Wife and I are flying into London in late April and renting a car. We are then going to drive west potentially to Swansea/Cardiff then Bath/Stonehenge. After that we are looking at possibly just driving along and hitting the scenic spots along the southern coast (Cornwall, Brighton, Dover) and finishing in Canterbury. If anyone is familiar with these areas and has must sees, places to eat/stay, etc... I'd appreciate it.
Options were limited and prices are kinda out of hand for the tournament weekend I guess. Was the best I could find under 500 per night and location is OK.
If you can route through the Brecon Beacons I highly recommend driving through there cuz it's gorgeous. Careful driving in Cornwall and Devon and I recommend checking where your GPS/SatNav is sending you because there's a lot of "60 mph" roads in the UK, and especially in the Southwest, that are single-track farm roads that you'll max out at maybe 40mph on, and Corwall especially they're lined either side with vine-covered rock walls so visibility is basically zero. It also takes a LOT longer to get to Cornwall than you'd think so if you're pressed for time and want to hit the rest of the southern UK I'd give it a miss, honestly. We stayed here in Cornwall: https://www.airbnb.co.uk/rooms/8531456?source_impression_id=p3_1705396828_7nuGiPh4BLrvxXUO Nice AirBnB, very quiet and isolated - internet and cell service were non-existent at the time (we missed a major terrorist even and my command couldn't get in touch with me and were apoplectic) but that was 7 years ago. Land's End and St Michael's Mount were our fave things in Cornwall. Bath is a bit of a driving nightmare but the Roman Baths and Cathedral are worth it. Don't expect to spend a whole day at Stonehenge - you pay a shitload of money to spend 45 minutes looking at rocks. Cardiff Castle is really good; lots of walking around space, good views from the wall, and it's smack in the city center and right next to a huge park so finding a cafe and doing an impromptu picnic is a good shout depending on the weather. If you're driving along the south coast, I recommend Portsmouth - they have a boat tour that takes you by where the new carriers and frigates are. If you go through Wincester, there's an amazingly cunty cocktail bar called Incognito that does ridiculous cocktails.
This is great info, much appreciated. Sounds like Cornwall is similar to driving Skye or the highlands, tight roads that you can’t really go fast on and take about twice as long as it says.
Pretty much - unless the road has an starts with an M or an A that's UK standard but Cornwall (and to a lesser extent Devon) are about as bad as it gets in England for that (Wales is the same outside the Cardiff/Swansea area - it's just suuuuuper rural). It doesn't sound like it's on your itenerary but I can't recommend central coastal Wales enough. It's perfect for a low-key married trip - not particularly crowded, beautiful views, friendly people if you aren't English. I stayed in Aberdovey and Aberystwyth last year so got lots of recs for that area.
The Canterbury Cathedral has its own hotel, which gives you after hours access to the Cathedral grounds. https://www.canterburycathedrallodge.org/
By all means send them along, we aren't entirely set itinerary wise yet, but we love that type of stuff. We did 1800 miles last year in northern Scotland, NC 500, even took the car ferries to Orkney and Shetland.
So I already mentioned Brecon Beacons (plus user Taffy lives near there). If you or your wife are Swifties, there's an excellent bridge in Cardigan to take a picture next to and say "Listening to Cardigan in Cardigan while wearing my Cardigan" plus the entire town appears to be an economy of various little cafes. Aberystwyth is the "big" town on the west coast, good restaurants, an actual beach and coastal walk, and some fun tourist-level hikes (theres a random Steven King-like Dark Tower on top of a hill and a Funicular Railway that gives a great view of the coast and is a easy walk down from. Aberdovey is a pretty sleepy town - we stayed at a little hilltop chalet and ended up sacking off a lot of our plans to sit by the window and watch the sheep run around the hill opposite us - suuuuuper peaceful . (There's a bunch of them here: 52.555848853763905, -3.9898010137919533). We ate at a place there called the Seabreeze restaurant and ate so much we thought we were going to lay down on the seawall and die, it was amazing. Get the beef cheeks. Some more aggressive hikes in the area as well, such as the one to Penygader.
After almost killing Reggie Washington wife and my wife hiking the Quiraing on Skye last year I've been told we have to stick to the easy hikes.
So real talk I went to Aberdovey cuz it's the setting of one of my favorite children's series called The Dark Is Rising, and we tried to do the Penygader hike cuz in the book it sounded really easy. We got there and it was listed on the sign as "challenging" but I insisted we do it. Two hours later we were less than half way to the summit, and weather was rapidly turning for the worse, so we had to abandon the hike. My wife no longer trusts me after that and nearly getting her killed in Colorado a few years ago and also almost getting myself killed in Colorado because discount crampons are a bad idea.
We stayed a few nights here in June 2016, central Canterbury https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/8539639 Just off the main promenade and a few minutes walk to the cathedral, but quiet and right on the River Stour. Obviously did the cathedral, but just walking the town was fun. Did the City Wall walk and the Grey Friar's House before our 13yo rebelled and said he was done with old cathedrals and museums and wanted to do something fun. So we went to Westgate Towers Museum and put on fake helmets and did brass rubbings and admired the view from the ramparts, then went for afternoon tea. Ate at Thomas Beckett and the Olive Grove, nothing special, but the pianist at Beckett saw that we were Americans and started playing American kids show music for our boys. Negotiating a roundabout in England when you woke up in and drove from Bruges is nerve-wracking
Can't add much more for Wales, except I really like New Quay, in West Wales. There's also Eryri in North Wales which has some nice hikes. Pen Y Fan in the Brecon Beacons (Bannau Brycheiniog) is another nice, relatively easy hike. Nice beaches around the Gower in Swansea. The marina is nice, but Swansea is best described by Dylan Thomas: "an ugly, lovely town", or as in Twin Town: "a pretty, shitty city". Cardiff Bay is nice for a walk and plenty of places to eat. This post was sponsored by the Welsh Tourism Board
Any recommendations on places to stay in Cardiff or eat? Doesn't need to be fine dining, anything old or with some character is always preferred.
It is fine dining, but a bit different (and a Michelin star - bit not in the city centre): https://homeatpenarth.co.uk/ Haven't eaten here but location is good for city/castle: https://www.thewelsh-house.co.uk/ Regardless, it's a very walkable City so you'll have no problems finding somewhere to eat
I try not to be judgemental but I hope anyone who incorporates this into vacation plans stubs their toe on a bed frame (or an end table, I'm not choosy) every day for the rest of their life
Sounds to me like someone needs to put you on and say you’re their favorite. And I did put Cardigan on my headset as I rode through town.
Have a friend who is doing a trip to Key West. Wants to stay there but prices are nuts in March. If he looked at staying within a 10/20 drive if KW, any suggestions? And anything he should be visiting/stopping at along the way in the Keys? TIA
We would always stay on Marathon and drive in from there. Also there's no "10-20 min drive to key West" other than Stock Island because you'll be stuck behind some 70 year old doing 30 below the speed limit for at least that long. Marathon or Vaca are probably the best options other than KW itself
Bonk me, but anyone ever notice the ridiculously thick latina that works at Dulles? If so, please reply "bro"
just got back from Havana. Highly endorse going, was a lot easier than I expected. Def want to check out other parts of Cuba now. Spoiler
Pretty simple tbh. Delta handles all of it. You make your attestation to OFAC on their website. Then need a Cuban Tourist Visa you buy at the airport gate + Medical Insurance from Cuban govt (which is included in the airfare). Just have to show all that to the Cuban govt upon arrival. Then coming back had global entry coming back in and zero questions. Dept of Treasury reserves right to ask for our trip documentation for 5 years. Stayed at an Airbnb and paid a Cuban citizen on ViaHero to make me a "travel itinerary" that I can show if they ever ask for details. Just need to bring a lot of hard currency with you as well.
Yea thats a struggle for them. The food shortages are real/noticeable. Apparently restaurant closures have gotten worse the past decade due to that. We did a lot of research going in and got lucky with where we ate. But its for sure easy to stumble into mediocre spots. Next time we are going to venture to more dive off-the-beaten path spots, but intentionally played it safe with all the unknown variables. otoh, cubanos are world class mixologists.
I had a buddy who went when Obama opened it up. He went to get his Global Entry a few years later and they denied him because he had been to Cuba. He had to go home and type up a whole itinerary of where he was and when and resubmit it with other documentation. Then wait for a new appointment. He said it was a 3-5 week delay in getting his GE stuff done. Just a heads up for the future.
This flight into Frankfurt kicks ass Flew over a shitload of cities in Ireland , England, Belgium, and Holland while it's dark and now there's low level fog covering city lights in France. Looks like snow covering Christmas lights.
flew into LIR. Did 4 days north of Tamarindo (Playa Potrero) and then 4 days outside of La Fortuna. I had gone when I was a teenager to Monteverde and Manuel Antonio. Prices for everything were stupid. I did not expect it to be more expensive than the US. The beaches sucked compared to the Caribbean. Food outside of the sodas was straight bad. Some of the stuff we did was fun, but by no means anything like “I need to go back for that.”
Sucks you had a shitty time. Pacific beaches are definitely "different" than Caribbean. Hopefully you at least go some sunsets.
Man, I feel the exact same way. It's objectively beautiful, but just didn't do it for me. The food is mediocre and expensive, and there are more gringos than locals. Just too "Americanized" for me personally. Can't fault anyone for loving it -- great surfing, beautiful beaches, awesome forests and scenery, incredibly safe and you don't need Spanish to get around. But just not my vibe. Give me Mexico 11 times out of 10.
Did you guys find any good fishing guides outfitters in Kenai? I’m looking for a 2-3 day affair with Salmon and Halibut + lodging. This guy looks pretty good and prices are reasonable
I wouldn’t say it was shitty, it was just very average. That when compounded with the cost was the biggest downside. Vacations have changed quite a bit with young kids, but this was one where I don’t think my feelings would have changed even if it was just my wife and I. We did have some great sunsets though. that’s a really good summary. I’m not even a huge Mexico fan, but when you compare costs/ease it’s a no brainer. I would like to do some other Central American countries to compare as well.
Yeah, hear yah with kids. We've pretty much just gone to Nicaragua 2x a year bc we love it there and it's gotten comfortable. Fly into LIR and just make the trek north. Ive always stayed away from Tamarindo bc it's pretty americanized and don't like crocs Nosara is often on our list, but hear construction is a constant issue. Santa Teresa (In 2017) was pretty great and the food was amazing everywhere. I've heard southern CR Dominical is supposed to be rustic and cool.
Yep, just got back from the Agincourt Reefs. Snorkeled and saw sea turtles, black tip sharks, and more crazy fish than I could count. Incredible experience.
Liked it there too, just thought it was a bit expensive. Jimmy Rum's Mixing Lounge is one of the best cocktail places I've ever been to Airlie Beach nearby is one of my favorite places on earth too, can't really go wrong up there
Just did the Quicksilver one because we had a group of 12 with two people over 70, a 3 year old, and a 5 year old. Still an incredible experience.
My parents went last year and had similar thoughts. It was beautiful but food wasn't very good, very expensive and you can get similar experiences elsewhere for much cheaper. They were glad they went to check off their travel list but won't be going back.