Lads Holiday - With a Difference
Discussion
I spent a week in Cuba over the Christmas holidays just gone. Really, really recommend it, and best to go soon because it is going to change a lot in the next few years. Beaches in easy reach (look at Playa del Este rather than Varadero), fantastic bars and restaurants in the old town (Havana Club bar near the ferry terminal and rooftop bar on the Ambos Mundos very much worth a look, great microbrewery in one corner of the Plaza Vieja), some interesting things to go and have a look at (Couple of good forts, Museum of the Revolution is much more interesting than it sounds, and there's a bar on the ground floor), and just a really cool place. You can do day trips to some nearby places, or even decamp to Trinidad for a couple of nights for a real 1850s Wild West feel - horseriding into the hills to visit some waterfalls, and when you get there, oh look! A bar! Or a really old train up into a valley to see some villages and old factories, and what's on the train? Oh look! A bar! Good beach there too, but not much nightlife.
Check Airbnb for accommodation, which will get you a selection of Casas Particulares - B&B in people's homes rather than hotels. Much much much better value, and you can get the whole property to yourself. The hosts will come in and lay breakfast on for you each day, and act as concierges. Highly recommended.
Check Airbnb for accommodation, which will get you a selection of Casas Particulares - B&B in people's homes rather than hotels. Much much much better value, and you can get the whole property to yourself. The hosts will come in and lay breakfast on for you each day, and act as concierges. Highly recommended.
rich85uk said:
Mumbai and Goa? Although I was only there 1 night Kuala Lumpur has fairly good nightlife and AirAsia fly to anywhere in the region from KL
I was about to suggest KL. I spend 10 days or so in Asia every 3 weeks or so and KL's a great place to base yourself. There's heaps to do in KL itself, as well as Singa being a $23USD / 40 min flight / Hanoi being a $100USD / 2 hour flight / Manila a $75USD / 2 hour flight etc. Have a look at the Shangri-La in the centre of town - there are often great deals on rooms, it's less than 10 mins walk to KLCC and there are some fun bars / clubs within 5 mins walk.
ajcj said:
Check Airbnb for accommodation, which will get you a selection of Casas Particulares - B&B in people's homes rather than hotels. Much much much better value, and you can get the whole property to yourself. The hosts will come in and lay breakfast on for you each day, and act as concierges. Highly recommended.
Good call on the Casa Particular accommodation. Better value and a more 'authentic' experience. 
Thanks for the suggestions so far. So after having a discussion with the lads the current favourites seem to be
Cuba
Miami
Malaysia were we could possibly do Kuala Lumpar and Singapore.
While the idea of Miami certainly has it's appeal, I'd like to visit somewhere a bit different that none of us have been to before so Cuba or Malaysia are winning out for me at the moment. We will be making a decision in the next few weeks and then looking for flights\accommodation.
Cuba
Miami
Malaysia were we could possibly do Kuala Lumpar and Singapore.
While the idea of Miami certainly has it's appeal, I'd like to visit somewhere a bit different that none of us have been to before so Cuba or Malaysia are winning out for me at the moment. We will be making a decision in the next few weeks and then looking for flights\accommodation.
Personally I would not do Kuala Lumpur and Singapore on the same trip, they are fairly similar just Singapore is very clean and the sin tax on alcohol is higher than Malaysia (never a good thing on a lads trip) you could do KL and Vietnam, Cambodia, Bali etc for about £30 with AirAsia. The bus ride from KL to Singapore is 4 hours and £10, after immigration checks etc you could of flown somewhere...
rich85uk said:
Personally I would not do Kuala Lumpur and Singapore on the same trip, they are fairly similar just Singapore is very clean and the sin tax on alcohol is higher than Malaysia (never a good thing on a lads trip) you could do KL and Vietnam, Cambodia, Bali etc for about £30 with AirAsia. The bus ride from KL to Singapore is 4 hours and £10, after immigration checks etc you could of flown somewhere...
OK good to know, Bali or Vietnam could be interesting for a couple of days. Always places I've wanted to visit.Bali, although do not go to the regular tourist armpit that is Kuta, much better to stay in the Seminyak area. Great 3-5 star hotels depending on budget. 5 star are all on the beaches.
Great nightlife and restaurants, lots to do during the day, either beach or out and about for cultural stuff.
If there are a bunch of you and you can tolerate living in the same villa, there are some cracking places on AirBnB. All within a very short walk to the main drag.
The villa will come with a maid, also possible to arrange for a car and driver, although not entirely necessary unless you plan on exploring the island further.
To get around in town during the day, just rent a scooter for $10 per day (or less). You can also venture up into the jungle of Kuta to see the Australian natives in their Bintang vests with their tits hanging out the side, pushing prams with one hand and a bottle of Bintang in the other at 11am.
Also, surfing if you like that.
Great nightlife and restaurants, lots to do during the day, either beach or out and about for cultural stuff.
If there are a bunch of you and you can tolerate living in the same villa, there are some cracking places on AirBnB. All within a very short walk to the main drag.
The villa will come with a maid, also possible to arrange for a car and driver, although not entirely necessary unless you plan on exploring the island further.
To get around in town during the day, just rent a scooter for $10 per day (or less). You can also venture up into the jungle of Kuta to see the Australian natives in their Bintang vests with their tits hanging out the side, pushing prams with one hand and a bottle of Bintang in the other at 11am.
Also, surfing if you like that.
Just my 2 p.
Returned from Cuba last Sunday, albeit (repeated) business trip.
As others have suggested, it seems "casas particulares" is currently the way to go, especially in Havana due to recent obscene hotel prices increase.
Stayed in a private flat (not room!) with large sunny terrace overlooking the city, with birds chirping, squirrels and colibris visiting every morning. Laundry service, breakfast or lunch/ dinner when required. Very quiet, very private and superb service for approx. £ 25/ day.
Regarding "mixed reviews": I have met people mentioning this.
Along the lines, they also said "we just arrived from a week in the BVIs/ Bahamas/ etc and it was so much better value for the money". The comparison itself suggests these people are indeed better off staying at the Atlantis Paradise and similar.
Cuba is different and if one is after the ultimate luxury, it may not be the best choice.
However, if priorities are more focused on culture, stunning landscapes, history, music, arguably world's finest cigars, simple but fantastic food at reasonably price, great drinks, beautiful sunny beaches and fun among extremely welcoming and open locals, then honestly Cuba is hard to beat.
There are so many things to do & see in Havana alone; been 6 times now (unfortunately only once as a tourist, so did not get to enjoy it as much as would love to) and always found the city as vibrant and colorful as when I got there for the very first time.
If you skip the expensive hotels and the typical traps, the value for money you get is just astonishing (e.g. 3,5 hour private taxi transfer Havana airport to Santa Clara for £65).
Getting pissed in classy bars? Oh yes, Sir. This one's my "forte" and you certainly won't be disappointed.
As a final thought, Cuba is undergoing changes (as opposed to many other travel destinations suggested on here), so it really would be a good idea to visit before (american) English is heard on the streets of Havana more often than Spanish.
P.S. Ref the latter- speaking a few words Spanish will make the already friendly Cuban even friendlier
Returned from Cuba last Sunday, albeit (repeated) business trip.
As others have suggested, it seems "casas particulares" is currently the way to go, especially in Havana due to recent obscene hotel prices increase.
Stayed in a private flat (not room!) with large sunny terrace overlooking the city, with birds chirping, squirrels and colibris visiting every morning. Laundry service, breakfast or lunch/ dinner when required. Very quiet, very private and superb service for approx. £ 25/ day.
Regarding "mixed reviews": I have met people mentioning this.
Along the lines, they also said "we just arrived from a week in the BVIs/ Bahamas/ etc and it was so much better value for the money". The comparison itself suggests these people are indeed better off staying at the Atlantis Paradise and similar.
Cuba is different and if one is after the ultimate luxury, it may not be the best choice.
However, if priorities are more focused on culture, stunning landscapes, history, music, arguably world's finest cigars, simple but fantastic food at reasonably price, great drinks, beautiful sunny beaches and fun among extremely welcoming and open locals, then honestly Cuba is hard to beat.
There are so many things to do & see in Havana alone; been 6 times now (unfortunately only once as a tourist, so did not get to enjoy it as much as would love to) and always found the city as vibrant and colorful as when I got there for the very first time.
If you skip the expensive hotels and the typical traps, the value for money you get is just astonishing (e.g. 3,5 hour private taxi transfer Havana airport to Santa Clara for £65).
Getting pissed in classy bars? Oh yes, Sir. This one's my "forte" and you certainly won't be disappointed.
As a final thought, Cuba is undergoing changes (as opposed to many other travel destinations suggested on here), so it really would be a good idea to visit before (american) English is heard on the streets of Havana more often than Spanish.
P.S. Ref the latter- speaking a few words Spanish will make the already friendly Cuban even friendlier
Edited by Flying Penguin on Sunday 22 January 11:19
US GP in Austen is end of Oct. You could start there then do Florida / Miami.
Went a couple of years ago. Austen city centre has a great vibe at GP time, plenty of live music and bars to explore. It's actually quite a big student town that the GP takes over for the weekend so the average age goes up by 20 years :-)
Went a couple of years ago. Austen city centre has a great vibe at GP time, plenty of live music and bars to explore. It's actually quite a big student town that the GP takes over for the weekend so the average age goes up by 20 years :-)
Edited by Steve Campbell on Sunday 22 January 13:45
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