The Holiday Thread

[TibBo]

Anyone ever been to Lapland? I think we get issued with boots and snowsuits on arrival, but not sure how many/what layers to have underneath it.

[cobra_gordo]

It's my 40th in February and and me and my wife are fancying going away for a few nights somewhere. We've discussed Reykjavík, Amsterdam and Oslo but I had the idea last night of going to Brasov in Romania because it's fairly close to Bram Castle and they have actual bears in the woods. We did think about Bucharest but I really want to see the big goth castle and I can't be arsed with renting a car and driving three hours to get there.

Looking at around £500 for three nights including flights at good times and staying in a nice, Air BNB in Brasov's old town. Reviews look positive, food and drink seems cheap and seems like a nice place to spend a few days. I don't know anybody that's been though, has anybody on here been there?

[SaitoRyo]

Off to Marsa Alam on Sunday. Family holiday for eight days. I wanted to go somewhere different, like Tunisia, this year (since we went to Hurghada a couple of years back) but the place looks really nice and it was a good deal on the all-inclusive package. 

I'd ask for any feedback from people who have been to Marsa Alam before, but I can't see us straying too far (if at all) from the hotel. Can't wait - bring on my tiny, weak beach beers!

[tiger_rick]

Anyone have much experience of the budget airlines? I've only flown long-haul in the last 20 years. Looking at a city break after an enjoyable one in Paris on the Eurostar last year and wondering if there's any tips on how to do budget airlines? From my investigations so far, I'm finding it costs more to take a bag on than the cost of the flight!

[organizedkaos]

The bag thing is a dickhead. Easyjet are easier going the Ryanair but it's somewhat up to who's working there (or more accurately who's being pressured by management to enforce the rules). I've had my standard travel bag accepted and rejected multiple times when i haven't paid extra.

When you get to the gate there's a box exactly the dimensions of the free bag. You have to put your bag in the box. If it doesn't fit they'll take the bag, put it in the hold and charge for it (even it's a size you could've taken on with you if you'd paid the extra money). So measure luggage and soft bags > hardshell.

If you're travelling with someone else or as part of a group I think the best move is pay for one piece of hold luggage and then bung loads of stuff in there (although then you'll have to wait at airport / risk losing bag).

They'll charge you to pick a seat. I think if you book tickets together you will get automatically assigned seats next to each other on Easyjet, on Ryanaair they'll deliberately punish you for not paying the fees. (Not fully sure on that one, most of my recent trips have been with a group where the accepted arrangement appears to be one specific friend does all the booking in exchange for being allowed to repeatedly remind us he does all the work for these holidays)

 

[organizedkaos]

Or experiment with wearing as much luggage as possible.

[deathrey]

Echo everything said above, Jet 2 and easyJet are generally a better flight and provide a better customer service than Ryanair in my experience.

[tiger_rick]

Cheers both. Ended up going through a third party via Skyscanner and it included some luggage allowance for about an extra £20 each so not too bad. 

[waters44]

Can anyone recommend long term parking in London? I’m wanting to go to Europe for a week on Eurostar but want to drive to London and leave the car there while we’re away

[tiger_rick]

On 2/6/2026 at 4:17 PM, waters44 said:

Can anyone recommend long term parking in London? I’m wanting to go to Europe for a week on Eurostar but want to drive to London and leave the car there while we’re away

When I went to Chicago a couple of years ago, I used Just Park and parked on someone's driveway. They lived fairly close to Hounslow West tube, about a 10 minute walk, so we parked there and got the tube to Heathrow. It cost £45 for 9 days. Was a bargain.

[SuperBacon]

3 hours ago, tiger_rick said:

Hounslow West tube

Aka the best borough in London.

[Wretch]

We’re thinking of a week in Chicago next March. We’ve googled all the touristy bits, and we’ll be there for the Patrick’s Day festivities, so that’s all good. We’ll probably also go to Milwaukee for a day too as it’s just over an hour away by train. 
 

For anyone that’s been, is there enough to do in seven days? 

[gmoney]

I've booked a trip to Budapest in a couple of weeks, anyone got any reccos? 

[Dai]

13 hours ago, Wretch said:

We’re thinking of a week in Chicago next March. We’ve googled all the touristy bits, and we’ll be there for the Patrick’s Day festivities, so that’s all good. We’ll probably also go to Milwaukee for a day too as it’s just over an hour away by train. 
 

For anyone that’s been, is there enough to do in seven days? 

Can't speak specifically about Chigago, but for me personally, I think that seven days in any city is too long (with the exception of Orlando). Even places like New York, Vegas, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Rome, I've learnt the lesson that even in these that 7 days is too long.

A miles better 'bang for your buck' is to do 3 days in a city, and go somewhere else afterwards. My theory is that its better to do 80% of the good stuff in two cities, rather than 100% in one, and actually be at a bit of a loose end toward the end of that trip.  Its amazing how many memories and things you can pack into three days too.

Specifically about Chigago, a mate of mine went and didnt like it as it was so cold. 

[DavidB6937]

I quite like using one city as a 'base' and then going other places from it. I personally can't be bothered moving hotels a lot.