The Senior Wonder Years!

[Deleted User]

Managed to plan a 4 day min trip to mainland in September for only £75 return fare on the ferry! going out fairly early one weekday morning and returning at midnight on another. My Microsoft Edge browser always gives me a surprise by finding discounts and reducing the quoted fare! I am not complaining!

tooldle

Consider considerably cheaper on the train (Portsmouth Harbour to Waterloo). Lots of commuters on the route. Some services are fast and take roughly 90 mins. The stopping service is just over 2 hours. Quicker than driving. The M3 / A3 routes can be very stop start.

[Deleted User]

I find the A3 a very easy road and know it like an old friend. I don't really do trains. I like the convenience and anonymity of my own car.

Katiehound

I travel fairly regularly by ferry (not IOW!) and the very cheapest times to travel are middle of the night Tues & Weds.That's pretty much born out by the deal you have found.
 The very dearest crossings are roughly middle of the day Sat & Sun.
( I am talking about taking the car, I think foot passenger fares are fairly stable.)

Savvy_Sue

[Deleted User] said:

I find the A3 a very easy road and know it like an old friend. I don't really do trains. I like the convenience and anonymity of my own car.

It used to be an old friend of mine. Be aware that they are COMPLETELY changing the junction with the M25, and there are sometimes very long queues (on both roads). Also a few complete closures, but those are over weekends. 

I haven't seen it from the A3 side, we are now better acquainted with the M25 ... 

Clowance

Yes it was a joke. I live on the mainland in Dorset, but its very rare indeed for us to cross the solent because of ferry prices. 

[Deleted User]

Savvy_Sue said:

[Deleted User] said:

I find the A3 a very easy road and know it like an old friend. I don't really do trains. I like the convenience and anonymity of my own car.

It used to be an old friend of mine. Be aware that they are COMPLETELY changing the junction with the M25, and there are sometimes very long queues (on both roads). Also a few complete closures, but those are over weekends. 

I haven't seen it from the A3 side, we are now better acquainted with the M25 ... 

I am fully aware as I use the A3 and M25 regularly. Yes there are delays at the moment at Junction 10, but when the scheme is complete the interchange will be fantastic. 

I would like everyone to know that I am not a country yokel lol! I was born and lived in London for 30 years or so. My family moved off the mainland some 44 years ago. I joined permanently about 33 years ago.

Nothing would entice me ever to return to London. I haven’t been into central London for years. I occasionally visit the southern outskirts to see friends or family.

[Deleted User]

The six of us had a lovely school reunion lunch yesterday in the Borough of Richmond on Thames. Lots of great conversation and memories revisited. Travel to and from the mainland was smooth with no major delays.

I received my £100 Fair Share payment from NW today.

[Deleted User]

I have made a couple of useful saves this month.

For the school reunion lunch including travel and fuel I had budgeted £300. ( I originally planned to stay overnight on the mainland). Actual cost was £125. I decided to make it an away day trip!

This morning I had my bi-annual eye test. All fine, with such a minor change to the prescription I was told no new lenses/frames were required. (Although I could purchase new frames if I wanted them). As I have 3 pairs with the current prescription, plus two pairs of prescription sunglasses, I decided to wait a while.

The only cost to me was £25 for a more detailed scan of the eye than the one given to over 60s free on the NHS. In my opinion a worthwhile expense. I had budgeted a total of £350 for frame and new lenses, so a net saving there of £325. I may decide to buy some newer frames later if any offers arise.

I spent a total of £57 this morning on sone final plants for the garden, a new spade and a single turf to cover a few patches.

I have also booked the ferry and my accommodation for the university reunion in September. I managed to get the ferry for £77 return by coming home on the midnight ferry. I booked 4 nights at a Premier Inn I like for £297. I will not actually stay the 4th night but will use the room until 8pm when I need to leave to travel to the ferry port.

I have opted not to pay for the breakfasts this time. They have recently risen to £10.99 a day and to be honest I don't think they are such good value for money anymore. I may treat myself to one of them if the fancy takes me lol!

I have budgeted a total of £500 for the September Reunion trip, which includes a short visit en-route to see my great niece on her birthday. So far the ferry and accommodation has cost a total of £374. So that leaves me £126 to pay for food and fuel during my stay(including one restaurant dinner) so I should be ok. I am not worried if I go a few pounds over. The birthday present for my great niece will come out of my birthdays pot lol!

I have also purchased a mini fridge for £30. This will enable me to keep milk and a couple of other small items fresh in my Premier Inn room. I dislike the UHT milk provided in most hotel rooms. Usually  I buy a pint of milk each day for tea and coffee in my room, but it always goes yuk overnight ! I have tested the mini fridge and it works really well!

Farway

[Deleted User] said:

I have opted not to pay for the breakfasts this time. They have recently risen to £10.99 a day and to be honest I don't think they are such good value for money anymore. I may treat myself to one of them if the fancy takes me lol!

Depending on the location of course, but when I was attending a wedding and staying in one, it was only a short walk to a Morrisons where they did a satisfactory breakfast for much less. With similar ambience.

I've also used Asda café in the same situation, no doubt many alternative options available

I think the only time the paid breakfast is worthwhile is with children, where they go free, or should that really be the parents don't pay