Dalmatian Coast cruising without a dog in sight

[Pushka]

Our annual sojourn overseas starts in about a week. Planning was delayed a little due to Family Issues, but an important anniversary was looming and we, well, actually this time, MrP decided that we need to celebrate in ruby red style, in Paris. Yep, we celebrate our 40th wedding anniversary in June. And my birthday. Same day. MrP thought that Paris seemed appropriate. But, he also wanted to revisit Venice, and um, he’s always wanted to take me to Budapest which he loved whilst on a business trip a few years ago. And we’ve often talked about ferrying on the Dalmatian Coast. Have been to Dubrovnik and Kotor a couple of times and loved it.

So, what does this all look like in reality.

Adelaide - Doha - Venice on QR
Venice for 4 nights then
Train to Milan for 5 nights, with a sneaky side train trip to St Moritz
Flight to Dubrovnik for one night then this for 7 nights

Flight on Croatia Airlines to Paris for 4 nights
Ruby Red Day - booked a train and private tour of Champagne area in Reims
Flight to Budapest on Swiss Airlines for 4 nights

Flight home, QR Budapest - Doha - Adelaide.

Mmm. Now I can’t do long distance Y anymore. Just a bit risky. But I loathe paying so now the search was on to get some Award flights. Surprisingly picked up Adelaide to Venice on good dates for 2 so that was booked. Was a little concerned about getting back home again but surprisingly was also able to find Award flights for 2 in J, again on Qatar back from Budapest direct to Adelaide. Perfect.

 

[love_the_life]

Sigh!
Enjoy, sounds wonderful and hope that Reims pans out in the end.

 

[Pushka]

I really like filling in all the gaps with cancellable hotels a fair way out then rechecking later to see if there are better deals. Surprisingly this time the hotels seemed to be booking out rapidly for our dates and while I was able to change a few for a better price, many were sold out.

We love the train journeys so we decided to train rather than fly wherever possible. And a couple of the hotels selected so as to be near the main station, in particular Venice and Milan. We also prefer comfortable but boutique style hotels rather than the name brand although that kind of went astray in Amsterdam last year when it was stinking hot and this boutique didn’t ‘do’ air conditioning.

We are also looking forward to experiencing Qatar and the various lounges. But we’ve struck some snaffus along the way, some long term, some just recently.

First snaffu. Ramadan starts the evening we leave Adelaide. I don’t expect any issues on the flight to Doha. And I know as it’s being advertised on the radio that a major (for Adelaide) media contingent is also taking this flight to get to Britain for a Royal Wedding. So I expect full alcohol and food service on the first flight. We arrive into Doha in the morning and although Al Mourjan lounge will be nice, it will be ‘nice and dry’. But not an issue for me at 6 am. I’m guessing for the flight Doha to Venice we will be treated to champagne and food but made to feel a little uncomfortable. If the cabin is full of tourists then maybe it will be fine. Sadly on our return, we arrive in the evening and I know it will still be dry. And no alcohol served until we are in the air. At the minimum. I sound like a drunk. I’m not. I don’t drink much alcohol when flying but I do like the experience of being able to have it. First world issue.

Second snaffu. Strikes. Multiple it seems. The French train services are being held to ransom with 2 day strikes every five days. They nominate the dates. They nominated our Ruby Red date. We have no way of getting to Reims. Ok, a bus but a four hour return trip ain’t going to work. I haven’t cancelled the booking yet and I’ve already paid for the train ticket. They offer exchange of dates, yeah, that doesn’t work for tourists so much. We have plan B, dinner at Lido, but it’s really expensive, doesn’t entertain us during the day and I was very much looking forward to the Champagne Tour as well as a sabrage. Numerous champagne tastings, and a lovely lunch. Then Air France decided it needed to take action. We were flying Air France to Budapest. Thankfully just a cheapie. In the end I decided to take control and book alternative flights on Swiss Air via Zurich. We are transiting in Zurich twice on this trip now. And then today. Italian traffic controllers are striking on 8th May and potentially the 15th. We fly into Venice on the 16th. Currently I think we are ok.

But it does make me realise that Europe is going through so much transition that planning too much is fraught with risks. Let alone any security issues. I think we have enough fat in our bookings to allow for on the spot issues.

 

[Pushka]

Sigh!
Enjoy, sounds wonderful and hope that Reims pans out in the end.

I am thinking it won’t. The Unions today seem to be digging their heels in and have reaffirmed their stand. MrP won’t be upset, he doesn’t drink champagne. He likes the sound of the Lido.

 

[love_the_life]

I’m finding the same with hotels - prices are not decreasing much from when I make initial bookings and for most of the ones I’ve got coming up for Japan hotels are showing no availability so guess I’ll be sticking with the original bookings. The only one that showed much movement down was in Tokyo so it’s been rebooked and cancelled a couple of times.
There have been so many good Japan TRs I might just post in View from my office

 

[TomVexille]

Following...

 

[RooFlyer]

Nothing new under the sun in France. I used to go there on business a bit in the 90s and we always had plan B, for everything.

Rather than an expensive Lido dinner, an expensive private transfer? With champagne?

 

[Pushka]

Another snaffu I found out about this week. I mentioned a side trip from Milan to St Moritz. The train from Tirano to St Moritz is the Bernina Express and the scenery supposed to be fabulous. From there we were going to take the cable car up to the peak - Piz Nair. And then back to St Moritz and stay overnight and then a return journey on the express. Tickets booked as required. Well, this week I checked on the timetables again. I’d seen a bit of a gap between the Winter and Summer chair lift times but hadn’t really connected any dots. I just thought I was looking too early. Well, that gap is their maintenance time between summer and winter. No chair lifts. What?

This is someone else’s video of the Berlina Express. It looks great.

So, another plan B. Instead of taking the express, which doesn’t stop we are taking the local train from Tirano to St Moritz and which will stop at several points along the way (because it isn’t an express , get my drift ) and we will get off at Diavalezza and that chair lift will be open and on a good day it is said to be fabulous. Then we catch another local train, that isn’t an express, and go up to St Moritz for the night. Simples. We are keeping our Milan accom for the whole period so we only need an overnight backpack, and warm clothes, for that night.

 

[Pushka]

Nothing new under the sun in France. I used to go there on business a bit in the 90s and we always had plan B, for everything.

Rather than an expensive Lido dinner, an expensive private transfer? With champagne?

We sussed that out and it’s about 600€. Mmmm.

 

[love_the_life]

We sussed that out and it’s about 600€. Mmmm.

So?
We once had a lunch in Louviers (On Rue Tatin), and MrLtL was not feeling up to the train which left at 7am so we arranged a car and driver. Told him we expected to be done by 2.30pm. Nope, we left the place at about 5.30pm and MrLtL had become a little expansive so offered a lift back to Paris for 2 American women who were at the table. Think when the bill came in, it was about $A1500.
No something you do everyday.

 

[Boca68]

We sussed that out and it’s about 600€. Mmmm.

Just throwing this out there for you @Pushka , I do know of some small companies that do day tours from Paris to Champagne. Mostly Epernay. Might be worth a thought? A few years ago now (2013) we did it and It was fantastic costing about 200 euros each . It was a private tour as well. I'm sure there must be others?

We also did a day tour to Picardy & Seine-et-Marne which was brilliant.

 

[Pushka]

Just throwing this out there for you @Pushka , I do know of some small companies that do day tours from Paris to Champagne. Mostly Epernay. Might be worth a thought? A few years ago now (2013) we did it and It was fantastic costing about 200 euros each . It was a private tour as well. I'm sure there must be others?

We also did a day tour to Picardy & Seine-et-Marne which was brilliant.

Do you have any details? The ones I’ve seen have been in buses. Not keen.

 

[VPS]

Looking forward to following along - have a great trip

 

[JohnM]

Settling into 1A.

 

[love_the_life]

Settling into 1A.

Ouch, I'm already in it.

 

[TomVexille]

Settling into 1A.

Ouch, I'm already in it.

I'd considered nabbing it first but I prefer 1F

 

[Pushka]

Settling into 1A.

Ouch, I'm already in it.

Oh not you two again!

I'd considered nabbing it first but I prefer 1F

Well, lucky I grabbed Row 2. We aren’t fans of the bulkhead. And there is no F on this flight.

So being a wee bit of an avgeek I can see our Swiss Air flights are on the Bombardier. Quite an unusual plane I hear but very nice.

 

[TomVexille]

C series @Pushka?

While Bombardier aircraft are common, there's only been something like 29 of the C series delivered so far.

 

[Pushka]

C series @Pushka?

While Bombardier aircraft are common, there's only been something like 29 of the C series delivered so far.

Yes. C100? I think.

 

[JohnM]

Ouch, I'm already in it.

What do you mean 'ouch'?

BTW I checked in on line 24h ago.... Please re-read your BP . Are you sure it's not 11A?.