GRcade Travel Topic

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Dual
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PostRe: GRcade Travel Topic
by Dual » Thu Feb 09, 2017 10:15 am

Rocsteady wrote:I've never been, heard really good things though.

Off to Lisbon in a couple of weeks, looking forward to getting some hiking done in the surrounding area as well, never visited Portugal before.


Got 4 nights in Malta with flights for me and wifey for £400! Dat off-season pricing.

I was in Lisbon a few years ago; very unique city with it's own vibe. Super chilled out.

I would recommend going up the castle and then grabbing a drink at Zambeze's on your way out - it's a bit pricey but the panaramic view from their terrace is awesome. Having a beer looking at the sea and all the red terrace roofs sprawled out in front of you. Good times.

Also Bairro Alto area for all your walking around cafe/bar Instagram photos of cobbled alleyway stuff.

And Pink Street if you want some late night fun times.

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Moggy
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PostRe: GRcade Travel Topic
by Moggy » Thu Feb 09, 2017 10:37 am

Tomous wrote:
Gandalf wrote:Do some of you guys travel alone? I've never done it before and I'm sure I wouldn't like it? But trouble is I'd like to go somewhere this year, but most of my friends are all hooked up with partners etc so it looks like I'm staying put this year..... :(



I've been travelling alone for the last month and a half and it's an absolutely wonderful experience. The freedom and independence that comes from not having to worry about someone else's happiness is liberating and it's easy to meet people along the way. Saying that, it's not for everyone. It if you are the adventorous type and don't mind pushing yourself from your comfort zone I'd recommend it.


I haven’t done it but can see that it would be a great experience once you get over the “oh my god, I am on my own!” feeling.

I guess it depends on the holiday as well. Travelling around by yourself would probably make you feel less self conscious than being by yourself by the kids swimming pool at a family beach resort. ;)

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Tomous
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PostRe: GRcade Travel Topic
by Tomous » Thu Feb 09, 2017 11:23 am

Moggy wrote:
Tomous wrote:
Gandalf wrote:Do some of you guys travel alone? I've never done it before and I'm sure I wouldn't like it? But trouble is I'd like to go somewhere this year, but most of my friends are all hooked up with partners etc so it looks like I'm staying put this year..... :(



I've been travelling alone for the last month and a half and it's an absolutely wonderful experience. The freedom and independence that comes from not having to worry about someone else's happiness is liberating and it's easy to meet people along the way. Saying that, it's not for everyone. It if you are the adventorous type and don't mind pushing yourself from your comfort zone I'd recommend it.


I haven’t done it but can see that it would be a great experience once you get over the “oh my god, I am on my own!” feeling.

I guess it depends on the holiday as well. Travelling around by yourself would probably make you feel less self conscious than being by yourself by the kids swimming pool at a family beach resort. ;)



Yeah, that's a fair point. I've been travelling around SE Asia where it's extremely easy to meet people, especially when you stay in hostels etc.

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Tomous
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PostRe: GRcade Travel Topic
by Tomous » Thu Feb 09, 2017 11:26 am

Moggy wrote:
Tomous wrote:
Gandalf wrote:Do some of you guys travel alone? I've never done it before and I'm sure I wouldn't like it? But trouble is I'd like to go somewhere this year, but most of my friends are all hooked up with partners etc so it looks like I'm staying put this year..... :(



I've been travelling alone for the last month and a half and it's an absolutely wonderful experience. The freedom and independence that comes from not having to worry about someone else's happiness is liberating and it's easy to meet people along the way. Saying that, it's not for everyone. It if you are the adventorous type and don't mind pushing yourself from your comfort zone I'd recommend it.


I haven’t done it but can see that it would be a great experience once you get over the “oh my god, I am on my own!” feeling.

I guess it depends on the holiday as well. Travelling around by yourself would probably make you feel less self conscious than being by yourself by the kids swimming pool at a family beach resort. ;)



Yeah, that's a fair point. I've been travelling around SE Asia where it's extremely easy to meet people, especially when you stay in hostels etc.

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Rocsteady
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PostRe: GRcade Travel Topic
by Rocsteady » Thu Feb 09, 2017 1:11 pm

Dual wrote:
Rocsteady wrote:I've never been, heard really good things though.

Off to Lisbon in a couple of weeks, looking forward to getting some hiking done in the surrounding area as well, never visited Portugal before.


Got 4 nights in Malta with flights for me and wifey for £400! Dat off-season pricing.

I was in Lisbon a few years ago; very unique city with it's own vibe. Super chilled out.

I would recommend going up the castle and then grabbing a drink at Zambeze's on your way out - it's a bit pricey but the panaramic view from their terrace is awesome. Having a beer looking at the sea and all the red terrace roofs sprawled out in front of you. Good times.

Also Bairro Alto area for all your walking around cafe/bar Instagram photos of cobbled alleyway stuff.

And Pink Street if you want some late night fun times.

Nice one, thanks. Bairro Alto looks nice, Pink street sounds cool too but heading over with the girlfriend so prostitutes are out unfortunately

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Dangerblade
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PostRe: GRcade Travel Topic
by Dangerblade » Thu Feb 09, 2017 1:36 pm

Anybody been to Luxembourg? I know a friend currently living over there, might go visit her...

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Wrathy
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PostRe: GRcade Travel Topic
by Wrathy » Thu Feb 09, 2017 3:48 pm

Gandalf wrote:Do some of you guys travel alone? I've never done it before and I'm sure I wouldn't like it? But trouble is I'd like to go somewhere this year, but most of my friends are all hooked up with partners etc so it looks like I'm staying put this year..... :(


I travel alone a lot in the UK and now I've got a bit more money coming in, I'm starting to cover Europe a bit as well. As long as you aren't the sort of person who gets sad on their own or whatever you'll be fine. I'm currently in Copenhagen and having the flexibility to do whatever I want is great - I just hung out in bars and cafes for a couple of days, walked through the city a few times, that sort of thing.

You do need to be self aware (I would only stay in single rooms, no hostels, but that's more preference - for "real" dangers, a guy tried to pickpocket me yesterday) but as long as you keep your wits about you you'll be absolutely fine.

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Rocsteady
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PostRe: GRcade Travel Topic
by Rocsteady » Thu Feb 09, 2017 4:55 pm

^ do you not get lonely staying in single rooms?

I've briefly been in Luxembourg, passed through on business so saw some of the nature and capital. Seemed a bit dull tbh but prob depends on what you're wanting to go for, plus I probably already had a stereotypical view of it in my head. Can be very expensive.

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Wrathy
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PostRe: GRcade Travel Topic
by Wrathy » Thu Feb 09, 2017 6:36 pm

Rocsteady wrote:^ do you not get lonely staying in single rooms?


Not particularly - I've always been someone who's relatively self sufficient, only child etc. I'm going to be living on my own again soon and I spend a lot of time travelling alone (in the car and in hotels) for work too. It's nice to have company but at the same time I won't let it hold me back from seeing places and doing things that I really want to do. Besides which, it isn't cheap. It's hard to imagine anyone would want to drop the sort of money I can spend on the experiences I've had (eg I flew to Finland to see Metallica once cos they were playing my favourite song live for the first time ever, and it cost about £500 for two days) - none of my friends are that committed or generally as interested, before we even go into ability to match the spending. This might change now I'm getting into the fan club circles of absolutely mental superfans, but for normal friends? I try to include them but it's much easier to go them and arrange stuff local to them than it is to drag them across the country or continent.

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PostRe: GRcade Travel Topic
by Qikz » Thu Feb 09, 2017 7:26 pm

How much money am I looking to need to finally go on my first trip to Japan?

Spending wise I know ways of cutting down and I'd likely be going to stay there as a test for the future rather than just as a tourist so I'll be staying at a guest house is 100x cheaper than a hotel. How much are the flights though and how much do I realistically need to take to spend?

The Watching Artist wrote:I feel so inept next to Qikz...
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Bunni
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PostRe: GRcade Travel Topic
by Bunni » Fri Feb 10, 2017 7:29 am

Depends how much you're gunna spend on waifus and hentai. We did a month and it cost like £7k but Anung picked up an entire new suitcase worth of game gooseberry fool. We're looking to go back for two/three weeks and wanting to do it for £5k.

Flights can go from £400 return depending on season, rail pass costs are on the website, I think they're about £2-300 and your accommodation isn't actually that expensive. Don't think we paid more than £40 a night booking last minute as we travelled.

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Rocsteady
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PostRe: GRcade Travel Topic
by Rocsteady » Fri Feb 10, 2017 9:58 am

7k in a month!? strawberry float me, I hope yous lived it up over there

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Bunni
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PostRe: GRcade Travel Topic
by Bunni » Fri Feb 10, 2017 10:28 am

To be fair we left gooseberry fool (not through choice) till the last minute so we didn't get the best deals. We shopped a lot and also had to replace both passports the week before. Height of summer prices too.

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Rocsteady
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PostRe: GRcade Travel Topic
by Rocsteady » Fri Feb 10, 2017 10:38 am

That reminds me, I've still not even booked hotels for Lisbon in under a fortnight.

For future reference, does anyone know generally when the best time is to book accomodation? Last minute or months in advance, does it even matter?

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PostRe: GRcade Travel Topic
by Snowcannon » Fri Feb 10, 2017 12:36 pm

Wrathy wrote:
Gandalf wrote:Do some of you guys travel alone? I've never done it before and I'm sure I wouldn't like it? But trouble is I'd like to go somewhere this year, but most of my friends are all hooked up with partners etc so it looks like I'm staying put this year..... :(


I travel alone a lot in the UK and now I've got a bit more money coming in, I'm starting to cover Europe a bit as well. As long as you aren't the sort of person who gets sad on their own or whatever you'll be fine. I'm currently in Copenhagen and having the flexibility to do whatever I want is great - I just hung out in bars and cafes for a couple of days, walked through the city a few times, that sort of thing.

You do need to be self aware (I would only stay in single rooms, no hostels, but that's more preference - for "real" dangers, a guy tried to pickpocket me yesterday) but as long as you keep your wits about you you'll be absolutely fine.


No hostels? That's the main way to meet new people when travelling alone

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Wrathy
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PostRe: GRcade Travel Topic
by Wrathy » Fri Feb 10, 2017 1:21 pm

My problem is I don't especially want to meet new people :shifty:

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Floex
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PostRe: GRcade Travel Topic
by Floex » Fri Feb 10, 2017 1:29 pm

Looking to go Berlin in June, any of you guys got any places to recommend?

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Rax
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PostRe: GRcade Travel Topic
by Rax » Fri Feb 10, 2017 2:44 pm

Rocsteady wrote:That reminds me, I've still not even booked hotels for Lisbon in under a fortnight.

For future reference, does anyone know generally when the best time is to book accomodation? Last minute or months in advance, does it even matter?

From what Ive seen it doesnt matter. Ive booked trips 12 months in advance and 2 weeks in advance and get the same prices. A bigger factor is time of year and if theres any event happening where youre travelling to.

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Dual
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PostRe: GRcade Travel Topic
by Dual » Fri Feb 10, 2017 2:54 pm

I like to book in advance where possible as then you've got cost certainty.

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Parksey
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PostGRcade Travel Topic
by Parksey » Fri Feb 10, 2017 3:34 pm

I feel Japan has a really low cost of living, despite what you might read. I personally spend much less here than I would in the UK.

StayDead, do you like Japanese food? Do you want to go to traditional Japanese-style izakayas? If so, the average meal where I live costs about ¥800. Maybe a few hundred more on for Tokyo (they also have cover charges in the biggest cities, where you pay about ¥300 for a table).

If you like alcohol, do a nomihodai. You might know the word already but it's ¥900-1400 or so for two hours all you can drink.

I don't live in Tokyo, but £7000 a month was presumably going on an expensive coke habit and vast amounts of prostitutes. I'm not prudent at all with my cash here (and admittedly I am not a tourist) but if your rail travel is all included, you shouldn't be racking up such a bill.

I had friends visit for 2 and a half weeks and, while they did stay with me for four nights, they only spent about £1600. That is including accommodation and the rail pass. They spent about £900 in terms of spending money.

And we managed to do Tokyo , Osaka, Nagoya, Kyoto, Nikko, Koyasan, Nara, Takayama and Hiroshima.

Admittedly the pound was stronger then, but if you avoid tourist traps, stay in Air BnBs and Guest Houses (or hostels), avoid western-style food or restaurants and resist the urge to buy loads of tat simply because it's covered in kanji and looks exotic, then you easily do a trip for a similar price. And we covered the breadth of Honshu.

Though if you want to splurge, and shop a lot, then you should save up, as it's pointless coming here and penny pinching. My friends and I weren't on a budget at all, but I imagine it's not somewhere you want to have to wait your whole life to visit and then scrimp and save each day.

We didn't live frugally at all however, and they still didn't spend that much. It's not half as expensive as people make out. Especially if you're not just confining yourself to Tokyo.

As you've wanted to come here for ages, I would honestly make time and money no object. Or consider bagpacking with the rail pass. The Shinkansen and rail pass make transportation to the major areas an absolute steal. As a resident it costs me about £150 if I just want to do a return trip to Tokyo from Nagoya.

You can also fly too, with some low cost carriers such as Peaches, JetStar, Air Asia etc.

My other big tip would be to abandon preconceptions before you come, and not treat your first experience of Japan as a "test". It's just another country, not heaven.

Yeah, Akihabara is great but about as far removed from every day life as people in Britain wearing bowler hats 24/7. It's purely anecdotal of course, but the people I know who came here with expectations as to what it is like, all went home fairly quickly. Conversely, I came here with a relatively open mind, and without being bothered about the whole anime, manga, j-pop, games sub-culture (all not as prevalent as you might think in my opinion) and I was able to adapt fairly well and am still here.

Don't treat it as a test. Your trip isn't something Japan must pass. Don't stick that burden on what is your first taste of things. And don't expect to be miraculously changed when you come here. Too many people think that Japan is the answer to all their problems and unrealized dreams. It's not. It's another first world developed nation with all the problems and modern frustrations.

One last things too. Your Japanese language skills probably aren't going to be as good as you think. Maybe it was just me, but I vastly overestimated how good at speaking I was going to be. You might find it a bit of a shock, especially being self taught.


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