4/10/2010 eb ta "bound for barcelona"

[woody73]

For best door, do we want to judge all doors of our group or have those who want to be judged sign up?

Kristi,

I think people should sign up to have their door judged. Plus those people should all agree to attend the luncheon where prizes will be awarded.

We could place a loose page printed ballot in the Mini Navigator:

Door Decoration Contest
Vote for one
[ ] Cabin 1234
[ ] Cabin 2345
[ ] Cabin 3456

Turn in your ballot to Mary Smith at cabin 4567 by X date.

Woody

 

[Brooklyn]

Kristi,

I think people should sign up to have their door judged. Plus those people should all agree to attend the luncheon where prizes will be awarded.

We could place a loose page printed ballot in the Mini Navigator:

Door Decoration Contest
Vote for one
[ ] Cabin 1234
[ ] Cabin 2345
[ ] Cabin 3456

Turn in your ballot to Mary Smith at cabin 4567 by X date.

Woody

 

[woody73]

We always get some Euros before we leave home. . .

We usually bring a few hundred with us (we're a party of 2) to begin with and then we use ATM's in Europe when we need to get more currency. . .

I would just add: Try to get some small bills, as many places will not accept large bills for small purchases.

Woody

 

[dennisgirl]

Beauty & the Best, we are going to Seville too. I think I read many pages ago that Hapy Goofy and Katipop we going too. So thats four groups going. There is a place on Auntlynne web site that we can list who is going on what excursion, so we can go together.

Bound2travel, we would like to go on the van tour but we would like to go on the longer one. As I've mentioned before, we are'nt planning on coming back. We will scratch Gibraltar off our bucket list and move on.

Regarding euro's. We get a couple of hundred at our home bank and get more at an ATM in whatever city we're in if necesary. Make sure you call your credit card company! We got turned off in Aruba and Gibraltar on different vacations. It's great that they are watching out for their cards but it was very embarising.
Cheers, Jennifer

 

[Beauty & the Best]

I would just add: Try to get some small bills, as many places will not accept large bills for small purchases.

Woody

TOTALLY! And you'll need those coins too
We once got money from a French ATM and we got $100 Euro notes instead of smaller bills - what a pain in the A%$!

Beauty & the Best, we are going to Seville too. I think I read many pages ago that Hapy Goofy and Katipop we going too. So thats four groups going. There is a place on Auntlynne web site that we can list who is going on what excursion, so we can go together.
Cheers, Jennifer

Just to clarify, are you doing Seville on an excursion or on your own? We are going to take the train, so if/when we figure out the details on that (how long the train is, etc.) we can post the info.

 

[stlkeeler]

Thanks, everyone, for your euro suggestions. I meant to call Chase when we went to the Caribbean last summer but forgot. Didn't have any problems anyway. But Europe is a whole 'nother story! Thanks for the reminder. Is it too early to do it now?

 

[dennisgirl]

Beauty & the Best, oh, I didn't know about the train. We'd be up for some adventure. I gather it's less expensive to do it that way. Please let me know what's going on. It seems that alot of people are doing there own thing in the ports. It will make it fun to be adventurous, as long as it is with other folks. DH has no problem going out and about alone, but he travels in Europe for business. Me on the other hand, think its better with other people.
Thanks, Jennifer

 

[auntlynne]

I think Karen (16+) and I are also going to take the train into Seville (it's under 2 hrs). Since it's such a long port day, I figured we could get there and back before the sun goes down and the ship leaves (late).

If a bunch of us want to train travel to Seville together, we could meet for breakfast and then head out.

Lynne

 

[PrincessMonkey]

I would prefer the original date mentioned in the previous thread to complete the Fish Extenders group on February 1st...

Members may need more than 1 month's time to craft gifts for the approx. 45-50 cabins/families that we will have... For example, it can take some time to think of a gift, and time to place an order online. If you're making something from scratch or personalizing the gifts, it can take longer.

After reviewing the FE thread on the main board, some latecomers have difficulty with the task, as much as they want to participate. Secret Mickeys might be an easier objective in a shorter time period? Packing gifts and delivering gifts to 50+ cabins could be a daunting situation.

I'm just trying to be realistic for just a sec! Any thoughts?

PrincessMonkey

 

[dennisgirl]

Auntlynne, breakfast and train to Seville sound good to me. Sign us up. Jennifer and DH. Sounds like we can get a nice size group to go.

 

[belle1627]

Any idea if it's an all cabin FE or are you breaking it into smaller groups?

I think this is a valid question, I know on my last cruise when the list got really long we broke it into smaller groups, making/buying FE's for 40-50 cabins, finding space to bring them in luggage (and bringing that many home as well), and the time it takes to deliver them may be quite daunting.

 

[woody73]

Thanks, everyone, for your euro suggestions. . .

Is it too early to do it now?

For most people, it's not too early.

I already have Euros, so it's one less thing to worry about.

I think it might be early for someone planning to exchange a very large amount and has yet to track the exchange rates. They might have a bit of homework to do.

Woody

 

[woody73]

We once got money from a French ATM and we got $100 Euro notes instead of smaller bills - what a pain in the A%$!

I have a friend who requested 2,000 Euro from B of A. They gave him two 1,000 Euro notes.

Guess what? He traveled through Europe and came home with both 1,000 notes. No one would take them, and no bank would exchange them unless he had an account.

Woody

 

[auntlynne]

I would prefer the original date mentioned in the previous thread to complete the Fish Extenders group on February 1st...

Thank you for the date correction.

This is an important topic to be decided: when to cut-off (and invariably create a second group) and how many cabins are in the group or groups. That luggage restriction can be quite a hindrance, especially on the return from Europe (no SWA free bags there).

Don't forget you can ship a 12 x 12 x 12 box to the boat. I used that last time. I was gifting a "First Aid Kit in a water bottle" and they would have taken a lot of luggage space (and I only had 12 cabins to cover).

 

[bound2travel]

We always get some Euros before we leave home. We order them from our regular bank (Suntrust) but I know in some areas the banks do not do this, so just call yours to find out.

We usually bring a few hundred with us (we're a party of 2) to begin with and then we use ATM's in Europe when we need to get more currency. I would advise against doing currency exchange in your airport at one of those booths, it is an expensive way to do it.

Even if you're not a big shopper, you'll need Euros for street food, restaurants, taxis, tips, museum/site admission, etc. so it can add up.

Speaking of ATM's in Europe....this is something I always do before I leave the country & I wanted to remind everyone to put it on their to do list:
Call your bank & credit card companies and let them know the dates & countries of your travel. If you don't they may suspect fraudulent activity and cut off your card while you're abroad

Hope everyone is having a great day!!!!

I also use ATM's in Europe. This time since I don't know if I'd have time before some of the excursions, I'm going to my bank to get some money before I leave. I also have some Euros and Pounds Sterling from my last trip to Europe. I also saved my left over currency as it doesn't go "bad" and then that's less I need the next timie.

I've had my credit card blocked on my first trip to Europe. Fortunately, I had a second card I hadn't used yet. Since then, I call the cc companies and let my bank know so I can use the ATMs.

Kristi

 

[bound2travel]

Beauty & the Best, we are going to Seville too. I think I read many pages ago that Hapy Goofy and Katipop we going too. So thats four groups going. There is a place on Auntlynne web site that we can list who is going on what excursion, so we can go together.

Bound2travel, we would like to go on the van tour but we would like to go on the longer one. As I've mentioned before, we are'nt planning on coming back. We will scratch Gibraltar off our bucket list and move on.

Regarding euro's. We get a couple of hundred at our home bank and get more at an ATM in whatever city we're in if necesary. Make sure you call your credit card company! We got turned off in Aruba and Gibraltar on different vacations. It's great that they are watching out for their cards but it was very embarising.
Cheers, Jennifer

You are more than welcome to join "our" van group. I'm beginning to think the longer one (with Moorish Castle) would be the best bet. How many are in your group?

Kristi

 

[Beauty & the Best]

Woody - I don't think I would have accepted those $1000 Euro notes! That is a crazy story!

Thanks, everyone, for your euro suggestions. I meant to call Chase when we went to the Caribbean last summer but forgot. Didn't have any problems anyway. But Europe is a whole 'nother story! Thanks for the reminder. Is it too early to do it now?

I think you can do it anytime - the usually ask us for the dates of our travel so it's not like you call on the day you go and you call when you get back.

Beauty & the Best, oh, I didn't know about the train. We'd be up for some adventure. I gather it's less expensive to do it that way. Please let me know what's going on. It seems that alot of people are doing there own thing in the ports. It will make it fun to be adventurous, as long as it is with other folks. DH has no problem going out and about alone, but he travels in Europe for business. Me on the other hand, think its better with other people.
Thanks, Jennifer

We don't usually do a lot of excursions b/c we don't like to be herded around w/ a big group. I guess you could call us adventurous Sometimes there are excursions that are really amazing and worth doing, but there are also lots of times when we can do exactly the same thing on our own time schedule and for less money.

Its actually very easy to use the trains in Europe - they typically have electronic ticket machines that have "English" as an option. If your dh is experienced at this, I think you guys will be fine. I will post directions/instructions for getting to Seville by train when I research it! I'm sure there will be a lot of disers on that train.

Just as a reference, Rick Steves Spain book is excellent for planning your own excursions in Spain.

 

[Mrs. Gumdrop]

I have a couple of questions. (yes again )

1. When is the cut off date for joining the FE and SM?

2. For the prizes for best door, farthest traveled, etc - do we want these to be fun silly prizes or something kinda "good" (with a $ limit)?

3. For best door, do we want to judge all doors of our group or have those who want to be judged sign up?


Kristi (can you tell I'm a bit obsessive)

Only reason I mentioned wanting to ask before Lynne goes on vacation is that she may:
1. know the answers,
2. want to give input
3. add to website

Anyone can answer my questions.

I wanted to address question #2. I would be perfectly happy to just get a little sign stating the name of the award and the name of the group that I could hang on the door. Like a blue ribbon a la county fair competitions. I don't know how the rest of you feel, but I imagine we will have already recieved a TON of gifts on this trip.

What do you think gang?

 

[woody73]

Woody - I don't think I would have accepted those $1000 Euro notes! That is a crazy story!

It was his first trip to Europe, and it did not occur to him to request some small bills.

Woody

 

[auntlynne]

I wanted to address question #2. I would be perfectly happy to just get a little sign stating the name of the award and the name of the group that I could hang on the door. Like a blue ribbon a la county fair competitions. I don't know how the rest of you feel, but I imagine we will have already recieved a TON of gifts on this trip.

What do you think gang?