Holidays 2016

[Slime]

I only managed one week in Devon this year so I aim to have a better 2016.
A few days in Center Parcs in early Jan, hopefully a week skiing in Les Menuires in March and a week's golfing in Montecastillo in May.
I also have to go to a wedding in Bordeaux in July too, but I'm not counting that as a holiday.


Slime.

 

[bladeplayer]

Sister in law & husband just got their new work posting in New York . they b starting in June so id be fair sure we b going there this year .would like to do pre Christmas there next year , I didn't go to India to visit them as the chap is too young IMO HID & the eldest 2 went , they wouldn't go back

 

[davemc1]

Disney florida for me an the lil one. I have a feeling il need an adult holiday soon after!

Maybe a stag do at the end of may.

 

[Piece]

At Stampede time? Did Calgary a few years ago, loved the Stampede, went on to Vancouver by train via Banff. Did Toronto, Niagara, Quebec & Ottowa last year, enjoyed Ottowa the most out of those with Niagara & Quebec a close second, didn't much warm to Toronto as a city.

Pretty much my ideal holiday there. Have wanted to do that for years. Silly question... was Banff and train good?

 

[Lambchops]

A week skiing in Slovakia in Feb, Prague for a long weekend with the boys in March, Berlin for a long weekend with the wife in May, week in Croatia in June, couple of long weekends in Budapest in July/Aug, week in Spain in Sept plus a long weekend back in the Uk in Sept as well

Christ I'd better ring the bank manager

 

[upsidedown]

Snow Gods are being unkind. Off to Passo in Italy on 16th and the runs are all artificial snow so could be first lift and then much apre in the afternoon.

Matt Chilton this morning on Eurosport suggesting 4-5 days of snow at end of the week

 

[Three]

Matt Chilton this morning on Eurosport suggesting 4-5 days of snow at end of the week

Yeah looks like many places that should be cold now but aren't, will be back to normal in a few days time.

 

[Three]

A week skiing in Slovakia in Feb, Prague for a long weekend with the boys in March, Berlin for a long weekend with the wife in May, week in Croatia in June, couple of long weekends in Budapest in July/Aug, week in Spain in Sept plus a long weekend back in the Uk in Sept as well

Christ I'd better ring the bank manager

Have you been to Budapest before?
Heard it can be good for a lads type trip and it's within driving distance.

 

[Blue in Munich]

Pretty much my ideal holiday there. Have wanted to do that for years. Silly question... was Banff and train good?

In response to all the bolded bits; Calgary and the Stampede was fantastic. The entire town gets into it, walked into the bank to cash a traveller's cheque and the teller was in a stetson, western check shirt, jeans and cowboy boots (and they suited her very nicely ) , there's a wagon parade around the town of a morning on which you got free seats and pancakes with maple syrup, there's the Olympic Park (go at the right time and you can do the bobsleigh run as a passenger!) and there's the Stampede show ground with the fair, live music, the rodeo and the evening spectacular with the Chuck wagon racing. If you go, get tickets for the rodeo and the evening event on separate days as it's too much for one day, and they cover your admission to the grounds for two separate days rather than one.

Banff is astoundingly pretty and if you go there you MUST play Banff Springs Golf Club. An excellent course and I can't think of a more stunning setting or a more visually spectacular course anywhere. Take a gondola up Sulphur mountain for some stunning views of the Rockies, there are hot springs or some lovely walks, cycling or rafting.

And then the train. When we went, it was either Red Leaf or Gold Leaf. We booked Red Leaf, and then having spoken to someone at work who had already been I stopped at the travel agents on the way home & upped it to Gold Leaf without prior Ministerial approval. This led to an interesting conversation when she got in, but the booking was not changed. It was without doubt amongst the best service we have had on holiday anywhere. The quality of the food was top notch, the views were stunning, the train was extremely comfortable, the staff utterly professional; I could not think of any way the train itself could be improved. I even remembered to take a copy of Gordon Lightfoot's "Canadian Railroad Trilogy", which is one of my favourites, and listened to it as we trundled along, if you know the song you'll know why;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGiYI3ercf8

The only thing that wasn't quite in the same league was the overnight hotel stop, but that was soon forgotten. When we got to Vancouver, we alighted on individual sets of steps rather than a platform and a member of staff was there to help; we happened to have the Head Steward. The Minister for Home Affairs paused, waved the Nike finger at him and said "You know, for the money we paid I had expectations of this trip; and I have to say you exceeded every one of them!" The only thing I would change if I went again would be to look to start in Vancouver and travel east.

Yeah, the train's okay………..

 

[Doon frae Troon]

I have a rich cousin who lives on Vancouver Island [summers] and Bordego Springs [winter]
We had a trip all planned a couple of years ago to spend a month with him. Banff, train through the Rockies, sailing on his boat etc.

My missus has a fear of flying since an unfortunate incident with her broomstick.
On the day of paying the deposit she bottled out.

On the plus side we look like traveling to Shetland in the summer.
We really enjoyed Orkney [land of Sponge] a couple of years ago.

Plus many weekends away, which we tend to take rather than long holidays.

 

[Piece]

In response to all the bolded bits; Calgary and the Stampede was fantastic. The entire town gets into it, walked into the bank to cash a traveller's cheque and the teller was in a stetson, western check shirt, jeans and cowboy boots (and they suited her very nicely ) , there's a wagon parade around the town of a morning on which you got free seats and pancakes with maple syrup, there's the Olympic Park (go at the right time and you can do the bobsleigh run as a passenger!) and there's the Stampede show ground with the fair, live music, the rodeo and the evening spectacular with the Chuck wagon racing. If you go, get tickets for the rodeo and the evening event on separate days as it's too much for one day, and they cover your admission to the grounds for two separate days rather than one.

Banff is astoundingly pretty and if you go there you MUST play Banff Springs Golf Club. An excellent course and I can't think of a more stunning setting or a more visually spectacular course anywhere. Take a gondola up Sulphur mountain for some stunning views of the Rockies, there are hot springs or some lovely walks, cycling or rafting.

And then the train. When we went, it was either Red Leaf or Gold Leaf. We booked Red Leaf, and then having spoken to someone at work who had already been I stopped at the travel agents on the way home & upped it to Gold Leaf without prior Ministerial approval. This led to an interesting conversation when she got in, but the booking was not changed. It was without doubt amongst the best service we have had on holiday anywhere. The quality of the food was top notch, the views were stunning, the train was extremely comfortable, the staff utterly professional; I could not think of any way the train itself could be improved. I even remembered to take a copy of Gordon Lightfoot's "Canadian Railroad Trilogy", which is one of my favourites, and listened to it as we trundled along, if you know the song you'll know why;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGiYI3ercf8

The only thing that wasn't quite in the same league was the overnight hotel stop, but that was soon forgotten. When we got to Vancouver, we alighted on individual sets of steps rather than a platform and a member of staff was there to help; we happened to have the Head Steward. The Minister for Home Affairs paused, waved the Nike finger at him and said "You know, for the money we paid I had expectations of this trip; and I have to say you exceeded every one of them!" The only thing I would change if I went again would be to look to start in Vancouver and travel east.

Yeah, the train's okay………..

:thup: Great stuff.

Was really hoping you were going to say it wasnt worth it....

 

[Lambchops]

Have you been to Budapest before?
Heard it can be good for a lads type trip and it's within driving distance.

Aye we go regular and love the place - the in-laws live 30 min away. Its topper with the lads for a drinking weekend mind - although Krakow tops it

 

[markyjee]

Got the first half of year sorted.
3 days in Rome next month for the wife's birthday.
Golf trip to Villamoura in May but instead of flying home with the group the wife and kids are coming over for an extra week.
Main holiday will either be October school holidays in Turkey or Florida in November for daughters birthdays.

 

[huds1475]

il need an adult holiday soon after!

Dodgy masks, leather chaps and keys in the fruit-bowl?

 

[Tashyboy]

Aye we go regular and love the place - the in-laws live 30 min away. Its topper with the lads for a drinking weekend mind - although Krakow tops it

Loved budapest, stayed up near the castle and it was fantastic, some of the pubs were fantastic.
Did Krakov and it was the cheapest I have ever got leathered in my life. The salt mines are fantastic. however and it's a massive however if going to Krakov, you have to go to Auschwitz. It Is something you will never regret but it makes it a differant kind of weekend than say goin to Budapest, Barcelona, Amsterdam, Rome etc.
got a night booked in Doncaster in August 🙄 When watching simply red at the racecourse.

 

[Lambchops]

Loved budapest, stayed up near the castle and it was fantastic, some of the pubs were fantastic.
Did Krakov and it was the cheapest I have ever got leathered in my life. The salt mines are fantastic. however and it's a massive however if going to Krakov, you have to go to Auschwitz. It Is something you will never regret but it makes it a differant kind of weekend than say goin to Budapest, Barcelona, Amsterdam, Rome etc.
got a night booked in Doncaster in August  When watching simply red at the racecourse.

Yes Auschwitz is a must see if you go to Krakow

We went to Kiev the year before it all kicked off in the Feb - it was bloody freezing but what an absolutely fantastic city that is. Cheap as anything, even cheaper now and the city itself is beautiful. We went to Chernobyl aswell which is certainly an experience and a half

 

[Deleted member 1740]

Dodgy masks, leather chaps and keys in the fruit-bowl?

That sounds like the voice of experience, recommendation by any chance :rofl:

Vegas is on the horizon with a load of mates and a week camping in August in Bude with the family. Bude is a beautiful part of the world, I love it down there.

 

[Paperboy]

Weeks golf in Spain, about 12 off us going. Golf sun, food and Rioja. Then Scottish Links trip in May, that will be my lot as hoping to buy a flat or house in the summer.

 

[Crazyface]

Looking at following a music trail in the States; Nashville, Memphis & New Orleans, with a few nights chilling in Florida on the way back. Hopefully the travel agent will confirm the details next week.

The golf clubs will be staying at home.

Nashville for a week, then a quick visit to Gracelands then Texas for a rodeo!!!!

 

[Blue in Munich]

Nashville for a week, then a quick visit to Gracelands then Texas for a rodeo!!!!

Any tips for Nashville?