Holidays 2025

[Fishy]

Off to Marrakech end of Feb for a week then we've got a wedding in Cyprus in Sept..

[David L]

Off to Marrakech end of Feb for a week then we've got a wedding in Cyprus in Sept..

If it's still there   

[Fishy]

Booked a week in Majorca in Aug and Madrid for 4 days in May

[Nickslikk2112]

Not a Holiday, but just had a weekend break in Shrewsbury and very nice it was too. Didn't even have to resort to a boat trip to kill time. The town centre is still substantially Tudor. Even sat out eating Tapas with a glass of Bandol Rosé on Friday. Would return.

[David L]

We've returned home today from a wonderful break in the motorhome. Our fourth trip down to the touring park at Seasalter just up the road from Whitstable.

We decided to check out the Malle Mile motorcycle event held at the weekend at Margate which is within easy reach of Whitstable by train. Featuring straight-line, drag-style competitions, dirt track and 'motopolo' all held on Margate sands at low tide. The bikes were restricted to customs and classics featuring a lot of British period machines. It was a fantastic day weather-wise with sunshine and high temps all day Saturday. We did spend quite a lot of time either in a pub or sat in the glorious sun, concentrating on the consumption of various delicious craft beers. I was chuffed to get a couple of appreciative comments on my Permanent Waves t-shirt!

The day was kicked off with a cooked breakfast at Charlie's in Margate which if not for the wait and the tepid sausage, would have scored a sound 10/10. Some great ales quaffed at Xylo on the front, followed by a quirky little watering-hole by the name of Fez which is stuffed full of period signs, posters, furniture etc. including a genuine Waltzer car.

We travelled down on Thursday and re-aquainted ourselves with one of our favourite Whitstable bar, The Twelve Taps. Ate at Castellum, an Italian on high street.

Friday we dusted off the mtbs and cycled the Crab & Winkle Way to just outside Canterbury, through Blean Woods and stopped off at The Dove in Dargate. After a couple of pints, we cycled onwards back towards Seasalter, stopping at a nice spot for our packed lunch. Not far (15 miles?) but very pleasant in the sunshine.

We planned to catch a local cricket match at Whitstable cricket club on Sunday but were disappointed to find no game on when we arrived on our bikes at the ground. A phone call confirmed the game was cancelled as Westgate on Sea were unable to raise a side. Weather was much cooler on Sunday with cloudy/sun throughout the afternoon but considerably lower temperatures. Fortunately the home of 'The Oyster Men', Whitstable FC, is adjacent to the cricket ground and we were able to watch a Kent Youth U14s match between Whitstable and Rochester. The home side overpowered the visitors to win 4-0. On Sunday the senior side wilkl be contesting the FC Vase at Wembley against AFC Whyteleaf. We finished the day with a nice 'van-cooked' curry - chicken Tikka Masala, rice and naan breads.

Yesterday the weather had definitely turned a bit grotty with 30mph winds and showers in the morning. The rain stopped in the afternoon giving us the chance to escape the van with a cycle to pick up some essentials at the Sainsbury's superstore near Tankerton. We couldn't resist a stop-off at The Twelve Taps on the way back to the site to finish the weekend off. On returning to the motorhome, Clare rustled up penne pasta with broad beans and sausage in pesto sauce.

We've become really fond of this part of the UK in the last couple of years. Kent is, of course, known as the 'garden of England' as it is blessed with higher than UK average sunshine. I guess the reason is that our prevailing weather systems from the west firstly dump their contents on the hills of Wales, the Cotswolds, Chilterns and Surrey hills before reaching Kent depleted of moisture. Mind you, at times that wind from the North Sea can be bracing!

We love the area and have discussed wether we will end our days down there. At the moment though, the in-laws are in need of more help so they will have to be our focus in the short term.
I would thoroughly recommend Kent, especially the Isle of Thanet if youve never visited before.

[David L]

Just booked a trip to New York in October to coincide with the wife's birthday. She's been but I haven't. Looking forward to having my photo taken outside Trump Tower.

[Thenop]

1 more day of work tomorrow and then a short trip next week to the countryside. eThe aim is to see as little other people as possible. It's only a few days but I will bring books, hiking shoes and a music player + headphones. No one will bother me, except for the wife which is allowed. And the dogs come as well.
Mornings are for walking, afternoons for reading.

[Thenop]

Just booked a trip to New York in October to coincide with the wife's birthday. She's been but I haven't. Looking forward to having my photo taken outside Trump Tower.

Better not look cross eyed in that photo, they'll lock you up even when you want to be deported.

[David L]

Just booked a trip to New York in October to coincide with the wife's birthday. She's been but I haven't. Looking forward to having my photo taken outside Trump Tower.

Better not look cross eyed in that photo, they'll lock you up even when you want to be deported.

Actually I was born with a strabismus in my left eye. It was corrected when I was five years old although on occasion, especially when I am tired, the eye can still turn in slightly. In view of your comment I will opt to get the photo taken before lunch.

[pxr5]

Just booked a trip to New York in October to coincide with the wife's birthday. She's been but I haven't. Looking forward to having my photo taken outside Trump Tower.

I've been to NY only once. It was actually a work trip to Little Falls, NJ - but we took a bus to NY one weekend and did all the tourist things. It was November and fucking freezing - I've been to sone shitty parts of the world and I don't think I've ever been so cold. Great city though.

[David L]

Just booked a trip to New York in October to coincide with the wife's birthday. She's been but I haven't. Looking forward to having my photo taken outside Trump Tower.

I've been to NY only once. It was actually a work trip to Little Falls, NJ - but we took a bus to NY one weekend and did all the tourist things. It was November and fucking freezing - I've been to sone shitty parts of the world and I don't think I've ever been so cold. Great city though.

I'm hoping it will still be reasonably warm (Indian Summer?) but the autumnal colours will be on show.
We will be staying in Manhattan at The Grayson which looks like an ideal location for all the touristy stuff. After four nights we are heading up to White Plains to spend the weekend with Clare's nephew and his wife. They re-located there (from Newbury) for work over a year ago.
We're flying with Virgin, Heathrow - JFK, and decided to stump up a little more for Premium Economy. Been ages since I did long haul, hope to sleep as much as poss!
I'm thinking now we're retired I should start ticking some destination boxes. Can't take it with you and all that!

[Nick]

Flew Virgin PE from Boston a few weeks ago, very impressed and much better than BA.

[captainkurtz]

Last week I booked a week in Zante for July (thanks for all the excellent advice, Matt!)

Today, I booked a Berlin in August - 3 full days...

[Matt2112]

Last week I booked a week in Zante for July (thanks for all the excellent advice, Matt!)

Παρακαλώ πολι 

You're very welcome. 😉

And remember, it's "ZAK-in-thos", not "Zak-IN-thos".  But yeah, you can stick to "Zante" of course.

[Matt2112]

Just booked a trip to New York in October to coincide with the wife's birthday. She's been but I haven't. Looking forward to having my photo taken outside Trump Tower.

New York is great - just how it seems in all the films.  Been twice, I think firstly in March 2000 (I remember seeing Concorde parked at its gate at JFK), and definitely in November 2002, when I stopped over en route back from Honolulu (as one does) to see Rush in East Rutherford, New Jersey, a couple of weeks or so before they filmed their gig in Rio.

On the second visit I stood in roughly the same place as when I stood at the foot of the twin towers on my first visit; that was a sobering experience.