kimajy
Well-Known Member
Was keeping half an eye on the weather since the beginning of the month - I ended last trip convinced that was my lot for the year, suffering from a sense of having left undone a bit of what I'd like to have been able to do if the weather had been kinder and I'd had a couple more days.
With half term came a window of opportunity where everything seemed to fall into place. Work was on hold with people away and family situation suddenly clicked unexpectedly into place also. I checked every forecast I could find and hit up skyscanner. If things were going to work out, my butt had to be on a plane the next evening. I had 600 Euros in an envelope that I'd taken out last two trips to hire a boat and never spent. Decided it was time to blow the slush fund !
Immediately started throwing out the net to see what I could still set up this late in October and at such short notice. As soon as the non-refundable flights and hotel were booked I was past the point of no return. Seemed like a mountain to climb for some reason, but I always go with my gut and it was fluttering with a glimmer of excitement which is always a good sign ! Can't believe it's going to actually happen ...
22/10 - No Monday blues for me
For once I actually got a decent night's sleep before flying out. So often stay up all night and get a morning red-eye over, but cheap hotels make cheap evening flights a no-brainer. Determined to stick to a budget I managed to leave early after a large pizza, brave the Birmingham Airparks and resist their attempts to scare me into paying £30 to get my car delivered to the terminal on my return.
TUI bag drop is now fully automated from generating your tag down to putting your own case through (where it's automatically re-weighed and scanned on the belt) so no queueing at all. Great actually ! Plus no check-in staff eyeing up your massive overweight carry-on rucksack and Bag-for-life full of start-up nosh Compulsory trip to Smiths for water restock and all's set.
Think it took till I was sat on the plane looking out at the setting sun for it to sink in that I was really going back to Ibiza.
20181022_174823 by 103 Alex1, on Flickr
Going out of season and landing in the evening with nowhere else to be, I was completely relaxed about waiting for the Record Go hire car bus. I booked direct, joined their "club" and got 10% off very cheap car rental and express collection line with a 2 minute wait. Picked up a Nissan Juke - apart from a smallish boot they're decent enough.
Hotel Abrat priced me out over the peak season but I've stayed there loads in the past and they all know me on the front desk. I paid for a single room and got given a spacious double one. It's really nice to go when there's capacity for them to look after you rather than having every room full and their hands tied. Small fridge and kettle tray makes all the difference too. Unpacked fully, got everything lined up for tomorrow and hit the sack. Made it ..
With half term came a window of opportunity where everything seemed to fall into place. Work was on hold with people away and family situation suddenly clicked unexpectedly into place also. I checked every forecast I could find and hit up skyscanner. If things were going to work out, my butt had to be on a plane the next evening. I had 600 Euros in an envelope that I'd taken out last two trips to hire a boat and never spent. Decided it was time to blow the slush fund !
Immediately started throwing out the net to see what I could still set up this late in October and at such short notice. As soon as the non-refundable flights and hotel were booked I was past the point of no return. Seemed like a mountain to climb for some reason, but I always go with my gut and it was fluttering with a glimmer of excitement which is always a good sign ! Can't believe it's going to actually happen ...
22/10 - No Monday blues for me
For once I actually got a decent night's sleep before flying out. So often stay up all night and get a morning red-eye over, but cheap hotels make cheap evening flights a no-brainer. Determined to stick to a budget I managed to leave early after a large pizza, brave the Birmingham Airparks and resist their attempts to scare me into paying £30 to get my car delivered to the terminal on my return.
TUI bag drop is now fully automated from generating your tag down to putting your own case through (where it's automatically re-weighed and scanned on the belt) so no queueing at all. Great actually ! Plus no check-in staff eyeing up your massive overweight carry-on rucksack and Bag-for-life full of start-up nosh Compulsory trip to Smiths for water restock and all's set.
Think it took till I was sat on the plane looking out at the setting sun for it to sink in that I was really going back to Ibiza.
20181022_174823 by 103 Alex1, on Flickr
Going out of season and landing in the evening with nowhere else to be, I was completely relaxed about waiting for the Record Go hire car bus. I booked direct, joined their "club" and got 10% off very cheap car rental and express collection line with a 2 minute wait. Picked up a Nissan Juke - apart from a smallish boot they're decent enough.
Hotel Abrat priced me out over the peak season but I've stayed there loads in the past and they all know me on the front desk. I paid for a single room and got given a spacious double one. It's really nice to go when there's capacity for them to look after you rather than having every room full and their hands tied. Small fridge and kettle tray makes all the difference too. Unpacked fully, got everything lined up for tomorrow and hit the sack. Made it ..
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