It looks like I'm going to be here a while.
We are supposed to be flying early on Tuesday morning, but people are still here who should have left on Thursday and today (saturday)
Some were taken to the airport on Thursday and then brought back and reallocated into the Flamingo Oasis, but now the TO's are leaving us in the hotel on the board basis that we paid for, until other arrangements can be made.
There was a distinct lack of any information and reps around, people were being told to get on the pick-up coaches even though the TV was saying UK airspace was closed, but the reps have been around the hotel today (saturday)...there is talk of either using coaches and the ferries or Thomsons cruise ships to get us back to the UK....although the cruise ships are probably going to be needed for those on the Canary Islands because the ferry to Cadiz is full of Spaniards trying to get back to the mainland.
The reps don't know what's happening from one hour to the next, and are depending on faxes from head office.
We are ok and have enough cash and a plastic card for emergencies, there's nothing too urgent for us although David has not been feeling too well the last couple of days with a chill, and he's really not looking forward to the prospect of a long coach drive to the north of Spain and then a ferry.
The weather's not been too good for the last few days and he's mopping around like a bear with a sore head.
I suppose every ash cloud has a silver linning because no flights into Alicante means no hen and stag groups in the hotel....a stag group last week kept several floors of the hotel awake every night with the noise at 4 am and then at 6-50 am.. they were tanked up to the point of not being able to stand and off this planet...their behaviour would make their mothers so proud of them and made me ashamed to be British.
I doubt we will fly early on Tuesday, priority is being given to those who should already be home.
Ah well, I suppose there's worse places to be stranded than Benidorm.
Sanji
I do feel sorry for people who have planned and looked forward to holidays for a long time or those that are stranded abroad. At least being retired I can go on holiday at a later date when things get sorted out.
It must be a nightmare for some people , especially if they have young families and have run out of money.
Sue
They've now scrubbed the idea of using the ferries due to the volume of passengers and a notice in the reception just says they are considering other ways.
We have friends stuck out in Majorca. They should have flown back on Thursday ready for the new school week starting tomorrow My friend works in a school as well so thats three from a family of four quite happy! Seriously though they are lucky as they have there own villa out there so its not costing them anything extra really other than food
I have friends stuck in Benidorm too, and they have been told they wont be flying home before Thursday at the earliest.
Hi Sanji, I'm glad you're still enjoying and haven'[t got fed up yet. Can I ask you if your To is paying for your extra days' accomodation and meals or do you have to fend and pay for yourselves?
We are still on our holiday until Tuesday morning, we should fly back early morning and land at Doncaster at dinner-time (uk time) but others on a package holiday who should have already flown home are staying in the hotel and carrying on, on the board basis that they paid for, for their holiday, and the TO is going to pick up the tab......it's mainly Thomson/First Choice clients in this hotel.
Others who have not gone on a package holiday are having to pay and sort it out, one woman this morning in our hotel was on the phone desperately trying to get some money sent into a bank in Benidorm, she was sat in the concert room just a few chairs away from me and David having a morning coffee, and I heard her say down her mobile phone that she had already had one night sleeping rough....where exactly she slept last night I honestly don't know, but some people were giving her 10 euro notes to get through until I presume tomorrow at the earliest when the banks are open....I don't know who she was with or how she got here....I presume she must have done DIY.
Sanji
If its any use to anyone I've been informed of a 52-seater coach available this week from Benidorm to Calais for 6000€ which if filled works out about 116€ per person so please send me a pm if interested?
sanji wrote:They've now scrubbed the idea of using the ferries due to the volume of passengers and a notice in the reception just says they are considering other ways.
Yes, very lucky that we are on a package holiday.
Sanji
Do you honestly think that TOs have contigency plans for this type of event? The whole situation has been fluid since the start with airspace being closed for 12 hours at a time so no wonder there has been a lack of information. TOs are damned if they do and damned if they don't.
sanji wrote:...one woman this morning in our hotel was on the phone desperately trying to get some money sent into a bank in Benidorm, she was sat in the concert room just a few chairs away from me and David having a morning coffee, and I heard her say down her mobile phone that she had already had one night sleeping rough....where exactly she slept last night I honestly don't know, but some people were giving her 10 euro notes to get through until I presume tomorrow at the earliest when the banks are open....I don't know who she was with or how she got here....I presume she must have done DIY.
Sanji
Do people really travel without debit or credit cards?
Just had a phone call from them (9am) ... they are leaving by coach anytime from now up to lunch time ... I don't envy people having to do that. Good luck all
Do people really travel without debit or credit cards?/
The answer to that is yes, people do travel with only cash or travellers cheques. Many people are worried about their card been misused i.e copied /cloned whilst they are abroard so simply leave them at home. Although I always have a few cards with me, I know of many people who never take them away with them.
Sue
I consider myself to be a regular traveller abroad (4 or 5 times a year) but even I have learnt something from this catastrophe, I take medication and have always taken just enough with me to last the holiday, but from now on I will be taking plenty. John
It's absolute chaos here, there are people who have been on stand-by waiting for coaches since yesterday.......there are bodies and cases all over the place waiting for coaches to arrive between 9 am and 11 am this morning for the journey to Calias.
We are on a package holiday and Tour Operators have a legal obligation for your health and safety, and unless you have a genuine reason like a medical reason for not being able to travel by coach, then if you refuse to get on the coach, Thomson wash their hands of you....which is fair enough.
We have to wait until 12 noon for an update for what is going to happen to us and it's not a case of dammed if they do etc.....
John.
I don't leave my OH much to do regarding booking ,packing, paying and making other arrangements etc for every holiday and he usually only has his medication to sort out.....
He's brought enough for 16 days, so after the update at 12 noon, if we are going to be here a few more days, I'm going to the clinic to get a prescription wrote.....luckily I do know his medication and dosage....but as you say...he won't do that again and will bring a months supply in future.
Sanji
Just a thought... What about all the people who have only taken enough contraception pills for the duration of their holiday.. perhaps we'll have a baby boom in 9 months time.
Got a text at 1pm Spanish time to say my bro and family had just got on coach and were on their way. They have been told 18 - 20 hour drive to Calais with a few stops on the way.
There are coaches leaving left right and centre with police escorts as far as the Europa lol. Good luck and safe journey everyone.
Hi Sanji
Sue can you imagine lots of babies been called Benidorm or Levante or Poniente. Well if the celebs can do it.
Just a thought... What about all the people who have only taken enough contraception pills for the duration of their holiday.. perhaps we'll have a baby boom in 9 months time
People will have to resist the urge; and take a cold shower followed by a brisk rub down with the ``Round Town News``
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