It would seem that we have quite a few well traveled members on the forums , so could it be worth asking for opinions on some cities worth visiting? Looking at going somewhere in October.
Paris seems popular. Anyone ever been? Is it worth it, or could we do better?

Thanks in advance, for all the opinions that I'm sure are forthcoming!

Paris is just great - so much to see, and most of it recognisable from countless movies and TV shows. I love sitting in wee cafes watching the world go by. Full of tourists at any time of the year. Stay in the Montmartre area

Other non-UK tips (from EDI I assume)

Prague - another beautiful city. Cheaper than Paris, and a great nightlife.

Amsterdam - I've gone off it a bit. Gettign quite seedy, although art lovers won't be lost for attractions

Brussels - fantastic beer and food in a mixture of enchanting old and ugly new buildings. Moules and frites with Chimay beer is the food that will be served when the revolution comes

Copenhagen - quite expensive, and whisper it, a little boring Tivoli Gardens are vastly overrated

Cologne - best in winter for the Gluhwein at the Weihnachtsmarkt.

Dublin - expensive and hectic. Like Singapore with freckles. Where God would eat and drink.

That's all for now, I've hotel and restaurant recommendations in each of the above (and more) when you do make your decision.

Thanks Bill, i knew you'd be one to come up with the goods!
To be honest, bmibaby from MAN(!) are very reasonable to CDG just now.
BA are quite frankly rediculous direct from EDI, AF not much better.
Looked at Aer Lingus briefly, would somebody like to tell me why they don't have a morning departure from EDI?!?!
The only reasonable fares from EDI were easyJet to Amsterdam, Germanwings and believe it or not, SAS to Stockholm, no doubt thanks to Snowflake getting in on the act there!

Aberdeen

But seriously I don't think i've ever been anywhere in Europe that I'd never go back to. Stick a pin in the map ;)

Good idea!
Out of interest I just checked prices for EDI-EWR-EDI.
£1000 per adult!

If the Fly Globey destinations are still available in October (anyone?), try either Barcelona or Venice! Two fantastic cities!

Or (serious here) check out bmi's fares to Manchester and get yourself down there for a weekend - great place!

They are still available, or most of them are anyway.
Nice actually seemed quite appealing, but they are seriously expensive for our dates. How they can call themselves a Loco!?
Got relatives in Lancashire.

Im glad you asked this question goEDI: Im wanting to go away this summer (havent had a hliday since 2001), so looking for a cheap holiday.

I really fancy Nice, would love to spend a day in monaco with all the rich and famous. Unfortunately ive got a really tight budget, so doubt if I can even afford to go away...

Ive got £400 to cover travelling, accomodation and spending money. Anyone any suggestions? Costa Del Solway seems to be the only option

Check all the Locos websites, easyJet, bmibaby-who were very cheap when I last check a few hours ago! etc.
Try http://www.expedia.co.uk see what they bring up.

get to Nice and hire a scooter. Spend the day driving up and down the coast looking at the burdz

Barcelona and Rome are lovely cities to visit for short and extended stays . I've heard that Moscow isn't without it's charm and has extremely cheap booze

I would always recommend the Scandanavian Cities, Helsinki was always my Fav although mega expesnsive (£4 a pint in 1989) although that wont worry GOEdi. They devalued the FinnMarkka which made it more reasonable, I think Finland is still not too bad with the Euro. Of course heading in that direction in October is not too good an idea as daylight is already on the way out.

I`d always recommend Prague, especially the nearer to winter you get. A cold winter gives Prague a certain ambience, plus its less busy. However I`d keep an eye on on the petty crime front. Been 4 times and 3 times someone in the party was robbed.
3rd time was the cheekiest, Had our wallets emptied of cash from our hotel room "As we Slept " The door was locked so theres no prizes for guessing who done it.

Give it a year! ......incidentely, I hit the roads for the first time today!

Thats it! Im staying off the Edinburgh roads!

I was talking to a friends dad down the pub tonight, and hes just returned from Turkey. Recons I should head out there for a cheap holiday.

Flights are about £60 return, andthe hotel he stayed in was £5 a night!! Pints are typicaly 80p, dropping to 40p a pint during happy hour (whichlasts 5 - 11...)

Im searching for flights as i type...

LOl!

*Quote Esure* "Don't worry, I'm really a very good driver!"

Not that I can get insured with esure.

Calm down, its only a commercial!....

Had to be done

Hello Mum I'm on the tele, no, Internet!

and that's anough of that then!

Berlin is definately worth a visit - I've been there three times over the last wee while (1991, 2000 and 2003) and the redevelopment has been remarkable! When I went last year I got flights for £118 return with KL via AMS. Munich is also good - with the prerequisite of good beer covered of course!

For somewhere a bit different reached by loco flights I would suggest Antwerp (using EZY to AMS then the direct train from Schiphol to Antwerp). Not really a major tourist centre, but a very pleasant place, with nice shops and a smattering of atractive buildings.

Or EDI-AMS and direct train from the airport to Utrecht - really nice place. And I'd say much nicer than the 'Dam.

Utrecht is nice alright - I'd also recommend Maastricht, right down in the southern Limburg region of Hollnad. It might actually be easier to get to from Brussels though

..these places sound like perfect Ryanair destinations
Paris is still looking like best option though.

I think FR actually do fly to Maastricht, from Stansted. Utrecht is less than 20 mins from AMS though.

Nothing wrong with Paris of course, plenty there to take a young man's fancy!

But what you're forgetting is the superb/proper transport network in the Netherlands - you can get to these places quickly by direct train from the airport...

The best thing out of Paris is the cityflyer to EDI.



Gerry



....ok, I hate the place... a bad Air Salon '99 experience.
Constantly meeting French Alf Garnets that refuse to understand
english or even international sign language.....

Don't know if I should mention this or not....

It's an (04) 'even' year and I'm going solo.
(Thanks lovely wife!)

Going on tour next week: I'm just taking a flight to London and back.
It's a bus tour/gumball rally type of thing!
Mainly for spotters but the photography is pretty good with airside access
thrown in.
It doesn't always go to plan either. I've done it a few times before.
It's not everybody's idea of a holiday either, but I like it and meet a lot of new friends.

I've missed some of the small fields, but it goes something like this:

EDI, Heathrow, Hamburg Airport, Airbus plant @ Finkenwerder, Rodby, Roskilde, Copenhagen, Stockholm Arlanda airport, Bromma airport, Vallentuna ,Turku airport, Oripaa, Forssa, Nummela, Hyvinkaa, Malmi, Helsinki Vantaa airport, Tallinn, Parnu, Riga, Villnius, Kaunas, Avia Baltika, Warsaw Lodz, Bialystok, Poznan ,Berlin Schoenfeld, Hannover, Heathrow, EDI.

Hopefully sampling a few more local beers.

I don't expect a lot of time for touristy things, it's mostly bumming around airports and hotels.

Gerry

That is one thing thing that goes againt Paris. There's French people there.

jaysus Gerry that is some hike. No wonder the missus doesn't want to go You should bring Callum along for the ride, he could brush up on his aircraft recognition skills

My father taught me everything I needed to know at the perimeter fence at Prestwick when I was but a boy ...

"Always read the safety card, Callum ..."

Never fails.

They must be powerful binoculars if you can read the safety card from the perimeter fence...?

That's precisely why my spotting career at the fence didn't last very long. In order to spot aeroplanes I had to be on them, not looking at them from afar!

It's more expensive but a lot more fun!

hi!..

having a quiet day at Arlanda just now...
(2euro for 1hr internet is not bad.... helping while the time away..)

a big 'quiet' airport...good for spotters, poor for photo's
(photo's thru' glass, yuk!)

Hamburg main airport was very good, including approach shots near the runway beside 30 odd other german photographers on a sunny evening....
Just one of those perfect evenings....

I'm getting the Finnish ferry tonight... i believe there is a big fly-in
at a small field near helsinki tomorrow..... drool!

See you!

Gerry

1% Sweden is just trees and even more trees!
2% Doesn't look like I'm missing much at EDI

Stockholm, Rome, Naples, Athens.

Just back home today... checking the photo pile now... phew!
It'll keep me busy through the coming winter.
I'll maybe get a digest done in a few weeks for this forum.
I'm knackered!

After +5000 miles and 12 countries : I'll make an attempt to
get back to Riga soon.

A smashing wee airport, cute town centre, cheap food and great beer..... and where the woman dress like woman!
{{ Very pleasant on the eye. }}
I didn't see one female with any of that 'FCUK' rubbish over their assets. Maybe I'm gettin' old.
Lots and lots of Bingo Blouses (eyes down : look in : a full house!)

There is also a fascinating outdoor museum at the airport.
Full of old Aeroflot and Soviet Air Force junk.
Didn't have enough time to check it all out, so I'll have to go back

Sample:



Access inside an old MiL-6 holding various Soviet uniforms and flying
suits. It smelt really foosty, but very genuine.

I haven't read any other www boards yet, but I heard on that day I was visiting RIGA that Ryanair will host their hub in the Baltic.
Good choice.

Gerry

this would be great - I assume they would follow their current strategy of linking their hubs, so we'd get a link to PIK. I'd love to head over there.

Sounds like a fun trip Gerry, btw!

I'd second the Riga recommendation. I combined it with Tallin and Helsinki a few years ago. I wouldn't spend too long in each one, though. October might be getting a bit chilly, too.

Paris is great, as are lots of Spanish cities. Sweden and Denmark are great in summer, but I don't like them so much at other times. Other places I've enjoyed have been Krakow (in Poland), Istanbul and Berlin.

That was the 14th of July, guess what happened today!
Now you really want to stay clear of the roads!

You passed your test? Congrats!

Thank you, thank you.