stanstead to barcelona 72 quid return is this good?

Caz3121

budgetflyer wrote: »

Ryanair DO allow 3rd parties to sell their flights now btw.

I didn't know that - they have not updated their website with the change as it still says
Exclusive online distribution channel. This website is the only website authorised to sell Ryanair flights, whether on their own or as part of a package.

Pollycat

Caz3121 wrote: »

I didn't know that - they have not updated their website with the change as it still says
Exclusive online distribution channel. This website is the only website authorised to sell Ryanair flights, whether on their own or as part of a package.

I also found this (on Ryanair website under FAQ Making a Reservation Price Comparison Websites):

Ryanair has announced that it will permit third party websites to gain authorised access to www.ryanair.com and www.bookryanair.com for price comparison purposes. Ryanair will licence access to its price, flight and timetable information for use in comparing Ryanair's prices with those of other airlines. Ryanair will continue to prohibit, as it always has, the re-selling of its flights in the interests of passengers, given that the cheapest fares can only be found directly on Ryanair's websites. The Licence is conditional on each price comparison site signing the Licence Agreement - click here for details. Any price comparison website wishing to avail of this offer should return a signed copy of the Agreement to:
Ryanair IT Department
Airside Business Park
Swords
Co Dublin
Ireland

Link:
http://www.ryanair.com/en/questions/price-comparison-websites/

budgetflyer

http://www.tnooz.com/article/ryanair-back-on-GDS-with-travelport/

http://corporate.ryanair.com/news/news/14924-ryanair-partners-with-amadeus-gds/?market=en

Pollycat

From budgetflyer's 2nd link - Ryanair's corporate website:

Ryanair, Europe’s favourite low fares airline, today (24 Sep) announced a new GDS partnership with Amadeus, Europe’s leading provider of advanced technology solutions for the global travel industry, allowing Amadeus-affiliated travel agents across Europe access to Ryanair’s low fares and Europe’s largest route network.

Pretty poor (imho) that this is not reflected in Ryanair's customer website.

And how do you know if the 3rd party you are booking with is an 'Amadeus-affiliated travel agent'?

jpsartre

EDreams aren't booking Ryanair flights through a GDS, they are simply going on the Ryanair website and booking flights for the dopes, sorry customers, who hand over money to them.

benjus

surfsister

great thanks all! zagfles great info thanks! any other tips for us?? we're staying with friends in the city so any tips gratefully received!! or anyone else?

Voyager2002

surfsister wrote: »

great thanks all! zagfles great info thanks! any other tips for us?? we're staying with friends in the city so any tips gratefully received!! or anyone else?

For eating and drinking, stay away from the main tourist area. And any restaurant that features paella is to be avoided (since that is not a traditional food in this part of Spain, such a restaurant will be aimed at people who don't know any better).

budgetflyer

Even if you like Paella?

zagfles

Voyager2002 wrote: »

For eating and drinking, stay away from the main tourist area. And any restaurant that features paella is to be avoided (since that is not a traditional food in this part of Spain, such a restaurant will be aimed at people who don't know any better).

Even in the main tourist areas you can find good value restaurants, we found a couple that did set meals at lunchtime for under EUR10 for 3 courses and a drink. One the heart of the old city, the other 2 mins from the Sagrada Familia.

On the whole we found it cheap for most things - although getting into some of the Gaudi buildings was ridiculously expensive (over EUR20 each!!).