Best holiday destinations

Mc Love

Seeing as we have the fairly morbid and depressing worst holiday destinations thread, can we have one were people can recommend places?!

Its seems that Spain has a bad rep in the other thread, but I have loved mainland spain, seems to have its act together far more than the islands.

Costa del Sol - Benalmadena is very nice, along with a surprisingly good nightlife. They have a 24 hr square of some sorts where all the party bars/clubs are.

Torremolinos is pretty good too.

Miaireland

I love Venice.

breadmonkey

Nepal & New Zealand are both awesome!

rossie1977

sparkysrovers wrote: »

Its seems that Spain has a bad rep in the other thread, but I have loved mainland spain, seems to have its act together far more than the islands.

i have only visited one spanish island tenerife and i loved it, sure veronicas and starcos in playa are annoying but the rest of the island is amazing with scenery as good as if not better than anywhere in mainland spain that i have visited and i have visited the costa del sol

burberry

anyone been to praia de rocha in portugal, was thing of going there in may for wk just wondering what its like .

LeahBaby

Rome,

Heading back soon. Amazing city with and amazing atmosphere.

Gran Hermano

Cuba - great beaches,coffee, rum, chicas and amazing what the lack of American influence makes

Mexico - especially the Yucatan/Cozumel area. Friendly natives, Mayan ruins, ceynotes.

rossie1977

burberry wrote: »

anyone been to praia de rocha in portugal, was thing of going there in may for wk just wondering what its like .

passed through it on the way from albufeira to lagos, Portimao is quite a large town for that part of the algarve, beach seemed nice, probably more to do there than in lagos, standard fare for algarve though, good sandy beach, lots of highrise apartments and numerous bars/clubs.

con1982

We went to Rome last year. Spent a week in the city in a rented apartment. Best holiday I ever had. There is so much history to the place. We spend every day from 9am to 6pm just walking around and visiting churches, galleries, Roman ruines,etc. The city is beautiful. The ice-cream is incredible, and the pizza (I haven't had a pizza since I got back, nowhere near as good as Italian pizzas) We went in June and the weather was amazing. I would love to go back soon!!!

ncmc

I know it's not the most 'cerebral' holiday destinations, but I adore Orlando! It's the one place, where I really feel like I am 'getting away from it all', when you're in the land of the mouse, things like recession, job losses and general depression seem a long, long way away. I'm heading back this year for the 3rd time in 5 years!

Favourite city has to be Paris, could just spend weeks wandering around the little streets and dinky shops. Great food, wonderful history and fabulous shopping - what more could you want!

Tabnabs

Favourite destination is the Maldives, a pain in the hole to get there, shed loads of money to do it well, but oh, my, god, it's just paradise! :cool:

Favourite city is Bergen, I would move there tomorrow, not a typical destination for the Irish in general, but a wonderful city with so much to do all year round (even when it rains, which it does a lot!)

Gran Hermano

Maldives also on my list. Yes it's a mare getting there with flights but the view from the sea plane as you depart Male and fly over the reefs and islands is unforgettable. And the white sandy beaches with the most exquisite blue sea full of wildlife...

Now I'm longing for a hammock and a cocktail on the beach.

Zaph

South Africa - amazingly beautiful country, friendly people and loads to do there. I know it has a reputation for being dangerous, but certain parts of Dublin are dangerous if you're not sensible about where you're going. Been there twice, I'd go back again in the morning if I got the chance.

As a city break destination, my absolute favourite is Barcelona. It's got everything - sun, culture, shopping, great food and drink, nightlife, sport, mountains nearby, a beach in the city centre and a really relaxed feel to it. It's one of the few places outside Ireland I'd consider living in.

Tech3

Armacao de pera. Its near albufiera is a nice little town in the algarve where I spent a week with a few friends last year. Nice beach with some good restaurants and pubs including an irish pub in the old town.

Also plenty of places to visit a water park is only a few miles away and costs 24 euro for the day including a bus from the town. Also went to zoo marine the dolphine show and the 3d cinema were the highlights of that.

rossie1977

my favourite places in no real order

Chamonix, France bordering 3 countries (france, italy and switzerland) chamonix is a gem in the alps. at the end of town is western europes highest mountain Mount Blanc approx 16,000ft, you can get a cable car (once the worlds highest to the equally stunning "Aiguille du Midi" which is a mere 12,600ft and then further on to italy to Point Helbronner. from aigulle the view is amazing, snow-capped peaks as far as the eye can see in every direction. another great site in chamonix is Mer de Glace the largest glacier in france, you can walk inside. the town itself is picture postcard, great restaurants, good bars to waste the evening hours, a casino right in the middle of town too

Amalfi Coast, Italy this blows away the cities of rome, florence or venice for me. so much to see and do in the area, Amalfi Drive, isle of capri,
Pompeii, visit lovely towns like sorrento and salerno. take long walk past dozens of vineyards and citrus trees, the weather is usually terrific year round, i was there in january a few years back and just to wake up and look out on the beautiful bay of naples every morning sun shining bright not a cloud in the sky is a memory i will never forget

Las Vegas, USA the "real" city that never sleeps not New York City, its like saturday night in Dublin city centre every day of the week in vegas, tonnes of stuff to do day and night in vegas and you can gamble IF you find the time :P; loads of day-trips 30 minutes driving time from the strip one could go on to places like lake mead(hoover dam), mount charleston with its snow, valley of fire, red rock. longer tours to places like zion, grand canyon, death valley can be booked from anywhere in town, vegas is a destination everyone should visit before they die, many will probably hate it because its too loud and glitzy, many will love it, it really is unique though and like nowhere else on planet earth

special mention goes to tenerife, innsbruck in austria, san francisco, barcelona, zell am see and numerous others

theCzar

Saigon and Cuzco were the best craic I've ever had.

NYC > Las Vegas for me but Vegas is fun. NYC could eat a month, you'd blow your head after a week in Vegas. There's no real glamour in Vegas, the casinos each have their gimmick that enthralls for a moment but after that its just pant suits and middle america.

That said: Do go to the Las Vegas gun range and have a gungasm if that's your thing then go do the rides on the Straosphere and come away with a new found respect for life. Does for your sense of bravado what going over the top at the Somme did for your great grandfather. Do get out be it east to the Hoover dam and the Grand Canyon or west to Death Valley.

I love Lyon more than Paris (which I love), but can't tell you any reason why except everything is "so nice" and almost tourist free.

The scenery in Norway (in general) is stunningly and embarrassingly gorgeous. Ditto the women in Krakow.

alpha2zulu

In terms of city breaks, my top would be ,

1.Rome, Amazeing city, between the history and food it really is one of a kind and a breathtaking expierience.
2.London, you never run out of stuff to do, no matter your age or interests
3.New York, really has an incredible buzz, although it really is a hyper active city compared to anywhere here in Ireland, its incredible to see it first hand.

Mc Love

Boston is also a good alternative to New York. Definitely going back there again!

Pythia

Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt
New York

bills

Its already been said but italy. Venice, florence, tuscany - cant reccomend enough

jpjc05

praia de rocha was good craic for a lads holiday.

Ms. Algarve was on the week we were there in May. They turned the mainstreet into a catwalk. Lets just say we got more scenary than we bargained for.

IronMan

Rome, an amazing city, so much history, it is almost overwhelming.

Barcelona, the perfect long weekend city.

Berlin, full of history, and great nightlife.

Beijing, the food, the history, the genuinely friendly people, the great wall.

poundhound

Dubai, high quality sun holiday and amazing city break both rolled into one.

theCzar

Bleurgh Dubai.

Sun Holiday: Not really.
A) Most of the year, the sun is too hot.
The "beach" is just a rough dirty desert scrub outside of the resort beaches, and segregated to boot.
So what it generally translates to is sitting by your hotel pool. This is fine really because...

...City Break: Not Really
The place is almost completely souless. Unless unoccupied sky scrapers are your thing. There is a large, reasonably nice, mosque but nothing so special as to really warrant a visit. There are no old forts and no museums of note, no real history at all. The Deira old market is interesting for an hour.

The streets themselves are utterly devoid interest. Unless four hundred yards of warehouses selling air conditioners is your choice of dream holiday. Walking on them is awful due to the heat, dust and car fumes.

There are no bars to wander into of an evening fair, so its back to the Hotel pool.

Some people like Dubai for the shopping but its really not that cheap and the selection in the Malls is often surprisingly poor. Their gold seems cheap but its often lower carat.

I did not do the desert safari by 4x4 which I've heard is fun. Nor did I go skiing in that grandiose monument to the folly of man which I daresay I would have enjoyed. I did not have a chance to play a game of golf at Dubai Creek, this I would have loved. I did not stay at Burj Al Arab because I am not the Sultan of Brunei.

I think the Dubai holiday experience (and correct me on this if anybody has a different one) is basically: Book flights, book hotel, go to hotel, stay there until its time to go home, enjoying the hotel's bar, pool and restaurant. If feeling adventurous, why not visit a sprawling mall for a half a day.

Frankly, you could save yourself the flights and take the Luas to Dundrum and get much of the same without the oppressive heat. More bars too.

If you want a City Break with a Middle Eastern feel, Cairo is more authentic and has more to do and see. Istanbul has been highly recommended to me as well but I have not yet had the chance to check it myself.

My hat is, however, off to Emirates airlines and Dubai International, which is what I now thankfully restrict my visits too.

Phew, sorry. I'll go sit in a corner by myself and brood while the rest of you get on with this nice thread about enjoying yourself :pac:

Pythia

theCzar wrote: »

If you want a City Break with a Middle Eastern feel, Cairo is more authentic and has more to do and see. Istanbul has been highly recommended to me as well but I have not yet had the chance to check it myself.

Cairo is an absolute shit hole, I would advise people keep away if at all possible.

theCzar

Pythia wrote: »

Cairo is an absolute shit hole, I would advise people keep away if at all possible.

I completely agree its a shit hole

I'm delighted I have been to Cairo and Luxor mainly because I have seen what I wanted to see and never have to go back. But if you want a city break in the middle east, at least Cairo has the Antiquities museum (one of my favourite museums, despite the infuriating "guides") the Pyramids and the Citadel to name but three.

So I wouldn't tell people to avoid Cairo if they had even the slightest passing interest in culture or history, but God's sake don't linger...

anplaya

melbourne was quite good but best place i went for a holiday was a place called saaremaa,its an island off the coast of estonia,about 4 hours from tallinn,beautiful island really clean,beautiful tourist attractions,ie huge medival castle which ya can go on a tour of,beautiful forests and scenery,and the weather was beautiful too,id love to go back there again.

ciaramc

Love USA - Las Vegas so much to see and do on the Strip and I dont even gamble.
- Los Angeles - Walk of Fame, Stars Tours of Homes, Disneyland, Disney's California Adventure Park, Universal Studios, Beaches, etc.
- Nashville - The Music
- Memphis - Elvis's Graceland
- New York - Also so much to see and do
- Florida - The Themeparks
- Miami - The Beaches

- Italy - Anywhere - Sicily, Capri, Venice, Rome, Florence, etc.

- London

- Jamaica - Clear Beaches

- Scandinavia - Norway, Lapland, Swedan, Finland

SuperStarHoney

theCzar wrote: »

I think the Dubai holiday experience (and correct me on this if anybody has a different one) is basically: Book flights, book hotel, go to hotel, stay there until its time to go home, enjoying the hotel's bar, pool and restaurant. If feeling adventurous, why not visit a sprawling mall for a half a day.

:pac:

Never been to Dubai myself but this is EXACTLY how l would view Mauritius, everyone seems to love it but wasn't my cup of tea at all.

Favourite Holiday: South Africa, so much to see and do. Beautiful scenery, top quality hotels and food and friendly people to boot.

City Break: Probably Prague, just loved the buzz about the place. Haven't been in a few years so things might have changed............

MrGee

Another maldives fan here, went last year and again this year getting back last friday and we went to the same island and had the most amazing time, its well worth the hard saving, most people who go to the maldives return there again and again because theres nowhere like it on earth, though as some have said the flights out there are too much, 4 flights from dublin until you land on the sea at your island and the same on the way back.
I cant fault anything about our holidays there. In europe my fav destination has to be Paris, ive always had a great time whenever ive been there.

Dyflin

Dyflin wrote: »

Favourite destination is the Maldives, a pain in the hole to get there, shed loads of money to do it well, but oh, my, god, it's just paradise! :cool:

Was eyeing that up, does it tend to be packed though?

MrGee

Its far from packed, we stayed on a big island(Kuredu Island) in high season and its not overun with people, If you want peace and quiet and want to feel more like your alone you'd want to go to one of the smaller islands, The bigger islands have more to do and you can go for nice walks on the beach around the island.
The maldives is just paradise.

LaMer

Zaph wrote: »

South Africa - amazingly beautiful country, friendly people and loads to do there. I know it has a reputation for being dangerous, but certain parts of Dublin are dangerous if you're not sensible about where you're going. Been there twice, I'd go back again in the morning if I got the chance.

Love it, definitely my favourite place, especially further out in the veld in the north of the country, or else Cape Town and the Western Cape countryside, heading back in April and I can't wait.

Other than that, I loved New York and Paris, too top notch world cities, plenty to do and see. Cambodia was good aswell though, obviously different from France and NY but still amazing.

sillyputty

I loved Mexico - I stayed with my family in the very industrial city of Monterrey but once you head outside the city it is amazing. We spent most weekends at my Uncle's Ranch complete with swimming pool and surrounded by spectacular mountain views.

Travelling outside the city to smaller villages - such as Saltillo and Oaxaca you get a feel for the culture and traditional way of life that is still preseved minutes from high tech cities.

Mexico is definitely a country of opposites and extremes - Enormous wealth and shanty town poverty lives side-by-side. It is a fantastic spot and when i go back i will still be staying away from the usual tourist destinations of Acupulco and Cancun.

Bethrifty

New Zealand is a beautiful country - esp the south island - would love to go back in the skiing season!

East coast of Auz is amazing too - Frazer Island being the highlight!

Tails142

Maldives looks deadly alright but its about €2000 per person to go there :eek: better start saving... what recession? :P

Gran Hermano

Tails142 wrote: »

Maldives looks deadly alright but its about €2000 per person to go there :eek: better start saving... what recession? :P

But sipping cocktails in the O bar at sunset whilst watching wild dolphins jumping just
beyond the reef makes it worthwhile

MrGee

Gran Hermano wrote: »

But sipping cocktails in the O bar at sunset whilst watching wild dolphins jumping just
beyond the reef makes it worthwhile

That sounds like kuredu talk to me, god i wish i was back there now!, thats where i should be!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Pisco Sour

Hawai'i (Only been to Oahu but lived there for 3 months. The island is beautiful and I can only imagine the others are just as nice. It literally is paradise)

San Francisco

Las Vegas

New York

Boston

Japan (AWESOME Country, Hiroshima was a fantastic and moving experience, Kyoto and Nara with its beautiful temples, Tokyo and Osaka, Beppu, all great places)

Stockholm

Oslo

Edinburgh

kingshankly

would have to disagree with an earlier poster about dubai.imo it is a brilliant destination depending what your after .brilliant hotels excellent service,good nightlife that takes a bit of finding(irish village is good too).superb golf courses,great skiing,good shopping but not cheap.i agree it can be soulless,and the beeches are poor and full of lurches but everything else is top class but avoid between may and September high temperatures coupled with cruel humidity can be unbearable.
las vegas for me is amazing and has to be seen.
hawaii has to be one of the most beautiful places i have been but wouldnt go back.
pattaya in thailand has to be the weirdest place i have been and is an eye opener can definitely say the misses would never go back

acontadino

what was weird about pattaya?

kingshankly

acontadino wrote: »

what was weird about pattaya?

chicks with snakes ,chicks with iguanas,and chicks with d**ks

Famous45

Stockholm

Tromso

Zurich

All fabulous places for a getaway.

TripleAce

Me and my girlfriend were planning Maldives for our honeymoon....we haven't booked yet, but the pictures, etc look really amazing. However I am afraid I would get bored there for 2 weeks....apart from divinng, is there anything else to do on the Island?

MrGee

Theres hundreds of differant islands, some are big and others small, some people prefer the smaller ones because there very quiet whereas others me included prefer bigger islands because there is alot more to do. The island i stayed on called Kuredu is fairly big and takes about 45 mins to walk around it, its has a football pitch a small golf course watersports center ,dive centre and the bars etc etc, we went for 11 nights 2 years in a row and were never bored at any stage, i spent hours out in the sea snorkelling, swimming with sharks and turtles, great experience
I booked my holiday which i just came back from through a uk tour operator, same holiday cost me close to a grand extra booking it through irish operators, you just have to organise your own flights to get to the uk for your main flight, and you can book them v cheao anyway.

cooperguy

I think London is getting very hard done by in this thread I think it was only mentioned once! I suppose its not far enough away to be considered exotic but for a city break it really does have to be done if for no other reason than its so close and so cheap to get there! There is plenty of things to see and do (no point in naming all the things that come to me since everybody has heard of the main attractions). There is also a great night life and plenty of shopping if thats your thing. With sterling so weak there's no excuse!

I also have to add my vote to Vegas. It really is a city that everybody should do once. There is something there for everybody. Just walking up the main strip can entertain you for a couple of hours. The shows, like Cirque de Solei are second to none, some world class places to eat, unbeatable nightlife and world famous land marks like the Grand Canyon outside the city. I was there in a group of 10 and I was 1 of only 3 that gambled. Nodody was ever bored there though.

wmg90

For a weeks stay in Rome can anyone suggest a good hotel

Berty

wmg90 wrote: »

For a weeks stay in Rome can anyone suggest a good hotel

You should go to the main menu off the forum and Click on "New Thread", give it a title and then ask your question.

You will receive more replies.

Also try this

http://rome-hotels.tripadvisor.com/Hotels-g187791-Rome_Lazio-Hotels.html

tinkerbell

Viva las Vegas! Best holiday ever. I wanna go back this year! Also Amalfi in Itally is gorgeous too.

But defo Vegas is my #1!

Crann na Beatha

This post has been deleted.

Lisie247

sparkysrovers wrote: »

Seeing as we have the fairly morbid and depressing worst holiday destinations thread, can we have one were people can recommend places?!

Its seems that Spain has a bad rep in the other thread, but I have loved mainland spain, seems to have its act together far more than the islands.

Costa del Sol - Benalmadena is very nice, along with a surprisingly good nightlife. They have a 24 hr square of some sorts where all the party bars/clubs are.

Torremolinos is pretty good too.

Just back from Torremolinos- very quiet- best for familes and older people not much night life