Now we are old fogeys

[RichardCoeurdeLion]

It's all flat caps, incontinence pads and aching joints now, so we thought we'd take one of those coach trips from uk to the Costa Brava which involves an overnight in France and 7 nights based in a cheap and cheerful resort. Day trips include Monserat, Girona, Tossa, Barcelona and Playa D'Aro.
It's pretty cheap. It will be sometime in the winter and I realise it may be a bit chilly there, but we have our Damart thermals.

Anyone done this?

If so, what was it like

[ValL]

No and dont do it !

I have never been one and never heard anyone praising the coach trip, overnight travel to destinations then full days programme, coaches breaking down, unorganised/re organised trips or events changed from orginal itinary. Grumpy drivers/fellow travellers, second rate accomodation and food. Some hotels in middle of nowhere with nothing to do if you want to opt out of 'plan'

All in all convinced me I am right not to consider it, add all that sitting/getting on and off and generally being herded, sharing a loo on coach, the restrictions of time in places and the fact many fellow travellers won't be on time so much time wasted. Naw I like to do what I want to do when I want to. I would rather put my money to a stay in hotel and explore the area in my time.

It simply is not for me, as you can probably tell if you go I hope it is nothing like how I have described and that you have a great time.

[Free at Last]

Someone I used to work with once went on one of those holidays, because her husband flatly refused to fly. She said the journey was horrendous and very uncomfortable - not very good for the aching joints, I wouldn't think!

[Mowser]

We did a tour of the old East Germany in the 80s. Air-conditioned bus, excellent food, friendly staff.
We "did" East Berlin, Erfurt, Leipzig, Dresden and a boat trip down the Spreewald. A trip to Buchenwald concentration camp was included.

We liked the tour so much we did it the following year.

A fun-filled holiday (apart from Buchenwald)

[Nimrod]

Never done it,but I think if it's with a reputable company and a modern well equipped coach then have a go.
My brother and wife ,prob same age as rick,did a Shearings coach holiday from London to Scotland and said it was excellent.
And my brother is the most critical person ever.
Apart from maybe Julian (bless his cotton socks)

[RichardCoeurdeLion]

Thanks for the replies

We've done two in the UK allready. One was to a Warners near Great Yarmouth which we enjoyed. We visited Norwich, Southwold and the north coast. I saw an interesting road sign. It said "Harwich for The Continent". Some wag had written underneath... "Felixstowe for the incontinent". Did we laugh.... The other was to Folkstone . We visited Rye, Canterbury, and even had a day trip to Brugge. I leant an interesting fact.... Zeebrugge means "Brugge on Sea" as ships used to be able to sail from the coast right up to the city.

We've booked another to Yorkshire. I think we are flying. I'll see if I can post a clip of the airline

Happy days

[RichardCoeurdeLion]

Here it is....


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWT2aIORl0g

[gretch]

Not a coach holiday, but we have a friend that likes coach travel that much, whenever she wants to go back to Britain, from southern Spain, she always goes by coach.
Each to their own!

gretch

[biribiri]

Whilst parked in a motorway service area in northern Spain I once saw a coach driver dishing out "lunch" to his passengers on one of these cheap and cheerful trips to the Costa Brava.
It consisted of ...................................





















A pot noodle and a panda pop

[Julie]

My Mum does coach holidays because she enjoys them, she went on a similar tour and really enjoyed it.
Horses for courses

[BENIDORM]

Rick,
I've never personally experienced the continental coach trips, but of course travelled by road all over Europe in my own car and have witnessed many coaches in the service areas.
Most of the long distance coaches seem to be very luxurious and well equipped, however I don't think I could sit still for that long, I always stop regularly when driving in my own vehicle.
The other day I was behind a Belgian registered coach, obviously on it's way to Morocco, it had about 40 old bikes fastened on the roof, and the 40 odd passengers were packed in like sardines with boxes cases and bags everywhere, I'm surprised they drive all that way and don't seem to get stopped for overloading.
Anyway if you do attempt the journey I'm sure everyone will be interested to hear your report of it...written of course in your usual humorous and colourful style...

Regards,
Gordon.

[quebin]

Maybe the coach obviously on the way to Morocco was being ignored so the police could stop all the illegal vehicles owned and driven by the British expats!

[peteroldracer]

I wish, quebin, I wish...

[RichardCoeurdeLion]

Thanks again

Gordon.... one of the good things is that you can get up and walk around a bit. I do this on flights, spending a lot of the time on my feet.

Last long haul flight I did, I found a bit of space by the toilets and hung around there chatting to various people (why change the habit of a life time). After a few hours the fella who had unfortunately been allocated a seat next to that area said..... "Oi mate, I've heard your life story so many times now, can you go and stand somewhere else, I'm trying to get some kip"

Happy days

[oliveview01]

When my flight was cancelled twice back to Spain due to the Icelandic volcano I decided to get a coach from Santander to Seville. Not a coach holiday I know, but I really enjoyed the journey. The coach trip was really enjoyable, we had a few rest stops. It took all day, around 12 hours, but I thoroughly enjoyed seeing different towns, especially Rienosa, which is always, it seems, the coldest place on the weather forecast!! I would quite happily do the trip again.

[RichardCoeurdeLion]

We stayed in Rienosa one night as our ferry came in very late and we couldn't get much further.

I think we must have missed the best bit.

[RichardCoeurdeLion]

We're back from our trip to Yorkshire.
We didn't fly, we drove.
It was great. We stayed near Harrogate and visited the local town Knaresborough which was sweet.
Brodworth Hall near Doncaster which was fab
Mallam Cove in the Dales was awesome

[Julie]

Yorkshire has a lot to offer, some really nice places to visit

[Enrique]

Hi Rick,
Where did you stay in Rienosa
Came through there the other week, Brittany Ferries are on a late schedule so docking at 18:00hrs in Santander, ours was even later.
Stopped at the Service area (for fuel) on the southern side of Rienosa, but very windy so pressed on to Burgos. Used the old route through Burgos as it was late , a lot quicker than the bypass this time.
For those doing the drive back for Christmas.............
Lane switching on the A-1 Madrid to Burgos as they are still doing major rebuilds of the carriageway.
On the A-4 south of Madrid, bridge and exit lane work.
They have started to use sections of the new viaducts in the "Bad lands" (Despeñaperros) just north of
La Carolina., we followed a Wind farm turbine blade through this section ,the lorry train moving quite fast considering its length.

[RichardCoeurdeLion]

Can't remember Enrique. It was years ago

Some dive in the centre of town. I think there was snow on thre ground

The ferry had arrived late, and when we got to Reinosa it was about 2100 and we just went to the first place we saw. We had driven over some mountains, and being tired, I lost concentration at a T junction and pulled out across the path of a juganaught. He missed us by inches. I occasionaly wake in the middle of the night sweating about that. Two seconds later and we would have surely been toast.
We had a commitment in Madrid, originaly for the morning we were still in Reinosa, but luckily that had been put back a day prior to leaving uk, so we were able to make it.

Happy days

BTW it's the end of an era... When we were at our holiday home, most afternoons we would go and sit on the roof terrace of our friends who lived there permanently, and have a glass or two.
Now the lady has died. Christ knows what the husband will do now.