How do you start your holiday?

lady1964

If we're flying from Gatwick, we always head down the night before so we don't have to worry about M25 traffic in the hours leading up to the flight.

We will have already checked in on-line and then do BA's twilight bag drop before going to stay at a great B&B, walk to the local pub 2 minutes away, have dinner and a few drinks, which helps us get really relaxed knowing we're 10 minutes away from the airport. We have a really good cooked breakfast in the morning and get the B&B car to drop us at the airport.

Once at the airport, I do my bit of duty free shopping and usually a bit of last minute clothes buying before going into the BA Lounge for a few drinks and a stress free chill out before boarding.

We will be doing this in 12 days time before heading off to Antigua for 10 days :j

SteveJW

When we get the boarding passes and the cases go up the conveyor

At that moment everything is out of my hands, flight delays, breakdowns etc

Then depending on the time of day its off to the bar for a drink

Have a good time in Turkey, we got back from there Friday 13th September, still hot but getting cooler on a night

Enjoy

Coraline

Wow...this is the best thread ever!

I start by a whim, get an idea from a really random place. Then usually within 24 hours I wind up booking a plane ticket.

Then I plan obsessively for the next couple months by reading forums.

Then I land and follow through with almost none of those plans, but none of it was wasted because it was education at the end of the day.

Takes me a month of writing, preparing spreadsheets, etc., on what and how I should pack in my rucksack.

But it doesn't matter because my rucksack is always in the cupboard as it has been for 20 years and ready to go. With STILL the stuff in it that I've never ever used whilst traveling but am too afraid to take out in case "oh just this time I might have to use this glo-stick/water-purifying tablet, etc.)

Pre night ritual: Pizza and bad news, and rehearsing my packlists and dressing in what I'm going to wear to the airport and all the crap I'm going to pack into my travel vest to minimise weight in my carry-on.

Then get to the airport, go through security like a zombie, pass out on the plane and wake up somewhere else. Just like time travel---the only way to travel!

Mr_Wang

...With a smoke and a pancake.

zagfles

zaksmum wrote: »

I won't book a holiday if the flight times aren't right. I hate all that middle of the night stuff before leaving home.

Yes, any early morning flight always means the airport hotel - where you can just roll out of bed a couple of hours before your flight and walk to the airport.

Moto2

Modern air travel has become too much of a chore to be enjoyable any more so beach type holidays only really start for me when I get to the hotel etc.
Even long road trips in modern cars are tiresome, air con to max and cruise control on, no thanks.
On the other hand, if I'm setting off by motorbike or bicycle for a long trip, the holiday starts when I start packing up.
I do have a 70s MG to restore so that may well restore my faith in long 4 wheeled road trips.

katieclampet

Like a couple of others have mentioned, I feel my holiday starts properly when suitcases are checked in , I ve gone through security, and sit down for a meal and a large, well deserved drink.

Sometimes it seems like the best bit, all the hassles over, and a whole holiday yet to come.

katie

busiscoming2

Me too. Holiday starts when I have checked in or gone through security if I'm hand luggage only.

We always try to get the first flight out around 6am and the latest one back. It means more time on holiday

squirrelchops

lady1964 wrote: »

If we're flying from Gatwick, we always head down the night before so we don't have to worry about M25 traffic in the hours leading up to the flight.

We will have already checked in on-line and then do BA's twilight bag drop before going to stay at a great B&B, walk to the local pub 2 minutes away, have dinner and a few drinks, which helps us get really relaxed knowing we're 10 minutes away from the airport. We have a really good cooked breakfast in the morning and get the B&B car to drop us at the airport.

Once at the airport, I do my bit of duty free shopping and usually a bit of last minute clothes buying before going into the BA Lounge for a few drinks and a stress free chill out before boarding.

We will be doing this in 12 days time before heading off to Antigua for 10 days :j

May I ask which B & B this is? We had a good stay at a hotel a couple of years back but am always on the look out for tips.

squirrelchops

zagfles wrote: »

Yes, any early morning flight always means the airport hotel - where you can just roll out of bed a couple of hours before your flight and walk to the airport.

Agree - I see the one bonus of earning a decent wage is that I won't do flights at rubbish times, I will pay a bit more if necessary and will book a hotel at the airport too to relax the night before. I also treat myself to valet parking as I hate waiting when I come home and just want to get on the journey home!