Where in Europe should QF009 go for 2 nights?

[Keith009]

Another family trip, this time in Europe, Jan-Feb 2009. I will be respositioning back to MEL on an F aaward but alas there are only F seats 2 days after mum and dad leave Europe (on QF30 LHR-MEL).

I can't help but think 5 nights in Budapest will be an overkill (we're planning to stay there for 3 nights, + 2 extra nights = 5).

So... the big poll: Where should i spend those 2 extra nights?

Somewhere new:
Prague
Bucharest
Helsinki

Revisit somewhere I've been:
Paris
Amsterdam

The ideal destination should have good nightlife, good food or good shopping. Oh and a certain standard of eye candy. Any one of those 4, preferably two or more.

2 nights should be adequate to give me a taste of somewhere new, but at the same time it might be too short and would be better suited for a revisit to somewhere I've already visited and liked.

I am also hitting Muscat (well oneworld considers it Europe ), Istanbul, Madrid, Berlin, Milan and Athens on this trip.

Get voting!

 

[Febs]

The car nut in me says fly to Frankfurt, hire something fast, drive to the Nurburgring and spend the time doing laps...maybe because that's what I did with two spare days in Europe in 2006 (minus the fast car part...I was in a BMW 320D ).

Personally, I'd recommend somewhere new over somewhere you've been before, particularly in Europe!

I never managed to spend a weekend in Prague (flew through it plenty of times though), but colleagues spent 2 days there and loved it. If it's anything like Brno (where I spent 2 weeks), you'll love it, and it'll definitely meet your criteria of nightlife and eye candy.

Actually, on the topic of eye candy and nightlife, I don't reckon you can go wrong with Stockholm either. Awesome, awesome place...and the sort of place you could easily do a lot of in two nights.

Cheers,
- Febs.

 

[simongr]

mrssimongr loved prague...

 

[Keith009]

Ooh I totally forgot about STO. Decent MA flights from BUD too, ie at non-early morning times.

PRG looks to be leading at the moment.

 

[Hawkeye]

I can't comment on Helsinki or Bucharest, but Prague is amongst my favourite European cities, so I would choose it.

Having said that, Paris and Amsterdam are always worth a re-visit ... over and over and over again!

 

[Evan]

Since youhave never been Prague is a must see i think, or rather the first priority from that list, great sights, good clubs... and some shopping from what i saw

Bucureşti is a bit... hmmm well, there is nicer cities, actually a little bit like Asia in some ways, its not that clean like other European cities.
If you do go there, then you would like the "Office" or "Deja Vu" or also check out the clubs in the old part of the city which i prefered.

E

 

[openseat]

I know it's not on the list, but Krakow is well worth a visit.

 

[Keith009]

Booked PRG-LHR-MEL on BA then QF for now, with an OW100F. Pre September rules.

It's on hold for 2 weeks so I'd see how this poll goes before ticketing.

 

[futaris]

Isn't PRG-MEL 9879mi, and hence a OW120F? Or have the zones changed???

 

[superchris]

I "voted" for Prague before I could see your options!
Much nicer than Bucharest.
Go to Munich and have a ball....a great place with good Starwood options

 

[Keith009]

Isn't PRG-MEL 9879mi, and hence a OW120F? Or have the zones changed???

It's a little loophole that will cease to exist come SEP1. My routing is 8046 miles under the current method of calculation. My itinerary does not end in MEL - I am simply "forced" to overnight there.

I was going for a OW80C but then decided F looked too good at only 20k miles extra and for such a long journey. Might change an AP90k to an AP70k and put the 20k towards the next repositioning though.

 

[futaris]

It's a little loophole that will cease to exist come SEP1. My routing is 8046 miles under the current method of calculation. My itinerary does not end in MEL - I am simply "forced" to overnight there.

Ah, I getcha... I guess it's one of the benefits that there is no flight from SIN to there on QF. You can only get there on Jetstar, and so you have to go through MEL or some other capital city...

 

[littl_flier]

Great choice with Prague QF009! From all reports, the nightlife is pretty wild and it's a nice city itself. I'm heading over in December so I should be able to let you know.

 

[Keith009]

Great choice with Prague QF009! From all reports, the nightlife is pretty wild and it's a nice city itself. I'm heading over in December so I should be able to let you know.

Coolness - make sure you finish your TR this time.

FWIW I also put up an identical poll at SQTalk - so far PRG is leading in both forums by a huge margin.

 

[littl_flier]

Coolness - make sure you finish your TR this time.

LOL, a very good point. I will get back to it soon, I'm just following Tooner's lead.

There's another member of AFF chasing me to write a TR for a weekend a couple of weeks ago so he can add his side of the story. We will get there.

 

[BlacKnox]

I voted Prague.

 

[Keith009]

I noticed a few votes for HEL. Can those who've voted for HEL so please explain why? Particularly in the context of:

The ideal destination should have good nightlife, good food or good shopping. Oh and a certain standard of eye candy.

Any one of those 4, preferably two or more.

An SQTalker has described a Russian booze cruise he took from HEL to Estonia which sounded way cool - lots of vodka and caviar. And apparently HEL is also meant to be a party town according to the research I've done. Ooh and Nordic blondes... :mrgreen:

Then again PRG also seems rather appealing in that way.

 

[BlacKnox]

I noticed a few votes for HEL. Can those who've voted for HEL so please explain why? Particularly in the context of:


An SQTalker has described a Russian booze cruise he took from HEL to Estonia which sounded way cool - lots of vodka and caviar. And apparently HEL is also meant to be a party town according to the research I've done. Ooh and Nordic blondes... :mrgreen:

Then again PRG also seems rather appealing in that way.

As mentioned, I voted for Pague but have been to HEL and on the booze cruise you mentioned (helicopter the other way - but for booze cruises the trip to Sweden is much more wild). Stayed at the Hilton in Helsinki and abused the lounge which is quite small - but met some cool locals and went to a great restaurant on the square for dinner. We were drinking in some bell tower - come bar - until 3am and it was still light.

Pure eye candy wise I'd agree with sitting in the main square in Estonia for value - the "hilton equivalent - points are earned" is about 200 metres from said square. But,

Prague is such a way cool place. My advice, go to Prague first, and next time do the Finland/ Estonia/ Swedish thing. Cheers.

 

[Keith009]

The only SPG property in PRG is this:
Sheraton Prague Hotels: Sheraton Prague Charles Park Hotel - Opening January 1, 2009 - Hotel Rooms at sheraton.comhttp://www.starwoodhotels.com/sheraton/property/meetings/index.html?propertyID=3268

Let's hope it opens in time...:-|

 

[BlacKnox]

The only SPG property in PRG is this:
Sheraton Prague Hotels: Sheraton Prague Charles Park Hotel - Opening January 1, 2009 - Hotel Rooms at sheraton.com

Let's hope it opens in time...:-|

Who cares? Do you really need that bowl of fruit and small champas bottle or whatever?

Stay innercity and have fun - there's lots of affordable options downtown e.g. see Prague Hotels: Read Prague Hotel Reviews and Compare Prices - TripAdvisor

But of course, do whatever makes you ....