Holiday plans. Do you have any?

[vickster]

I went to Costa Rica last year...fabulous country...but eating out is VERY VERY expensive (and there really are no cheap options wherever the tourist go) so be prepared as tour companies don't usually include meals beyond breakfast (and maybe not even that!)

Get good binoculars for bird and wildlife spotting (we did see a couple of sloth in the wild but more in the rescue centre in Monteverde where they were easy to see!)

 

[dicko]

We have had to cancelled our Australian adventure and am awaiting a refund as we can’t go via Dubai. So sad as we booked it last May and have been looking forward and counting the days down.

 

[glasgowcyclist]

Our flight to Japan in May is via Dubai and the travel company is trying to take the piss. They've let us know of an alternative route going London - Hong Kong - Japan and "would we like to book that now?"

Oh, getting to London from Glasgow and back again? That's your problem. And by the way, this flight carries a flight supplement of £120. Each.

We've paid for a tour departing from Glasgow so I'm not paying extra. Getting to Heathrow in time for the HK flight would add hundreds in flights and one night in the hotel. I'm for telling them to shove it but my wife wants me to be more diplomatic.

 

[dicko]

Our flight to Japan in May is via Dubai and the travel company is trying to take the piss. They've let us know of an alternative route going London - Hong Kong - Japan and "would we like to book that now?"

Oh, getting to London from Glasgow and back again? That's your problem. And by the way, this flight carries a flight supplement of £120. Each.

We've paid for a tour departing from Glasgow so I'm not paying extra. Getting to Heathrow in time for the HK flight would add hundreds in flights and one night in the hotel. I'm for telling them to shove it but my wife wants me to be more diplomatic.

The travel agent offered us a flights via Singapore to z Perth with return Melbourne to London and the excess was £8k.
We decided just to get our money back perhaps Australia next year.

 

[albion]

Filey this week, Fleetwood 2 weeks ago.
Having quit work for health reasons I have started taking some pension drawdown so will holiday when I can and often off-season.
Some luck is needed regarding the weather so I might adapt and go more expensive to follow the sun short notice.
Whatever, my low budget habits are staying ingrained so the daily eating out on a budget is part of the holiday fun.
My last 2 days have involved early starts to avoid the afternoon rain.

So it was painfully cold at 7.30 am today, myself omitting to bring my warmer lobster ski gloves.
Yesterday was a meander around Bridlington and Flamborough Head. Today was an early ride to Scarborough. Trying to keep my cycling distances in body comfort region I ambled around and up Scarborough.
Scarborough Market Hall and the Vaults were particularly fascinating . That cafe down the Vaults has a decent sounding English Breakfast for £3 and tea £1.20 that itself may be a historic low in a historic venue. I had already eaten so I might be curiously tempted on my ride to Whitby for the train back home Friday,

Another piece of history seems to be Primrose Valley. Whilst Billy Butins old Art Deco house stands out I found the old Hi-de-hi! chalets more historic.
No great surprise that the tatty things are "staff accomodation" (pic from phone here at a later date)

I got back around 4.20pm, the heavy hail, sleet and rain storm arrived 5 pm. Pigeons landed outside, them seemingly finding the hail a crisp refreshing snack. Tomorrow looks dry all day, less wind to so things are good in the UK.
Edit - 8pm - violent storms outside, whilst watching Aliens Romulus. I suppose quite apt.
The 2nd one was so close it auto started my flashing rear bike light, it like me detecting 'movement'.
I was almost wondering if the war had already arrived.
I would hate to be a pigeon or gull out in that. Massive hail.

 

[dicko]

Our holiday was cancelled so I got in touch with Good to Go to tell them we won’t be travelling.
Next thing Good to Go call me and said show us your cancellation docs and we will give you 70% of your money back. How good is that we only had health insurance with them now we are getting a sizeable payout! Bit of luck I told them I wasn’t going to.

 

[Alex321]

Our holiday was cancelled so I got in touch with Good to Go to tell them we won’t be travelling.
Next thing Good to Go call me and said show us your cancellation docs and we will give you 70% of your money back. How good is that we only had health insurance with them now we are getting a sizeable payout! Bit of luck I told them I wasn’t going to.

THat is good to hear. If they do that sort of thing then they are probbly also decent if you have to claim.

And they are one of the better insurers if you have several medical conditions (which my wife does), so are the ones we have used for our last few trips,.

 

[dicko]

THat is good to hear. If they do that sort of thing then they are probbly also decent if you have to claim.

And they are one of the better insurers if you have several medical conditions (which my wife does), so are the ones we have used for our last few trips,.

We always use Good to Go and get a 10% off with TV10 on our application

 

[Legs]

I went to Costa Rica last year...fabulous country...but eating out is VERY VERY expensive (and there really are no cheap options wherever the tourist go) so be prepared as tour companies don't usually include meals beyond breakfast (and maybe not even that!)

Get good binoculars for bird and wildlife spotting (we did see a couple of sloth in the wild but more in the rescue centre in Monteverde where they were easy to see!)

Really? I guess it depends where you go but you can eat really well in roadside sodas for 4,000 to 5,000 colones ($8-10) per head.

Buying groceries in a supermercado, on the other hand, was eye-wateringly expensive! And being asked to pay for access everywhere...

Still had a brilliant time - Ticos are wonderful people.

 

[Legs]

Our flight to Japan in May is via Dubai and the travel company is trying to take the piss. They've let us know of an alternative route going London - Hong Kong - Japan and "would we like to book that now?"

Oh, getting to London from Glasgow and back again? That's your problem. And by the way, this flight carries a flight supplement of £120. Each.

We've paid for a tour departing from Glasgow so I'm not paying extra. Getting to Heathrow in time for the HK flight would add hundreds in flights and one night in the hotel. I'm for telling them to shove it but my wife wants me to be more diplomatic.

We're due to be going to Mauritius via Dubai in August... Waiting to hear from Emirates about what the state of play is going to be. I read something recently about Emirates establishing a hub in Sri Lanka and routing flights via Colombo..

 

[Dave7]

Not me but a couple i know well HAD planned to drive to the Scottish Highlands from Lancashire in thier converted camper van.
Yesterday they calculated the cost of fuel, camp site fees and food etc. They then went online and got a Tui holiday in Majorca, half board for way less than the original plan. They have booked holiday leave so are committed to mid April so the added bonus is, hopefully, the weather.
Shame but the rising fuel prices must be affecting many people's plans.

 

[Emanresu]

We're due to be going to Mauritius via Dubai in August... Waiting to hear from Emirates about what the state of play is going to be. I read something recently about Emirates establishing a hub in Sri Lanka and routing flights via Colombo..

That's very interesting. Son used to work for Emirates in Dubai (until Covid). Apparently the airline rules are that all your flights need to go through your country hub. So since they can't use Dubai then Colombo seems to be a temporary waiving of the 'rules'. Wonder about Etihad etc?

Been on holiday already this year (Spain) and am booked Eurostar to France in May so should be OK. And despite giving up the bikes, I may be tempted to have a go again.

 

[Alex321]

That's very interesting. Son used to work for Emirates in Dubai (until Covid). Apparently the airline rules are that all your flights need to go through your country hub.

That is nonsense. Emirates may have had a rule that all their flights must be to/from Dubai.

But there is certainly no generic rule that all airlines must route all their flights through their county's hub (whatever that may mean, I wouldn't say most countries even have "a hub").

Look at Easyjet - Based at London Luton, but fly from various European airports to various other European airports, with many flights going nowhere near the UK.
Or Ryanair, based in Ireland, but again fly between many European destinations without going anywhere near Ireland.
Or Tui, based in Germany, but flights all over Europe.