Holidays

20 years proberley paying half the price you paid,unbelievable.
Who said I use travel companies?
You want to be careful jumping to conclusions.
I was merely pointing out to the uninitiated that there are benefits of using travel companies for packages.

I tend to agree that with local short eu breaks hotel/flights are best booked separately and take the risk.

I just got back on Sunday from Kos after a week all inclusive booked via a travel company that cost half what Tui or Jet2 wanted for exactly the same holiday. Also, last Feb when I took my Mrs to Barbados for our 50th anniversary I wasn’t doing that without ABTA and ATOL protection.

But in June for our trip to Rome and Anzio, or our Venice trip in October or our Nice trip in November I have booked hotels and flights separately.
 
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Flights and hotels booked to Japan mid September (and thanks to Japanese friends there, presale tickets for Cheap Trick's two final gigs there in Osaka and the legendary Budokan ... happy as the proverbial pig in shit!)

Going with Cathay Pacific, so via Hong Kong. Never been there, so we have decided to do three days there going out. Staying in Kowloon. So would appreciate any tips on where to see in a short visit please.
 
Flights and hotels booked to Japan mid September (and thanks to Japanese friends there, presale tickets for Cheap Trick's two final gigs there in Osaka and the legendary Budokan ... happy as the proverbial pig in shit!)

Going with Cathay Pacific, so via Hong Kong. Never been there, so we have decided to do three days there going out. Staying in Kowloon. So would appreciate any tips on where to see in a short visit please.
Hong Kong's great, stay or transit through there a couple of times a year if I can.
Always catch the Star ferry from Kowloon to Hong Kong Island its cheap and you get iconic views of the waterfront.
Victoria Peak using the tram has good views.
Many markets such as night market ,ladies market for bargains.
Lantau Island has the big Buddha with a cable car ride up to it.
Night life i find is best on the island ,Wan-Chai, for a laugh the Queen Vic there can get lively.
Ride the mid level escalators in Central ,once the longest outside ones in the world , to the top then walk back down visiting bars till you get to So Ho where there's loads of bars and restaurants to chose from.
Happy valley Race course is a good night.
Get an Octopus card if your going to using the MTR often saves buying tickets all the time.
Cathay are great, not as good as they used to be but still good although 12.5 hrs in the back end if your going from Man can be gruelling.
 
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Can anyone advise on Madeira for nightlife etc. Is Funchal the place to go. Been looking at the area around Seixal on the north coast and it looks spectacular but I hear it’s a bit quiet
Ive been to Madeira and stayed near Funchal it was pretty low key,nice restaurants and some quiet bars.Not sure we were out past 11pm<be suprised if their is anything going on in Seixal or Porto Muniz.Loved Madeira though we were doing a lot of trail running and hiking over there.
 
Flights and hotels booked to Japan mid September (and thanks to Japanese friends there, presale tickets for Cheap Trick's two final gigs there in Osaka and the legendary Budokan ... happy as the proverbial pig in shit!)

Going with Cathay Pacific, so via Hong Kong. Never been there, so we have decided to do three days there going out. Staying in Kowloon. So would appreciate any tips on where to see in a short visit please.
Can I be cheeky and ask what sort of ballpark figure it costs for flights and hotel?
 
Can I be cheeky and ask what sort of ballpark figure it costs for flights and hotel?
Flights are Cathay Pacific Premium Economy.
Two nights in Tokyo, four in Osaka, the another two in Tokyo hotels. Seven day all nippon rail pass, taxis to and from Haneda airport .
Near 3k ... it ain't no cheap trip ... but it's a one off.
 
Flights are Cathay Pacific Premium Economy.
Two nights in Tokyo, four in Osaka, the another two in Tokyo hotels. Seven day all nippon rail pass, taxis to and from Haneda airport .
Near 3k ... it ain't no cheap trip ... but it's a one off.
I take it that’s per person, I don’t consider that bad value tbh
 
I take it that’s per person, I don’t consider that bad value tbh
If you can be bothered there are usually massive savings to be made in Premium or even Business class if you start your journey outside the UK. Dublin, Oslo, Germany and Stockholm are often good starting points A few year ago we went to HKG on BA in Business(J) class. The fare from LHR was over £2500. We got ourselves to Munich, got a plane to LHR and then the same flight that was £2.5k to HKG. We paid £1000 each. so a separate flight to MUC and a night in a hotel saved us £3k. It's not for everyone but good prices and comfort can be found.
 
If you can be bothered there are usually massive savings to be made in Premium or even Business class if you start your journey outside the UK. Dublin, Oslo, Germany and Stockholm are often good starting points A few year ago we went to HKG on BA in Business(J) class. The fare from LHR was over £2500. We got ourselves to Munich, got a plane to LHR and then the same flight that was £2.5k to HKG. We paid £1000 each. so a separate flight to MUC and a night in a hotel saved us £3k. It's not for everyone but good prices and comfort can be found.

Yea,some of that to do with airport passenger duty in the uk esp in the higher seating classes of J( business) and
W( premium).
For instance J class tax from Man to Hkg is £257 and on the return flight its £34.70.Not the same as your savings but still a large difference .
As you say could and does pay for a stopover in Europe.
Another anomaly with the system is that you pay the same for W class than you do for J ie £257, and the difference between the classes is vast.
 
Yea,some of that to do with airport passenger duty in the uk esp in the higher seating classes of J( business) and
W( premium).
For instance J class tax from Man to Hkg is £257 and on the return flight its £34.70.Not the same as your savings but still a large difference .
As you say could and does pay for a stopover in Europe.
Another anomaly with the system is that you pay the same for W class than you do for J ie £257, and the difference between the classes is vast.
It's not only the taxes, but also what the market where the flight originates can take price wise.
 
Jersey next week for the first time since i was 16

Any tips? German hospital etc is on the list.
Wont have a car so be bussing it about, all that easy enough?
I second this. I’ve never been to Jersey but going next Friday for 5 nights in St Helier. Probably won’t do the war stuff but recommendations for a few decent boozers would be welcome.
 
Flights are Cathay Pacific Premium Economy.
Two nights in Tokyo, four in Osaka, the another two in Tokyo hotels. Seven day all nippon rail pass, taxis to and from Haneda airport .
Near 3k ... it ain't no cheap trip ... but it's a one off.

And worth every penny. Japan is fucking amazing.

The flight home and jetlag are something else though
 
And worth every penny. Japan is fucking amazing.

The flight home and jetlag are something else though

I spent a month there back in the day ... toured from top to bottom and loved every minute. Can't wait to return. The jet lag on the return is a killer though yeah. And I can never sleep a minute on planes ... unlike the missus, who once slept from Heathrow to San Francisco from take off till landing. :-)
 

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