1 hour ago, bolton_blondie said:

Currently in Tsilivi. Wedding is booked for 2028 here. I’m full up to my eyeballs with cocktails and gyros. Can honestly say I have never been happier than I am now 🍻 yammas

Went there last year, beltin place

On 18/06/2026 at 12:16, frank_spencer said:

Cruises seem like hell stuck on a boat with a bunch of dickheads, your timeline determined by someone else.

Those massive cruise ships give me the fear.

To be honest I had a bit of that dread beforehand, not helped by making the mistake of reading some of the FB chat groups about it, mindless stuff from folk who can't get out of bed without asking Doris from Cleethorpes how to do it

Iona is one of the biggest ships but it was fine, one or two places / times where it could feel a bit crowded and chaotic, but not to such an extent that it'd put me off returning

6 hours ago, bolton_blondie said:

Currently in Tsilivi. Wedding is booked for 2028 here. I’m full up to my eyeballs with cocktails and gyros. Can honestly say I have never been happier than I am now 🍻 yammas

Congratulations, missed any previous mention of engagement. Can’t wait for the WW hen do

Off to Malta in 9 days

3 hours ago, green genie said:

Congratulations, missed any previous mention of engagement. Can’t wait for the WW hen do

Was last Aug. To a DMB (don’t judge). Maid of honour has already planned Benidorm and me wearing a full Bolton kit.

3 hours ago, bolton_blondie said:

Was last Aug. To a DMB (don’t judge). Maid of honour has already planned Benidorm and me wearing a full Bolton kit.

You do know that they will change it to a DMB kit at the airport and you’ll be soiled for life.

Off to Liverpool airport at 10.00, a nice relaxing week in Malta

On 18/06/2026 at 13:16, frank_spencer said:

Cruises seem like hell stuck on a boat with a bunch of dickheads, your timeline determined by someone else.

Those massive cruise ships give me the fear.

Aye. Same reason I don’t like hotels. I don’t want to go on holiday with a load of fuckers I do t know. Give me a Villa every time

56 minutes ago, mickbrown said:

Aye. Same reason I don’t like hotels. I don’t want to go on holiday with a load of fuckers I do t know. Give me a Villa every time

Don't do sun/sea holidays so city centre hotels are my go to.

Probably wouldn't leave my cabin during the at sea days

3 hours ago, athywhite1958 said:

Off to Liverpool airport at 10.00, a nice relaxing week in Malta

Only ever been to Malta for work conferences. Never thought about it for a holiday. Might give it a go

On 18/06/2026 at 12:16, frank_spencer said:

Cruises seem like hell stuck on a boat with a bunch of dickheads, your timeline determined by someone else.

Those massive cruise ships give me the fear.

The massive ones have no appeal to me

Done the Caribbean twice with TUI on their boat (medium size) and I’ve now seen most of the islands out there so was great. Sea days were a bit of a booze cruise but easy to avoid any dickheads

Did the Virgin cruise from New York to Quebec. That was phenomenal and saw places that I otherwise wouldn’t have visited

6 hours ago, MancWanderer said:

Only ever been to Malta for work conferences. Never thought about it for a holiday. Might give it a go

Went a few years ago on a coaching gig with a cricket team on a tour, really enjoyed it, stayed in Sliema, had a fair bit of downtime so got to Valletta and Mellieha Bay. Friendly people, plenty of good food and drink and nice temperatures

On 18/06/2026 at 12:16, frank_spencer said:

Cruises seem like hell stuck on a boat with a bunch of dickheads, your timeline determined by someone else.

Those massive cruise ships give me the fear.

We've done 5 cruises now.

We've not entertained looking at your traditional resort holiday for a while, and can't see us doing anytime soon. Watching a load of fat cows doing water aerobics every morning doesn't do it for me and I'm usually bored within a resort after a few days.

Something going on all day on a cruise and the little one loves it.

Each to their own of course

Just back from Naples, Amalfi, Matera, Cisternino, fab trip, now planning where to go next in Italy…

Seems @Traf should have some good deals out there if trust war is over and we aren’t waiting on the terrorist backlash

BBC News

Package holidays to Dubai and Egypt get cheaper as Europe...

Family deals to many non-European destinations are cheaper this summer than last, as travel nerves have slowed bookings.

7 minutes ago, green genie said:

Seems @Traf should have some good deals out there if trust war is over and we aren’t waiting on the terrorist backlash

BBC News

Package holidays to Dubai and Egypt get cheaper as Europe...

Family deals to many non-European destinations are cheaper this summer than last, as travel nerves have slowed bookings.

2 hours ago, little whitt said:

Bargains to be had for the strong of resolve

On 08/07/2026 at 05:57, green genie said:

Seems @Traf should have some good deals out there if trust war is over and we aren’t waiting on the terrorist backlash

BBC News

Package holidays to Dubai and Egypt get cheaper as Europe...

Family deals to many non-European destinations are cheaper this summer than last, as travel nerves have slowed bookings.

I've always got good deals on!

Torremolinos. Blimey!! Ended up there on an unplanned visit. Not been since 1981 and never had any intention of spending any time there. Couple of “Irish” bars and one place doing English breakfasts are the only remnants of the bad old days that I saw. Looks like it’s been reclaimed by the Spanish and the bumders so standards have gone right up. Feels properly authentic Spanish now. Way nicer than Benalmadena. Prices of food and booze very impressive as well. I’ll be back

On 20/07/2026 at 18:46, MancWanderer said:

Torremolinos. Blimey!! Ended up there on an unplanned visit. Not been since 1981 and never had any intention of spending any time there. Couple of “Irish” bars and one place doing English breakfasts are the only remnants of the bad old days that I saw. Looks like it’s been reclaimed by the Spanish and the bumders so standards have gone right up. Feels properly authentic Spanish now. Way nicer than Benalmadena. Prices of food and booze very impressive as well. I’ll be back

Went about 20 years ago, thought it wasnt too bad myself. Seem to have been forgotten about by the english even then. Loads of Irish and Germans.

Off to Lille on Saturday, didnt want a long drive this year. Booked a day in Ghent if anyone as been there rather than Bruges as it seems a bit less touristy but never been to Belgium so dont know whatnto expect really.

Loads of galleries which seems right up my street, and the teenscan go shopping etc as none of them.wanted a beach holiday - i think living by the sea they're not that bothered.

Got a decent appartment for not very much as well. Only concern is running oit of things to.do but comsidering we've managed to have decent family breaks in Conway and North Wales for ten years I reckon we'll manage it 😊

Done both Bruges and Ghent a number of times but not since the pandemic, both very pleasant.

Ghent has lovely paved areas, canals and loads of bars and cafes as well as shopping. It will be busy but not as busy as Bruges. Its Dutch/Flemish in culture, but you don't need to practice your Flemish, as usual everyone speaks English.

Belgium as a whole is quite underrated/understated particularly if you avoid Brussels and surrounding areas.

3 hours ago, Not in Crawley said:

Off to Lille on Saturday, didnt want a long drive this year. Booked a day in Ghent if anyone as been there rather than Bruges as it seems a bit less touristy but never been to Belgium so dont know whatnto expect really.

Loads of galleries which seems right up my street, and the teenscan go shopping etc as none of them.wanted a beach holiday - i think living by the sea they're not that bothered.

Got a decent appartment for not very much as well. Only concern is running oit of things to.do but comsidering we've managed to have decent family breaks in Conway and North Wales for ten years I reckon we'll manage it 😊

did a weekend in Bruges pre Christmas and went to Ghent for the afternoon

preferred it there even though all we really did was drink

there's a bar where they do nice beer in really nice, expensive glasses so you have to give them a shoe as a deposit which they hang from the ceiling in a large net

was a decent old school Ferris wheel too

3 hours ago, Not in Crawley said:

Off to Lille on Saturday, didnt want a long drive this year. Booked a day in Ghent if anyone as been there rather than Bruges as it seems a bit less touristy but never been to Belgium so dont know whatnto expect really.

Loads of galleries which seems right up my street, and the teenscan go shopping etc as none of them.wanted a beach holiday - i think living by the sea they're not that bothered.

Got a decent appartment for not very much as well. Only concern is running oit of things to.do but comsidering we've managed to have decent family breaks in Conway and North Wales for ten years I reckon we'll manage it 😊

As much as I love Bruges I did the ferry from Hull over there for the Christmas market

Thinking European cities do them well so I was expecting something a bit better than had I stayed in Hull

It was shit and I should have stayed in Hull in that regard

But Bruges is nicer

13 minutes ago, DirtySanchez said:

It was shit and I should have stayed in Hull in that regard

There's a sentence I never thought I'd see written down