The Holidays Thread

[General_disarray]

Decided to move back to Budapest; going to flat share with a mate for 200euros a month all in right by Szechanyi Bridge which is a fantastic location!!!

Moving back on the 10th December; going to take up German while I'm there as I spend a lot of time working in Austria.

His flat isn't free until February time though so I'm going to spend the majority of December/January in Ukraine (Lviv, Kyiv, Odessa and anywhere else that is recommended although plan to spend NYE in Odessa, reckon I'll be spending about £70 a week). Will make my way back to Hungary through Romania, a country I have yet to visit despite it being so close!

Knocked Ecuador and Colombia on the head.

I did one walking tour last year out of boredom one day; I thought it was rubbish, although it depends on the person who takes it, maybe because I've heard other and better stories from friends about the locations she was talking about. I left half way through as it was bloody freezing as well and I didn't want to stand around up in the castle district.

I use to walk home hungover/drunk past one of the tours down Kazinsky Utca at 10am most Saturday mornings as well!

 

[Luke_1884]

Isn't that the street Szimpla is on? The Jewish one ended up in there so I'm guessing it was that one!

The general walking tour was probably the worst of the three but even then for somebody who had been in the country a matter of hours it was handy to get our bearings nice and quick. Plus it meant we didn't really have to go back over the Chain Bridge and see the Castle/Church again so I didn't mind going up there. I can imagine a rubbish guide doesn't help the attention span either.

The Communist tour coupled with House of Terror after was bang on though, if you fancy a bit of a depressing day.

 

[Techno Natch]

Nice, do you know the venue yet? Which area are you staying in?

I've always been one to dodge those tours too but I'd definitely recommend the Budapest ones, I thought they were good. I suppose it's also who you're on holiday with and the "vibe" you're looking for. Me and the missus enjoyed them, where as I don't think me and my friends would have even bothered attending. Nice to do a bit of both.

We have a apartment across the road from the the National Museum. Technokust put their nights on at Larm who seem pretty focused at Techno. We'll have to see what's going on nearer the time.Trying to find a psy trance night too.

Yeah we normally go Thursday - Thursday the first time we visit somewhere new so we have lots of time to be tourists and party.

 

[Techno Natch]

Decided to move back to Budapest; going to flat share with a mate for 200euros a month all in right by Szechanyi Bridge which is a fantastic location!!!

Moving back on the 10th December; going to take up German while I'm there as I spend a lot of time working in Austria.

His flat isn't free until February time though so I'm going to spend the majority of December/January in Ukraine (Lviv, Kyiv, Odessa and anywhere else that is recommended although plan to spend NYE in Odessa, reckon I'll be spending about £70 a week). Will make my way back to Hungary through Romania, a country I have yet to visit despite it being so close!

Knocked Ecuador and Colombia on the head.

I did one walking tour last year out of boredom one day; I thought it was rubbish, although it depends on the person who takes it, maybe because I've heard other and better stories from friends about the locations she was talking about. I left half way through as it was bloody freezing as well and I didn't want to stand around up in the castle district.

I use to walk home hungover/drunk past one of the tours down Kazinsky Utca at 10am most Saturday mornings as well!

Sorry double post but that's a really good rate. We said we'd maybe like to live in Prague for a bit after we've done Berlin but would consider other places in the east due to the low cost of living. What did you do for work while you were there?

Sorry double post...

 

[General_disarray]

Sorry double post but that's a really good rate. We said we'd maybe like to live in Prague for a bit after we've done Berlin but would consider other places in the east due to the low cost of living. What did you do for work while you were there?

Berlin rent prices have gone through the roof according to my friends who have been living there for 10 years +. He said the party is pretty much over now for Berlin. Don't think I could live in Prague, apart from the central area which I'd imagine to be over the top for rent prices the rest of the city is pretty bland. I'd much rather live in Brno or Bratislava, both cheaper and less of a tourist trap, both big student cities as well.

I work on summer camps twice a month in Austria/Germany so I get paid in Euros which helps a lot. 400euros a week for Austria, 500euros for Germany. Only 20 hours each week and I pretty much see all of those two countries. Company pays for food/accommodation/travel for the week so my expenses when I work are pretty low. The season is only from January - August though, there's minimal work this time of the year so I normally go travelling now. Just got back from Brazil, last year was Colombia, before that Mexico.

The pros of it; shit loads of free time (only worked 21 weeks this year at 20/30 hours a week depending on the camp)
Get to travel around Germany and Austria, although Im bored of Austria now. Also being in Hungary gives me lots of opportunities to travel on time off to Poland, Czech Republic, SLovakia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia, Ukraine etc.
Good pay for living in Hungary, 800euros to spend for 20 days of the month.
The negatives; No chance for promotion or a job you want to be doing when you're 31 + although some of my colleagues do. I'm going to start learning German next January to add something to my CV for the future; I figure being fluent in Spanish, German and English would be a good thing in the future!!! Although it's much easier said than done.

I applied to work in England this year and got close to getting the job but after calculating the pay after tax, rent, council tax, travel costs to and from work the leftover money was like.... really?!?! I think I'd prefer this life than the rat race that England offers.

Isn't that the street Szimpla is on? The Jewish one ended up in there so I'm guessing it was that one!

Yeah!! 5 years ago there were maybe 4/5 bars/restaurants on that street, shows how important Szimpla was for not only that street, the district as well. Now one of the most expensive districts to rent in after the V district. I remember that street being full of rubble as they were doing roadworks there and walking down there asking people if they had seen my mate who we had lost. He was cycling around Europe with his friend and he had no arms so we were asking;

"You seen my mate? He's got no arms." Found him in a bar down the road drinking a shot of Palinka someone bought for him.

I always do the walking tours when I go to a new city; good way to meet people as well, but compared to some walking tours I've done the one in Budapest was pretty poor. Medellin, Rio De Janiero and Belgrade are the best walking tours I've done.


P.s Bring your swimming gear to Budapest; the bath spas are well worth a visit for a day. Especially this time of year when it's prone to snow.

 

[Techno Natch]

We've managed to find a few decent prices for Berlin and coming from Bristol it's going to be cheaper or roughly the same anyway. I doubt the techno party will be over any time soon and that's our main reason for going. That being said we want to get over there soon just in case it does lose it and it's even more popular these days so there is a risk it might. I think that it's fashionable to hate on some cities now, people seem to detest London but I love it and spend most of my free time there. I'm bored of Bristol but other people seem to love it. I think it's just a case of needing to change scene.


I really liked the outskirts of Prague and again lots of good parties going on every week, we also found people really friendly. I hated the central bit! The girl we went with kept leading us back there, it pissed me off. Guess it depends how central you mean.

What you do sounds good though, I could see us doing something similar. Who knows where we'll end though. we're going traveling at the end of next year so might come across some other ideas and we're quite open minded. I've just always wanted to live in a few different places.

Yeah we're planning to go to a spa, we go in January but looking forward to it already.

 

[General_disarray]

We've managed to find a few decent prices for Berlin and coming from Bristol it's going to be cheaper or roughly the same anyway.

exactly mate; 10 years ago or even 5 years ago it'd be a lot cheaper than Bristol as Bristol is a very expensive city isn't it?

Use to be 150euros a month or something like that for a central place with a good space. The recent surge in people going to the city has nearly tripled the prices in some areas.

The same has happened to Budapest but not nearly as much, it's the foreign students though that have had an impact here, but there is still a good deal to be found here and there.

I've just always wanted to live in a few different places.

I only moved here after an American friend had a scholarship to study here and rented a flat that was too big for him and couldn't find flatmates. Was supposed to stay for 3 months but ended up staying a little bit longer. Met a friend of a friend who offered us work; fun times.

 

[SF_]

Don't think I could live in Prague, apart from the central area which I'd imagine to be over the top for rent prices the rest of the city is pretty bland. I'd much rather live in Brno or Bratislava, both cheaper and less of a tourist trap, both big student cities as well.

I really, really liked Brno, laid back place but some nightlife there if you need it, dirt cheap too. Strarobrno is an amazing beer as well.

I could happily live in Prague though, wasn't keen on the old town but there is plenty going on elsewhere.

 

[blade1889]

San Francisco - Alcatraz and Golden Gate Bridge...what else is worth doing? And on a budget?

 

[Magic]

Croatia on the cards next year. Would like to do Scandinavia at some point as then I'd have covered the best part of Europe. Thinking about doing an interrailing trip starting at Berlin and ending in Tallinn, via all the Scandinavian capitals.

 

[spireite]

Croatia on the cards next year. Would like to do Scandinavia at some point as then I'd have covered the best part of Europe. Thinking about doing an interrailing trip starting at Berlin and ending in Tallinn, via all the Scandinavian capitals.

You'll love Croatia mate. Where abouts are you planning to go?

 

[Magic]

You'll love Croatia mate. Where abouts are you planning to go?

Not entirely sure yet, early stages really. Any tips/suggestions?

 

[spireite]

Not entirely sure yet, early stages really. Any tips/suggestions?

Dubrovnik is absolutely stunning. As are Split, Trogir, Pula & Zagreb. But to be honest it's the type of country that's just beautiful everywhere, so you can probably find some really hidden gems if you like quieter places away from the tourist rush. Just have a little Google around and see what you like.

 

[Van Der Graaf]

Osijek is stunning

 

[Magic]

Cheers lads.

 

[TomPNE94]

Benidorm May 4th-8th
Lanzarote June 3rd-10th
France (Euros) June 12th-26th

Should probably start saving up

 

[General_disarray]

I rank Zagreb as one of the most ugliest cities I've visited!! Apart from the ladies of course, best looking girls in the world are in the Balkans.

Might be worth heading inland from Dubrovnik up Montenegro and into Bosnia before finishing in Belgrade. Bosnia is a beautiful country with lots of underrated cities/towns.

Booked my flight; one way to Budapest on the 10th December; spending one week in Austria for work before going on a trip to Odessa and back through Romania to Hungary for a weeks work in Berlin end of January.

Even though the rents have risen, the quality of life for me is much greater there and in England. Fun as well!

 

[BlueBee]

Anyone been to the full moon party in Koh Phangan? Looks like a night in Magaluf on pills....not sure if I can be arsed with it tbh.

Potentially going at the end of January.

 

[Stagat]

Anyone been to the full moon party in Koh Phangan? Looks like a night in Magaluf on pills....not sure if I can be arsed with it tbh.

Potentially going at the end of January.

Usually the parties on the same beach on the nights leading up to it are better. Very similar thing but just less crowded and less stupid really, as it's people who are staying there for a few days at least (which means they're not all necessarily out on the same night, and will perhaps be taking it relatively easy anyway).

A lot of people get a boat over from Ko Samui on the day of the Full Moon Party and back again at sunrise. The parties earlier in the week weed these out, as they do the people who just want to do the Full Moon Party and end up being the real idiots there.

I think folk tend to avoid Ko Pha Ngan because of the reputation of the Full Moon Party but most of the island away from that beach is lovely and chilled anyway. I'd recommend the island, and to go to a party leading up to the Full Moon. The actual Full Moon Party... see how you feel when you're there, I guess.

 

[BlueBee]

Hostel prices seem pretty steep. And you can only book a minimum of five nights which seems quite long.

For 2 of us for 5 nights it's £136. It's about as cheap as I can find for a hostel with decent reviews.

 

[Stagat]

Hostel prices seem pretty steep. And you can only book a minimum of five nights which seems quite long.

For 2 of us for 5 nights it's £136. It's about as cheap as I can find for a hostel with decent reviews.

Yeah, it's hostels playing those sorts of games that push people towards doing the boat trips over. Or for people who have never been to pay over the odds for a room. You can normally find better VFM accommodation on the ground than you can online in Asia, as you would expect. It's just trickier around Full Moon Party time on KPN. Especially when looking two months in advance.

When I went, I was in touch with some travellers we'd met previously who were then already on the island. They were able to book us a beach hut at the place they were staying for a few nights, for a decent price, and we went over from Ko Samui knowing we'd got that.

How long will you have in Thailand overall?

p.s. post a link to this hostel you saw

p.p.s. the reason I ask how long you have in Thailand is that if you're going to pick either the Andaman side or the Gulf side for your island time, the Andaman side is better in January. And KPN is on the Gulf side.

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Travel-g293915-s208/Thailand:Weather.And.When.To.Go.html

The monsoon season usually is accompanied by heavy rain but will normally have rough seas.

This season can vary from year to year.

On the Anderman Sea / Phuket / Krabi / Khao Lak or west side of the Ismus this can start as early as April or May, although it officially begins in June and runs as late as October, when the temperatures begin to cool slightly. In the south, (including the Amdaman islands), the rains don't end until late November.

On the Gulf Coast / Samui / Phangan / Tao this can start as early as October, although it officiallybegins in November and runs as late as May.

 

[M Dogg]

Looking at doing Hong Kong and then Bali next September. HK to visit 2 friends then on to Bali for some music festival. Never done the Far East so really excited.

Will be in the States for a family wedding which is a ballache as that is cash I don't need to be spending!

 

[HertsWolf]

Considering a Christmas break in Wiltshire. Not the whole county, mind. Just the hotspots.

 

[BlueBee]

Yeah, it's hostels playing those sorts of games that push people towards doing the boat trips over. Or for people who have never been to pay over the odds for a room. You can normally find better VFM accommodation on the ground than you can online in Asia, as you would expect. It's just trickier around Full Moon Party time on KPN. Especially when looking two months in advance.

When I went, I was in touch with some travellers we'd met previously who were then already on the island. They were able to book us a beach hut at the place they were staying for a few nights, for a decent price, and we went over from Ko Samui knowing we'd got that.

How long will you have in Thailand overall?

p.s. post a link to this hostel you saw

p.p.s. the reason I ask how long you have in Thailand is that if you're going to pick either the Andaman side or the Gulf side for your island time, the Andaman side is better in January. And KPN is on the Gulf side.

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Travel-g293915-s208/Thailand:Weather.And.When.To.Go.html

The monsoon season usually is accompanied by heavy rain but will normally have rough seas.

This season can vary from year to year.

On the Anderman Sea / Phuket / Krabi / Khao Lak or west side of the Ismus this can start as early as April or May, although it officially begins in June and runs as late as October, when the temperatures begin to cool slightly. In the south, (including the Amdaman islands), the rains don't end until late November.

On the Gulf Coast / Samui / Phangan / Tao this can start as early as October, although it officiallybegins in November and runs as late as May.

We have 3 months in SE Asia.

I go out on January 4th to Hong Kong for 4 days and then travel to Kuala Lumpur, visiting the guy I'm going with family. After that it's a bit vague....we have a rough idea of where we're going but we intentionally want to make it up as we go along.

Hostel we've looked at;

http://t.hostelworld.com/hosteldeta...dateTo=2016-01-27&number_of_guests=2&sc_pos=5

 

[Stagat]

Ok mate. A bed in a dorm for 600 baht is quite expensive tbh. I'd expect a private room for 500, although it wouldn't be in a hostel as such. I wouldn't really look at hostels in South East Asia personally as they are bad value. Paying for funky decor and common areas and whatnot. Beach huts or bungalows are better things to search for on the islands imo.

 

[Van Der Graaf]

Booked a last minute trip to Kôsice for next weekend, has anyone been? Is it any good?

 

[nousername]

Looking at doing Hong Kong and then Bali next September. HK to visit 2 friends then on to Bali for some music festival. Never done the Far East so really excited.

Will be in the States for a family wedding which is a ballache as that is cash I don't need to be spending!

Where do your friends stay in HK? If you can get free accommodation then you're sorted as that's the priciest element of any trip to HK.

September can be very humid though.

 

[BlueBee]

Ok mate. A bed in a dorm for 600 baht is quite expensive tbh. I'd expect a private room for 500, although it wouldn't be in a hostel as such. I wouldn't really look at hostels in South East Asia personally as they are bad value. Paying for funky decor and common areas and whatnot. Beach huts or bungalows are better things to search for on the islands imo.

Cheers for the advise. We're not going to book anything for a few days anyway.

What's the deal with visas for Thailand. I have an Irish Passport and from what I've read I'll only be allowed a maximum stay of 15 days (travelling across account border crossing) without actually getting a visa. I'm thinking of going to the thai embassy in London to sort out a 60 day visa for £25.

 

[Stagat]

Cheers for the advise. We're not going to book anything for a few days anyway.

What's the deal with visas for Thailand. I have an Irish Passport and from what I've read I'll only be allowed a maximum stay of 15 days (travelling across account border crossing) without actually getting a visa. I'm thinking of going to the thai embassy in London to sort out a 60 day visa for £25.

Ah yeah. Best to get one beforehand if you're going to enter overland.

You can get one at embassies in neighbouring countries but no point messing about with that and wasting a day of your trip.

Probably not useful to you but whatever you do get (15 days for overland entry, 30 days if arriving by air, 60 day visa) you can extend for another 30 days whilst there, should you want to. Costs 1900 baht though so almost 40 quid.

Yeah, I'd get one in London, for sure.

 

[BlueBee]

Ah yeah. Best to get one beforehand if you're going to enter overland.

You can get one at embassies in neighbouring countries but no point messing about with that and wasting a day of your trip.

Probably not useful to you but whatever you do get (15 days for overland entry, 30 days if arriving by air, 60 day visa) you can extend for another 30 days whilst there, should you want to. Costs 1900 baht though so almost 40 quid.

Yeah, I'd get one in London, for sure.

Alright. Cheers for your help.

Just one more question....how long do you reckon I'd need to see Cambodia/Vietnam. I can't imagine I'll spend nearly as much time in those countries as I will be in Thailand.