2025 travel plans

[VPS]

Yes - weirdly we only discovered Portugal for the first time this year (but did not get to Porto). Loved Sintra and Lisbon -food,people,art and Moorish history.

Booked another trip when we got back staying coastal (Estoril) and then focussing on Porto 4days. Need another day in Lisbon at my world’s best ceramics store!

We have done northern Spain. I am not a Barcelona lover. So plan a fortnight in the south. Planning two nights in Alhambra so can do at an unhurried pace and with private guide at ‘quieter’ times. We plan Cordoba - will report back.

I agree with you about Barcelona. I'd go back to Madrid but I'm thinking about staying in the hotel at the Alhambra for two nights just so I can take it in when others have gone. Michael Portillo's Andalucia on SBS has a few hints

 

[MARTINE]

I agree with you about Barcelona. I'd go back to Madrid but I'm thinking about staying in the hotel at the Alhambra for two nights just so I can take it in when others have gone. Michael Portillo's Andalucia on SBS has a few hints

Thanks @VPS will do re:the Portillo doco.
I am staying at the Alhambra Hotel 2 nights

 

[Flashback]

2 nights is easily more than enough there.

 

[VPS]

2 nights is easily more than enough there.

In Granada?

 

[Flashback]

In Granada?

Si!

 

[VPS]

Si!

gracias senor

 

[chitown_boy]

Where will you be for your 40th @chitown_boy ?

Bit of a misnomer actually - couldn’t get time off work on my actual birthday so the trip is actually in the weeks leading up to it. A sort of last hurrah to my 30’s

 

[Flyfrequently]

A sort of last hurrah to my 30’s

You now have the title for your TR @chitown_boy enjoy!

 

[elanshin]

Just locked in our OWA.

So far travel plans for 2025:

Start the year in JP.
Mar Tokyo (Work)
May NZ (south island)
Nov Europe+ Sin

Other trips that need to happen but not booked

Jun JP
Shanghai sometime.

 

[Flyinfish]

I'm going to Japan in early April for two weeks for a friend's wedding. I've been to Japan a couple of times before over the years, but never experienced cherry blossom! I'm travelling from Osaka to Matsumoto (wedding location) and then on to Tokyo. I'm keen to maximise my Sakura viewing but also realise I will be competing with crowds of other Sakura enthusiasts! As the bloom dates vary, I have two plans 1. Osaka/Kyoto/Kanasawa/Matsumoto and 2. Osaka/Kanasawa/Takayama/Matsumoto. I will decide based on bloom reports. Have I got myself covered do you think?

 

[RB]

Hi RB, that would be great if you can.

Things we're thinking of doing include .... Dambulla, Sigiriya, Kandy (then train to Ella or vice versa), somewhere along the south coast like Hiriketiya, then Galle Fort, before heading back Colombo (over 7 days).

Sorry have just seen this, will PM.

 

[Disco]

2 nights is easily more than enough there.

Have to disagree with this. Depending on your transport there is a lot to enjoy both in and around Granada. E.g mountains, white villages. Further afield Ronda.

 

[Foreigner]

In between work, studies, home-care for parent, I’d like to get away for two weeks RTW with carry-on bag. WIP for now

 

[Flashback]

Have to disagree with this. Depending on your transport there is a lot to enjoy both in and around Granada. E.g mountains, white villages. Further afield Ronda.

Yes, but for the town itself is plenty. Ronda I'd suggest stopping in for half a day on the way to the next stop.

 

[RooFlyer]

If I'm going to Scotland that would be first thing, so mid Oct.
I want to take the Caledonian Sleeper....surprise surprise

I heard people saying the journey to Edinburgh is too short for a good sleep. So I'm thinking taking it to Inverness, and then from there to see the highlands and Skye.

On the same trip as the Greenland cruise, I'm flying into Inverness, hiring a car to drive through the highlands down to Edinburgh and onto Holy Island (that I missed out due to carp weather last time), then back to Edinburgh to take the train down to London.

Hadn't thought of the Sleeper. Add to list ...

What's a room supplement? Only explanation is:

If you require a room supplement, click the “room supplement only” box.
Room Supplements DO NOT INCLUDE TRAVEL. When you travel with a room supplement you must also have a valid travel ticket, such as an Anytime, Off-Peak or Super Off-Peak Single or Return; a Britrail or Interrail Pass; or an All Line Rover.

We have done northern Spain. I am not a Barcelona lover. So plan a fortnight in the south. Planning two nights in Alhambra so can do at an unhurried pace and with private guide at ‘quieter’ times. We plan Cordoba - will report back.

I've done a lot of Spain, but not Barcelona, so planning to go there, same trip. Only a day in Barcelona, though, then Tarragona (natch), probably Monserrat and a couple of days in the Pyrenees.

Memo to anyone going to Spain. MUST check out Paradores hotel chain.

Hoteles y Restaurantes Paradores | Web Oficial Paradores

Discover our restaurants and paradors. Unique spaces for an unforgettable stay. Enter now and book at the best price!

paradores.es

Ignore the guff at the top of page, scroll down and explore the map. Some of the most wonderful hotels in old/ancient villas, castles, monasteries etc. Confiscated by Franco, turned into hotels etc by the State later on.

 

[MARTINE]

On the same trip as the Greenland cruise, I'm flying into Inverness, hiring a car to drive through the highlands down to Edinburgh and onto Holy Island (that I missed out due to carp weather last time), then back to Edinburgh to take the train down to London.

Hadn't thought of the Sleeper. Add to list ...

What's a room supplement? Only explanation is:

If you require a room supplement, click the “room supplement only” box.
Room Supplements DO NOT INCLUDE TRAVEL. When you travel with a room supplement you must also have a valid travel ticket, such as an Anytime, Off-Peak or Super Off-Peak Single or Return; a Britrail or Interrail Pass; or an All Line Rover.



I've done a lot of Spain, but not Barcelona, so planning to go there, same trip. Only a day in Barcelona, though, then Tarragona (natch), probably Monserrat and a couple of days in the Pyrenees.

Memo to anyone going to Spain. MUST check out Paradores hotel chain.

Hoteles y Restaurantes Paradores | Web Oficial Paradores

Discover our restaurants and paradors. Unique spaces for an unforgettable stay. Enter now and book at the best price!

paradores.es

Ignore the guff at the top of page, scroll down and explore the map. Some of the most wonderful hotels in old/ancient villas, castles, monasteries etc. Confiscated by Franco, turned into hotels etc by the State later on.

Thanks Roo - I think I will book that hotel for Alhambra today…. And become an amigo de Paradores

 

[VPS]

On the same trip as the Greenland cruise, I'm flying into Inverness, hiring a car to drive through the highlands down to Edinburgh and onto Holy Island (that I missed out due to carp weather last time), then back to Edinburgh to take the train down to London.

Hadn't thought of the Sleeper. Add to list ...

What's a room supplement? Only explanation is:

If you require a room supplement, click the “room supplement only” box.
Room Supplements DO NOT INCLUDE TRAVEL. When you travel with a room supplement you must also have a valid travel ticket, such as an Anytime, Off-Peak or Super Off-Peak Single or Return; a Britrail or Interrail Pass; or an All Line Rover.



I've done a lot of Spain, but not Barcelona, so planning to go there, same trip. Only a day in Barcelona, though, then Tarragona (natch), probably Monserrat and a couple of days in the Pyrenees.

Memo to anyone going to Spain. MUST check out Paradores hotel chain.

Hoteles y Restaurantes Paradores | Web Oficial Paradores

Discover our restaurants and paradors. Unique spaces for an unforgettable stay. Enter now and book at the best price!

paradores.es

Ignore the guff at the top of page, scroll down and explore the map. Some of the most wonderful hotels in old/ancient villas, castles, monasteries etc. Confiscated by Franco, turned into hotels etc by the State later on.

YMMV but I wouldn’t go back to holy Island I thought it was a bit overrated

 

[RooFlyer]

YMMV but I wouldn’t go back to holy Island I thought it was a bit overrated

The area on the immediate mainland shore line I have a historical interest in - one of the early settlers I study came from there. He settled in the Hobart area and the suburb Lindisfarne got its name from his farm there. So going across the causeway will be an easy extension.

 

[rbjhan]

What's a room supplement?

I think that's what you pay when you have a railpass...

 

[rbjhan]

Thanks Roo - I think I will book that hotel for Alhambra today…. And become an amigo de Paradores

The one in Alhambra is....how do I put it, quite expensive for no good reason imho....back in 2019 it was 400 something euros I don't want to think how much it would be now...
I would recommend the Washington hotel just outside, much cheaper, a lot nicer room and the location is just a short walk away.