Mediterranean cruise in May, then Vancouver and Alaska at the end of August.

I really enjoyed the water fountain display at the Burj Khalifa, and going up the Khalifa (although admittedly I am a massive skyscraper geek). The water park at Burj al-Arab also comes highly recommended.

I have a weekend in Amsterdam lined up in a few weeks but other than that I'm keeping it low profile pending more than likely going RTW later this year or in 2014, depending on work.

Looking to go aboard in August with the family for the first time this year (2 girls age 6 & 4). Any serious recommendations, we have been looking at the Algarve and Majorca but haven’t decided on anything yet.

We took our two girls to Menorca at about the same age as yours and went there every year for several years, particularly to Son Bou, large safe beach and a couple of family friendly hotels right on the beach (one of them Flinstone themed

) although we rented one of the villas in the hills above the resort which are also nice but a bit of a walk (about 1 to 2 km) for the beach and the resort - its a small one-street resort with several family friendly restaurants and one club that stays open late, very laid back and great for young kids.

I visited The Algarve last year and will be going there again in June on a "business" trip (lol) but haven't really been to any of the family resorts, it is a very family oriented area though and I'd imagine should also be ideal, the beaches are gorgeous.

Finally, after procrastination brought on by complex work commitments and downright panic, I have booked my first solo trip out of the UK.

Be gentle to me – I'm 50: of course it's going to be nerve-wracking.

In less than a month, I catch the Eurostar to Paris, change and get the sleeper to Hamburg, and then take another train (just 40-odd minutes) to Lübeck, the Queen of the Hansa. I'll have three nights there – to explore all the medieval city, do the literary pilgrimage and sample the food (and beer). Then back to Hamburg and a flight to Amsterdam (saves doing five changes by train) where I'll meet T'Other Half and we'll have four days.

After the panic, now a mad rush of excitement – swotting maps and guides to the extent that I dreamt I was walking certain routes the other night.

Its very liberating to wake up in a strange city with no itinery and only yourself to please all day long

Two weeks in Rhodes this coming August. Nothing better than having the sun beating down on your back after a hard year!

It will be the first time we will have gone away as a family of 4. Just teaching my youngest (3) how to swim in preparation.

I went to Rhodes last July. Hottest place I've ever been, think there must have been a heatwave as even the locals were struggling. The dancefloors in the clubs were empty as everybody was stood next to the air conditioners.

I went to Rhodes in 1979, one of the best holidays I've still ever had, stayed in the "Old Town", in fact the hotel had the ancient city walls as its back garden, cockroaches in every room and every morning you were expected to shake your duvet out of the window and hang it on the balcony rail for airing.

I never found any in mine but as you walked the narrow 12/13th century streets first thing in a morning you'd be crushing dead roaches underfoot that had been wafted out of duvets and every now and again a dead scorpion.

Fantastic authentic holiday although I'll add the caveat that it was before I met the wife and if I took her back there now she'd would literally be on the next plane home, the VERY next one.

We used to take the car and hire a cottage in France.

I used to like going on German and European trains generally. People so polite. If they get food out they always offer you something if you're sat near them.

We just stayed in Faliraki, didn't see two many creepy crawlies. Think the 5ft long snakes outside our hotel must have kept them at bay.

End of June off to Tenerife for a week with the girlfriend, staying in a little place just outside of Los Cristianos and Playa De Las Americas; but in walking distance of both. Never been there before, and its probably 11 or 12 years since I was last in Spain, so looking forward to it. Staying at a lovely looking little apartment complex, not one of these high rise places, looks quite nice and compact. Gets favourable reviews across the web, too.

Intending to book something for a week with two of the lads for the start of August too. Think that will have to be a "book it now and cross the spending money bridge when I get to it" approach; my bank manager will be up in arms come mid-August. Maybe go back to Albufeira, as one of the lads hasn't been there before and fancies it. Sunny Beach (Bulgaria) is also on the radar, as all we're after is a week somewhere not too grotty, with good weather and plenty of nice local beer. Hence the Malia and Magaluf type destinations are off the list, fingers crossed the scallies haven't made it to Sunny Beach. Although Albufeira is probably the safer bet at this moment in time.

Aside from that, got another small project for the end of August; off to a caravan site just outside Blackpool for four nights with the girlfriend, her mum, her mums chap and the collective brood of kids. Should be cheap and cheerful, stock the caravan with meat for a few barbecues (fingers crossed regarding weather) and hit the supermarket for some beers. It is getting extortionate in Blackpool these days, but will probably still venture there a few times.

Cheers for any advice offered but we booked a week in Ibiza, Es Cana last night. It was to good a deal not to.

Not strictly a holiday, but I have just put my name in at work to do two weeks for Habitat for Humanity, I give a weeks leave to go and they match it. Not sure where yet, but they have done it before in India, Romania and Central America. I have suggested we should do something in NSW

so I can get some RL in. Got to raise £2.5k now (if I am selected).

I am SO looking forward to it!

Croatian Dalmatian Coast for me again.
I know it's boring but looking at it puts a smile on my face.


A hand held holdall, a plane, a public transport bus.
BINGO.

Drove from Bosnia to Hungary which took in Croatia, always fancied a holiday there. Heard report the diving is awesome.

Do it.
You won't be disappointed.
The wet stuff is crystal. The bluest of blue.

Don't panic! That will be ace trip to do by yourself!

I flew to Vietnam by myself last year and it was my first venture by myself and the excitement and adrenaline I experianced at doing so was quality!

The journey back on the other hand was spent mostly asleep apart from 2.5 hours in Dubai airport!

Just seen this – and thank you, Lawrie. It was great, if far briefer than I would have hoped – and did include an airport 'event'.

But if anyone's interested, the [url=http://thevoluptuousmanifesto.blogspot.co.ukstory of the trip is now appearing here[/url, and will be doing so for a few days to come.

A little hop skip and a jump booked for millionaires row on The Algarve again in June, me wandering around in my charity shop clothes pretending that I'm just eccentric and actually much richer then most of the other clients there



Spot of painting for four days, sell enough to pay for the trip, excellent seafood and beautiful surroundings - and the wife now knows about it and hasn't gone ballistic.

Somethings wrong somewhere, can't put my finger on it yet.

Hey don't forget the Lübeck marzipan for your fellow sinbinners.
In Hamburg there's a nice restaurant in the cellars of the Rathaus ... they have Labskaus on the menu there.

Funny you should say that – I bought marzipan for colleagues, and also ate Labskaus at Schiffergesellschaft, a 1535 restaurant! It's also the Labskaus that Mimi Shereton, author of the seminal [iClassic German Cookery[/i, said was the best she had on her travels.

And that's up in the next post, along with lots of art – including a piece I bought for myself from a (perhaps) surprising source.



But I should add that it's a delight to find another Brit who knows the general area!

Five days in Delhi either side of the May bank holiday. Should be good for Indian food