Gibraltar - much to see and do?
Discussion
Monarch have a cheap (ish) flight from Birmingham to Gib and I quite fancy a week towards the end of February.
I understand weather can be a bit wet and temp is around 16 deg C.??
Any steers on what to do (other than go to the border and pull faces at the Spanish)and what hotels are recommended please?
Many thanks
I understand weather can be a bit wet and temp is around 16 deg C.??
Any steers on what to do (other than go to the border and pull faces at the Spanish)and what hotels are recommended please?
Many thanks
I've not been to Gib for maybe 10 years or so but I reckon you'd be hard pushed to keep yourself occupied for a week, especially in Feb when the weather could be iffy - some duty free shopping down Main Street, a trip to the top of the rock, walk back down through the caves. Other than having a beer down at the marina and wandering around a few old fortifications, that's about it.
It's a place I'd recommend visiting purely to tick it off the list (and certainly whilst it remains British) but it's far from the most upmarket place you'll ever stop off at and two or three days would probably be enough.
It's a place I'd recommend visiting purely to tick it off the list (and certainly whilst it remains British) but it's far from the most upmarket place you'll ever stop off at and two or three days would probably be enough.
Stayed at the rock hotel in May. Nice room, recently refurbished. Nice feel to the place in a colonial sort of way. Nice restaurant. Plenty of other good eateries around.
Rest of the touristy stuff, three days. ''Twas all we were there for anyway. Good pair of walking shoes btw and watch out for the apes. Lots of offers from taxi drivers for tours etc. But shanks pony is fine for the able bodied.
Rest of the touristy stuff, three days. ''Twas all we were there for anyway. Good pair of walking shoes btw and watch out for the apes. Lots of offers from taxi drivers for tours etc. But shanks pony is fine for the able bodied.
I'm there fairly often with work, so I spend a lot of time eating and drinking in Gib or Spain. A week would be s long time (I manage as I have friends to visit) - as suggested rent a car, visit Tarifa or maybe get the ferry to Morocco.
Hotels - last couple of years I'm always on the Sunborn which is a floating yacht hotel in the Ocean Village marina- says it's five star but isn't, however the location is good. I like the Caleta (other side of the rock but you'll need to get the bus) or the Elliot (top of Main Street).
Weather won't be fab.
I like the place but it's not a holiday destination in the true sense.
Hotels - last couple of years I'm always on the Sunborn which is a floating yacht hotel in the Ocean Village marina- says it's five star but isn't, however the location is good. I like the Caleta (other side of the rock but you'll need to get the bus) or the Elliot (top of Main Street).
Weather won't be fab.
I like the place but it's not a holiday destination in the true sense.
Went for a long weekend 2 years ago - it was hard to fill even that, however we did enjoy our time there.
Beware that during winter flights are often rerouted to Malaga because it's impossible to land on the short runway. This will remove a good 4 hours from your time there! BA had the system well practised - how will Monarch cope?
Beware that during winter flights are often rerouted to Malaga because it's impossible to land on the short runway. This will remove a good 4 hours from your time there! BA had the system well practised - how will Monarch cope?
If you can get lounge access at Gibraltar airport for the way home, I would thoroughly recommend it. The lounges feature comfy outside chairs on a balcony over the runway. I've never witnessed anything like it - best lounge ever (drinks/food are distinctly average and toilets are outside the lounge though!)
I was there in July last. Boy has it changed since I was there in the 90's. It had a frontier feel to it then , its obvioulsy seen massive investement in recent times . Quite a place.
If interested in history, VC Winner Thomas Henry Kavanagh is buried in North Front Cemetery, Gibraltar, plus of course there is the famous Trafalgar cemetery where some of the casualties from the battle are buried.
If interested in history, VC Winner Thomas Henry Kavanagh is buried in North Front Cemetery, Gibraltar, plus of course there is the famous Trafalgar cemetery where some of the casualties from the battle are buried.
Hosenbugler said:
I was there in July last. Boy has it changed since I was there in the 90's. It had a frontier feel to it then , its obvioulsy seen massive investement in recent times . Quite a place.
If interested in history, VC Winner Thomas Henry Kavanagh is buried in North Front Cemetery, Gibraltar, plus of course there is the famous Trafalgar cemetery where some of the casualties from the battle are buried.
I totally agree with you about how it was in the 1990's, it really did have a touch of the 'old west' feel about it that has been sanitised out of it in the last decade or so. If interested in history, VC Winner Thomas Henry Kavanagh is buried in North Front Cemetery, Gibraltar, plus of course there is the famous Trafalgar cemetery where some of the casualties from the battle are buried.
However back then to a young thrusting 20 something sailor with his sleek black messenger of death parked in the harbour and a pocket full of non accountable subsistance money, well that was just how I liked it
Puggit said:
Beware that during winter flights are often rerouted to Malaga because it's impossible to land on the short runway. This will remove a good 4 hours from your time there! BA had the system well practised - how will Monarch cope?
Monarch cope with it just as well as BA but in my experience (and the opinion of locals) Monarch will actually attempt to land the planes where BA don't. I've also had Monarch land at Malaga, wait around and refuel and then fly into Gib (fog can cause this one).alfie2244 said:
We will bestaying on the Sunborne for 4 nights.
The staff there call it my "second home". Word of warning - if you are there on a weekend and ESPECIALLY on a Friday night you should absolutely insist on a runway facing room. You really do not want a marina facing room; there is Dusk nightclub directly outside and it is very very noisy until gone six in the morning - check out tripadvisor if you don't believe me. You don't want a room on the marina side at the back either, as your view is simply the side of the casino. Be warned: runway side. Ring them up beforehand with some fictitious medical complaint or something.Dog Star said:
The staff there call it my "second home". Word of warning - if you are there on a weekend and ESPECIALLY on a Friday night you should absolutely insist on a runway facing room. You really do not want a marina facing room; there is Dusk nightclub directly outside and it is very very noisy until gone six in the morning - check out tripadvisor if you don't believe me. You don't want a room on the marina side at the back either, as your view is simply the side of the casino. Be warned: runway side. Ring them up beforehand with some fictitious medical complaint or something.
Had seen this mentioned elsewhere many thanks - not sure what story I can concoct that they haven't already heard........although we are going Sun - Thurs so may not be as bad.ou sont les biscuits said:
Gareth1974 said:
Hire a car (I recommend Bruno's just over the border), and drive to Seville for a few days while you're not too far away, it's an easy direct road. And Seville is well worth a visit.
As are Cadiz and Jerez, IMHO.Gassing Station | Holidays & Travel | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff