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The SMB 2026 Holiday Thread

mini-x2 said:
I've done the same thing but the other way round, from Barcelona to Madrid. Was only a few quid extra to go first class anarl. Great scenery going through Zaragoza.
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Like being on Mars……I enjoyed Zaragoza, although it was very Spanish and bearing in mind my language skills stretch to “where are you going Nicholas?” and “give me 2 kilos of apples” it was challenging at times.

I also got booted off the bus at the train station for daring to try and pay by card :)
 

Thewper1 said:
Like being on Mars……I enjoyed Zaragoza, although it was very Spanish and bearing in mind my language skills stretch to “where are you going Nicholas?” and “give me 2 kilos of apples” it was challenging at times.

I also got booted off the bus at the train station for daring to try and pay by card :)
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What I like about Spain is that once you get away from the main tourist hotspots and into the smaller towns and cities you get to see the real Spain where English isn't as widely spoken as many expect.

Then again I'm off to Tenerife at the end of next week which is an English speaking bubble.
 
Darlo1973 said:
What I like about Spain is that once you get away from the main tourist hotspots and into the smaller towns and cities you get to see the real Spain where English isn't as widely spoken as many expect.

Then again I'm off to Tenerife at the end of next week which is an English speaking bubble.
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I think soller was like that for me in Majorca. I personally loved the place but the Mrs didn't like it as it was too quite. Which I didn't really understand as you can always take the small jaunt to port de soller if you want a bit more liveliness.

I though fewer tourists with the backdrop of the tramuntana mountains and surrounding orange groves perfect.

Was torturing myself yesterday by looking out the window at work at the sun and pricing up flats in soller I will never be able to afford.

Did like this one mind.

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Darlo1973 said:
What I like about Spain is that once you get away from the main tourist hotspots and into the smaller towns and cities you get to see the real Spain where English isn't as widely spoken as many expect.

Then again I'm off to Tenerife at the end of next week which is an English speaking bubble.
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I expected it in Zaragoza, but also felt very "English" in Madrid.....maybe I expected it to be more cosmopolitan, or maybe it was where I went, but I thought communication would have been be a little easier than it was.

I just spoke Loud and Slow though, the equivalent of google translate :lol:
 
Thewper1 said:
I expected it in Zaragoza, but also felt very "English" in Madrid.....maybe I expected it to be more cosmopolitan, or maybe it was where I went, but I thought communication would have been be a little easier than it was.

I just spoke Loud and Slow though, the equivalent of google translate :lol:
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Spain actually ranks fairly lowly in English-speaking proficiency compared to other European countries. Madrid and Barcelona are big cosmopolitan cities and in areas like Mallorca, Canaries and the Costa del Sol, English is the lingua franca for tourism but in the smaller towns and cities people can live without knowing much English at all.

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I was in Valencia a few weeks ago and there was very little English about apart from in the most touristy places so some schoolboy Spanish is needed to be polite and get by.
 
We're still on a comedown from our Canada trip last year!

The Mrs (no) is wanting a week AI somewhere for May half term...anyone got any recommendations?? Needs to be enough there to keep the 5 year old entertained...but I don't want something that's like a soft play in the sun!! I'd consider anywhere really and don't mind flying from Leeds or even Edinburgh
 
Went to Argentina and chile for two weeks in April. Was amazing, just wished we could have done longer

In June doing return flight to Corfu with ferry booked to Albania. 5 nights there with a night either side in Corfu.

Just booked Georgia for late September. Still need to sort out plan for when there but seems dead cheap and plenty to do
 
When I get back it’ll be 28 days till I go to Nerja in Spain. But that’s pretty much the only place I can see the likes of me going. Unfortunately I don’t really see myself going anywhere really exciting and adventurous. It’s not for my type. And I’m just fine with it. I like there.
 
Booked Corfu in June for a week. Have to fly from Gatwick cos my missus is watching Harry Styles at Wembley the night before we depart. She's stayng at daughters in the smoke, I'm heading to Pompey for a couple of days to see family.
 
ShieldsBlackCat2015 said:
When I get back it’ll be 28 days till I go to Nerja in Spain. But that’s pretty much the only place I can see the likes of me going. Unfortunately I don’t really see myself going anywhere really exciting and adventurous. It’s not for my type. And I’m just fine with it. I like there.
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Plenty stuff off the coast around there to explore . Takes a bit research and effort I suppose
mini-x2 said:
I'm doing a similar thing in the summer, travelling to a few different places in Spain via the train.
Shove driving for a lark.
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Sounds class . Think you mentioned Madrid . Segovia ,salamanca, avila etc around there are class .
I'm looking at trains to Italy but can't seem to arsed with the planning 😁
 
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