Winter Flights 2011

I just like to keep an eye on my house, normally go on a Thursday and come back to the UK on a Tuesday. These were the typical Ryanair flights that suited me. I would book random returns, two a month and use one of them. Always during the school term cos it's cheaper, and the kids wouldn't come with me, so I could travel light. Sometimes with my brother (he has a house there too) and sometimes on my own. Usually give myself some jobs to do, bonfires or decorating or just chilling out for a few days. I like it in Winter. All that said, on a direct flight it would be an easy commute, they tend to be on time and the airports are so quiet you just walk onto the plane.
 
Direct flight would definitely make a big difference. Winter the best time to get out and see the island as you haven't got the heat to contend with. Just need the wind to be down and perfect on the water too as you don't get all the Summer chop :D.

Need to get some breath-hold practice in to foil those fish though - you need to stake them out till they emerge, aim & and fire decisively and accurately (so I'm told - I'm c*ap at it if truth be known :lol:) .. yes they do recognize a s****g** when they see one - I have little chance in Devon as the locals go down in full camouflage wetsuits and nab all the big ones :roll: !!
 
Yep, my side of the island (east coast) tends to be calmer in the winter, something to do with the winds coming from the peninsular. Unfortunately, the only time my boat got wet this summer was when it rained. It needs a new carb (a winter job). Really missed it, there's some good snorkling over at Tagomago and even in the summer, if you get out early enough it's like a mill pond. Santa Eulalia to Formentera in half an hour. Brings another dimension to it all.
Caught a few fish out at Tagomago before. Bought them back and stuck them on the BBQ. Can't beat that really. Formentera you get great big shoals but as soon as you get the s##### g## out they disappear! Clever little buggers!
 
Went snorkeling at Tagomago last Summer - took a boat round Punta de ses Cuines and Escollo d'en Bet to the bays round the East side where it was like a mill pond. That's where the S**** g** came out too ;). Only thing which was a bit "off" was a Catamaran full of Italians who were only there for a short time but had sent their kids with gloves to raid the black urchins for sushi (whilst blaring out cheesy Italian pop tunes).

I get a bit iffy about this not least since they're protected but they're needed to keep the water clean. They had taken about 30 in large plastic crates. Not exactly sustainable !!!
 
It doesn't look good, I think I will stick to tuna and wasabi !

At £30 a pop, no wonder the Iti's were loading up with it!
 
Connecting in Barcelona with Ryan Air/Easy Jet

Really having withdrawal symptoms and need to get back over to IBZ.

Trying to get from Gatwick to Ibiza for a few days in January. Can do Easy Jet to Barcelona and then sit around there for hours until a Ryan Air Flight.

Question 1 - Has anyone done this and do Easy Jet and Ryan Air operate from the same terminal?

Question 2 - I can find a flight that has 1 hour 30 mins between landing and departing will that be enough time, or should I play safe and opt for the 4 hour wait!

Hand Luggage only.

Any expert travellers out there that can help a very inexperienced ibiza lover?

Thanks
 
SJP20 said:
Really having withdrawal symptoms and need to get back over to IBZ.

Trying to get from Gatwick to Ibiza for a few days in January. Can do Easy Jet to Barcelona and then sit around there for hours until a Ryan Air Flight.

Question 1 - Has anyone done this and do Easy Jet and Ryan Air operate from the same terminal?

Question 2 - I can find a flight that has 1 hour 30 mins between landing and departing will that be enough time, or should I play safe and opt for the 4 hour wait!

Hand Luggage only.

Any expert travellers out there that can help a very inexperienced ibiza lover?

Thanks
Click to expand...

In Barcelona, all easyJet flights depart from Terminal 2C and arrive at Terminal 2B. These are actually separate buildings so you may need (marginally) more time between flights going home as compared to flying out..

Ryanair flights to/from Ibiza arrive and depart from Terminal 2 at El Prat and currently I think they operate in and out of 2B - but double-check this.

Some geek info here : http://ryanair.site-forums.com/t1653-bcn-barcelona-el-prat-spain

In truth, you never know with flights (especially Winter weather etc). Anything can happen and of course if you miss your connection due late arrival chances are you'll be on your own to buy another ticket on a later flight for your onward journey. Which will probably be £130 - £400 per person per sector on the day depending on how full the flights are by then, so make sure you have adequate travel insurance.

You could have an 8 hour fog delay or arrive early. Luck of the draw. So it's a calculated gamble - and more time in between means less risk. Personally, I'd go for the 4 hour connection option in Winter. You can always go to the check-in desk and ask if they can bump you onto an earlier flight if there is one, if you're there in time. Sometimes they do (BA have done it for me several times and I got away with it once on Easyjet too; never tried on Ryanair). Let's be honest, 4 hours isn't that much to kill at an airport if you find a cafe or an internet pod.. in reality it's about 2 1/2 hours of free time in between getting through from one flight / going through to the next.

You can also connect over Madrid - both Easyjet & Ryanair fly into/from Terminal 1 @ Barajas airport - very easy indeed. I connected between Ryanair and Easyjet with 2 hours and checked luggage to pick up and re-check in after the closings this year and had plenty of time. Ryanair and Easyjet also both fly to Madrid from Gatwick so lots of choice on schedules. You might have more luck getting put on the next flight in a missed connection scenario if it's all Ryanair too. No guarantees .. but stands to reason !

It's worth checking the options / fares over both hubs anyhow. Hope that helps.
 
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I am going from Gatwick in a few weeks time, via Madrid. Hand luggage only with 1 and a half hours in Madrid, similar on my return journey.
Whilst I hope I don't have any delays, I do have good travel insurance that covers me for missed connections, it's a good idea for peace of mind.
I did the trip a few weeks ago via Madrid with Iberia and Madrid was easy , nobody there and passport control was handled at the boarding gate so no queuing, it's great when the airports are so quiet!
 
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