Lads Holiday - With a Difference

Lads Holiday - With a Difference

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Guvernator

Original Poster:

13,109 posts

164 months

Monday 16th January 2017
quotequote all
We are planning a lads holiday towards the end of the year but not the usual for two reasons.

1) We want to go in November but it still needs to be relatively warm.

2) We are all late 30's\Early 40's so the usual getting pissed\drugged up on a Spanish\Greek Island and trying to shag fat northern birds is out.

We want a bit of sun and sand plus some interesting nightlife but of the slightly more classy affair than your usual clubbers paradise.

We considered Cuba for a bit but reviews are mixed, the hotels seem nice enough for the beach bits but reading the reviews on Havanna City hasn't exactly filled me with joy.

Someone else suggested Japan, Tokyo in particular but problems I can see is that Tokyo is very expensive, will be difficult to do the beach bit and I've read reports that when it comes to nightlife, foreigners aren't exactly welcome everywhere.

So any suggestions as to where to go for an older gentlemen's lad holiday in winter?

marcosgt

11,011 posts

175 months

Monday 16th January 2017
quotequote all
What didn't you like about the sound of Havana?

We went there 3 years ago and, although we enjoyed the beach, Havana was the highlight!

It is quite 'characterful', but there are nice hotels in Havana (although I hear they can be very expensive due to lots of Ameicans, especially, going there now) if you want sterile chain quality. We stayed in something much more pre-Castro and it was great!

The Azores is lovely although you might find the weather a bit so-so that time of year and I'm not sure what the nightlife is like on the bigger islands. There was virtually none where we were.

Thought about Florida? Something other than Disney, obviously biggrin Warm, interesting (in parts - Daytona Beach, everglades, etc), modern hotels, varied nightlife.

M.


Edited by marcosgt on Monday 16th January 17:54

MockingJay

1,311 posts

128 months

Monday 16th January 2017
quotequote all
Vegas.

marcosgt

11,011 posts

175 months

Monday 16th January 2017
quotequote all
MockingJay said:
Vegas.
Well, it does have sun and sand, but nothing you could call a beach biggrin

I've been. Once was enough to say I'd seen it, much like Dubai.

M

MockingJay

1,311 posts

128 months

Monday 16th January 2017
quotequote all
marcosgt said:
Well, it does have sun and sand, but nothing you could call a beach biggrin

I've been. Once was enough to say I'd seen it, much like Dubai.

M
He never mentioned the Sea whistle

jamoor

14,506 posts

214 months

Monday 16th January 2017
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How much have you got to spend?

MondeoMan1981

2,352 posts

182 months

Monday 16th January 2017
quotequote all
Thailand.

Few days in Bangkok enjoying the sights then move on to somewhere else like Krabi or Samui.

Lots of culture, everything is reasonably priced and you can choose wild or chilled.

If you book flights now you'll pay about £400 return and internal flights are £30-£40 a time.

Genuine five star hotels start from £70 a night in BKK and you'll get a week in a private villa on Samui for £100 a head.

We went last year for a wedding, had a couple of lads nights including the stag and it was outstanding.

BTW I was 34 at the time so well past all the crazy stuff....


RCBRG

603 posts

140 months

Monday 16th January 2017
quotequote all
MondeoMan1981 said:
Thailand.

Few days in Bangkok enjoying the sights then move on to somewhere else like Krabi or Samui.

Lots of culture, everything is reasonably priced and you can choose wild or chilled.

If you book flights now you'll pay about £400 return and internal flights are £30-£40 a time.

Genuine five star hotels start from £70 a night in BKK and you'll get a week in a private villa on Samui for £100 a head.

We went last year for a wedding, had a couple of lads nights including the stag and it was outstanding.

BTW I was 34 at the time so well past all the crazy stuff....
exactly where i would suggest, for all the reasons you've put. interesting culture, great food, cheap, and fantastic nightlife to suit everyone

Yipper

5,964 posts

89 months

Monday 16th January 2017
quotequote all
Barcelona is the current destination of choice for old men between 35 and 55 who want to give an appearance of sophistication to partners and neighbours but really cannot wait to get stuck into the wine, dr*gs and hookers.

Las Vegas, New York and Munich are also popular choices.

Havana is a good leftfield choice. Lots of alcohol and local lovelies.

Jag_NE

2,949 posts

99 months

Monday 16th January 2017
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my group of mates is mid 30's and probably due to getting out less with age, when there is an away day (stag etc) the general behaviour seems to get worse and worse with every passing year.

i can see how you would want to plan in an activity or two but i would of thought that with an average age of 40, a group of English blokes in a foreign country for week will inevitably end up turning into a grand scale p1ss up. we would plan in a football match, maybe some sea fishing etc but could never see us wandering around ruins or taking in a gallery.

Guvernator

Original Poster:

13,109 posts

164 months

Tuesday 17th January 2017
quotequote all
Yep Thailand is off the cards for the reasons mentioned, it's reputation definitely precedes it. wink

Vegas has already been done.

Dubai is another choice but feel it would be a bit too much like Vegas.

Latest update, a beach is not essential but the weather has to be decentish, don't want to be wondering around in the freezing cold or rain.

So Havana possibly not as bad as I've read so could be back on. No thoughts on Tokyo or other Far East destinations?

We want to spend the day either chilling by the beach\pool and taking in a few local sights\culture then the evenings eating decent food and yes getting pissed in nice bars in a manner befitting our age.

Some interesting local sights to see while we drink also wouldn't go amiss wink

Edited by Guvernator on Tuesday 17th January 01:22

jamoor

14,506 posts

214 months

Tuesday 17th January 2017
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Tel Aviv?

Wanchaiwarrior

364 posts

213 months

Tuesday 17th January 2017
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Singapore ?

Sheetmaself

5,665 posts

197 months

Tuesday 17th January 2017
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Ive only been to Tokyo twice so there are probably more knowlegable folk than me but i do spend a lot of time in Japan so can offer general advice.
It can be wallet drenchingly expensive if you go to certain places but then there will often be a darts bar or a karaoke bar which offers a time period of doing this activity and as much food/alcohol as you can manage in that time frame. These are mainly used by the Japanese but are normally welcoming to foreigners. Usually the places that will not be welcoming would be difficult to find and you wouldnt get through the door in the first place.

Weather wise, in Fukuoka which is further South you will of missed typhoon season and you could usually walk around in a t shirt during the day. This year you could of worn one at night as well but this is not the norm.

Also you would need to learn a little Japanese, most will talk to you in English as long as you try first in Japanese and make a fool of yourself first, honour is an important thing to all Japanese people.

You would likely have a great time and if you want a wild night i believe they still have a bj bar!

torqueofthedevil

2,068 posts

176 months

Tuesday 17th January 2017
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Cancun

Type R Tom

3,859 posts

148 months

Tuesday 17th January 2017
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Miami or if you can cope with 24-30 hours travelling Hawaii? Bali is pretty warm too.

Edited by Type R Tom on Tuesday 17th January 07:16

W8PMC

3,345 posts

237 months

Tuesday 17th January 2017
quotequote all
Guvernator said:
We are planning a lads holiday towards the end of the year but not the usual for two reasons.

1) We want to go in November but it still needs to be relatively warm.

2) We are all late 30's\Early 40's so the usual getting pissed\drugged up on a Spanish\Greek Island and trying to shag fat northern birds is out.

We want a bit of sun and sand plus some interesting nightlife but of the slightly more classy affair than your usual clubbers paradise.

We considered Cuba for a bit but reviews are mixed, the hotels seem nice enough for the beach bits but reading the reviews on Havanna City hasn't exactly filled me with joy.

Someone else suggested Japan, Tokyo in particular but problems I can see is that Tokyo is very expensive, will be difficult to do the beach bit and I've read reports that when it comes to nightlife, foreigners aren't exactly welcome everywhere.

So any suggestions as to where to go for an older gentlemen's lad holiday in winter?
Chuckled at the above. We do a lads holiday every year (usually 2nd May Bank Holiday weekend) & we're all mid 30's to mid 40's but still find it a proper giggle doing Ibiza, Magaluf & Tenerife. Yes they're cheesy but the atmosphere is always good, as is the weather & due to our advancing years, we hang round the hotel pool enjoying the All Inc for most of the day & then head to the Strip around 9ish for a few hours of amusement. It's somewhat detached from our usual 'family' holidays or 'with partner' nights out which makes it great fun.

Should point out that the reason we go late May is to avoid the yoofs who will still be at school, college or Uni so that lifts the age range of those in resort to mid 30's to 40's which is perfect. This year we're planning on trying Albuferia for a change.

peekay74

448 posts

223 months

Tuesday 17th January 2017
quotequote all
100% Cuba. A group of us went last year and it was brilliant. There is everything you could want, vibrant nightlife (albeit not a 'strip' but cabs are almost free), culture, history and locals for the most part are great - although they will hassle for cash. It is changing quickly, one of our group had been a couple of years beforehand and he could already see differences.

It really is a great place and one I don't actually feel is ready for a family trip, much more suited to a 'lads' trip.

We didn't stay at a beach resort, stayed in Havana and got taxis to the beach when we wanted to go, hiring a driver and using the journey as a bit of exploration too. There are things to do, great restaurants to go to and some were 'expensive'. The most we paid was around £40 a head for dinner but some nights found restaurants that only cost a fiver, for literally as much good food as you could eat.

I can't wait to go back - if any of you like Cigars, it is heaven - still makes me chuckle thinking about the teethless 80 yr old women walking down the street smoking Siglo Vi's !!!

g3org3y

20,606 posts

190 months

Tuesday 17th January 2017
quotequote all
+1 for Cuba. Had a really great time in Havana.

The rum is super cheap and the bars stay open late. Plenty of live music too. Restaurants variable. Locals very friendly. Minimal hassle compared to north Africa (Morocco etc).

Hotels in Havana get booked up quickly in the high season. Many are very nice old colonial style buildings. Don't expect super luxury though. The Melia Habana (newer modern hotel out of the centre) is actually very nice but very expensive.

I agree that now is the time to go before things change and they open a McDonald's!

Edited by g3org3y on Tuesday 17th January 08:48

Fats25

6,260 posts

228 months

Tuesday 17th January 2017
quotequote all
Havana is probably my favourite city I have ever been to. Went with my wife. Not convinced I would want to go with my mates (I am 40), I am sure I could find things for us to do, but would not be that interested in it as a destination. Perhaps I am 40 but still think I am 25! For me Havana is a romantic cultural city, as is Trinidad, and Cienfuegos etc.

My annual lads trips all revolve around golf or motorbikes now, as much easier to swing a lads holiday for a hobby rather than just a lads holiday. Does not stop the lads part of the holiday of course. I also live in Dubai, and have been to Vegas. Perhaps to the general tourist they seem quite similar - glitzy, false, etc - but without the gambling. They are quite different though.

There is lots more to do in Dubai though than what most tourists do. Admittedly not a huge amount of culture, and history, but plenty to keep you occupied. Weather is also generally great in November. A few things off the bat for things to do in Dubai:-

Desert Driving an ATV
Track Days
SkyDive
Snorkelling/Scuba (although better at Eastern Emirates)
Golf
Water Parks
Paddle boarding
Jet Skis
Hire a yacht
Abu Dhabi Grand Mosque
Friday Brunch
Horse racing (Think it will have started by then)
Rugby 7's (if you time it right)
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (if you time it right)
Race to Dubai (if you time it right)
The Badlands if you do fancy letting your hair down in the old town

I wouldn't have said Dubai is any cheaper than Tokyo though, and Tokyo is a place I would happily do with the lads (but would take more homework and knowledge gathering to know where the good places are - when I've been I've had local ex-pats showing me around). Dubai is easy to find everything.

Edited by Fats25 on Tuesday 17th January 09:05