So where’s everyone going?

St. Ives, Cornwall booked for early June.

Contemplating some winter/Easter sun.

We’ve sadly had to let our caravan go in Snowdonia, so won’t be having our usual few weeks there.

Highly recommend the Barcelo Aguamarina Hotel in Cala Ferrera/Cala d’Or. Was decent. Had a total refurb last year. Booked with Traf Tours. Got a delightful 7th floor balcony with sea/beach view. 2 mins walk to beach. 10 mins into centre of Cala d’Or.

Edited September 10, 20232 yr by Smiley

Another vote for Traf Tours from me

 

7 hours ago, DirtySanchez said:

Another vote for Traf Tours from me

 

Hang fire, you've not gone yet! 😉  

6 hours ago, Traf said:

Hang fire, you've not gone yet! 😉  

I'll revise 

Another vote for the admin side of Traf Tours 😃

6 hours ago, DirtySanchez said:

I'll revise 

Another vote for the admin side of Traf Tours 😃

Thank you. We're very good at sourcing and organising, but then we're at the mercy of airlines, overseas taxi drivers & hoteliers. It's usually all good, though! 😉

Love Crete but this fucker has just bitten my ear. Flew into the bar, landed, had a munch, and sat there bold as brass, having a chew. Pissed blood everywhere. Ruined a brand new Fred Perry top with the blood. Leathery winged bastard met its match with Mrs Manc’s wedge shoe. Satisfying crunch 

2 minutes ago, MancWanderer said:

Love Crete but this fucker has just bitten my ear. Flew into the bar, landed, had a munch, and sat there bold as brass, having a chew. Pissed blood everywhere. Ruined a brand new Fred Perry top with the blood. Leathery winged bastard met its match with Mrs Manc’s wedge shoe. Satisfying crunch 

What the fuck is that????

10 minutes ago, Spider said:

What the fuck is that????

MW’s death sentence, I expect. 

2 minutes ago, Spider said:

What the fuck is that????

Guessing it’s a cicada (cricket)? But no idea. It stung a little shall we say. Nearby folk moved away when they saw the blood pissing out my ear. Toilets were like a scene from a Tarantino filum. Whatever the fucker was it took a chunk

They sound like helicopters when they buzz you.

34 minutes ago, MancWanderer said:

Love Crete but this fucker has just bitten my ear. Flew into the bar, landed, had a munch, and sat there bold as brass, having a chew. Pissed blood everywhere. Ruined a brand new Fred Perry top with the blood. Leathery winged bastard met its match with Mrs Manc’s wedge shoe. Satisfying crunch 

You don't get that shit on TrafTours.

8 hours ago, Traf said:

You don't get that shit on TrafTours.

Indeed. 

It's not a cicada as they don't bite.

I did an image search on Google and it comes up with a number of suggestions, which probably doesn't help!

Eg robber fly- they're predatory, bit grab other insects mid flight.

2 hours ago, Tonge moor green jacket said:

It's not a cicada as they don't bite.

I did an image search on Google and it comes up with a number of suggestions, which probably doesn't help!

Eg robber fly- they're predatory, bit grab other insects mid flight.

Locals just gawped at it and shrugged their shoulders. And moved away. Like a circle when a fight used to break out on a terrace. The sound when Mrs Manc twatted it with her wedge shoe though..🤑

Looking for some suggestions….

3 nights in Lisbon (wife has never been).

or

3 nights in Porto (neither of us have been)

or

2 nights Lisbon + 1 night Porto.

Is there plenty enough to do in either city? Looked at trains between and there’s a 3 hour high speed train for around £22 each.

Believe the national park at Sintra is decent. Worth a full day visit from Lisbon?

Lastly, best location for hotel/Airbnb in Lisbon and/or Porto?

35 minutes ago, Smiley said:

Looking for some suggestions….

3 nights in Lisbon (wife has never been).

or

3 nights in Porto (neither of us have been)

or

2 nights Lisbon + 1 night Porto.

Is there plenty enough to do in either city? Looked at trains between and there’s a 3 hour high speed train for around £22 each.

Believe the national park at Sintra is decent. Worth a full day visit from Lisbon?

Lastly, best location for hotel/Airbnb in Lisbon and/or Porto?

3 nights in Lisbon, stay in centre (Baixa), great city....

I fancy Lisbon, looks nice.

3hrs to Porto for £22? Would be nearly 10 times that in good old blighty.

5 hours ago, Smiley said:

Looking for some suggestions….

3 nights in Lisbon (wife has never been).

or

3 nights in Porto (neither of us have been)

or

2 nights Lisbon + 1 night Porto.

Is there plenty enough to do in either city? Looked at trains between and there’s a 3 hour high speed train for around £22 each.

Believe the national park at Sintra is decent. Worth a full day visit from Lisbon?

Lastly, best location for hotel/Airbnb in Lisbon and/or Porto?

I've done Lisbon, ace, favourite European destination 

Bairro Alto or Alfama best to stay (we stayed in the former, enjoyed the vibe in the latter)

Didn't go to Sintra

I've heard good things about Porto, not sure I'd want to do both unless it was two nights each

Sintra is nice, we did a couple of nights when we did a week (5 days) in Lisbon. Plenty to do in Lisbon for 3 nights, technically mornings as the buggers don't go out till around 11. 

11 hours ago, Winchester White said:

I fancy Lisbon, looks nice.

3hrs to Porto for £22? Would be nearly 10 times that in good old blighty.

Slot in a day trip to Guimaraes from Porto by train. World Heritage town centre district and scene of Vaz Te's finest goal for Bolton.

highly recommend the timeout market in lisbon 

mate did 3 nights in porto the other month, loved it

3 nights in Lisbon wins. Been twice before, but memories are vague (especially the Sporting Lisbon trip).

i need some winter sun- 5 nights just before xmas...  3 of us to just take the edge off

8 hours ago, Dr Faustus said:

i need some winter sun- 5 nights just before xmas...  3 of us to just take the edge off

Canaries/Cape Verde all day long unless you want a long hike to Cape Town

On 22/09/2023 at 07:26, Biggish Dave said:

Canaries/Cape Verde all day long unless you want a long hike to Cape Town

25 rand to the pound? FML. Folk should be flocking there instead of anywhere else now.