Holidays

[asgoodasitgets]

Am going Geneva week on Sunday for 3 nights then looking at a flight somewhere warmer possibly. Looks a nice city but like you say expensive , but then again most European cities are

Geneva was the one place I’ve visited in recent years that I just didn’t get .
Despite booking three nights there , after the first day /night we jumped on a Flixbus to Chamonix .
I found Geneva dour, unfriendly and very expensive. I’ve been back a couple of times but only to fly to and drive away from .

 

[shackattack]

Geneva was the one place I’ve visited in recent years that I just didn’t get .
Despite booking three nights there , after the first day /night we jumped on a Flixbus to Chamonix .
I found Geneva dour, unfriendly and very expensive. I’ve been back a couple of times but only to fly to and drive away from .

I'm from Liverpool so sounds like I'll love it !!

 

[RobMCFC]

Really enjoyed my weekend in Geneva. Whilst we stayed near the railway station, which was a functional, dull area rather than anything special, both the old town and the attractions around the lake were superb.

Hopefully this info will be of use to @shackattack

The cathedral is more like a large church, but for 7 CHF, you can walk up the towers. This was great because you get to wander through the roof beams on the way up, and the view from the top of both the lake and the old town was well worth it. We went up the North Tower, which is the one with the best view (I think).

Wandering round the old town was great - lots of cobbled streets with flags overhanging and interesting buildings. The city model on the top floor of the free Maison Tavel museum was worth the visit alone (in fact we went straight up, saw the model and then came straight down).

The Reformation Wall is also a one-of-a-kind - a 100m stretch of carved stone figures and definitely worth a look.

Obviously the Jet D'Eau is great, and we were lucky to be there when there is illumination at night. Also on the lake, it was good wandering out to the lighthouse on the Bain de Paquis. Great views of the surrounding hills and mountains.

Bit of an oddball but I also loved the Frankenstein statue!

The transport system is probably the best I've ever seen - free transport when you stay in a Geneva hotel, so we used the trains to get to and from the airport, the buses and trams to get around and the mouettes (the yellow boats) a couple of times on the lake (saving the cost of paying for a lake cruise). There are no ticket machines on board any of the transports - it's a trust-based system, so as long as you have your pass with you if needed, the whole system just feels effortless.

As expected, it was eye-wateringly expensive: £50+ for 4x cake and coffee at Starbucks; £60+ for 4 McDonalds meal; £100 for 4x pizza and soft drinks. £20+ for a couple of Cokes and a couple of waters. You get the idea.

If we were there longer, we'd have gone to CERN and maybe the nearby Mont-Salave cable car system, so I'd have had no problem filling three days. In fact the prices are the only downside that I can see. It's a really beautiful city.

 

[smevchenko]

Really enjoyed my weekend in Geneva. Whilst we stayed near the railway station, which was a functional, dull area rather than anything special, both the old town and the attractions around the lake were superb.

Hopefully this info will be of use to @shackattack

The cathedral is more like a large church, but for 7 CHF, you can walk up the towers. This was great because you get to wander through the roof beams on the way up, and the view from the top of both the lake and the old town was well worth it. We went up the North Tower, which is the one with the best view (I think).

Wandering round the old town was great - lots of cobbled streets with flags overhanging and interesting buildings. The city model on the top floor of the free Maison Tavel museum was worth the visit alone (in fact we went straight up, saw the model and then came straight down).

The Reformation Wall is also a one-of-a-kind - a 100m stretch of carved stone figures and definitely worth a look.

Obviously the Jet D'Eau is great, and we were lucky to be there when there is illumination at night. Also on the lake, it was good wandering out to the lighthouse on the Bain de Paquis. Great views of the surrounding hills and mountains.

Bit of an oddball but I also loved the Frankenstein statue!

The transport system is probably the best I've ever seen - free transport when you stay in a Geneva hotel, so we used the trains to get to and from the airport, the buses and trams to get around and the mouettes (the yellow boats) a couple of times on the lake (saving the cost of paying for a lake cruise). There are no ticket machines on board any of the transports - it's a trust-based system, so as long as you have your pass with you if needed, the whole system just feels effortless.

As expected, it was eye-wateringly expensive: £50+ for 4x cake and coffee at Starbucks; £60+ for 4 McDonalds meal; £100 for 4x pizza and soft drinks. £20+ for a couple of Cokes and a couple of waters. You get the idea.

If we were there longer, we'd have gone to CERN and maybe the nearby Mont-Salave cable car system, so I'd have had no problem filling three days. In fact the prices are the only downside that I can see. It's a really beautiful city.

I went about 10 years ago, and always remember paying £16 for a pint and some fries in some nice bar....... but £60 for Mcdonalds, wow!

 

[Mr Kobayashi]

I went about 10 years ago, and always remember paying £16 for a pint and some fries in some nice bar....... but £60 for Mcdonalds, wow!

Minimum wage is 24CHF equivalent to £21.60.

McDonald's Switzerland Menu & Prices

Have you ever wondered what McDonald's Switzerland has on its menu and what the prices are? I have been to McDonald's in Zurich recently and have taken a picture of the full menu for you.

switzerlanding.com

 

[Originals]

Bordeaux next Friday until Monday.
Booked as the flights were cheap. £46, anyone been? Any tips?

 

[Jesus H Gabz]

for those that don’t know the app Hotukdeals, they sometimes have links to cheap holidays, it’s basically a site where people upload deals with links, I’ve saved thousands over the years, mainly on Xmas/birthdays, but also the odd holiday, I won’t buy anything without cross referencing the site. For instance there was a 3 night break with flights to Reykjavik for £225, worth a look if you like a cruise, there’s always deals

 

[kenbelly]

Bordeaux next Friday until Monday.
Booked as the flights were cheap. £46, anyone been? Any tips?

Eat at Les Halles Bacalan, La boca food hall great too, les chartrons and saint michel areas are cool. Over the river try Darwin, great shops and food. It’s a brilliant city, more chilled out than Paris. Very beautiful too.​

 

[Originals]

Eat at Les Halles Bacalan, La boca food hall great too, les chartrons and saint michel areas are cool. Over the river try Darwin, great shops and food. It’s a brilliant city, more chilled out than Paris. Very beautiful too.​

Thank you. Will definitely check those places out!

 

[somapop]

Geneva was the one place I’ve visited in recent years that I just didn’t get .
Despite booking three nights there , after the first day /night we jumped on a Flixbus to Chamonix .
I found Geneva dour, unfriendly and very expensive. I’ve been back a couple of times but only to fly to and drive away from .

My brother lives in Geneva.
Have to admit it's a little emotionally cold (unless you know someone you'd struggle to make a connection).

But beautiful in parts. Just not sure I could live there.

 

[somapop]

Booking that Palma trip shortly.
For next week.

6 miles outside the city (that's so pricy) but next to the beach, v close to the Aquarium and with a bus service every 10 mins into Palma itself.

Definitely using the train to Soller at one stage.

Questions over the Airport (it's been so long since I've been away). Plane lands around 11:45pm - fortunately only 1.5 miles away from the airport. Easy enough to grab a local taxi at this time of night:? Likely to take card payment?

Again, figuring I won't need to take any cash/Euros and get by with card payment everywhere but I don't know....

 

[TINY]

Off to London to watch BTTF musical, then train to Paris for 2 days, train to Brussels for 2 days then train to Amsterdam for 2 days. Any recommendations in those cities?

 

[TINY]

Booking that Palma trip shortly.
For next week.

6 miles outside the city (that's so pricy) but next to the beach, v close to the Aquarium and with a bus service every 10 mins into Palma itself.

Definitely using the train to Soller at one stage.

Questions over the Airport (it's been so long since I've been away). Plane lands around 11:45pm - fortunately only 1.5 miles away from the airport. Easy enough to grab a local taxi at this time of night:? Likely to take card payment?

Again, figuring I won't need to take any cash/Euros and get by with card payment everywhere but I don't know....

Went to Palma earlier this year, I took my Monzo card as no fees but you can use your card nearly everywhere. Certainly in restaurants, cafes, bars. And free to take cash out should you wish to visit a market or anything

 

[somapop]

Perfect.

Haven't got round to sorting a Monzo account yet (just with Nat West) so I'll look at fees from my own bank.
May look into sorting an account with them.

Cheers.

 

[RobMCFC]

My brother lives in Geneva.
Have to admit it's a little emotionally cold (unless you know someone you'd struggle to make a connection).

But beautiful in parts. Just not sure I could live there.

It had a nice vibe to it this weekend, helped by the hot weather.

 

[RobMCFC]

Off to London to watch BTTF musical, then train to Paris for 2 days, train to Brussels for 2 days then train to Amsterdam for 2 days. Any recommendations in those cities?

I’ve seen BTTF in both Manchester and London, and it’s superb.

Paris - all the obvious places but make sure you walk around Montmartre, it’s beautiful.

Brussels - The Atomium, Mini-Europe and Grand Place.

Amsterdam - the most disappointing city I’ve been to. Can’t believe it’s so highly rated (although I thought the Anne Frank Museum was very good).

 

[TINY]

I’ve seen BTTF in both Manchester and London, and it’s superb.

Paris - all the obvious places but make sure you walk around Montmartre, it’s beautiful.

Brussels - The Atomium, Mini-Europe and Grand Place.

Amsterdam - the most disappointing city I’ve been to. Can’t believe it’s so highly rated (although I thought the Anne Frank Museum was very good).

Ah brill thanks mate. Had BTTF booked since Covid lol but after some personal issues we had to keep moving it, but found this date in November in that there London - can’t wait. As an 80s kid, BTTF was my fav and still is!

Yeah a mate RE Amsterdam says it’s brilliant but I’ve never really been bothered, but it was £12 on a train from Brussels so felt like we had to do it

 

[southamptonblue]

Amsterdam - the most disappointing city I’ve been to. Can’t believe it’s so highly rated (although I thought the Anne Frank Museum was very good).

Guess you took wife/girlfriend, "just say no" to a joint, and find sex disgusting!! ;)

 

[RobMCFC]

Guess you took wife/girlfriend, "just say no" to a joint, and find sex disgusting!! ;)

Wife and 2 daughters so we are probably not the target market.

But it just doesn’t have the architecture and amazing places that we’ve seen in other cities.

 

[somapop]

Went to Palma earlier this year, I took my Monzo card as no fees but you can use your card nearly everywhere. Certainly in restaurants, cafes, bars. And free to take cash out should you wish to visit a market or anything

In fact - good point.
I need to double check but I think Nat West charge 2.75% (depending on account) per transaction.
Which may add up over the course of the holiday.
Might look at setting up a Monzo acc.