splash out and go to a resort in the Maldives which has just been voted fifth best hotel in Asia

which one is it? We're looking to go to the Maldives in Feb/March time, as looking for ideas

Hurawalhi

I loved Shooting Stars

se9addick said:

@Sheepie1985 - enjoy, make sure you have a deep dish pizza in Providence, it’s even better than Chicago!! 

Thanks for the heads up on this! I utterly love a Deep Dish Pizza and I'm staying in Providence for a few nights too!

cafcnick1992 said:

If there's one country you'd pick to travel solo as a British guy, it would be the USA. You'll be everyone's best friend at the bar.

Ha as a single, not very attractive 40 year old guy.. I'm relying on my accent to charm them over just like from the scene in Love Actually. Honestly can't wait though, think it's the first time I've done something for myself in about 15 years!

I’m off to Tenerife next Friday best man for one of my mates stags. Organised a beautiful villa in Costa adeje but not much else. We not really water park guys. Any tips for nice restaurants, bars, nightlife in and around that way much appreciated for group of guys 39-42.
thanks 

I am looking for inspiration. My 50th year next year.

So what is the best holiday destination you have visited? 

Real stand out, life time memory type thing (off the beaten track).  I am thinking Philippines as since I was 21 and stupidly passed up the opportunity in Australia I have always wanted to swim with a whale shark.  But an alternative maybe walking the whale trail or otter trail in South Africa; or a trip to see polar bears in Alaska.

I don't really enjoy the more traditional sitting by a pool/beach holidays; and have lived in Oz and NZ,  and travelled extensively in South East Asia, and USA.

Has anyone been to Andy Hunt's place in Belize?

Athletico Charlton said:

I am looking for inspiration. My 50th year next year.

So what is the best holiday destination you have visited? 

Real stand out, life time memory type thing (off the beaten track).  I am thinking Philippines as since I was 21 and stupidly passed up the opportunity in Australia I have always wanted to swim with a whale shark.  But an alternative maybe walking the whale trail or otter trail in South Africa; or a trip to see polar bears in Alaska.

I don't really enjoy the more traditional sitting by a pool/beach holidays; and have lived in Oz and NZ,  and travelled extensively in South East Asia, and USA.

Has anyone been to Andy Hunt's place in Belize?

Not sure if Andy still owns the place in Belize but he’s now living in the Netherlands and working at AZ Alkmaar.

LargeAddick said:

Athletico Charlton said:

I am looking for inspiration. My 50th year next year.

So what is the best holiday destination you have visited? 

Real stand out, life time memory type thing (off the beaten track).  I am thinking Philippines as since I was 21 and stupidly passed up the opportunity in Australia I have always wanted to swim with a whale shark.  But an alternative maybe walking the whale trail or otter trail in South Africa; or a trip to see polar bears in Alaska.

I don't really enjoy the more traditional sitting by a pool/beach holidays; and have lived in Oz and NZ,  and travelled extensively in South East Asia, and USA.

Has anyone been to Andy Hunt's place in Belize?

Not sure if Andy still owns the place in Belize but he’s now living in the Netherlands and working at AZ Alkmaar.

We went to Andy's place a couple of times - fantastic.   Last I heard they were aiming to offload it, mean time it was available as a room-only option possibly. 

Belize is brilliant,  lots to do, varied.

DOUCHER said:

I can honestly say that having been all round the world, in all sorts of places for many years, there is nothing like Europe - there are some impressive things around the world but nothing tops what we have here and anything they build elsewhere is definitely a second rate version of what we have here. 

Like you I have travelled and would add that there is far more to a place than buildings, for example the people and the landscape, also such placed as Taj Mahal, Sydney Opera House, Golden Gate Bridge, Rio de Janeiro Harbour, Panama Canal are not second rate. 

Have just come back from a tour of NZ/Australia. Milford Sound and Uluru really are special. 

DOUCHER said:

I can honestly say that having been all round the world, in all sorts of places for many years, there is nothing like Europe - there are some impressive things around the world but nothing tops what we have here and anything they build elsewhere is definitely a second rate version of what we have here. 

In terms of culture on your doorstep, absolutely.

Whenever I go to the USA, I always come back thinking that the quality of life there is so much higher than everywhere else. I could earn twice as much working out there, and a good sized house (in Texas for example) is far more attainable.