Holidays

Booked a weekend in Biarritz over the August bank holiday - anyone been before? Worth renting a car and driving down to San Sebastian for a day?

 

Yes and yes. I'd also recommend St Jean de Luz. You may be able to go when there is music and a confetti 'battle' in the square. Lovely beach too.

 

- I'm not sure you are entering into the spirit of things

 

Most parents around here sent their kids to Chorleywood primary because it was the highest ranked, but we checked out my daughter's school, spoke to the teachers and saw the facilities etc and decided it was a very good school which would probably rank as highly if not higher by the next round of inspections. However, her class was under subscribed by about 7 places. A few of those have been taken up by children transferring into the area, but means smaller class size for mini moog

 

*fixed*

 

Fewer soz

 

My lad was at an 'outstanding' primary school. We moved and for a while he went to a 'good' school. I can honestly tell you it was better, more individual centred.

It's one of the reasons I get so annoyed about the casual trashing schools get. Most are really good. I've rarely met a parent who says otherwise of a school their kids actually go to.

 

:sign2:

 

Anyone know Sri Lanka? I'm looking at going later on this year with friends.

 

Looking for to go with the girlfriend somewhere for just over two weeks in June. Preferably Asia or somewhere we can travel, where pounds will go a long way. So far thinking China or Bali (Did Vietnam and Thailand last summer and loved). Anyone got any advice/recommendations? Anyone know how expensive Japan is?

 

Japan is great, it's a fascinating mix of ultra-modern and ancient. There's loads to see whether you like city holidays or scenery. June should be just about OK weather-wise although it does get pretty hot in the summer.

As for cost: well, it's not cheap, though not as hideously expensive as is sometimes made out. I only really know Tokyo but the accommodation and eating out prices there are around London levels, perhaps a little bit cheaper. More expensive than your other suggestions, I would think.

Mrs Keighley likes Hong Kong (she works there for a fortnight every year) and it is fun for a long weekend or so, but you would need to combine it with somewhere else for a 2 week holiday: I guess you could go to mainland China from there. I have flown to Tokyo twice from Hong Kong and that's not too expensive so you could perhaps do a two destination trip (though the total cost of flights might be prohibitive).

 

How did you get on with the local language in Japan, both speaking and getting around public transport? Is English spoken much or do you kind of figure stuff out (if you don't speak Japanese of course). I've been a few places in Eastern Europe where no English is spoken and managed to get by so wondering if Japan is the same. The food is another thing, my missus is veggie and I get the impression that might be tough over there.

 

It's not too bad to get around in Tokyo as you can usually find signs etc in English. Staff in touristy hotels at least speak some English. Shops are no real problem and there are vending machines everywhere, for pretty much every product imaginable, if you get really stuck. I imagine it would be the same in somewhere like Kyoto.

Where I did find it an obstacle was in visiting restaurants serving Japanese food. A few have English versions of menus, but not many. There are loads of restaurants serving other cuisines in Tokyo, so you won't starve (and you could probably cope as a veggie): but it's a shame, as some of the Japanese restaurants in Tokyo are reputed to be the best (of any type of cuisine) in the world. I would think this problem becomes worse outside the big cities, as Japanese restaurants will be all there is.

 

Tokyo has more Michelin starred restaurants than any other city in the world.

 

Yeah, exactly, and that's the aspect I felt I really missed out on as a consequence of not knowing Japanese. I tend to opt for the easy option, though: someone a bit braver than me might well do better.

 

Yes. It's hot, safe, lovely, people will treat you like a king if you show them respect and the beaches are amazing. Oh and it's relatively cheap to buy stuff.

Get out there.

 

Last year we went to Borneo and Bali. Would thoroughly recommend Borneo....one of the best holidays we've ever had. Bali was ok....very quiet and average food

Off to Sardinia, Amalfi Coast and Rome this August....can't wait

 

Burma, Laos and Cambodia really made an impression on me.

 

Take extra blankets, snow boots, skis and a wooly hat.

You won't need them but the comedy value amongst your friends and airport staff will be appreciated

 

And amazing food

 

and lot's of coconuts

 

Even with the usual steady breeze it will be very hot ... Plenty to do is subjective, without a hire car you're knackered but even then trips to Gozo, Valetta and a few quaint villages and you'll soon be twiddling your thumbs (but don't worry, there are bars everywhere).

We went for 4 weeks* in the spring time, got bored halfway through but it was still one of our better holidays. You certainly could do a lot worse. (* I say 3 weeks but my missus say's 4 and of course being a woman she's never wrong)

PS. Hotels you get what you pay for ... ours was budget but overbooked due to renovations so they moved us to a smaller one around the corner, all inclusive but the food was a bit hit and miss (excellent one day, crap the next) so we rarely took advantage.

 

Off to Barcelona next weekend with some friends! Any recommendations?

 

Has anyone done the Highway 1 road trip - san fran to san diego? I'm looking into and wondered what people's thoughts were!

 

I drove from LA, up the coast to SF, then inland, via Redwood country, through Death Valley, on to Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon and then back. Didn't go as far south as SD though.

It was very nice. Apart from Vegas, which apparently, I am alone in the world in utterly hating.

 

I've been to Vegas before with my family (as a youngster admittedly) but also absolutely hated it. Not for me, clive.

 

As Keighley says, getting around Tokyo is Ok as there are signs in English. However, outside the main cities it can be very tricky as the language is so far removed from anything recognisable to non Japanese, it is difficult to get any idea what the signs mean.

 

Yep...agenda was something like:

3 nights in San Fran. Book early for Alcatraz tour
1 night in Carmel/Monterey. Check out the aquarium if you have kids
1 night at Madonna Inn - get the cave room if you can
Stop by Hearst Castle on the way to LA
5 nights at LA/Santa Monica
2 nights in San Diego. Get a private tour of the zoo if your budget stretches
Drive to Vegas. 2 nights at Bellagio if adults only/Venetian with kids. Book to see O

 

Not alone at all!

 

Boycott US until they get rid of ****ty Mc****face. And Goddy McGodface his even more dangerous VP.

 

This year's extravaganza is:

Vienna, Austria - 3 nights
Holiday park near Zadar, Croatia - 9 nights
Banja Luka, Bosnia - 3 nights

Anyone spent any time in Vienna or Banja Luka? Looks like loads to do in Vienna, but what's worth seeing most, bearing in mind I've got a 9 and an 8 year old in tow.

Got a 6 hour drive from Vienna to Zadar as Eurowings decided to cancel the flight I'd booked. Probably stop off in Maribor in Slovenia on the way.

 

A week in Luton, followed by a relaxing long weekend in Syria wrestling crocodiles

 

Please report back and tell us if you can recognise the difference.

 

Yep, I have. Too much to say, but i share Moog's view of Vegas. Lots to see, depends what your interests are and when you're going? I also thought LA was a ****hole.

Detoured to Big Bear Lake where boxers train (picturesque and hour into the Hills above LA) and from there to Vegas.

LEFT Vegas after a week at Bellagio (for wife) via Death Valley and onto Yosemite for a couple of days or more.

Yosemite to SF is **** boring drive and beware crazy Mexicans in pick ups. the drive at 90mph like nutters.

I think the I95 through Sierra Nevada mountains is a better drive and more scenic but hey. The Big Sur bit can get very congested with slow moving tourists (so if you want to drive like they do on Top Gear you wont as old duffers are dawdling along, camper vans, and UK chats in Mustang convertibles abound. My missus wanted to stop every 500 yards to take a photo.

Monterrey is where Laguna Seca raceway is if you like motorsports. Carmel and Pebble Beach are interesting too.