The Kintyre Forum

As the subject says where is your favourite city destination and why?

You can have more than one favourite. Didn't enjoy city breaks when I was younger but now I am in my twenties I like a bit culture.

Certainly not a short break, but definitely my favourite city - Rio de Janeiro.

It has everything, fantastic beaches, sights (Christ the Redeemer statue, Sugar Loaf mountain, the football stadium, cathedral, tropical rain forest - yes there is one within the city, botanical gardens, trains, underground, tramcars, fantastic buildings), the most friendly people in the world, cheap prices, beaches, more beaches, sunshine, (did I mention the beaches?), the Niteroi bridge, the Museum of Modern Art in Niteroi (looks like the Starship Enterprise).

I have been there twice in the last three years, and I will be back again on Thursday.

Barcelona on a Saturday afternoon. I had never experienced so many people. Things happening all around you - cops chasing robbers - people asking for cigarettes - Old men playing chess - African drug dealers - where I done business - Thousands upon thousands of South American Indian people - all getting drunk with big carry outs - hundreds singing and dancing - big fights breaking out - twenty gypsy women reading fortunes - open bars with street entertainers - a political corner where I would stand - enthralled by the arguments in Catalonian - never understanding one word - prostitutes male and female to take your pick - groups of new aged type people - scratching a living of the thousands of visitors - who descend from massive cruise ships arriving daily - the Gothic quarter that reminds me of inner city Glasgow of the Fifties. Irish bars that sell Guinness that bears little resemblance. The finest mouth watering falafel - Estrella and St Miguel in huge glasses - porn and popcorn - a baby pig - an apple stuck in it's wee dead mouth - music dancing singing Barcelona.

dunc99 wrote:Certainly not a short break, but definitely my favourite city - Rio de Janeiro.

Now that is a place I want to visit and I'm hoping I can persuade the boys to go their for our big birthday in a few years time.

Where do you fly from and to? How long?

For a short break in Europe, I prefer cities that are a bit smaller than the standard 'city-break' cities (Amsterdam, Berlin Paris, Rome, etc). I like ones that you can walk round with ease, and really get a feel for in the space of a weekend. I also like them to be rich with history and culture, and ideally a coastal / port city.

So, I would recommend

San Sebastian - Donostia (the Basque name for this Spanish city). Pretty, nice shops, beautiful beach, easy to navigate, good markets.
Sienna - much prettier and less crowded than its near-ish neighbours, Pisa and Florence. Obviously not on the same scale, but Florence is just too busy to be comfortable, for my money.
Lübeck - quaint, interesting Baltic city, great cafes for music when I last visited, and well worth a visit.
Bergen - again, more attractive than the capital, Oslo, which arguably has the artefacts and assets; but Bergen has the charm, in my view.

If I was forced to pick one for a visit right now ... I think I would pick Lübeck ... but work beckons in the morning, so I can dream on

Where do you fly from and to? How long?

I fly from Heathrow direct to Rio De Janeiro (British Airways). Normal price is about £850 return. They had a half price sale to selected destinations during September, where I booked two returns for £850.

There is usually at least one offer on at any one time. I think it is TAP at present (via Lisbon). I have seen Air France, Iberia and TAM also with offers. Usual offer price is about £550, this year BA must have been getting desperate.

Direct flight is about 11 hours from Heathrow, add 2 - 3 hours if going via another major airport (I have gone via Paris in the past).

Another Brazilian city well worth a visit is Salvador, further north, better weather, completely different vibe.

I have to totally agree with dunc99 - I have been to Rio 4 times now and am planning to go again next year, absolutely love it and will never tire of going there. I am very lucky that I have a family member who lives there so saves a lot of dosh, but the place itself is extremely cheap.
I spent a few months there the first time I visited and had no problem getting about on my own and have never felt threatened once - of course the usual precautions apply to stay safe - the people are very friendly and the food is fantastic.
I flew KLM from Edinburgh via Amsterdam the first time, then the other times were with Air France from Glasgow via CDG. I found both to be very good for service, although there is quite a wait in France, however I haven't had to pay more than £800 for any flight.

Amsterdam is well worth a visit. For varying reasons it is one of the cities I could return to again and again - and not just to see family.

Munich's another city well worth a visit - nice beer too.

Budapest.......Stunningly beautiful! A city famous for spas and the worlds very first wave machine in an outdoor pool still in operation! We gave it a go!!
We did both culture and relaxation in 4 days. This is the first city i/we have ever visited that we could easily have spent a week and still not done everything we wanted to do!!

SCD or WTA what about Amsterdam with kids??

Ags wrote:

Ship called Dignity wrote: Didn't enjoy city breaks when I was younger but now I am in my twenties I like a bit culture.

SCD or WTA what about Amsterdam with kids??

I think SCD has been to Amsterdam a few times if he thinks he is in his 20's