Travel thread 3.0

[evertony]

I loved Albania. I had 5 weeks in Croatia, Montenegro and Albania last year, Albania was my clear favourite.
Tirana is a really cool city - ahead of Montenegro in terms of tourism but not as evolved as Croatia's. Think of it as the Manchester of the Adriatic (maybe not the best analogy on a scousers forum though ) but it just has that same type of working class, vibrant, creative don't give a feck attitude, and the women are gorgeous- it's like there are 100,00 Dua Lipa clones walking around. Prices are similar to Montenegro. The walking tours are really informative, some of the stories they tell of the communism years are a real eye opener, and the tour of the nuclear bunker in the foothills was amazing. The cable car trip up the mountain is a must do - amazing views over the city and beyond on clear days.

We also spent some time in Vlore - the beaches are ok (Being a West Australian I do have very high standards) but the foreshore with all it's restaurants is lovely, but a bit pricier. Lots of tourists were just getting beers from the local corner shops and drinking them on the beach which is prefectly acceptable.

The only negative experience I had was the little fish that constantly nibble your toes while you are in the water - little bar stewards

Thanks @WA Toffee .....exactly what I was after so definitely putting it in our plans for 2026, unless we can sneak in a trip in September. I'm from Manchester so totally get the analogy

 

[Root66]

Bali is different mate.

For Bali think of an island with traffic jams, loads (yes LOADS) of drunk scummy Australians in the 'local' spots (Seminyak, Kuta etc), drunk off their nuts morning to night with the women yelling like coked up yanks all the time and every sentence a question.

Not to mention the locals who will try and harass you to buy all sorts of crap. Bred to scam.

A lot of 'nature' meaning a 'Monkey Forest' in a dump of a place called UBUD + a few other formerly average/good level beaches ruined with stray dogs, trash and dodgy people. The snaps of rice paddies masterfully leave out the building sites next door and pile ups of trash.

Its a place where you see the influencers populate in the media but guaranteed they dont leave the hotel aside from 1 day to pop around the sites for a snap.

When you have mosquitoes everywhere, unfriendly monkeys and more stray dogs walking along broken pavements and on the beaches themselves than you would ever see in a lifetime then you're going to need shots of everything.

Places like Boracay & Palawan are actual island paradise with the white beaches and amazing coloured water. Friendly people everywhere and you may get the odd local asking you to buy something, a simple "no thanks" and they wont bother you again.

Also 4hrs flight between them so shots i dont think would be needed for Philippines.

I've enjoyed Seminyak. Nowhere near as many Aussies as I feared. Went to nusa pieneda yesterday. Enjoyed that.

Off to Borneo tonight for 3 nights.

Haven't seen many stray dogs tbh. It was a fear, I thought about having the vaccine before coming.

Seen lots of Indians and Japanese here, and Brits.

What's a good tip over here? I tipped my guide 100,000 yesterday?

Monkeys were deffo trying to steal my sunnies yesterday, I felt a tickle on my head under a tree and it was one trying it on. They did nick something out of a bag of an insta wannabee.

 

[Zatara]

I've enjoyed Seminyak. Nowhere near as many Aussies as I feared. Went to nusa pieneda yesterday. Enjoyed that.

Off to Borneo tonight for 3 nights.

Haven't seen many stray dogs tbh. It was a fear, I thought about having the vaccine before coming.

Seen lots of Indians and Japanese here, and Brits.

What's a good tip over here? I tipped my guide 100,000 yesterday?

Seminyak is the most 'civilised' there but a low bar.

Surprised you're not engulfed by australians, thank your lucky stars.

Best part for me is going to Jimbaran and having seafood on the beach (they setup tables etc) for dinner.

Dont need to tip in indonesia. Have a nice trip to Borneo, ive never been.

 

[Root66]

Was a few Aussies in potato head. You are correct on the women. "Crim yanks".

Excited for Borneo. Back here for 3 nights after, then off to Singapore for 3 days.

I've enjoyed it. Not sure id travel all the way again though. It's not quite as cheap as I thought (still cheap).

I could just go back to Mexico for the vegetation etc. And that was just as cheap.

Although you have the yanks there

 

[WA Toffee]

I've enjoyed Seminyak. Nowhere near as many Aussies as I feared. Went to nusa pieneda yesterday. Enjoyed that.

Off to Borneo tonight for 3 nights.

Haven't seen many stray dogs tbh. It was a fear, I thought about having the vaccine before coming.

Seen lots of Indians and Japanese here, and Brits.

What's a good tip over here? I tipped my guide 100,000 yesterday?

Monkeys were deffo trying to steal my sunnies yesterday, I felt a tickle on my head under a tree and it was one trying it on. They did nick something out of a bag of an insta wannabee.

Seminyak is still full of Aussies, just a different type, so you don't notice them as much. Also in kuta most of the market owners come down from Java whereas Seminyak ones are usually from Bali. There is a difference.

Not sure about his stray dog comment, there are a few but nothing worth noting and I've never seen them bother anyone.

Yep, 100,00 rupiah is a decent tip, they don't work for tips, but they do appreciate them.

Where in Borneo are you off to?

 

[Root66]

Fly into Pundalang ban?? Then up the river on a klotok for 3 days.

Have to fly to Surabaya first

 

[WA Toffee]

Fly into Pundalang ban?? Then up the river on a klotok for 3 days.

Have to fly to Surabaya first

I've only done Kota Kinabalu, lovely place and the sunsets were amazing, lasted over 45 minutes each night

 

[GoldenToffee]

Got a week off to go somewhere next week, thinking Ho Chi Minh or Da Nang in Vietnam. Nice and cheap and relaxing.

 

[GoldenToffee]

I've only done Kota Kinabalu, lovely place and the sunsets were amazing, lasted over 45 minutes each night

Been there, enjoyed it, but those damn mosques all over the kin place — annoying to say the least with the drone that comes from then, however I admit I ought to have done my homework before I went there.

 

[Paris]

Just booked August bank holiday in Bucharest before flying to Türkiye for ten days. Looking forward to all of it as I’ve never been before, I’m being told that I’d only need about £60 per day in Bucharest (outside of accommodation costs) which seems ridiculously cheap, even compared to Bangkok.

 

[evertony]

Just booked August bank holiday in Bucharest before flying to Türkiye for ten days. Looking forward to all of it as I’ve never been before, I’m being told that I’d only need about £60 per day in Bucharest (outside of accommodation costs) which seems ridiculously cheap, even compared to Bangkok.

Not the best place I’ve ever been to Bucharest, albeit it was a good 20 or so years ago. You needed to have your wits about you at night back then.

 

[David09]

Got a week off to go somewhere next week, thinking Ho Chi Minh or Da Nang in Vietnam. Nice and cheap and relaxing.

I loved Vietnam when I went in 2017. Best holiday ever
And the local beers were delicious

 

[Nymzee]

Got a week off to go somewhere next week, thinking Ho Chi Minh or Da Nang in Vietnam. Nice and cheap and relaxing.

Picked probs two of the worst spots in Vietnam to pick there

 

[WA Toffee]

Been there, enjoyed it, but those damn mosques all over the kin place — annoying to say the least with the drone that comes from then, however I admit I ought to have done my homework before I went there.

Can't say I remember hearing any mosques

 

[WA Toffee]

Just booked August bank holiday in Bucharest before flying to Türkiye for ten days. Looking forward to all of it as I’ve never been before, I’m being told that I’d only need about £60 per day in Bucharest (outside of accommodation costs) which seems ridiculously cheap, even compared to Bangkok.

£60 per day is plenty, unless you intend going to 5 star restaurants