Where should we go?

[UTH]

In a very rare turn of events, me and my best mate have been "given permission" to abandon our wives and children for a weekend. We have Friday lunch time-ish to Sunday to do pretty much whatever we like.

A quick trip to Ibiza is always one of the options, but we're wondering what alternatives are out there? I remember seeing people on various TV shows talking about amazing beaches etc in places you'd never heard of/thought about that cost a lot less but are just as much fun.

We don't really have too many requirements, generally relaxing with drinks flowing, a pool/beach, maybe a bit of clubbing (although not really a deal breaker). Realistically would need to be 2.5 hours flight time to make it worth while.

Suggestions welcome

[chip*]

San Sebastian.

[LimaDelta]

Budva Montenegro, or Tallin Estonia. Both well worth a visit and ideally for a slightly-alternative weekend away.

[RichFN2]

Bucharest, the Romanian capital is very lively for nightlife and underrated for a city break. We had an absolute blast and being cheap helps.

There is also a huge tropical water park with a beach etc.

[omniflow]

As above - San Sebastian

Or Logrono or Bilbao. Logrono might be a bit challenging to get to though. Bilbao will be very easy.

Or Budapest - no beach, but a fantastic city with far better food than Prague / Vienna / anywhere else in that neck of the woods.

[nikaiyo2]

Palma, often over looked.

[Ezra]

Ok, left field - Zurich? It's expensive, but it's a great place to visit and there's lido's around lake Zurich which are really well done. Good bars, good food and clubs for sure.

[Tony_T]

Second Budapest, great city

[Puggit]

Tony_T said:

Second Budapest, great city

Mrs Puggit and daughter went in May - absolutely loved it. Especially electric scooter tour (happy to send details if you DM)

[bodhi]

Budapest is a great shout, really enjoyed a couple of days there on a stag do a few years back.

Another one I enjoyed was Riga, great nightlife and we found somewhere on the outskirts you can shoot an AK47, if that's your thing.

[Bill]

Had a very good weekend in Lisbon.

As I'm tight I'd just see where has the best timed/cheapest flights from your local airport and go there.

[UTH]

Thanks guys will look into all these suggestions.

Budapest probably not only because I drunkenly won a silent auction for a weekend there which I’m taking Mrs UTH to in October.

[alangla]

Your profile says you’re in Surrey, so why not try the EasyJet website or app, enter LGW as the departure airport, “anywhere” as the destination, add your dates & preferred number of rooms then sort price low to high, it should be able to come up with something. Also try routes with multiple departures each day, you might find the less popular times are surprisingly cheap, eg it was flogging flights from Liverpool to Palma earlier in the week, leaving on the evening departures, for £25-30 each way.

[UTH]

alangla said:

Your profile says you re in Surrey, so why not try the EasyJet website or app, enter LGW as the departure airport, anywhere as the destination, add your dates & preferred number of rooms then sort price low to high, it should be able to come up with something. Also try routes with multiple departures each day, you might find the less popular times are surprisingly cheap, eg it was flogging flights from Liverpool to Palma earlier in the week, leaving on the evening departures, for £25-30 each way.

Didn’t know that was a thing. Interesting….

[Andy_290]

Another vote for San Sebastian, took the lads back in May - what a place

[Bill]

Doing the same on Skyscanner will give you more airlines.

[alangla]

UTH said:

Didn t know that was a thing. Interesting .

Argh, I missed a step out, you need to click on EasyJet Holidays before doing the any destination thing!

[DJC76]

Bill said:

Doing the same on Skyscanner will give you more airlines.

Google flights even better as it doesn’t quote the prices from brokers who then hike them up when you visit the websites.

[Regbuser]

Berlin - Berghain

[DJC76]

Andy_290 said:

Another vote for San Sebastian, took the lads back in May - what a place

Of the above that would be my choice. I’ve been to Berlin and Budapest this year and whilst I really enjoyed both cities (having visited both twice before) I wouldn’t say they really fit the bill. So whilst we’re not fitting the bill I’ll throw Reykjavik into the mix, great nightlife, great people, no beaches that you’d want to lounge on but plenty of hot spas that serve beer!