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Holidays 2026
Comments
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Will be at the 24 hours of LeMans in two weeks!3
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Every year I try to drum up interest from lot to go to this but no joy. Enjoy mate, not been since 2008, always a fantastic weekendStuart_the_Red said:Will be at the 24 hours of LeMans in two weeks!1 -
The museum there is worth a visit.DaveMehmet said:
Every year I try to drum up interest from lot to go to this but no joy. Enjoy mate, not been since 2008, always a fantastic weekendStuart_the_Red said:Will be at the 24 hours of LeMans in two weeks!
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Off to Applecross in Scotland, we love this part of the world. Usually do summer but this time October. A change of season and a look to see if we could settle up there in a few years.1
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Going on my first ever sailing holiday in 2 weeks to Croatia with another couple. A 50 foot boat with 5 of us onboard, including a skipper. Could be cozy!0
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So a small update. Did a day trip across the border to Montenegro on an organised TUI trip.valleynick66 said:Croatia (today!) - no problems at all. Took photo and finger prints in about 1 minute. No longer than a usual passport control queue.Disaster at the crossing - 2 hours extra each way stuck on a coach.Interesting though it wasn’t the technology it was the attitude / process of the customs staff.Very slow to process each person no attempt to guide people and overlong perusing paperwork from all cars and coaches.The actual process of getting off the coach to handover your passport and stare at the camera is fine and quick (or can be). You can see the screen immediately revert to its ‘screensaver’ if the image is ok. What goes wrong is people not removing glasses and staring at the screen and not the camera. Exacerbated by a ‘work to rule’ attitude of staff who make no attempt to help people who struggle.The day was topped off by a ‘shift change’ at 8pm though when the staff left all the booths at 755 despite 6 or so coaches plus cars in various queues and the new shift strolled in at about 830pm !
Seems to make no difference on your nationality (so the Brexit issue is void) as everyone processed in the same way.0 -
Sailing holidays are amazing. A great way to see a place! I've not done Croatia but it's on the list. Have sailed in the Caribbean both on a family members boat and guest and crew on charters. If its a catamaran you'll have more than enough living space. Monohull will be slightly tighter but still fine. The rocking is the most soothing feeling. Enjoy!robinofottershaw said:Going on my first ever sailing holiday in 2 weeks to Croatia with another couple. A 50 foot boat with 5 of us onboard, including a skipper. Could be cozy!0 -
Why would any commission be taken from you? You can apply directly to the airline and request compensation (depending on the reason for delay). It’s all under a European regulation, I’ve done it several times with airlines for delays and cancellations, every time have been successful and been paid the required amount.RedPanda said:
Cheers, we had insurance for the hotels thankfully and apparently we could each get £220 compensation (minus commission). They didn't give a reason for cancelling and I can't find one online, so that suggests airline error.SporadicAddick said:
Maybe they didn’t know last night?RedPanda said:We had 11am flights to Stockholm booked. 7am Norwegian tell us it's cancelled, and have put my partner and I on different flights. I'd have to stay tonight in Oslo, and she'd get to Stockholm 15 hours before our flight back Sunday morning!
So that's Norwegian also on my no-go list. If they'd told us last night we'd have at least had other morning options today.
Ensure that you understand your position in regards to compensation under UK261 legislation.I've missed my Swedish parkrun and football today (AIK v Sirius) so I'm going to look into Gothenburg later in their season.1 -
Definitely and don't rely on EHIC/GHICguinnessaddick said:Where ever you go, don’t forget your holiday insurance. Mate, thankfully had his, went over in Japan & broke his hip.0 -
A good way to avoid that is avoid other EU countries I suppose. There are a few left in europe that are sunny although annoyingly Croatia have joined now and that has always been a breeze going through their airports and I love going there.
What would be the deal with the canary islands as they have the weird rule about duty-free stuff where they are or were at least, outside the economic zone even though Spain are very much in the EU. I bet that lands as still having to do all this shit0 -
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You got off lightly. Waited 8 hours to cross.valleynick66 said:
So a small update. Did a day trip across the border to Montenegro on an organised TUI trip.valleynick66 said:Croatia (today!) - no problems at all. Took photo and finger prints in about 1 minute. No longer than a usual passport control queue.Disaster at the crossing - 2 hours extra each way stuck on a coach.Interesting though it wasn’t the technology it was the attitude / process of the customs staff.Very slow to process each person no attempt to guide people and overlong perusing paperwork from all cars and coaches.The actual process of getting off the coach to handover your passport and stare at the camera is fine and quick (or can be). You can see the screen immediately revert to its ‘screensaver’ if the image is ok. What goes wrong is people not removing glasses and staring at the screen and not the camera. Exacerbated by a ‘work to rule’ attitude of staff who make no attempt to help people who struggle.The day was topped off by a ‘shift change’ at 8pm though when the staff left all the booths at 755 despite 6 or so coaches plus cars in various queues and the new shift strolled in at about 830pm !
Seems to make no difference on your nationality (so the Brexit issue is void) as everyone processed in the same way.0 -
Thanks. The other couple have owned boats in the past. As novices, I think my wife and I would have preferred a catamaran for the extra living space but I guess the other husband is more of a sailing purist and wanted to go for a monohull. We all get on well together so am sure we will enjoy the trip.cantersaddick said:
Sailing holidays are amazing. A great way to see a place! I've not done Croatia but it's on the list. Have sailed in the Caribbean both on a family members boat and guest and crew on charters. If its a catamaran you'll have more than enough living space. Monohull will be slightly tighter but still fine. The rocking is the most soothing feeling. Enjoy!robinofottershaw said:Going on my first ever sailing holiday in 2 weeks to Croatia with another couple. A 50 foot boat with 5 of us onboard, including a skipper. Could be cozy!
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A question.
Some flight operators and travel companies continue to warn about issues with the EES system and recommending getting to airports even earlier for flights. My wife and I registered for EES last month on a short trip to Amsterdam. We managed to go through the facial recognition and finger print process to enable registration for EES pretty quickly on arrival at Schiphol. Similarly, when we flew back we got through the departure immigration eGates with no real delays.
So when we travel again in 2 weeks, why should we expect further delays? I understand that those landing in a European airport needing to register for EES might be delayed as there should be specific machines to go through the facial recognition and finger print process. But shouldn’t there be separate arrival immigration eGates for those whom have already registered?
Am just trying to understand why the news reports don’t seem to differentiate between those who still have to register for EES and those who have already registered when they report on these delays. Is the problem also that the eGate technology simply is not working as well as it should at certain European airports and so there is the potential for all non-EU passport holders to be delayed regardless of whether or not they have already resisted for EES?
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Very much part of SpainCarter said:A good way to avoid that is avoid other EU countries I suppose. There are a few left in europe that are sunny although annoyingly Croatia have joined now and that has always been a breeze going through their airports and I love going there.
What would be the deal with the canary islands as they have the weird rule about duty-free stuff where they are or were at least, outside the economic zone even though Spain are very much in the EU. I bet that lands as still having to do all this shit
The Canary Islands are an Autonomous Community within Spain and, although the archipelago is part of the EU, it has not signed up to the same duty free agreements. There are, therefore, restrictions on what you can bring in and take out of the Canary Islands – even when travelling to and from other parts of the EU
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Once registered in the system you can go through the egates without the need to do fingerprints etc again. I went to Lanzarote in April this year and registered fingerprints etc on arrival and departure. I have just returned from Menorca where i just breezed through egates on arrival and departure, no need for additional registration. To my knowledge this is valid for 3 years in all EU Schengen areasrobinofottershaw said:A question.
Some flight operators and travel companies continue to warn about issues with the EES system and recommending getting to airports even earlier for flights. My wife and I registered for EES last month on a short trip to Amsterdam. We managed to go through the facial recognition and finger print process to enable registration for EES pretty quickly on arrival at Schiphol. Similarly, when we flew back we got through the departure immigration eGates with no real delays.
So when we travel again in 2 weeks, why should we expect further delays? I understand that those landing in a European airport needing to register for EES might be delayed as there should be specific machines to go through the facial recognition and finger print process. But shouldn’t there be separate arrival immigration eGates for those whom have already registered?
Am just trying to understand why the news reports don’t seem to differentiate between those who still have to register for EES and those who have already registered when they report on these delays. Is the problem also that the eGate technology simply is not working as well as it should at certain European airports and so there is the potential for all non-EU passport holders to be delayed regardless of whether or not they have already resisted for EES?0 -
I'm not sure, but I know someone who like you, had registered on a previous trip but then had to do it all again on their next trip to a different country - not sure exactly why. I will ask him next time I speak to himrobinofottershaw said:A question.
Some flight operators and travel companies continue to warn about issues with the EES system and recommending getting to airports even earlier for flights. My wife and I registered for EES last month on a short trip to Amsterdam. We managed to go through the facial recognition and finger print process to enable registration for EES pretty quickly on arrival at Schiphol. Similarly, when we flew back we got through the departure immigration eGates with no real delays.
So when we travel again in 2 weeks, why should we expect further delays? I understand that those landing in a European airport needing to register for EES might be delayed as there should be specific machines to go through the facial recognition and finger print process. But shouldn’t there be separate arrival immigration eGates for those whom have already registered?
Am just trying to understand why the news reports don’t seem to differentiate between those who still have to register for EES and those who have already registered when they report on these delays. Is the problem also that the eGate technology simply is not working as well as it should at certain European airports and so there is the potential for all non-EU passport holders to be delayed regardless of whether or not they have already resisted for EES?0 -
I read somewhere that’s there’s an upper age limit where if you over a certain age then you don’t need to register, is this true and if so (which I doubt) what is the magic age (I’m 73).0
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I think it depends on the airport.At Croatia one (very quick queue) no separate route for those already registered.I think the problems reported are local implementation/procedural
and possibly not the technology.0 -
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Good. That’s what I expect.RopeYardRails said:
Once registered in the system you can go through the egates without the need to do fingerprints etc again. I went to Lanzarote in April this year and registered fingerprints etc on arrival and departure. I have just returned from Menorca where i just breezed through egates on arrival and departure, no need for additional registration. To my knowledge this is valid for 3 years in all EU Schengen areasrobinofottershaw said:A question.
Some flight operators and travel companies continue to warn about issues with the EES system and recommending getting to airports even earlier for flights. My wife and I registered for EES last month on a short trip to Amsterdam. We managed to go through the facial recognition and finger print process to enable registration for EES pretty quickly on arrival at Schiphol. Similarly, when we flew back we got through the departure immigration eGates with no real delays.
So when we travel again in 2 weeks, why should we expect further delays? I understand that those landing in a European airport needing to register for EES might be delayed as there should be specific machines to go through the facial recognition and finger print process. But shouldn’t there be separate arrival immigration eGates for those whom have already registered?
Am just trying to understand why the news reports don’t seem to differentiate between those who still have to register for EES and those who have already registered when they report on these delays. Is the problem also that the eGate technology simply is not working as well as it should at certain European airports and so there is the potential for all non-EU passport holders to be delayed regardless of whether or not they have already resisted for EES?0 -
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Faro is really hit and miss.R0TW said:
I have flown between Faro and Manchester 4 times since April. First time just after EES kicked off, I nearly missed my flight out and also queued for over three hours coming back into Faro.
The next two trips were fine because Portugal suspended the entire EES system because of the huge delays.
Last week I flew back and forth and the EES was back open but but no problems, probably due to the fact I was on the first flight out at silly o clock and on my return, there were no other flights due into Faro at the same time from non shenegan countries. A mate of mine flew in two hours later that day and got caught for two hours.
I am resident in Portugal and when I use the EES gates, I put my passport in, it then knows I am a resident and asks for my residency card. I put that in and straight away before any pictures or fingerprints are taken, the machine cancels and tells me to go to a border control booth.0 -
That sounds like an added delay for bring a resident ?stockportugaladdick said:
Faro is really hit and miss.R0TW said:
I have flown between Faro and Manchester 4 times since April. First time just after EES kicked off, I nearly missed my flight out and also queued for over three hours coming back into Faro.
The next two trips were fine because Portugal suspended the entire EES system because of the huge delays.
Last week I flew back and forth and the EES was back open but but no problems, probably due to the fact I was on the first flight out at silly o clock and on my return, there were no other flights due into Faro at the same time from non shenegan countries. A mate of mine flew in two hours later that day and got caught for two hours.
I am resident in Portugal and when I use the EES gates, I put my passport in, it then knows I am a resident and asks for my residency card. I put that in and straight away before any pictures or fingerprints are taken, the machine cancels and tells me to go to a border control booth.
The EES gate is surely just the scan / picture it seems.0 -
If you are still looking at travel this summer, Greece and all Greek Islands have suspended the new border checks1
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Am flying to faro next month for a golf break. Looking forward to the fun and games 😭0
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One of the reasons I've booked a two week holiday to Kos.SporadicAddick said:If you are still looking at travel this summer, Greece and all Greek Islands have suspended the new border checks2 -
You may have to do it nore than once, unfortunately. Whilst we have somehow mnaged to escape having to do it at all (as yet), we know several people who have had to do it more than once.robinofottershaw said:
Good. That’s what I expect.RopeYardRails said:
Once registered in the system you can go through the egates without the need to do fingerprints etc again. I went to Lanzarote in April this year and registered fingerprints etc on arrival and departure. I have just returned from Menorca where i just breezed through egates on arrival and departure, no need for additional registration. To my knowledge this is valid for 3 years in all EU Schengen areasrobinofottershaw said:A question.
Some flight operators and travel companies continue to warn about issues with the EES system and recommending getting to airports even earlier for flights. My wife and I registered for EES last month on a short trip to Amsterdam. We managed to go through the facial recognition and finger print process to enable registration for EES pretty quickly on arrival at Schiphol. Similarly, when we flew back we got through the departure immigration eGates with no real delays.
So when we travel again in 2 weeks, why should we expect further delays? I understand that those landing in a European airport needing to register for EES might be delayed as there should be specific machines to go through the facial recognition and finger print process. But shouldn’t there be separate arrival immigration eGates for those whom have already registered?
Am just trying to understand why the news reports don’t seem to differentiate between those who still have to register for EES and those who have already registered when they report on these delays. Is the problem also that the eGate technology simply is not working as well as it should at certain European airports and so there is the potential for all non-EU passport holders to be delayed regardless of whether or not they have already resisted for EES?
Also https://www.thetimes.com/travel/advice/travel-dr-advice-airline-refunds-8fr2xrvsb0 -
In Letterkenny today, the Irish weather is never a letdown. Has poured since the moment I arrived.However, hospitality great, Guinness is perfect, and was in a bar last night listening to Irish Rover sung by a little Indy group.
Life is never better .4 -
heading to Santorini in a couple of weeks, thankfully looks to be warming up a bit there now. Was only 22C a week or so ago!
Thinking of hiring a car there, anybody been that can either recommend a company to hire a car or confirm if its even worth hiring a car at all?0 -
Sounds horrendoususetobunkin said:In Letterkenny today, the Irish weather is never a letdown. Has poured since the moment I arrived.However, hospitality great, Guinness is perfect, and was in a bar last night listening to Irish Rover sung by a little Indy group.
Life is never better .2 -
Recently got back from Bali.
Not what I expected at all.
Beautiful parts v not so good.
Wealth v abject poverty.
I suppose a lot, if not the majority of countries/islands are the same but it surprised me.
And the traffic/peds, well fuck me. Describing it as madness doesn't do it justice.0
