The holiday 2023 thread (7 Viewers)

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Earlsdon_Skyblue1

Earlsdon_Skyblue1

Well-Known Member
Razzle Dazzle Dean Gordon said:
What are Palermo and Catania like to visit generally? I've always liked the Palermo kits, get the impression they've suffered from terrible ownership over the years (not exactly unique in Italy) and they had an absolutely fantastic team on one of the FM games, Caracciolo, Grosso, Barzagli sort of era i think it was.
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@Sick Boy will get the hump with me, but as an alternative view I found both cities complete shit holes. Was massively dissapointed to be honest. Some of the coast and smaller resorts seemed nice, but I thought the cities themselves were awful.
 
Sick Boy

Sick Boy

Super Moderator
Earlsdon_Skyblue1 said:
@Sick Boy will get the hump with me, but as an alternative view I found both cities complete shit holes. Was massively dissapointed to be honest. Some of the coast and smaller resorts seemed nice, but I thought the cities themselves were awful.
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I really like the city centres of both cities, especially Palermo, which is my favourite of the two. As I said though, they’re Sicilian cities so you have to expect some dirt and chaos.

They’re not the places I’d recommend to someone visiting the island for the first time though! To see the best of it, you really need to hire a car and spend a couple of weeks exploring.
 
Earlsdon_Skyblue1

Earlsdon_Skyblue1

Well-Known Member
Sick Boy said:
I really like the city centres of both cities, especially Palermo, which is my favourite of the two. As I said though, they’re Sicilian cities so you have to expect some chaos.

They’re not the places I’d recommend to someone visiting the island for the first time though!
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I really want to know what I am missing because the whole thing puzzles me. Palermo center is nicer I agree. However, I've been to many shit hole cities around the world and I usually find they at least offer something in absence of cleanliness or comfort. The nightlife in both Palermo and Catania seemed dejected and dull though, with both places shady in parts (and not in a good way). We went to the same restaurant takeout below our apartment and ordered the exact same thing two days in a row in Catania - different price both times. Sums the place up!
 
Razzle Dazzle Dean Gordon

Razzle Dazzle Dean Gordon

Well-Known Member
Earlsdon_Skyblue1 said:
I really want to know what I am missing because the whole thing puzzles me. Palermo center is nicer I agree. However, I've been to many shit hole cities around the world and I usually find they at least offer something in absence of cleanliness or comfort. The nightlife in both Palermo and Catania seemed dejected and dull though, with both places shady in parts (and not in a good way). We went to the same restaurant takeout below our apartment and ordered the exact same thing two days in a row in Catania - different price both times. Sums the place up!
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If you've been to Naples how would you say it compares to them? I found Naples pretty shabby in places but did still really like it. Appreciate the honest take on the places though, you can only speak as you find.
 
Mild-Mannered Janitor

Mild-Mannered Janitor

Kindest Bloke on CCFC / Maker of CCFC Dreams
chiefdave said:
Fucking BA have cancelled my flight home.

All they did was send a text and say look on the website for another flight. Website shows all flights fully booked until later in the week.

So I’ve had to fork out nearly £600 with another airline and won’t be home, if all goes well as I’m no longer flying direct, until about 1am when I have work on Tuesday.

Knew it was all going too well.
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Hope you got back, keep all receipts and put the compensation towards the next trip
 
Great_Expectations

Great_Expectations

Well-Known Member
First family holiday with kids coming up in a few days…..

Always swore I wouldn’t do it with kids this young, as it’ll be like spending time with them at home, except without their home comforts, routines - and even the occasional break via the Grandparents!

However, I’ve been persuaded and for almost three weeks too! Don’t know how that happened.

Has anyone been to Turkey recently and got any advise on phone/roaming charges?! Plan to do a fair bit of exploring (best I can with two young kids!) so ideally I’d like to have access to data at all times without paying an extortionate amount.
 
T

Travs

Well-Known Member
Similar to posts above, i'm off to Sicily next May (although i'm racing there so half holiday, half "business"!).

By necessity i'll need to stay on the east of the island, and have booked flights into Catania (from London City....... it was cheaper to go Business Class from London City, admittedly with a stop in Rome, than to go direct on Jet2 from Birmingham in economy... my experience in B'ham recently has put me off using it for a while).

I'm not necessarily against staying in Catania as i'll be out in a hire car every day..... but will more likely stay in Syracuse/Ortigia.

As Sick-Boy mentioned, Italian cities, whilst beautiful, aren't the 100% glamour they are sometimes made out to be. Even places like Milan have some really rough areas.....
 
stay_up_skyblues

stay_up_skyblues

Well-Known Member
Great_Expectations said:
First family holiday with kids coming up in a few days…..

Always swore I wouldn’t do it with kids this young, as it’ll be like spending time with them at home, except without their home comforts, routines - and even the occasional break via the Grandparents!

However, I’ve been persuaded and for almost three weeks too! Don’t know how that happened.

Has anyone been to Turkey recently and got any advise on phone/roaming charges?! Plan to do a fair bit of exploring (best I can with two young kids!) so ideally I’d like to have access to data at all times without paying an extortionate amount.
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Any proper network should charge you a set daily figure for normal use of your UK allowance. In France it was about a fiver a day, in Florida it was eight quid iirc. That’s on Vodafone who I’ve since realised are expensive. About half that for my wife on EE. Suggest you message your provider via online chat and the bot will talk you through it.
 
CJ_covblaze

CJ_covblaze

Well-Known Member
stay_up_skyblues said:
Any proper network should charge you a set daily figure for normal use of your UK allowance. In France it was about a fiver a day, in Florida it was eight quid iirc. That’s on Vodafone who I’ve since realised are expensive. About half that for my wife on EE. Suggest you message your provider via online chat and the bot will talk you through it.
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With EE I pay a tenner a month to use my allowances overseas. Only get charged when I use it.
 
LastGarrison

LastGarrison

Well-Known Member
Mild-Mannered Janitor said:
Athens next week, apart from the obvious, any hidden gems or restaurants/bars people would recommend
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One of my favourite cities!!

I had a great meal in this place but you need to book a table outside on the terrace as the views at night are absolutely stunning!

A for Athens Cocktail Bar & Restaurant - Athens rooftop bar acropolis view

A for Athens Cocktail bar & Restaurant is centrally located in Monastiraki with amazing views to the Acropolis and Athens. Athens rooftop bar acropolis view
aforathens.com aforathens.com

If you’ve never been before then this is more than enough to see and do with the obvious believe me!
 
B

Brighton Sky Blue

Well-Known Member
Returning to Crete again in April. This time with Mrs BSB’s parents as well who have never been abroad in their lives and want to try it.

Could be entertaining
 
Sick Boy

Sick Boy

Super Moderator
Travs said:
Similar to posts above, i'm off to Sicily next May (although i'm racing there so half holiday, half "business"!).

By necessity i'll need to stay on the east of the island, and have booked flights into Catania (from London City....... it was cheaper to go Business Class from London City, admittedly with a stop in Rome, than to go direct on Jet2 from Birmingham in economy... my experience in B'ham recently has put me off using it for a while).

I'm not necessarily against staying in Catania as i'll be out in a hire car every day..... but will more likely stay in Syracuse/Ortigia.

As Sick-Boy mentioned, Italian cities, whilst beautiful, aren't the 100% glamour they are sometimes made out to be. Even places like Milan have some really rough areas.....
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Both Siracusa and Ortigia are beautiful - good luck driving out of Catania haha.
 
CJ_covblaze

CJ_covblaze

Well-Known Member
stay_up_skyblues said:
Decent. Vodafone are a complete rip off. Won’t be renewing.
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Sacked them off a few years ago. Awful level of customer service on the phone. Whenever I was in the store the majority of the staff were sat there sorting out problems and no one was selling anything.
 
T

Travs

Well-Known Member
I get Data Roaming at no extra cost within the EU....

I'm on EE...... SIM only and unlimited phone/txt/data

Not sure if that is standard or not.... or if likely to change in the near future
 
shmmeee

shmmeee

Well-Known Member
Travs said:
I get Data Roaming at no extra cost within the EU....

I'm on EE...... SIM only and unlimited phone/txt/data

Not sure if that is standard or not.... or if likely to change in the near future
Click to expand...

Yeah that’s what I was on and why I thought I had free roaming on my new cheaper contract. I don’t.
 
CJ_covblaze

CJ_covblaze

Well-Known Member
Mild-Mannered Janitor said:
Athens next week, apart from the obvious, any hidden gems or restaurants/bars people would recommend
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Heading there in a few weeks you for the away game. Got a couple of spare days for touristy stuff.
 
Mild-Mannered Janitor

Mild-Mannered Janitor

Kindest Bloke on CCFC / Maker of CCFC Dreams
LastGarrison said:
One of my favourite cities!!

I had a great meal in this place but you need to book a table outside on the terrace as the views at night are absolutely stunning!

A for Athens Cocktail Bar & Restaurant - Athens rooftop bar acropolis view

A for Athens Cocktail bar & Restaurant is centrally located in Monastiraki with amazing views to the Acropolis and Athens. Athens rooftop bar acropolis view
aforathens.com aforathens.com

If you’ve never been before then this is more than enough to see and do with the obvious believe me!
Click to expand...
Cocktail bar could not have been better placed and very nice
 
JAM See

JAM See

Well-Known Member
Mild-Mannered Janitor said:
Athens next week, apart from the obvious, any hidden gems or restaurants/bars people would recommend
Click to expand...
Just booked for next March.
Any tips would be greatly appreciated (apart from the cocktail bar, already on the list).
 
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