its cd
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- Feb 11, 2008
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Been thinking about the cost of flights and the choices we make
Personally I just go for the cheapest option ......... I love my family but don't believe I need to pay extra just to sit with them for a few hours; ( I suppose I was keen to have daughter sitting with me when she was very small but from 7 or 8 I sort of took the attitude that she can talk the hind legs off a donkey so would probably appreciate someone new and interesting to talk to ...... never really subscribed to the don't talk to strangers rule in our house ..... concentrated more on being wary of things that seemed strange ).
I'm pretty much average height at 5'6 so don't need extra leg room.
I really don't care whether I am first or last on to the plane so I don't need speedy boarding ( and again I really don't care who I sit next to )
Then there are in flight meals ......... priced at about £6 each ....... no thanks I'll stick to a boots meal deal
And then there is the question of luggage ...... and that really does come down to choice ........... is it worth up to £35 and a longer time at both airports just to have more stuff with you than you probably need ...... hand luggge only and on line check in is so liberating ......... you just roll up at the gate about 45mins before departure and get on the plane
So, can you manage with hand luggage for 2 weeks ...... well the maximum hand luggage size and 10kg weight limit really does allow for plenty of luggage, especially in the summer when you really don't need anything heavy. So if you have a light, maximum size bag and use vacume sealed plastic bags it is very possible. I managed to pack 2 pairs of shorts, a pair of combat pants, 8 tops, 6 lightweight dresses, 1 pair of linen pants, a couple of pairs of flip flops, pashmina, beach cover up and long skirt in one this July. I then wore a heavier pair of pants, a vest, blouse, light short cardie and long flowy cardigan with big pockets for my book, camera etc, 2 belts, 3 necklaces and 4 bangles ( looked a strange colour combination but neaded them for accesorising and they were weighty ) and my sunglasses as a hairband
Beach towels, sun cream shampoo etc can be bought over there for far less than the cost of taking hold luggage
It is easy to do this when in an apartment as you will have access to an iron and maybe even beachtowels and toiletries .......... but I also did the same last year when I went to Portugal and that was in a very sparse apartment with no facilities ......... but actually even though you crush your clothes in the vacume bags, if they are folded correctly they don't crease
So what does all this save ........... well I recon it could be as much at £200 for a family of 4 ...... and that will buy you a couple of nice dinners, lunches for most of the 2 weeks, several trips out like the boat to formentor and back; bus to palma and then Soller train, trip to the water park for the kids ... or marineland, hire of a car for at least a week even with the current inflated prices
Anyway I am rambling now and at the end of the day we all spend our money on what we want to spend it on ....... but I was once a bulging suitcase lady and I am now a handluggage only convert ......... partly to save a few bob but mainly for the convenience
So if you are ever at the airport and you see someone with a small bag, wearing the rest of her wardrobe ..... do stop to say hello
Personally I just go for the cheapest option ......... I love my family but don't believe I need to pay extra just to sit with them for a few hours; ( I suppose I was keen to have daughter sitting with me when she was very small but from 7 or 8 I sort of took the attitude that she can talk the hind legs off a donkey so would probably appreciate someone new and interesting to talk to ...... never really subscribed to the don't talk to strangers rule in our house ..... concentrated more on being wary of things that seemed strange ).
I'm pretty much average height at 5'6 so don't need extra leg room.
I really don't care whether I am first or last on to the plane so I don't need speedy boarding ( and again I really don't care who I sit next to )
Then there are in flight meals ......... priced at about £6 each ....... no thanks I'll stick to a boots meal deal
And then there is the question of luggage ...... and that really does come down to choice ........... is it worth up to £35 and a longer time at both airports just to have more stuff with you than you probably need ...... hand luggge only and on line check in is so liberating ......... you just roll up at the gate about 45mins before departure and get on the plane
So, can you manage with hand luggage for 2 weeks ...... well the maximum hand luggage size and 10kg weight limit really does allow for plenty of luggage, especially in the summer when you really don't need anything heavy. So if you have a light, maximum size bag and use vacume sealed plastic bags it is very possible. I managed to pack 2 pairs of shorts, a pair of combat pants, 8 tops, 6 lightweight dresses, 1 pair of linen pants, a couple of pairs of flip flops, pashmina, beach cover up and long skirt in one this July. I then wore a heavier pair of pants, a vest, blouse, light short cardie and long flowy cardigan with big pockets for my book, camera etc, 2 belts, 3 necklaces and 4 bangles ( looked a strange colour combination but neaded them for accesorising and they were weighty ) and my sunglasses as a hairband
Beach towels, sun cream shampoo etc can be bought over there for far less than the cost of taking hold luggage
It is easy to do this when in an apartment as you will have access to an iron and maybe even beachtowels and toiletries .......... but I also did the same last year when I went to Portugal and that was in a very sparse apartment with no facilities ......... but actually even though you crush your clothes in the vacume bags, if they are folded correctly they don't crease
So what does all this save ........... well I recon it could be as much at £200 for a family of 4 ...... and that will buy you a couple of nice dinners, lunches for most of the 2 weeks, several trips out like the boat to formentor and back; bus to palma and then Soller train, trip to the water park for the kids ... or marineland, hire of a car for at least a week even with the current inflated prices
Anyway I am rambling now and at the end of the day we all spend our money on what we want to spend it on ....... but I was once a bulging suitcase lady and I am now a handluggage only convert ......... partly to save a few bob but mainly for the convenience
So if you are ever at the airport and you see someone with a small bag, wearing the rest of her wardrobe ..... do stop to say hello
Only kidding. Just goes to show the resolve of the habitual traveller - long may you travel light and quick
So if I can't travel with just hand luggage for a short trip it has to be 2 suitcases as I can't take the stress!
