Back to the Med Greece/Turkey in 2013! Complete!

[MinnieDiva]

I HAVE AIRLINE TICKETS!!!!!!!

ok. I feel better. But more on the details tomorrow. I gotta go to bed.

 

[MinnieDiva]

So here's a cut and paste from what I just wrote on our meets thread:

if you're looking to splurge on business class, go to American's website asap. I finally booked our flights last night after getting my weekly Kayak fare tracker email. I looked at it, then immediately started looking to see if I could duplicate the fare quoted ($2300-ish, round-trip, from both Seattle or San Francisco). It required us leaving the 13th from SFO instead of the 12th, but I'm good with that. I just looked again to see if the fares are still there, and it appears they are....

So, we're now flying down to San Jose the evening of the 12th, departing at the a** crack of dawn out of San Francisco on the 13th, a layover at JFK, then getting into Barcelona the morning of the 14th. I was able to book this as a multi-city reservation, as when we depart Barcelona and come home, Dad will leave JFK to return to SFO, and we'll head back to SEA.

I had done the preliminary research on my iPad downstairs, and called Sean to see if he was ok with the switch, then called dad. In the time it took for me to come upstairs, dad's separate itinerary couldn't be exactly replicated on the computer. So I was booking his trip on the iPad and ours on the computer, step by step, so that we could do the seats and whatnot all together. I probably looked like a crazy woman between the 2 devices!! So, while I'm sad to not be flying Swiss, the logic of saving half....yes, half....the cost of what business seats have been listed at cannot be ignored. And....as American is partners with Alaska, I'm earning usable miles baby!!!!

So then I started thinking whether I needed to change out pre-stay apartment, and I'm thing at the moment that I'll leave it be. As we fly in to BCN at 0715, it'd be nice to go to our apartment and, if needed, rest a bit. But seeing as how we're going to be up so early to get to SFO, even I may actually fall asleep on the plane...

Woot!! So very excited!

 

[mindelmouse]

So here's a cut and paste from what I just wrote on our meets thread:

if you're looking to splurge on business class, go to American's website asap. I finally booked our flights last night after getting my weekly Kayak fare tracker email. I looked at it, then immediately started looking to see if I could duplicate the fare quoted ($2300-ish, round-trip, from both Seattle or San Francisco). It required us leaving the 13th from SFO instead of the 12th, but I'm good with that. I just looked again to see if the fares are still there, and it appears they are....

So, we're now flying down to San Jose the evening of the 12th, departing at the a** crack of dawn out of San Francisco on the 13th, a layover at JFK, then getting into Barcelona the morning of the 14th. I was able to book this as a multi-city reservation, as when we depart Barcelona and come home, Dad will leave JFK to return to SFO, and we'll head back to SEA.

I had done the preliminary research on my iPad downstairs, and called Sean to see if he was ok with the switch, then called dad. In the time it took for me to come upstairs, dad's separate itinerary couldn't be exactly replicated on the computer. So I was booking his trip on the iPad and ours on the computer, step by step, so that we could do the seats and whatnot all together. I probably looked like a crazy woman between the 2 devices!! So, while I'm sad to not be flying Swiss, the logic of saving half....yes, half....the cost of what business seats have been listed at cannot be ignored. And....as American is partners with Alaska, I'm earning usable miles baby!!!!

So then I started thinking whether I needed to change out pre-stay apartment, and I'm thing at the moment that I'll leave it be. As we fly in to BCN at 0715, it'd be nice to go to our apartment and, if needed, rest a bit. But seeing as how we're going to be up so early to get to SFO, even I may actually fall asleep on the plane...

Woot!! So very excited!

Well if you keep your apt. Could be good for us as well as we arrive 2 hrs later and we probably could use a place as well. Either is fine. At least we'll be on the same schedula

 

[ldo]

yes, the ship's bus for athens picked up at port @ 8:30ish and returned 4ish. We could prebook this online--so if DCL is going to offer it, I would think it would also be offered as a prebook.
note--you still have to buy tickets for parthenon, museum, etc. and be your own tour guide--which is pretty easy with any tour book--I like the Eyewitness ones with pictures--they have good ones for Greece, Naples/Pompeii/Rome, etc. I also swear by Rick Steves.

 

[Tired mom of 3 boys]

Ok - booked Rome in Limo for both Rome and La Spezia... Sounds like Athens will be manageable. Know that quite a few of you are heading out within the next few weeks - have a wonderful time!

 

[MinnieDiva]

Ok - booked Rome in Limo for both Rome and La Spezia... Sounds like Athens will be manageable. Know that quite a few of you are heading out within the next few weeks - have a wonderful time!

Lol! When the email notification beeped that you posted I was finishing up our costumes for the Halloween party! My packing pile officially began today....10 days from now I will be in WDW!!

 

[mindelmouse]

Lol! When the email notification beeped that you posted I was finishing up our costumes for the Halloween party! My packing pile officially began today....10 days from now I will be in WDW!!

I'll be there in 11 days

 

[Tracerr00]

I know I'm not on your cruise but I'm still reading your pre-trip report because it keeps me excited!! The thread for our date doesn't have a lot of action. But I have to say that I booked my airfare too!! I'm coming from Minneapolis and because of school (trying not to have my DD miss more than she has to) and a custody schedule I needed very specific flights and dates. So we are flying Swiss Air on the way to BCN through Zurich and on the way home we are flying Lufthansa through Toronto. I'm so glad to have that booked, I can't even tell you!! You'd mentioned Swiss in a previous thread - I've never flown with them before. You like them? (I hope!)

 

[drlaurafsu]

I'll be there in 19 days!!

 

[MJGirl]

18 days for me!

 

[MinnieDiva]

I know I'm not on your cruise but I'm still reading your pre-trip report because it keeps me excited!! The thread for our date doesn't have a lot of action. But I have to say that I booked my airfare too!! I'm coming from Minneapolis and because of school (trying not to have my DD miss more than she has to) and a custody schedule I needed very specific flights and dates. So we are flying Swiss Air on the way to BCN through Zurich and on the way home we are flying Lufthansa through Toronto. I'm so glad to have that booked, I can't even tell you!! You'd mentioned Swiss in a previous thread - I've never flown with them before. You like them? (I hope!)

LOVED Swiss! Would be using them again if it weren't for saving that HUGE chunk of change...The chocolate after the meal is to die for......

 

[MinnieDiva]

I'll be there in 19 days!!

18 days for me!

Whohoo!! Love , love, love the excitement buildup!!!

 

[Tired mom of 3 boys]

Have a great time! I can't complain...just got back from a trip to San Diego for my brother's wedding...beautiful time, wonderful people.... But I do wish I was cruising sooner than next June!

 

[MJGirl]

LOVED Swiss! Would be using them again if it weren't for saving that HUGE chunk of change...The chocolate after the meal is to die for......

I'm flying Lufthansa out of Toronto as well! Small world!

 

[MinnieDiva]

Hi!!

I have not fallen off the face of the earth! I have, however, started a TR on the cruise we just returned from. Go here:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=46389788#post46389788

If you miss my ramblings! They had to be re-directed for a bit...

Anyone else concerned about American? A little unnerving.....

 

[MinnieDiva]

So, on the off chance there is anyone here on the same Med cruise (June 15) who hasn't checked in on the cruise meets board, I'm "advertising" for another family to join Mindy and my families on our Rome excursion. Size no more than 5, no small children/strollers. PM me if interested!

So, I'm in the midst of researching trip insurance. Not that I understand a lick of the legalese, but I do read loud and clear that being from WA state stinks! There are zero options for any "cancellation for any reason" additions. Yes, I'm well aware I'm past the window for the cruise, but the airfare was worth looking into. What if Sean gets some fabulous job? Hosed. Well, to the extent we'll have to pay American's change fee. But still, what makes WA so un-special? I think I'm offended!

So I called then and asked more questions. Since we live in 2 different states, could we still be on the same policy? Or did it have to be separate? Separate, as the policies have to be issued for different states. But would he still be considered to be part of our "traveling party"? Yes. Sigh. Ok, thank you....

So the other day, Sean asked me if I heard that there was a bunch of social unrest in Greece, Italy, and Spain. Apparently I've fallen off the face of the earth, as I had not heard that. Strangely enough, Rick Steves (all hail Rick Steves!) put out an article on this on Facebook the same day he mentioned this to me. Here's a link to that article:

https://www.facebook.com/notes/rick...ain-are-saying-about-unrest/10151099822464702

OOOOOOooooooo! And on the topic of his royal travelness.....Guess who I'm going to hear a lecture from!!! Yup, the big Kahuna himself! I haven't been down to attend any travel classes in MONTHS!! Between work and summer vacations and whatnot, I haven't been able to fit anything in. BUT....after getting an email today, I went to his website to see what was new and there is a travel festival on November 3rd!!! Sean's working, but Ashleigh and I are going to attend 2 workshops: "Packing Light and Right" (snort...yeah, right....), and "Italy" (which is the one Rick will be lecturing on). Were it just me, there are lots of other interesting classes throughout the day, but I don't think Ashleigh will tolerate that. She is a groupie, though, and was stoked by the idea of actually seeing the real deal. I think I may have warped my daughter's idea of cool....

So the other consterning thing I have to deal with: shoe drama. Why, you ask? Well, the lovely Tevas I hiked Cinque Terre successfully in really bothered my feet last week while in Florida. What now? Keens rub on toes, Tevas hurt my soles. What's a girl to do? Any suggestions? I'm worried, as we won't have any nice weather prior to the cruise for me to test out new shoes. June is still winter here.

And, as I haven't posted pics in a while, cheers!!

 

[Tracerr00]

I was at my sister's this weekend and we saw the news about the unrest in Spain, Italy and Greece and she got a little nervous about our cruise. Our cruise isn't the Greece itinerary (only the 7 day) but she's nervous about our other destinations. So I'm glad that you posted this article because I'm going to send it to her right now! While I was there we also caught an episode of Rick Steves in Rome!! I've been there before but she hasn't so I enjoyed pointing out some of the places that we'd see when we are there.

Are those Grand Marnier slushy drinks? Lucky!!

Unfortunately I don't have any good suggestions for your shoe dilemma. I just tend to stick out as an obvious American and I wear my running shoes! My daughter and I went to Paris one time and we were relaxing in a park playing "spot the American" and the shoes were a dead giveaway!

Now I'm off to read your trip report!

 

[debsters41]

Hello! Lurker here and Future Med cruiser (on a different itinerary, however) I haven't read the article you posted yet, but I wanted to mention that I live and work in Athens and that things look on TV much worse than they really are here. Most likely, the worst thing that can happen is a public transportation strike. Even they are pretty predictable, happening whenever important voting is going on in Parliament. In such a situation, cabs are usually readily available. Tourists are loved here, and nearly everyone speaks English at least a little. I wouldn't worry about it. Worry more about the heat! I was actually comfortable August in Orlando.... just sayin'

 

[MinnieDiva]

I was at my sister's this weekend and we saw the news about the unrest in Spain, Italy and Greece and she got a little nervous about our cruise. Our cruise isn't the Greece itinerary (only the 7 day) but she's nervous about our other destinations. So I'm glad that you posted this article because I'm going to send it to her right now! While I was there we also caught an episode of Rick Steves in Rome!! I've been there before but she hasn't so I enjoyed pointing out some of the places that we'd see when we are there.

Are those Grand Marnier slushy drinks? Lucky!!

Unfortunately I don't have any good suggestions for your shoe dilemma. I just tend to stick out as an obvious American and I wear my running shoes! My daughter and I went to Paris one time and we were relaxing in a park playing "spot the American" and the shoes were a dead giveaway!

Now I'm off to read your trip report!

Yes, yes those were Grand Marnier slushies!!!! YUM!!!

I use my running shoes as well, but have the need to not use them every day. My feet will get sore in those as well if I wear them too many days in a row. Jim (of all people) texted me after I posted this and recommended a brand called Niot? I think....I emailed them last night to see where they are sold here.

Rick Steves new/updated shows start really soon...

Hello! Lurker here and Future Med cruiser (on a different itinerary, however) I haven't read the article you posted yet, but I wanted to mention that I live and work in Athens and that things look on TV much worse than they really are here. Most likely, the worst thing that can happen is a public transportation strike. Even they are pretty predictable, happening whenever important voting is going on in Parliament. In such a situation, cabs are usually readily available. Tourists are loved here, and nearly everyone speaks English at least a little. I wouldn't worry about it. Worry more about the heat! I was actually comfortable August in Orlando.... just sayin'

Hi! Which cruise are you taking?? And thank you for your advice! I figured that part of it was the media, especially here....gotta whip everyone in a frenzy, right?

And I am so not looking forward to diving into the intense heat! It was bad enough last week in Orlando....Is it humid in Greece in June??

 

[debsters41]

Hi again. I am on the last Med 7 night. School starts here on the 11th of September, or thereabouts, but my daughter will be missing a week of 'Exam Preparation Tutoring School' which is the 'real' schooling kids get over here, too hard to explain.

June weather is typically hot but dry, 80's and 90's. This year, however, we had a lot of cooler, cloudy weather. July and August was weather in the 100's almost everyday. It was really brutal this year, we even had a lot of humidity which is atypical. I will have my positive vibes out for pleasantly warm and dry for when you come.