drwook

Apologies if I've missed a similar thread, but just thinking about what might be some good short break options for late 2020/early 2021 (assuming things are operating by then - I hope so!) - probably not too far away in case of recurrence to keep it relatively simple to get home again, which realistically probably means Europe.

Work travel is dry so a couple of little leisure trips might be nice to try to pencil in and probably aiming for something sedate with a bit of culture and/or some reasonable wine(!).

I was thinking Bordeaux (as never been - although 6am flights are a bit painful for leisure trips!!) and/or possibly somewhere in Portugal/Spain, any other suggestions that people consider 'good value' for a couple of days? Anyone else working up a shortlist of where to go when the green light comes?

bhbloke

Depending on where we're allowed to go, Porto, Valencia and Seville are all good choices.

Irreverent Medusa

I simply booked my usual RFS for my usual places at the usual times and I'm just hoping for the best! So LCY-NCE in September and LCY-ZRH in January to then head up to St Moritz for the bobsleigh & skeleton world cup. It's a low-risk move because I have a flat in the south of France so don't require accommodation for that trip; and for St Moritz, the small family-run hotel I stay at every year automatically hold 'my' room for race week.

ETA I also have a trip in mind to see some friends in Zurich and Innsbruck whenever we're allowed to travel again

LondonElite

I think the appeal of places is the same as before. But I think it will be a while before the days of the 'mini-break' are back.

greg5

In today's Swiss government press conference, the speaker from the Economic Ministry said that he personally wouldn't personally be planning any international travel before next year. With the exception of perhaps driving across the border at some point. At this point, I'm just hoping I'm able to get some time here in Switzerland to see the local sights myself.

Lynyrd

My intention is to park myself in a pub in Gibraltar.

BAeuro

I was thinking a trip to Gibraltar for the end of the year. Foreign but not too foreign

Bohinjska Bistrica

I'll be pleased if I'm allowed to fly to Scotland to see family and have a degree of automomy in being able to get out and about. If hotels etc are open would like to go up into the Highlands, which is something I never really did despite being born and living the first 23 years of my life there. Little point in going if everything will still be shut.

For something a bit warmer, hoping we might manage a few nights in Spain as my inlaws have a place near Alicante. I know hotels are looking suspect in Spain, but we are fine for accommodation and won't be in a tourist resort so hopefully it will be possible.
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Mountlodge

I head down to Southern Spain come Winter and do my best to spend as much time there as permits. If you;re not too fussy about what dat of the week you go you can get a return for <Ł100.
Car hire I can get for Ł8:00 inclusing full insurance with no excess. (You're not getting a top of the range but more a 3 door basic car).
I can get a one bed Airbnb apt for Ł30 a night. Not maybe to everyones taste, but does me fine.

ML

mjuler

We have a trip to Zell am Zimmer booked up for August this year, taking the car from the UK making use of the Dusseldorf to Innsbruck overnight Motorail train, then driving back through Germany stopping off at a few places. We're continuing to book things up, just making sure to go with fully flexible accommodation (which is still very reasonably priced due to the COVID-19 situation). There's a good chance we'll need to cancel everything, but it gives us something to plan and look forward to and if it's not this year, we'll resurrect our plans for next.

drwook

Gibraltar sounds a great idea, hadn't crossed my mind. Looks like T3 too, so can drag the Mrs to a couple of lounges (assuming such things still exist and re-open this year!)

I quite like the Spanish islands but never left the airport on the mainland (!) so maybe that's an idea - any suggestions that aren't too hectic, Barcelona/Alicante?

subject2load

@ drwook - specifically on Spain ....... may I recommend, for the mainland, the charming, very compact, city of Girona. Reachable within less than an hour by fast train from its far larger neighbour, Barcelona ; but in many ways more rewarding & more relaxing. Not that I would ever advise against a visit to Barcelona too, given you haven’t yet been.

And as regards the many islands : my personal favourite is Menorca, where I have been a frequent visitor for many years. Regular flights - in normal times ! - by BA et al, throughout the (very long) summer season, ie from around April to October.

andymcdonnell

If you’re thinking Bordeaux then I’d highly recommend Montpellier. Beautiful town, excellent bars & restaurants and good value.

If you’re considering Italy, then Treviso is a much nicer option than Venice. Charming with some great bars & restaurants for about half the price of their famous neighbour

davem4

T5 for now, not sure if/when it will go back to T3

Lounge on GIB end is horrible, terrible entitled staff.

fruitcage

I seem to remember that due to the small number of flights, sometimes they don't even open security until it's almost too late to use the lounge anyway.
But on the plus side it's one of the few places (the only BA destination?) where you can walk across the runway to get to the terminal building from town.