Holidays…..is it just me?

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Originally Posted by baggieal

No stress for me as can’t wait to get into the sun and see the sites especially architectural ones.

Stress of going anywhere in the U.K. would be far greater - traffic - s hit weather - yobs - inflated costs usually double to overseas.

Even on a plane I can relax and switch off by reading a book or drinking a glass of wine. You can’t really switch off by driving in the U.K. from A to B!

I do understand the older you get the more you don’t want to go overseas!

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Just the opposite. The older I get the more foreign travel I want to cram in whilst I am still fit and well. I don't like the hassle of getting there and back if it's flying (I'm rubbish at sitting still) but balance this by extending the break usually for around a month. Also very happy to take days to drive through Europe and spend a few weeks exploring countries like Spain and Italy. Also enjoy the occasional cruise both ocean and river.

Oh the joys of being retired.

I don’t know where to start! 😳

I’ll fill you all in once I’ve slept.

Cluster fk.com holidays!

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Originally Posted by 9goals2hattricks3pen

Just the opposite. The older I get the more foreign travel I want to cram in whilst I am still fit and well. I don't like the hassle of getting there and back if it's flying (I'm rubbish at sitting still) but balance this by extending the break usually for around a month. Also very happy to take days to drive through Europe and spend a few weeks exploring countries like Spain and Italy. Also enjoy the occasional cruise both ocean and river.

Oh the joys of being retired.

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I am the same as you then and do more overseas travelling now - you only live once so who knows. Love sights and architecture and just arrived back from Barcelona where I loved the city and Gaudi sights.

Planning to fly into Pisa at the end of October and drive around. Any tips of must see places?

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Originally Posted by mickd1961

I don’t know where to start! 😳

I’ll fill you all in once I’ve slept.

Cluster fk.com holidays!

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Oh no! Who did you book with?

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Originally Posted by DaveP67 is back!

Oh no! Who did you book with?

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Kuoni mate.

Will post properly later, just busy navigating my was around Stalag Luft 7 and trying to avoid the gaze of the stormtrooper staff.

We eventually found the breakfast restaurant but only after passing a couple of skeletal corpses on the way.

If I lose the missus is in this hotel I’ll never find her again.

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Originally Posted by mickd1961

Kuoni mate.

Will post properly later, just busy navigating my was around Stalag Luft 7 and trying to avoid the gaze of the stormtrooper staff.

We eventually found the breakfast restaurant but only after passing a couple of skeletal corpses on the way.

If I lose the missus is in this hotel I’ll never find her again.

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As you know I don't travel abroad anymore. I've previously heard mixed reports from friends about Kuoni and just Googled their reviews, a number of which are horrific.

Have you ever used either of Audley Travel (more expensive but much better reviews) or Travelbag (better reviews than Kuoni but now as good as Audley Travel).

Personally speaking if I was to travel abroad I'd do the flights through Skyscanner and sort my own accommodation but fully appreciate why you use providers given your opening post.

All of the very best with the prison camp and I sincerely hope you find the Mrs. if she gets lost. Enjoy the rest of your stay as best as you can 😎.

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Originally Posted by Albionic68

As you know I don't travel abroad anymore. I've previously heard mixed reports from friends about Kuoni and just Googled their reviews, a number of which are horrific.

Have you ever used either of Audley Travel (more expensive but much better reviews) or Travelbag (better reviews than Kuoni but now as good as Audley Travel).

Personally speaking if I was to travel abroad I'd do the flights through Skyscanner and sort my own accommodation but fully appreciate why you use providers given your opening post.

All of the very best with the prison camp and I sincerely hope you find the Mrs. if she gets lost. Enjoy the rest of your stay as best as you can 😎.

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Thanks 68.

After a failed attempt to relocate our room we ended up back at reception and were ably assisted by a young lady in possession of all her marbles who escorted to our abode.

We are trying to pluck up courage to leave the comfort of hotel reception but the lingering thought of the departed Dr Michael Moseley keeps entering my brain as I look towards the coastal path to the non visible beach area.

If our faces appear on SKY News 48 hours from now can you contact them and tell them I’m wearing a blue/whirlte/red Tommy Hilfiger tee shirt please.

My wife is wearing a camouflage tee shirt so offering her details will probably not bare fruit.

Thanks in advance.

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Originally Posted by Albionic68

As you know I don't travel abroad anymore. I've previously heard mixed reports from friends about Kuoni and just Googled their reviews, a number of which are horrific.

Have you ever used either of Audley Travel (more expensive but much better reviews) or Travelbag (better reviews than Kuoni but now as good as Audley Travel).

Personally speaking if I was to travel abroad I'd do the flights through Skyscanner and sort my own accommodation but fully appreciate why you use providers given your opening post.

All of the very best with the prison camp and I sincerely hope you find the Mrs. if she gets lost. Enjoy the rest of your stay as best as you can ��.

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I've booked China with Audley. They've booked all the flights, train travel and hotels. Then a mixture of guided and free days. Mostly dictated by us with a couple of extras suggested without giving the impression they are selling up for their benefit not mine. Very impressed so far.

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Originally Posted by baggieal

I am the same as you then and do more overseas travelling now - you only live once so who knows. Love sights and architecture and just arrived back from Barcelona where I loved the city and Gaudi sights.

Planning to fly into Pisa at the end of October and drive around. Any tips of must see places?

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Italy for me would definitely be a couple of days drive to get there thro France and Switzerland and back via Austria and Germany. Load the car up with all the stuff you need including my wife's art gear. Also bring back a few bottles. Helps that I'm only a couple of hours from the tunnel.

Been about 15 years since we were in Tuscany but we did love it. Stayed in San Gimignano which is known as the Manhattan of the Middle Ages.

All the others are as per the guide books Florence, Lucca Pisa. Numerous hill top villages couldn't get on with Sienna but that maybe just me.

Architecture in Florence is stunning and my wife loves all the art. She would still be in the Uffizi now. Philistine that I am would be an hour for me. Piazzale Michelangelo on the other side of the Arno is the place to go for views of the city.

Are Fiorentina at home? Architecture of their stadium is interesting in itself. If not I assume Empoli will be. Confident you can get tickets on the day.

Best of luck with the weather. Stinking hot in summer but November? Pretty sure it's their wet season and they do get lots of rain.

Enjoy.

Something happened right at the beginning with Audley that gave us confidence.

We put together a loose itinerary and emailed on a Saturday evening to 4 tailor made holiday companies expecting something back mid week which is exactly what we got from 3 of them. On Sunday morning we received a phone call from Audley apologising that their China expert was not in but he would call on Monday at 10 to discuss. He did and left us with the impression he really was an expert.

That is service.