Wednesday 6th November. Part two.
Alison and Dave as before....
After i good nights sleep i eventually awoke at 6ish and made a cup of tea, after showering we had a full english breakfast and paid the bill. The manager was most apologetic and said it had been a mistake accepting the block booking in the first place, never mind to day was the first day of our holiday and we were on our way to catch the plane. The shuttle bus took us back to gatwick and we joined the queue to go through the scanners, this took about 10mins and DH was frisked as he kept setting off the alarm, they think it was his belt buckle in the end. A major row was going on at the end of one of the luggage scanners when a woman was told she had to empty out some of the contents of her needlework bag, i myself could see she had scissors, a large nail file and other banned items she was screaming blue murder until the security guard gave her the ultimatium of leaving them behind or if not she would not be boarding her flight she was still muttering as she left them and walked away
Eventually got to boarding gate and there it was announced that there would be a delay of about 15 mins for cleaning as the previous flight had been a bit delayed. The first class boarded and then our PE rows were called, DH still totally unaware about the upgrade and followed me onto the plane where the Stewardess pointed to the stairs and said, sir madam this way please, DH then said didnt know they had stairs on planes, me trying not to smile too much, anyway i let him go up first and his first words were blimey this is posh, Happy Birthday surprise i said, and i swear there was a tear in his eye, although he denies it found our seats and as we were handed our champagne and i told him we would be flying back this way as well, i think for the first time he was rather speechless but he soon made himself comfy. The flight was fantastic and the virgin staff top notch. No queues for the loos, plenty of drinks on offer and the food was steak pies with veg, lemon cheesecake and fruit for lunch and chicken salad roll and muffin for tea. We made up some time on the flight and only landed 20 mins late.
Now the good things about PE increased with our luggage coming off with first class, so we hot footed through security after having our luggage scanned and taken off us again. Then onto immigration, cant for the life of me remember which came first of the afore mentioned.... anyway at immigration we got through no problems and had a really friendly and chatty guy doing our paper work, he was a gem. Took a tip from these boards and send DH for the car whilst i collected the luggage. DH came back really quickly being the only one there at that time to collect a car and we collected luggage and made our way to car pick up. A really nice young lad helped us pack the car, run through the controls and gave some advice on driving, we gave him a tip and he seemed really surprised and said most people just drove off. On our previous trips we have both waited for luggage then both collected the car so you can imagine how long we used to take. From stepping off plane to driving out of airport was exactly 50 mins and this included a 10 min wait behind someone in immigration who had more paper work to get in the country than i have ever seen, would loved to have known his history.
Anyway with a big thanks to Simon Venness`s driving directions we took the back disney route to the 192 and it was a doddle and we arrived at the Four points sheraton lakeside at about 5.30pm and walked up to the checkin desk, very friendley staff and onto the room, which was on first floor over looking courtyard, very clean and spacious. We unpacked our overnight bags and walked next to the hotel to the burger king for some supper and had a stroll around the hotel shop etc before heading back to the room for the night. Had a lovely hot bath and unpacked main cases, two out of the three cases although intact, no outward damage, contained very wet items on top of the case, but no sign of leakage into case from outside and nothing had leaked inside the case, so we had no idea what it was, but it smelt of nothing particular so to be on safe side i washed it all the next day, very strange. Settled down to watch Law and Order which became a regular habit and lights out at about 10pm, i am just about to drop of to sleep when a little voice says thanks for surprise and WHHHHHHHHHEEEEEEEEEEE we are here, a swift thump and he shuts up. Dh first purchase of Tshirt made in gift shop the first of many as you will find out later.
Thoughts: would fly with virgin again no problems and intend booking with them for our 2005 trip. Would recommend Sheraton lakeside to anyone.
Any questions, i am willing to try and help if i can.
Alison and Dave as before....
After i good nights sleep i eventually awoke at 6ish and made a cup of tea, after showering we had a full english breakfast and paid the bill. The manager was most apologetic and said it had been a mistake accepting the block booking in the first place, never mind to day was the first day of our holiday and we were on our way to catch the plane. The shuttle bus took us back to gatwick and we joined the queue to go through the scanners, this took about 10mins and DH was frisked as he kept setting off the alarm, they think it was his belt buckle in the end. A major row was going on at the end of one of the luggage scanners when a woman was told she had to empty out some of the contents of her needlework bag, i myself could see she had scissors, a large nail file and other banned items she was screaming blue murder until the security guard gave her the ultimatium of leaving them behind or if not she would not be boarding her flight she was still muttering as she left them and walked away
Eventually got to boarding gate and there it was announced that there would be a delay of about 15 mins for cleaning as the previous flight had been a bit delayed. The first class boarded and then our PE rows were called, DH still totally unaware about the upgrade and followed me onto the plane where the Stewardess pointed to the stairs and said, sir madam this way please, DH then said didnt know they had stairs on planes, me trying not to smile too much, anyway i let him go up first and his first words were blimey this is posh, Happy Birthday surprise i said, and i swear there was a tear in his eye, although he denies it found our seats and as we were handed our champagne and i told him we would be flying back this way as well, i think for the first time he was rather speechless but he soon made himself comfy. The flight was fantastic and the virgin staff top notch. No queues for the loos, plenty of drinks on offer and the food was steak pies with veg, lemon cheesecake and fruit for lunch and chicken salad roll and muffin for tea. We made up some time on the flight and only landed 20 mins late.
Now the good things about PE increased with our luggage coming off with first class, so we hot footed through security after having our luggage scanned and taken off us again. Then onto immigration, cant for the life of me remember which came first of the afore mentioned.... anyway at immigration we got through no problems and had a really friendly and chatty guy doing our paper work, he was a gem. Took a tip from these boards and send DH for the car whilst i collected the luggage. DH came back really quickly being the only one there at that time to collect a car and we collected luggage and made our way to car pick up. A really nice young lad helped us pack the car, run through the controls and gave some advice on driving, we gave him a tip and he seemed really surprised and said most people just drove off. On our previous trips we have both waited for luggage then both collected the car so you can imagine how long we used to take. From stepping off plane to driving out of airport was exactly 50 mins and this included a 10 min wait behind someone in immigration who had more paper work to get in the country than i have ever seen, would loved to have known his history.
Anyway with a big thanks to Simon Venness`s driving directions we took the back disney route to the 192 and it was a doddle and we arrived at the Four points sheraton lakeside at about 5.30pm and walked up to the checkin desk, very friendley staff and onto the room, which was on first floor over looking courtyard, very clean and spacious. We unpacked our overnight bags and walked next to the hotel to the burger king for some supper and had a stroll around the hotel shop etc before heading back to the room for the night. Had a lovely hot bath and unpacked main cases, two out of the three cases although intact, no outward damage, contained very wet items on top of the case, but no sign of leakage into case from outside and nothing had leaked inside the case, so we had no idea what it was, but it smelt of nothing particular so to be on safe side i washed it all the next day, very strange. Settled down to watch Law and Order which became a regular habit and lights out at about 10pm, i am just about to drop of to sleep when a little voice says thanks for surprise and WHHHHHHHHHEEEEEEEEEEE we are here, a swift thump and he shuts up. Dh first purchase of Tshirt made in gift shop the first of many as you will find out later.
Thoughts: would fly with virgin again no problems and intend booking with them for our 2005 trip. Would recommend Sheraton lakeside to anyone.
Any questions, i am willing to try and help if i can.
