SW Ireland In Early April
Mar 6th, 2006, 06:53 PM
#22
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UPDATE
AND ADVICE FOR NEWBIES
THREE WEEKS AND SOME CHANGE, AND COUNTING
"No battle plan ever survives first contact with the enemy."
And so the saga begins...
Booked our tix on CO on 31 Dec, choosing SRQ because that allowing us an overnight, each way, with our new grand-daughter (daughter lives 1/2 hour from airport). Bonus was 2 1/2 hour lay over in EWR. Sufficient for Customs, etc., but not over long, and thus affording us a (relatively) short travel day.
Spot check on the CO web site on 5 March show CO has MOVED the 1:45 departure from EWR to SRQ to 10:30 AM. We arrive from SNN (on CO) at 11:10! No worries, though, as our reservation showed us booked on the 10:30 AND on the 7:30 PM, BOTH!!!!
Did a few flight searches, plugging in alternate destination airports -- TPA, RSW -- and came up with some viable options, so that I wouldn't hit CO Customer Service TOTALLY clueless.
Called early this AM. Once I meandered through the Voice Menu, exhausting all possible scenarios, I received a recorded message that: "ALL our agents are busy helping others. Your call will be answered in the order in which it was received, by the first available agent, so please stay on the line."
LONG PAUSE, then:
"Your estimated wait time is ..... FIVE minutes."
And damn, if they weren't just about, dead-on, RIGHT.
The young sounding lady was quite pleasant, quite apologetic and quite sympathetic when she informed me that there WERE no other choices besides the 10:30 and the 7:30 PM flights. When I advised her that the 1:10 departure to RSW would work as an acceptable alternative, she put me on hold, and jumped right on it. Two or three, five-minute 'holds' later (only interrupted by the agents' "popping back in" to apologize for the delay and to assure me that they were getting it all set), I was rebooked into RSW. So now we'll arrive 45 - 50 miles from our daughter's house, instead of the original 30, we'll only have TWO hours to clear Customs, change planes etc (a bit more frentic - I thought we might be 'pushing it' slightly, at 2 1/2, as planned originally), but we land at 4:10 PM, instead of 10:30 PM ...
The agents were GREAT. The delays were caused because the computer balked at booking us into the more expensive RSW flight, for the cost of the SRQ. They said it took awhile to create a work around ...
They were WRONG about the other available options, though -- there IS a 2:55 EWR to SRQ, but not one I would want! It involves a 737, EWR to TPA, followed by a !!! CESSNA !!!, from TPA to SRQ.
I DIDN"T EVEN BRING THAT ONE UP, TRUST ME!
Had a similar problem with AA last summer, PLUS the INFAMOUS "MISCOMMUNICATION" with the rental car people about our arrival time, so:
Lessons learned:
1) Check and recheck your ticket info. And do it FREQUENTLY, the last week or so, before departure.
2) Re-Confirm your flight number and arrival time info with the Car Rental people, about one week prior to arrival.
3) Ditto for your lodging reservations. A quick email reconfirming dates, number in party, etc. can't hurt.
ANY MORE???
Bob
AND ADVICE FOR NEWBIES
THREE WEEKS AND SOME CHANGE, AND COUNTING
"No battle plan ever survives first contact with the enemy."
And so the saga begins...
Booked our tix on CO on 31 Dec, choosing SRQ because that allowing us an overnight, each way, with our new grand-daughter (daughter lives 1/2 hour from airport). Bonus was 2 1/2 hour lay over in EWR. Sufficient for Customs, etc., but not over long, and thus affording us a (relatively) short travel day.
Spot check on the CO web site on 5 March show CO has MOVED the 1:45 departure from EWR to SRQ to 10:30 AM. We arrive from SNN (on CO) at 11:10! No worries, though, as our reservation showed us booked on the 10:30 AND on the 7:30 PM, BOTH!!!!
Did a few flight searches, plugging in alternate destination airports -- TPA, RSW -- and came up with some viable options, so that I wouldn't hit CO Customer Service TOTALLY clueless.
Called early this AM. Once I meandered through the Voice Menu, exhausting all possible scenarios, I received a recorded message that: "ALL our agents are busy helping others. Your call will be answered in the order in which it was received, by the first available agent, so please stay on the line."
LONG PAUSE, then:
"Your estimated wait time is ..... FIVE minutes."
And damn, if they weren't just about, dead-on, RIGHT.
The young sounding lady was quite pleasant, quite apologetic and quite sympathetic when she informed me that there WERE no other choices besides the 10:30 and the 7:30 PM flights. When I advised her that the 1:10 departure to RSW would work as an acceptable alternative, she put me on hold, and jumped right on it. Two or three, five-minute 'holds' later (only interrupted by the agents' "popping back in" to apologize for the delay and to assure me that they were getting it all set), I was rebooked into RSW. So now we'll arrive 45 - 50 miles from our daughter's house, instead of the original 30, we'll only have TWO hours to clear Customs, change planes etc (a bit more frentic - I thought we might be 'pushing it' slightly, at 2 1/2, as planned originally), but we land at 4:10 PM, instead of 10:30 PM ...
The agents were GREAT. The delays were caused because the computer balked at booking us into the more expensive RSW flight, for the cost of the SRQ. They said it took awhile to create a work around ...
They were WRONG about the other available options, though -- there IS a 2:55 EWR to SRQ, but not one I would want! It involves a 737, EWR to TPA, followed by a !!! CESSNA !!!, from TPA to SRQ.
I DIDN"T EVEN BRING THAT ONE UP, TRUST ME!
Had a similar problem with AA last summer, PLUS the INFAMOUS "MISCOMMUNICATION" with the rental car people about our arrival time, so:
Lessons learned:
1) Check and recheck your ticket info. And do it FREQUENTLY, the last week or so, before departure.
2) Re-Confirm your flight number and arrival time info with the Car Rental people, about one week prior to arrival.
3) Ditto for your lodging reservations. A quick email reconfirming dates, number in party, etc. can't hurt.
ANY MORE???
Bob
Mar 22nd, 2006, 02:31 PM
#24
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ONE week to go !!!!
But, NOW I'm BUMMED! Seems my trip to Millstreet will either need to be carefully scheduled, or FORGOTTEN, this trip ...
April 7, 8 AND 9, Green Glens is hosting concerts of WESTLIFE.
DAMN ... I'm guessing the whole place will be a zoo those days.
Bob
But, NOW I'm BUMMED! Seems my trip to Millstreet will either need to be carefully scheduled, or FORGOTTEN, this trip ...
April 7, 8 AND 9, Green Glens is hosting concerts of WESTLIFE.
DAMN ... I'm guessing the whole place will be a zoo those days.
Bob
Mar 23rd, 2006, 01:13 PM
#26
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I DO go to Millstreet every trip. It's a beautiful, small town of about 2700. I just don't know how close I'll be able to get to it, when 20-30,000 screaming WESTLIFE fans decend on the town, for three days in a row,
Don't they realize how much they are inconveniencing my wife and I?????
Actually, it will be a NICE financial boon to the area, I'm sure, so fair play to them. But, now I have to rework all my plans, in order to get to Millstreet AHEAD of the masses.
Bob
Don't they realize how much they are inconveniencing my wife and I?????
Actually, it will be a NICE financial boon to the area, I'm sure, so fair play to them. But, now I have to rework all my plans, in order to get to Millstreet AHEAD of the masses.
Bob
Mar 24th, 2006, 11:32 AM
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Ah yes, what is the saying - the best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry. Oh well, if you can't work in the visit to Millstreet this time you'll just have to start planning a return trip!We'll look forward to hearing about your adventures when you get back. Happy anniversary and safe travels!
Mar 27th, 2006, 04:01 AM
#30
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LEAVING THURSDAY ! ! ! !
Actually, driving down to our daughter's in South Florida on Weds. She'll drop us at the airport on Thursday noon.
Will definitely 'hit' Millstreet BEGINING of the week.
And, ooh, ooh, has anyone seen THIS??
http://www.pancakecottage.com
I have GOT to stop there!
Bob
Actually, driving down to our daughter's in South Florida on Weds. She'll drop us at the airport on Thursday noon.
Will definitely 'hit' Millstreet BEGINING of the week.
And, ooh, ooh, has anyone seen THIS??
http://www.pancakecottage.com
I have GOT to stop there!
Bob
Mar 27th, 2006, 04:28 AM
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'driving down to daughter's in South Florida' -- just to be nosy, Bob, but where do you live? I'm in Gainesville, Florida -- are we neighbors??? 
Sounds like we have a lot in common!
I'm also leaving for my Ireland trip this summer from MIA. My DH is driving down to drop me off/pick me up (airfare from GNV to MIA is around $300!) and will be able to visit with friends both times.
Sounds like we have a lot in common!
I'm also leaving for my Ireland trip this summer from MIA. My DH is driving down to drop me off/pick me up (airfare from GNV to MIA is around $300!) and will be able to visit with friends both times.
Mar 27th, 2006, 05:01 AM
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*waves to neighbor* I was just in your area two weeks ago-- at the Apollo Beach Art Festival (I had a booth there)
Have a delightful time in Ireland, and I look forward to the required trip report
Have a delightful time in Ireland, and I look forward to the required trip report
Mar 27th, 2006, 05:11 AM
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GreenDragon:
I think you misunderstood. My daughter lives in Northport, roughly 1/2 way between Sarasota and Fort Meyers.
I live in Gainesville. Trying to figure out how to watch the NCAA Championship game between UF and LSU while in Ireland ....
Bob
I think you misunderstood. My daughter lives in Northport, roughly 1/2 way between Sarasota and Fort Meyers.
I live in Gainesville. Trying to figure out how to watch the NCAA Championship game between UF and LSU while in Ireland ....
Bob
Mar 27th, 2006, 06:33 AM
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Italian Chauffeur and Greendragon.
And I live in Gainesville. Do either of you fly out of GNV to Europe? I used to get good rates but have switched to JAX the last few times because GNV was a lot higher.
Were either of you in Arles in 2004? I was in a fabric shop and a young man who I'd been talking to walked past me with a large box and said "This is going to your country." I glanced at the label and it was going to my ZIP code, 32606. How weird is that? I didn't recognize the name though.
Another time I was checking in at CDG and the clerk said "Do you know ?????" They're on the same flight and are going to Gainesville. I didn't though and didn't see anyone I recognized.
Apparently there are a lot of international travelers in our little city.
Have a great trip to Ireland.
And I live in Gainesville. Do either of you fly out of GNV to Europe? I used to get good rates but have switched to JAX the last few times because GNV was a lot higher.
Were either of you in Arles in 2004? I was in a fabric shop and a young man who I'd been talking to walked past me with a large box and said "This is going to your country." I glanced at the label and it was going to my ZIP code, 32606. How weird is that? I didn't recognize the name though.
Another time I was checking in at CDG and the clerk said "Do you know ?????" They're on the same flight and are going to Gainesville. I didn't though and didn't see anyone I recognized.
Apparently there are a lot of international travelers in our little city.
Have a great trip to Ireland.
Mar 27th, 2006, 09:44 AM
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Ah, I thought you said you lived in Sarasota/Bradenton... so you really ARE my neighbor! Cool!
Perhaps we should arrange a Fodors get-together for the Gainesville area sometime?
I rarely fly out of GNV as it is usually much more expensive, as in more than $100, than MCO. MCO is my normal gateway, though this summer we are flying out of MIA as I'm meeting my two traveling companions there. One lives there, one is flying from SFO to visit her parents the day before (they are in MIA), and I'm driving down to meet them so we can all fly together. This is their first visit out of the country.
Perhaps we should arrange a Fodors get-together for the Gainesville area sometime?
I rarely fly out of GNV as it is usually much more expensive, as in more than $100, than MCO. MCO is my normal gateway, though this summer we are flying out of MIA as I'm meeting my two traveling companions there. One lives there, one is flying from SFO to visit her parents the day before (they are in MIA), and I'm driving down to meet them so we can all fly together. This is their first visit out of the country.
Mar 27th, 2006, 11:16 AM
#37
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I have only flown to Ireland from GNV once (Feb of '02), with balance split, 50-50 between MCO and Jax, ordinarily. We flow ex-Fort Meyers in '04, but mostly because we were taking our daughter and son-in-law.
This trip, prices were HORRIBLE -- Delta around $1100 each, coach and American wanted $700 MCO-MIA-BOS-SNN !
Settled on Continental for $560, out of Sarasota, of all places, though after they changed the return flight to an 8 1/2 hour layover in Newark, I had them re-route me to Fort Meyers.
Lots of FODORS folk in Florida, I knew, but never realized how many were from G'VILLE.
Can't speak for any others, but it certainly wasn't me at CDG OR Arles -- other than a brief stop over at London Gatwick, WE can't seem to get past Ireland.
Bob
This trip, prices were HORRIBLE -- Delta around $1100 each, coach and American wanted $700 MCO-MIA-BOS-SNN !
Settled on Continental for $560, out of Sarasota, of all places, though after they changed the return flight to an 8 1/2 hour layover in Newark, I had them re-route me to Fort Meyers.
Lots of FODORS folk in Florida, I knew, but never realized how many were from G'VILLE.
Can't speak for any others, but it certainly wasn't me at CDG OR Arles -- other than a brief stop over at London Gatwick, WE can't seem to get past Ireland.
Bob
Mar 27th, 2006, 12:48 PM
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Ditto what Bob said -- so far all my trips have been to the British Isles, so it wasn't me either.
However, 2007 is our first planned venture to the continent. We're planning a norther Italy group trip with parents and friends. Florence, Milan, Venice, etc...
However, 2007 is our first planned venture to the continent. We're planning a norther Italy group trip with parents and friends. Florence, Milan, Venice, etc...
Mar 28th, 2006, 04:47 AM
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I think the only time I've flown out of GNV was when it was on award miles -- had to get to my grandfather's funeral, and the award miles were the same no matter where I flew out of. Oh, and I flew out once when a tax client was paying for the ticket, GNV to Newark.
