Never done this before but thought I'd have a go!
Bit of background -This trip was booked on Boxing day, I tried to book in the flash sale that ended just before christmas but the site was down on the last day and they wouldn't do the same price when I phoned up so we missed out on the 50% DLH deal. So I booked the Sequoia Lodge with 40% off, bargain! Then just before we were due to leave another flash sale and the DLH back at the same price as the last flash sale. Many phonecalls later I managed to upgrade us and just pay the difference, delighted wasn't the word!
So for the trip there is the 4 of us, myself early 30's, hubby 38 and our fantastic boys, 7 and 5!
So 7th February we picked the kids up from school at lunch and made the journey down to Ashford where we were booked in at the Premier Inn Central. Usually use the Holiday Inn but read on here about the Premier Inn so decided to try it. Room was good, hotel is having a refurbishment so some disruption but we didn't notice anything. Our room was a refurbished one. Had tea in the Table Table pub next door then were in bed for just after 9 with alarm set for morning.
Breakfast in the Table Table which we had pre booked with room, kids eat free with paying adult. All you can eat, hot food was cooked to order and there was a continental selection to help yourself. All nicely filled up and we popped back to room to get cases and wait for our taxi.
Quick trip in taxi with the worlds grumpiest driver who didn't speak and we were at the terminal. Picked up our tickets at the desk and went straight through check in. Usually hubby bleeps as he goes through metel detector, nothing today not a peep because it was my turn, eeeek! A very stern looking female came over and patted me down and then grunted at me to move on! Bags through fine and we made ourselves comfortable whilst waiting for the boarding call. Boys played on their DS's, godsend!
Boarding call came through just after 10.30am (i think) and we left the scrum to it for 5 minutes then made a slow walk down. We were in carriage 18 so the walk was a long one! Now previously we have booked Leisure Select tickets but this time decided to save the money and use it for spends. We got on the carriage and found no room for our cases, never had that problem in select. Juggled around and squeezed them in. Also our seats were the only free ones on carriage as everyone else already on but people had put their luggage above where we were sitting so really struggled to get our things in. Train left bang on time and we were off............
Cont.
Bit of background -This trip was booked on Boxing day, I tried to book in the flash sale that ended just before christmas but the site was down on the last day and they wouldn't do the same price when I phoned up so we missed out on the 50% DLH deal. So I booked the Sequoia Lodge with 40% off, bargain! Then just before we were due to leave another flash sale and the DLH back at the same price as the last flash sale. Many phonecalls later I managed to upgrade us and just pay the difference, delighted wasn't the word!

So for the trip there is the 4 of us, myself early 30's, hubby 38 and our fantastic boys, 7 and 5!
So 7th February we picked the kids up from school at lunch and made the journey down to Ashford where we were booked in at the Premier Inn Central. Usually use the Holiday Inn but read on here about the Premier Inn so decided to try it. Room was good, hotel is having a refurbishment so some disruption but we didn't notice anything. Our room was a refurbished one. Had tea in the Table Table pub next door then were in bed for just after 9 with alarm set for morning.
Breakfast in the Table Table which we had pre booked with room, kids eat free with paying adult. All you can eat, hot food was cooked to order and there was a continental selection to help yourself. All nicely filled up and we popped back to room to get cases and wait for our taxi.
Quick trip in taxi with the worlds grumpiest driver who didn't speak and we were at the terminal. Picked up our tickets at the desk and went straight through check in. Usually hubby bleeps as he goes through metel detector, nothing today not a peep because it was my turn, eeeek! A very stern looking female came over and patted me down and then grunted at me to move on! Bags through fine and we made ourselves comfortable whilst waiting for the boarding call. Boys played on their DS's, godsend!
Boarding call came through just after 10.30am (i think) and we left the scrum to it for 5 minutes then made a slow walk down. We were in carriage 18 so the walk was a long one! Now previously we have booked Leisure Select tickets but this time decided to save the money and use it for spends. We got on the carriage and found no room for our cases, never had that problem in select. Juggled around and squeezed them in. Also our seats were the only free ones on carriage as everyone else already on but people had put their luggage above where we were sitting so really struggled to get our things in. Train left bang on time and we were off............
Cont.