Holidays 2019

Rotty · 3 Jan 2019 at 00:32

Seeing as the 2018 one is now out of date thought I would start a new one to see where folks are off and maybe get some ideas

We seem to have got booked up very quickly this year

Off to SE Asia later this month

Fly into HK but just passing through and connect straight to Ho Chi Minh

3 nights here

https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel...iews-Hotel_Nikko_Saigon-Ho_Chi_Minh_City.html

Then over to Phu Quoc for 6 nights

https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel...-Duong_Dong_Phu_Quoc_Island_Kien_Giang_P.html

and then onto Bangkok for 6 nights ( connect through HK again on way back)

https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel...eviews-Sofitel_Bangkok_Sukhumvit-Bangkok.html

In May we go to Dominican Republic for a week

https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel...a_Altagracia_Province_Dominican_Republic.html

End of June we have 4 nights in Sofia (a lot of friends out there)

https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel...ews-Grand_Hotel_Sofia-Sofia_Sofia_Region.html

And finally a week in Jamaica in October

https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel...ter_Bay-Falmouth_Trelawny_Parish_Jamaica.html

Pretty pleased with choices this year though I only have 1 days holiday left at work for the whole year

Rotty · 3 Jan 2019 at 00:43

Norway and Turkey are slightly different

Will have to get round to Japan at some point

Rotty · 3 Jan 2019 at 01:19

Schizo said:
I'm planning on a 3 week trip around Europe in the car in August.

I fancy something like that at some point but I'm not very spontaneous re holidays and I think this requires a degree of that

Thanks for the comments re my plans folks. hope yours all go well

Rotty · 3 Jan 2019 at 10:09

SixTwoSix said:
The sea is depressingly filthy around Phu Quoc and i've travelled most of SEA, it's the worst i've seen anywhere in the region. We stayed here a few years ago - http://mangobayphuquoc.com/

we were there 2 years ago and, even though we had heard this, we didn't see much evidence other than down at Sao Beach, the place id developing so quickly they need to make sure they have a plan

Rotty · 3 Jan 2019 at 12:03

SixTwoSix said:
Hopefully it's been sorted then, however a lot of it comes over from Gulf of Thailand so might be diminishing returns with effort.

we may have just been lucky as I have heard other reports of similar

Rotty · 3 Jan 2019 at 12:03

Gibbo said:
Hi there

So far my planned trips are:

January - Vegas (CES for work) then a few days in LA and roadtrip.
April - Hong Kong
May - Looking at Villas for a week, not in concrete yet but probably Spain/Malta area.
June - Thailand (villa)/Vietnam (hotel) plus a week in Taiwan, but Taiwan is for work.
July - Another villa week away, probably Italy.
August - 2 weeks in Turkey booked in a nice villa - https://www.homeaway.co.uk/p8079733?uni_id=3410983
September - Probably do an NC500 roadtrip and maybe California
November - Taiwan trip
December - Some hotel weekends away

I am fortunate to get a lot of holidays and opportunities to travel the world and I always take them.
Its a good job I like flying.

you're worse than me

Rotty · 3 Jan 2019 at 12:30

That villa looks great and would have considered it for our 2020 poker trip if it was bigger

Rotty · 3 Jan 2019 at 19:51

cheesyboy said:
Just booked flights to Malaga for the family (Me, Wife, 9 and 5/6yr old) for the summer. will be AirBnB-ing it for accommodation. First time going to Spain for any of us, first time on a foreign summer holiday for the kids (usually do our larger holiday in winter (skiing) or spring). Plan on staying a little inland away from the big coastal tourist centres, but within reach for trips to water parks and suchlike.

Anyone got any must see/must do things in the Malaga/ wider Andalusia area?

Ronda

And if you want an amazing restaurant Bardal

Rotty · 3 Jan 2019 at 19:55

Raymond Lin said:
I would like to hear people's travel tips too as much as where they are going.

i.e. Airport lounges at the airport you went to, pics, rating etc

The Virgin lounge at LHR T3 is fabulous, in there on 21st

I have found most of the pay ones much of a muchness. There are some new upscale ones but I only tend to use the ones I can get in on card without paying so a lot of those are excluded

Rotty · 3 Jan 2019 at 20:01

Raymond Lin said:
Which card? I’m half tempted to get one of the credit card which gives access instead of paying for Priority Pass.

I get a lounge club card with Amex gold.. Only 2 free with that but me and wife churn the cards so usually have enough

Rotty · 3 Jan 2019 at 20:02

Scam said:
Yeah the Virgin lounge is amazing, love getting to use that when I travel for work Don't think you can get in without paying a lot either with cash or miles though.

Never paid but I've heard 80 quid mentioned but only when they are quiet. Tbh it prob is worth that

A full meal. Spa and drinks can soon make a dent in that amount

Rotty · 3 Jan 2019 at 20:33

Priority Pass marginally more

The Amex is all about the airmiles

If 2 of you can get 60k a year at no cost (half if one of you) and this can be repeated over and over

Rotty · 3 Jan 2019 at 20:34

I never pay the fee

Rotty · 3 Jan 2019 at 20:36

From card spend. Will message you

Rotty · 4 Jan 2019 at 10:19

DampCat said:
You can pay £80 if you're with someone who qualifies to get in. I've had people ask me if I'd "Sign them in" which i have done before.

What card are you guys talking?

I have the Virgin black card, and I'm earning 5-10k airmiles a month with 190k unused ATM (stupid baby). Obviously I can only redeem with Virgin, are yous all using something else?

BA premier plus and churning Amex Gold (the churning is a big earner)

VA black has been discontinued and converted to some crap card, there is a new VA card but it's no good unless you are gold status

Rotty · 4 Jan 2019 at 11:14

Furton said:
I thought they had clamped down on churning? Is it still allowed on the gold card?

I've just renewed one 6 months and 2 weeks after cancelling (and did it 6 months ago on another one )

Rotty · 4 Jan 2019 at 11:23

DampCat said:
I switched from the Black Amex card to the Virgin Black MasterCard and it only gives Airmiles. I'm silver, although not sure I'll maintain that this year. Might look at Amex Gold then.

I assume you mean the Virgin Atlantic reward + , I have that too but the upgrade voucher is rubbish compared to the old one

Rotty · 27 May 2019 at 23:45

Now booked to June 2020 with pretty certain plans to June 2021

Rotty · 28 May 2019 at 10:03

FortuitousFluke said:
Bet your colleagues love you. "Alright boss, can I have next Friday off please?" "Sorry chap, Rotty booked that whole week back in the Autumn of 1998"

I authorise the area holidays