The Advice Thread

[Paul]

Ive done bits and pieces on a few gdpr projects, what do you need to know?

I'll pm you

 

[darlowolf64]

I'll pm you

If you don't find out what you need, feel free to PM me too Paul. I deal with it almost daily

 

[Tredman]

Need a new pillow, anyone have a recommendation? Don’t like shit pillows.

 

[Keef]

My sister bought premier inn pillows she says they’re brilliant. £30 a pair new, not used obviously, that’d just be weird

 

[The Bear]

Pillows are very personal. What is good for one might not be any good for another. They also range from cheap to really expensive.

Do you like them springy, really soft, firm, thick, thin, feather filled, down filled, memory foam, you need them hypoallergenic or not, etc?

 

[Boozad]

Need a new pillow, anyone have a recommendation? Don’t like shit pillows.

I bought a Tempur pillow when I bought my mattress and I’ll only ever buy these again. They’re pricey (think they were £90 each when I bought them so could have gone up) but they’re fucking brilliant.

 

[The Bear]

I bought a Tempur pillow when I bought my mattress and I’ll only ever buy these again. They’re pricey (think they were £90 each when I bought them so could have gone up) but they’re fucking brilliant.

I got one of those when I bought my mattress, but I just can't get on with them. I find them too rigid, as I like really softer springy pillows that you sink into a little bit.

 

[Boozad]

I've always preferred a firmer pillow, I get a bad neck if my head sinks into it too much.

 

[EpsomWolf]

Need a new pillow, anyone have a recommendation? Don’t like shit pillows.

As Bear says pillows are very personal so quite difficult to recommend. I was getting fed up with a stiff neck so shelled out a good wedge a couple of years ago on pillows from The White Company. You convince yourself it’s worth it for a good nights sleep but to be honest might as well have flushed the money down the toilet.

I assuming you use hotels a lot. When you find the perfect one ask the hotel if you can buy one. Try before you buy so to speak. I did that last year in Vienna but the hotel wouldn’t sell and the supplier only supplied trade. Was seriously tempted to stick one in the suitcase or give housekeeping a backhander, but in the end a helpful member of staff agreed to send some over. Wasn‘t the cheapest option but wasn’t that bad either, and at least you know it’s money well spent.

As has been said those Premier Inn ones are lovely too and superb value. We’re in for one of their mattresses when it’s replacement time also. Premier Inn are on to something selling those to the public.

 

[Wolf Hunting]

My own thoughts on this are that if you can keep your spine straight whilst sleeping on your side you're not gonna get a stiff neck.
Stand with your shoulder against the wall/fridge whatever and measure from the wall to the side of your head.
It's gonna be in the order of 4 to 6" depending. Your pillow or pillows if you like 2 of them should more or less fill that gap.
Bear in mind your shoulders are gonna sink into the mattress a bit, but then, your head is gonna sink into the pillow a bit more, so a reasonably firm fairly thick pillow is what you'll be after.

 

[Tom Hark]

I bought a Tempur pillow when I bought my mattress and I’ll only ever buy these again. They’re pricey (think they were £90 each when I bought them so could have gone up) but they’re fucking brilliant.

Seconded. And get the protective pillowcase with the bobbly bits on as well, if it's not included. Had mine about 7 years and it's as good as the day I bought it. (The mattress is the best I've ever had, too.)

 

[Tyrannosaurus Dan]

I have an absolute nightmare with pillows. It is impossible for me to find the right ones. I like to sleep with two pillows and finding a top pillow that is comfy enough without being too high is really difficult.

I used to have an IKEA memory foam one that was really comfy but the bastards discontinued it. I have a different IKEA one now which is sort of ok but I have to keep rotating it otherwise it gets lumpy. We bought some fairly expensive Emma pillows last year and the pillow itself is pretty comfy but is too low on it's own and too high with another pillow.

I would be so happy if I ever found the perfect pillows.

 

[Alan]

Pillows are like mattresses, tyres, and showerheads.

You spend a lot of time with them, don't skimp!

Also, I'd avoid memory foam. They trap heat like mad.

 

[Tom Hark]

I got one of those when I bought my mattress, but I just can't get on with them. I find them too rigid, as I like really softer springy pillows that you sink into a little bit.

Tempur do have soft, medium and firm options, though, and a 30-night free trial.

 

[Alan]

Speaking of firmness, the body position you sleep in has a big impact on what's best for your posture there, IIRC.

 

[Tom Hark]

Pillows are like mattresses, tyres, and showerheads.

You spend a lot of time with them, don't skimp!

Also, I'd avoid memory foam. They trap heat like mad.

Although Tempur claim to use a less-dense technology which eliminates that problem.

 

[sycophantia]

Just starting to plan our Summer touring trip, probably to end up in Austria.
For the last 10 years we've used booking.com for accommodation and it's been fine, especially for the 1/2/3 nighters. Well probably spend 5 or so night's in Austria, probably an apartment/chalet, was wondering what Airbnb is like, never used it, what are peoples experiences? i.e. quality, prices, reliability of bookings etc.

 

[Wolf Hunting]

We had an AirBnB booked in Watford to use as a base for the excellent Harry Potter World and doing a lot of Henry VIII stuff.
Due to covid we had to cancel and they (The hosts and AirBnB) were helpful, fast and handled it really well and gave us a full refund.
Within a week of cancelling with proof of Covid etc the money was back in our account in about 6 days.

 

[Paul]

Just starting to plan our Summer touring trip, probably to end up in Austria.
For the last 10 years we've used booking.com for accommodation and it's been fine, especially for the 1/2/3 nighters. Well probably spend 5 or so night's in Austria, probably an apartment/chalet, was wondering what Airbnb is like, never used it, what are peoples experiences? i.e. quality, prices, reliability of bookings etc.

Aaaaaaaaahh Vienna

 

[Kenny]

Used Airbnb for the first time when we went to Ireland last year.

As with everything, read the reviews (taking into account some people will moan and mark down if they heard a rumour that a person 5 doors away farted loudly at 4am)
Pricing is probably on a par with say renting a cottage/house but cheaper than some of the hotels we were looking at

We rented 2 properties and both were great (both down as Super Hosts).
When you book you will pay 50% and the other half when you want up to around 8 weeks before your booking

Communication with the people renting was superb via the Airbnb App. Both of them for ours were responsive and both very much anything you need or any issues just contact us and we will sort it.

I like that when you leave them feedback, they cannot see it until they have left their own. As a user you get a rating as well, so those renting can reject your booking if you have been a twat previously but there is no way the feedback you get can be based on what you leave. It will be based on how you left the place, did you complain about the suspected farter at 4.02am etc

We were unsure but took a gamble based on what others had said to us about using it. We have now booked via Airbnb for when we visit Rome in July.

Another benefit can be the locations being slightly better than the Hotels. In Ireland we were right on the Harbour in Howth and right by Bunratty Castle when we went over the t'other side of Ireland and in Rome, not sure if this is a good thing or a bad thing we are in a huge apartment right in the middle of the shopping district.

Also if you fancy ditching Austria, there is a house on the street I live on which is on Airbnb. Great if you like shit football, gingerbread and a ton of pubs.