Welcome to Mumsnet's holiday forum. Discuss all international travel here, including both shorthaul and longhaul trips. Related topics: UK holidays & day trips, skiing, camping & campervans.
Welcome to Mumsnet's holiday forum. Discuss all international travel here, including both shorthaul and longhaul trips. Related topics: UK holidays & day trips, skiing, camping & campervans.
Holidays
Gibraltar
Georgyporky · 13/06/2021 19:13
Anyone been there?
Impressions? Ideas? Please.
drumandthebass · 13/06/2021 19:22
We drove on the island and up the hill, around a roundabout and then straight back down the hill and off the island....what a dump
UnsureOfNC · 13/06/2021 19:38
It was okay for a day trip.... about 13 years ago. Not sure what it's like anymore though!
ShanghaiDiva · 13/06/2021 19:39
We were there 19 years ago and imo it was not that great. Centre was full of duty free shops and looked a bit run down.
Hoppinggreen · 13/06/2021 19:39
Did a day trip a few years ago, it was ok but I didn’t want to stay any longer
dollophead · 13/06/2021 19:39
It's a dump. Day trip only. Why would you want to go to Gib?!
Checkingout811 · 13/06/2021 19:40
I’m from Gibraltar but have lived in the UK since age 4. I go back occasionally. It’s not really a holiday destination OP.
EversoDelighted · 13/06/2021 19:41
I think you could do all the interesting bits in a day really, going up the rock, St Michael's cave, the WW2 tunnels. The town centre is worth swerving.
OverByYer · 13/06/2021 19:44
I visited for the day about 3 years ago when staying in Marbella. I found it quite grim to be honest. We walked to the top of the rock , the monkeys are horrible like rats scrabbling around for scraps. The service at the cafe at the top is rubbish. Nice views but a few hours there were enough
Hoppinggreen · 13/06/2021 22:17
@LubaLuca
They put me off monkeys for life
MrsFin · 13/06/2021 22:19
It's not a holiday destination, even though it's on the green list 😀
rookiemere · 14/06/2021 17:51
It was fine for a day, I really wouldn't want to stay there.
Silkiecats · 14/06/2021 18:44
We went there for a day trip or maybe two day trips about 10 years ago and was fine, kids loved it as monkeys everywhere but its a very small area maybe 2 miles square and so you can see all of it quite quickly. We also did a dolphin seeing boat trip, no dolphins and very rough. For a weekend fine but not a 2 week destination.
12BottlesOfVintageChampagne · 14/06/2021 18:46
It's not brilliant, TBH. Although the gin is very cheap.
CliftonGreenYork · 14/06/2021 19:16
We spent a few hours there 2 years ago on a cruise. Its lovely for a day trip and I would say thats about it. To be honest it feels like a run down british seaside town but with sun. The rock is fab and I loved the monkeys and walked all around. Nice history with the military and its very strange seeing all the british shops and postboxes etc.
MrsOrMiss · 14/06/2021 19:23
It's ok - used to live there. But not really a holiday destination.
Rundown Blackpool with delusions of grandeur about sums it up.
Callixte · 15/06/2021 11:58
I was interested to visit (when already in Andalusia) from a history geek perspective, and I wasn’t disappointed. But a longish day trip (about 12 hours) was enough. I might have quite happily stayed a little longer if I had a reason to be there - family/friends/work, etc. - but one big problem is that short-term lodging in particular is expensive compared to nearby areas just across the Spanish border (e.g., La Linéa) and generally not good value for money. It’s interesting, and I’d reccommend making time for it if you’re in the area - but not sure I’d rec it as a destination in its own right especially if you can’t cross into Spain.
I can see some appeal at the moment, as it’s green list and you can fly in and out from the UK - if you mainly want sun, sea, beach, and views and are able to find a nice-ish place to stay that fits your budget. (Double-check beach access, though - if I remember right, some are restricted.)
Georgyporky · 15/06/2021 17:07
Thanks everyone, we'll give it a miss.
So glad I asked on here. DH has been researching, & a lot of flights are full - presumably of people who have not accessed the collective wisdom of MN !
InteriorDesignHell · 15/06/2021 17:19
We spent a few days there @Georgyporky and enjoyed ourselves, but we're the sort of people who, I suppose, "make our own entertainment"?
The old town, history, fortifications were worth a look. The tunnels in the rock we loved. Mildly enjoyed the monkeys but not as much as we would have if some of the more idiotic tourists had been bitten as they richly deserved 
Had a walk down to the far end to watch the sun go down and admire the big shiny mosque someone paid to have built to make a point.
Liked watching the planes take off and land.
But - and we liked this because it was a bit surreal - to an extent it is a bit like someone took a chunk of Reading and dropped it on a mountain in Spain.
I wouldn't mind going back actually, but would agree with PPs that it's a decision to be made after carefully informing yourself!
BarbaraofSeville · 18/06/2021 12:02
It's fine for a couple of days. All the rock and historical stuff, the cave inside the rock is spectacular. Then there's the beach and spend some time in the sun. The cruise ship hotel would probably make it worth it for the novel place to stay.
Cheap duty free at the airport on the way back. Don't forget you're not allowed into Spain or else you lose your green status.
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