The holiday 2023 thread (3 Viewers)

[Ccfcisparks]

Not holiday related but a question for our expats.

i qualified as a chartered accountant last year and have just received my letters

one of the perks is I’ll be able to work in most countries now relatively easy.

looking to try a year in Europe somewhere. Can someone recommend a country/city that they found good to live

 

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[ccfcno9]

We’re currently considering whether to go to LA and San Diego or Thailand at the end of January - only ever been to NY so keen to see more.

LA is bigger than I thought it would be so you'll need to drive to get the best out of it, it can also be expensive so fat wallet needed.
San Diego very nice but more one dimension-able, you'll love it or loathe it.
Thailand is my favorite we're going back end of March, one week up north(Chiang Mai),one week down south and a couple of days in Bangkok at beginning and end. Domestic flights are super cheap and efficient, you can get internal flights for the price of a taxi in LA.

 

[Great_Expectations]

We’re currently considering whether to go to LA and San Diego or Thailand at the end of January - only ever been to NY so keen to see more.

Fortunate enough to have done both plenty of times.

Thailand is great and more of an “adventure” as parts are still quite different from home, whereas LA/SD are obviously different from home but it’s still a Westernised place. I guess a simple example is transport; LA/SD is your traditional types, whereas as Thailand might be more about Tuk Tuks (depending where you go).

Saying that last time I went to SD/LA it was an incredible trip and I also got one of my favourite tattoos while in SD!

 

[Sick Boy]

We booked up to go to Thailand at the end of January. We'll spend half the time in Bangkok and the other half in Ko Samui. Can't wait.

 

[Earlsdon_Skyblue1]

We booked up to go to Thailand at the end of January. We'll spend half the time in Bangkok and the other half in Ko Samui. Can't wait.

Great choice. Check out Bo Phut in Ko Samui. We stayed there for a week and it was stunning!

 

[Sbarcher]

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.....

Both Syracuse and Ortigia are really nice but do consider Taormina just up the coast from Catania. It’s beautiful.
Oh and stay clear of inflatables in Catania.

 

[ccfcno9]

We booked up to go to Thailand at the end of January. We'll spend half the time in Bangkok and the other half in Ko Samui. Can't wait.

Fantastic! In Bangkok be sure to take in the Royal Palace and Wat Pho and for night time entertainment try Khaosan road, its the back-packers area with live music, cheaper drinks and plenty of street food to chose from(burger king at end of road if your fussy).It was also the starting location for Leonardo De Caprio in the film The Beach.If you want to see Thai boxing I would do that whilst in Bangkok.
Ko Samui try to explore both sides of the island as their quiet different.
Race across the world last series is a good watch before you go as its well covered episode 4 or 5 if I remember correctly.

 

[Mild-Mannered Janitor]

Just booked for next March.
Any tips would be greatly appreciated (apart from the cocktail bar, already on the list).

Definitely book an organised walking tour of the Acropolis/Parthenon as you bypass all the queues and get the insider knowledge on all the aspects of the history.
We also used the tour bus to get to the coast and enjoyed the harbour areas and beach but that may not be for you but also found it helpful to see the other historical sites just jumping off when we wanted.
Old streets of Plaka is nice

 

[Mild-Mannered Janitor]

Not holiday related but a question for our expats.

i qualified as a chartered accountant last year and have just received my letters

one of the perks is I’ll be able to work in most countries now relatively easy.

looking to try a year in Europe somewhere. Can someone recommend a country/city that they found good to live.

Firstly, congratulations, and whilst not living abroad, have met quite a few in cities I have visited and chatted about it as sadly, I am also count beans for a living and considered it.
I think it depends on what you want outside of work, I personally would go for Barcelona/Lisbon - Nightlife, beach, good food etc but if you want as a base to explore more of Europe then somewhere more central in Germany etc could suit. I think a lot does depend on your plans for "out of work" hours and exploring/relaxing

 

[CJ_covblaze]

It’s daddy day care for a week or so. Wife’s in the Maldives with her mate. Took 35 hours door to door. Not my sort of thing. Not enough going on. Too relaxing! When she gets back I’m off to Greece a few hours later. Like passing ships.

 

[Marty]

Just back from Wroclaw, what a beautiful city, loved every minute of it. The Christmas market was fantastic, the little gnome hunting was brilliant, something magical about chasing after the man that lights up the street lights in the evening with his blowtorch. We thought we would try something different and we went to Kolejkowo which is like a model town sort of thing, and it was excellent, so much to look and see, and it has night/day cycles, different weather conditions with thunderstorms and rain. We were both so impressed with it.

 

[Sick Boy]

Not holiday related but a question for our expats.

i qualified as a chartered accountant last year and have just received my letters

one of the perks is I’ll be able to work in most countries now relatively easy.

looking to try a year in Europe somewhere. Can someone recommend a country/city that they found good to live

Do you speak any languages other than English?

 

[Marty]

Just back from Wroclaw, what a beautiful city, loved every minute of it. The Christmas market was fantastic, the little gnome hunting was brilliant, something magical about chasing after the man that lights up the street lights in the evening with his blowtorch. We thought we would try something different and we went to Kolejkowo which is like a model town sort of thing, and it was excellent, so much to look and see, and it has night/day cycles, different weather conditions with thunderstorms and rain. We were both so impressed with it.

Just wanted to add that we ate at a couple of places that I would recommend,

Jolie - Breakfast place, eggs benedict were amazing, poached eggs were done perfectly. 9/10.

Pierogania Rynek 26 - Had the spicy beef baked pierogi, had a good kick to it, right up there with Mandu in Gdynia in terms of quality and taste, it's a must try if anyone goes. 10/10

 

[Bertola]

Off to Budapest next week with the wife. Meant to be a fantastic city.

Any recommendations welcome

 

[shmmeee]

Off to Budapest next week with the wife. Meant to be a fantastic city.

Any recommendations welcome

Sneaky finger up the bum always goes down well with mine.

 

[Robinshio]

Off to Budapest next week with the wife. Meant to be a fantastic city.

Any recommendations welcome

thermal baths this time of the year . the ruin bars . Castle , Danube,
I imagine xmas markets will be plenty
Get on a free walking tour to show you the key sites so you can go back to.

They have a novel way of keeping the streets clean . Deposits on everything eg bottles/cans - so the homeless walk around with bin bags cleaning the streets to earn an income

 

[LastGarrison]

thermal baths this time of the year . the ruin bars . Castle , Danube,
I imagine xmas markets will be plenty
Get on a free walking tour to show you the key sites so you can go back to.

They have a novel way of keeping the streets clean . Deposits on everything eg bottles/cans - so the homeless walk around with bin bags cleaning the streets to earn an income

Get yourself in one of the numerous Palinka bars as well and try out some of the different flavours!!

Can get messy though!