Decisions

So far I've got a City break booked to Barcelona coming up at end of February plus a JY holidays to Slovenia in May and America in November sorted I'm now swithching my attention to other months. As I've said previously this is going to be a big holiday year.

I'm really thinking of doing a walking holiday in April am looking at a couple of options so m ore on that later.

June is the difficult month, I know I've said I'd like to go to Chicago while the Blues festival is on, in fact was looking at a deal the other day. When I looked the best deal I found currently was for a week flying from Manchester and a very good 4 star hotel in a ideal location for everything. The cost for a single person was £1,184 (no meals) but prices are changing all the time so just monitering. Not a bad price but it drops much further could sway me.

Against that option I'm considering a Greek island holiday with Solos for a forthnight and taking everthing into account including spending money reckon the costs would end up very similar.

So the decision is a week in Chicago against a fortnight on a Greek Island.

Obviously if I choose Chicago I'd be totally on my own where as the Greek option would be a group holiday. Travelling alone isn't a major issue to me but it is nice to travel with others, maybe some of you reading this fancy the same holiday (my email is at top of page), would be good to get a small group together.

So watch this space will decide soon I think.

July I'm not planning anything, a friend is planning to visit from Australia but not got dates yet.

These Boots are made for Walking

Yesterday was out shopping and decided to buy some Walking Boots. Yes they were a very good price and us Yorkshire folk love a bargain.

Its something I've been thinking of investing in for quite a long time, don't mind walking.

I'm now looking at a Walking holiday this year so my plans are changing. It'll be a new type of holiday for me.

Love to hear from anyone thats done a walking holiday, what are they like ? do you get a good group of people ?

Gee I'm in danger of getting fit.

City Break - Barcelona

I'll be doing a City Break to Barcelona in early March, just booked it and very happy with the deal I've got.

Going for 4 nights so will get 3 full days to explore the city so really looking forward to it.

Got a email from Avios offering flights for £1 (plus normal rate of avios points), its normally £35 so a big saving there, flying from Manchester via Heathrow with British Airways. The £1 deal is available for two days (runs out lunch time tomoz) and had choice of a number of places including Rome, Nice, Dublin, Amsterdam, Jersey, Madrid, Lisbon and of course Barcelona.

Also got my hotel from Avios because they had some excellent discounts, has cost me £219 but includes full breakfast. Checked same hotel on Expedia and they would have charged £315 without breakfast for the same nights.
Really happy with the location very close to the main Plaza and also the cathedral, so for £220 I reckon I've a nice little break.

2014 Plans - Chicago My Kind of Town

As you will have read elswhere on this Blog Chicago is my favorite City, partly because its got loads of things to do, partly because its a very clean City, partly because the locals are very friendly and partly because I love the music Clubs in particular the Blues.
 

 

Well its my intention to go this year in June when the Blues festival is on (13th to 15th) which is the largest free Blues festival in the world. Never been when its on but have been more than once during the July "Taste of Chicago" which was great fun.
 

Last time I had a proper holiday there was with my partner in 2009 but have been twice since, in 2011 with some mates (lads outing) for a long weekend and had a day there at the start of my Just You Route 66 holiday in 2012.
I'll also be visiting in November on another Just You holiday "Americas Heart and Soul" (Chicago to New Orleans via St Louis & Memphis).

My aim is to go for 9 or 10 days, seems a lot in one city but I've plenty things i'm planning that I'll see and do as you'll see if you read on.

As for costs, yes I've a budget first of all I'm monitering Flight/Hotel deals and hope to get a deal around £1300 (maybe less), currently best I've seen is about £1550 (4 star hotel) but reckon Jan or Feb will be best time to book price wise when hotels often have discounts. Of course will go for an hotel in the centre, it costs more initially but saves a fortune on taxis and you waste time travelling in and out. In Chicago I reckon its best to stay in either the River North/Gold Coast or Loop then most things are walkable, also very safe areas.

Obviously transfers from the Airport is usually an extra cost but not really an issue because would use the subway to get into the city, can get a CTA 7 day pass for subways & buses for only $28 which will get me everywhere i want to be (including from the airport). Would try to do the stuff nearest hotel on last 3 days or just get single tickets or shorter pass which would also get me back to airport.

Things I'll be visiting, well before I go would get a City Pass online which is $86 which allows you in 5 main tourist attractions and allows to queue jump :-

Museum of Science and Industry (its a bus ride to the south side but a fantastic museum), some hands on stuff and definately a full day needed to get around.

Field History Museum - Another big museum and you'll meet Sue the tynnasauras rex skeleton. think about the film "night at the museum".

Art Institute - I've never been but 2nd biggest in America, may be of interest, be silly not to have a look.

Willis Tower - Got to go up the biggest building in North America was formerly Sears Tower.

Aquarium - sharks/dolphins you name it plus includes 3D film show of choice.

other than the MSI they are probab half day attractions so 3 days in total filled using he pass.


Can exchange a couple of the attractions for the Planeterium (which isn't that good in my opinion) or Hancock Tower which will do on my JY holiday later in the year.

 

On the Sunday morning I'm there would visit Maxwell street market which is historically the immigrants market, may get some bargains and best mexican food outside Mexico apparently.

Then would spend the afternoon at the festival, would visit on the 3 days its on (fri, sat & sun) just would pre-check  when the best acts are on. Its free so just walk in and out, 3 stages i think in Grant Park.

Millenium Park which is a good chill spot and home to Cloud Gate and Buckingham fountain two famous land marks are nearby.

Another full day I would  be visiting Lincoln Park, probably get the train or bus to the north end and spend day walking back (bigger than Central Park in New York) it contains 3 harbours and the Zoo which is the largest free zoo in the world.

Would also do the Untouchable tour its $30 takes you around old gangster haunts and tells you about the likes of al capone, bugsy moran, dillinger, etc. never done it before but have to phone to book when in the city, it lasts about two hours in middle of the day.

Navy Pier is a must visit place a few shops, restaurants, fairground rides, etc and the Beer Garden is a great place to chill out for a couple of hours especially if they have a live group on the stage.


Have also been checking and you can do a 2 hour mini lunch cruise (3 course) for about $50 which goes out on the lake for fantastic city views. its one of the best city skylines in the world. To be honest if travelling solo would just do a Lake boat trip but if can talk others into coming the mini-cruise would be great.

 

Another place I'd like to visit on this trip as I've not been there is Oak Park which is Ernest Hemingways birthplace but the area is designed by architecy frank Lloyd Wright, reckons to be very scenic with some amazing houses. A guide book I've got suggests a walking route so would follow that.

Couple of things worth doing but as they are covered on my JY holiday in November I wont do on this trip are the Architecture river cruise (Chicagos architecture is 2nd to none) or go up the Hancock tower (better views than Sears).

Could have at least half day chilling at one of the beaches, some superb beaches trust me on that one.

 

If I feel energetic could even hire a Bike and go exploring along many of the Cycle Paths along the Lake Shore or in the any Parks.

And probaby even more of interest to any Lady readers is Chicago is renowned for its shopping, the magnificent mile is equivellant to New Yorks 5th Ave, the even have a Macy's but thats on South State street.

And of course for the Blokes Chicago is very much a Sports City and is not out of order to visit some of the magnificent Stadiums. Wrigley Field & US Cellular are home to Baseballs Cubs & White Sox while Soldier Field is Chicago Bears home. Never seen an Amercan Fotball Match or Baseball on my trips to the States its got to be a consideration, not really into them sports its just the experience of doing it once.
The Ice Hockey play at the 20,000+ capacity indoor arena United Centre actually went to see a Blackhawks match on one trip.
Not forgeting the World Cup is on while I'm there so will need to find a good Sports Bar when England Play.

 

My daly is I usually go out in the morning and as Breakfast isn't usually included sort of grab something on way to what I've planned for the day, then just snack as required. Usually aim to get back to the hotel late afternoon for a couple of hours rest (power nap) before getting ready to go out for meal and entertainment s its often a late night.

 

As for the nightlife Chicago as it all I could give you a big list of live music venues, most of the small clubs the cit is famous for, blues clubs, piano bars, jazz clubs, etc, have gotta be done in Chicago. There is sometimes a cover charge but isn't expensive maybe average of $10.

 

It also has a theatre district and if its your sort of thing why not, I would like to see this as its getting good reviews - http://www.milliondollarquartetlive.com/

Food and drink is similar prices to over here you can eat cheap or expensive and everyone virtually serves food, a lot of good Pubs that I often eat in but will push the boat out and do a nice restaurant two or three times, some cracking places.
 

2014 Plans - Where I'm hoping to go

Well I'm planning a big travel year as you'll see.

Two holidays are cast in stone as I've already booked.

First is to Slovenia in May with Just You were we will spend half the week in the Mountains and the half at the coast.

I've deposit paid for another Just You holiday but not while November, its another American touring holiday "Americas Heart & Soul" which goes from Chicago to New Orleans via St Louis & Memphis.

Still at the planning stage but I'm hoping to do a couple of City European long weekend City breaks using my Avios points, nothing cast in stone yet but have been looking at the following Cities, Barcelona, Madrid, Vienna & Berlin. Probably try do one of these late March.
Anyone else fancy joining me ?

I'm working on doing 10 days in Chicago in June during to take in the Blues festival. Seems a long time some may think but will have a post about this trip up later today and you'll see there is lots to see and do.
Hope to get at least one other person interested but happy to go on my own, think it would actually be good with 3 or 4 people.

On top of this list am hoping in the summer to maybe do a Greek Island again for a fortnight chill out holiday possibly with Solos