May 18, 2013 MAGIC EBTA - Who is with us?

[valbob89]

Here is a link to Hula, in the search box type Rick Steves' Europe Barcelona and Catalunya to link to Rick Steves travel doc of Barcelona and the surrounding area. When we were in Barcelona we did go to both Monserrat and the Dali museum, both well worth the trip.

http://www.hulu.com/#!search?q=rick+steves+barcelona

 

[NancyIL]

Here is a link to Hula, in the search box type Rick Steves' Europe Barcelona and Catalunya to link to Rick Steves travel doc of Barcelona and the surrounding area. When we were in Barcelona we did go to both Monserrat and the Guida museum, both well worth the trip.

http://www.hulu.com/#!search?q=rick+steves+barcelona

Do you mean Gaudi?

 

[valbob89]

Do you mean Gaudi?

yes, that was what I was thinking but I should have said Dali.

 

[Ladyshopper]

Finally I have got everything sorted, and am booked onto this cruise!!!

So excited, and less time to wait now. Two weeks onboard is going to be amazing.

First priority - how do I sign up for the fish extender group?? Also, is there a facebook group, if so how do I go about getting an invite to that.

Will have a read back through the thread over the weekend when I am on my days off work.

 

[Tink1987]

Finally I have got everything sorted, and am booked onto this cruise!!!

So excited, and less time to wait now. Two weeks onboard is going to be amazing.

First priority - how do I sign up for the fish extender group?? Also, is there a facebook group, if so how do I go about getting an invite to that.

Will have a read back through the thread over the weekend when I am on my days off work.

Welcome aboard - glad you got it all sorted!

Did you get a good price on flights in the end then?

 

[Ladyshopper]

£432 each from Heathrow to Houston.

Used Avios for Barcelona back to Heathrow, so just £15 taxes each - a bargain! Downside is the flight doesn't go until 19.20 pm, so go a long wait at Heathrow after disembarking!

 

[MandyGirl]

Finally I have got everything sorted, and am booked onto this cruise!!!

So excited, and less time to wait now. Two weeks onboard is going to be amazing.

First priority - how do I sign up for the fish extender group?? Also, is there a facebook group, if so how do I go about getting an invite to that.

Will have a read back through the thread over the weekend when I am on my days off work.

WELCOME ABOARD!!

Here's a link to the facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/436992032989082/

 

[Ladyshopper]

Thanks Mandygirl. Have just asked to join (my first name is Jody for any of the admin on the group!).

 

[MandyGirl]

Thanks Mandygirl. Have just asked to join (my first name is Jody for any of the admin on the group!).

I just added you

 

[Tink1987]

£432 each from Heathrow to Houston.

Used Avios for Barcelona back to Heathrow, so just £15 taxes each - a bargain! Downside is the flight doesn't go until 19.20 pm, so go a long wait at Heathrow after disembarking!

Nice price! That going on Friday 17th?

We need to sort our hotel in Galveston, it's the one thing we have left to do!

 

[Transatlantic H20]

Does anyone have any advice on the chip-and-pin credit cards needed for your credit cards to work in Europe?

For this express purpose I recently applied for a credit card marketed to tourists, but I've heard it referenced as a "chip-and-signature card" as opposed to a "chip-and-pin" and now I am confused.

 

[NancyIL]

Does anyone have any advice on the chip-and-pin credit cards needed for your credit cards to work in Europe?

For this express purpose I recently applied for a credit card marketed to tourists, but I've heard it referenced as a "chip-and-signature card" as opposed to a "chip-and-pin" and now I am confused.

You don't have to have a chip and pin credit card - as long as a US credit card can be run manually. You could have trouble at unmanned ticket machines without one, however, so make sure you have some local currency.

 

[woody73]

You don't have to have a chip and pin credit card - as long as a US credit card can be run manually. You could have trouble at unmanned ticket machines without one, however, so make sure you have some local currency.

Good idea to have some local currency. At Barcelona, I was unable to buy a metro pass from the automated ticket machine using my US-issued VISA card. Also, when I tried to use my VISA card to make a purchase at the FNAC store (books and CDs) at Plaza Catalunya, the cashier required my passport, which was back in the hotel room safe.

Woody

 

[GoofyNewfie]

If you do have a chip and pin card but never use the pin, make sure you know it. My experience in London lately is that they won't often let you do a manual swipe if it's a chip and pin. Coworker I've been travelling with has been stuck a few times and I've had to pay. Hope he figures it out next trip.

I know London's not exactly on our itinerary but a few folks seem to be thinking about a post-cruise trip to London and Paris.

I also agree with the local money. I find cabs and small stores the worst for not wanting to take credit cards.

 

[GoofyNewfie]

I'm no expert, but another thing I've noticed with my recent many trips to London is that the money changing vendors in airports and such charge extraordinarily bad conversion rates to buy local currency.

For example, I can buy GBP with CAD at my local bank for $1.62. They were charging $1.72 when I went past yesterday.

And, something else I've recently noted, but not really figured out for sure is when using the credit card to purchase something that they'll ask me if I want to pay in CAD or GBP. If I pay in CAD, I'm getting a much worse rate than my bank/CC company charges. So I've started just saying GBP is fine.

 

[NancyIL]

I'm no expert, but another thing I've noticed with my recent many trips to London is that the money changing vendors in airports and such charge extraordinarily bad conversion rates to buy local currency.

For example, I can buy GBP with CAD at my local bank for $1.62. They were charging $1.72 when I went past yesterday.

And, something else I've recently noted, but not really figured out for sure is when using the credit card to purchase something that they'll ask me if I want to pay in CAD or GBP. If I pay in CAD, I'm getting a much worse rate than my bank/CC company charges. So I've started just saying GBP is fine.

I would not exchange US or CAD dollars for foreign currency - except as a last resort. The exchange rate and/or fees are higher than getting money from an ATM.

I got foreign currency before a trip only once, and I won't do it again. I ordered a large amount of euros from Wells Fargo (online) last spring. Even though Wells Fargo said most credit card companies treat the charge as a purchase - my credit card company (Citibank) considered it a cash advance, and started charging interest right away! I realized it as soon as I checked my account online, and I was able to minimize the amount of interest by paying off the credit card immediately. However, there was nothing I could do about the 5% transaction fee.

 

[GoofyNewfie]

Hey Folks,

Finally getting a couple minutes to rub together to look at the cruise info. Looking at excursions. There's an excursion called "Unforgettable West Madeira" at Madeira that's 8-8.5hrs. We're only docked for 8.25hrs.

How in the world can Disney guarantee that? I have to assume you need to include some time to get off/on the boat?

Anyone have experience with this sort of thing that could comment? Should I avoid that excursion like the plague? I get it that they guarantee you, but would that simply mean they'll fly us to Gibraltar or would they absolutely wait?

 

[NancyIL]

Hey Folks,

Finally getting a couple minutes to rub together to look at the cruise info. Looking at excursions. There's an excursion called "Unforgettable West Madeira" at Madeira that's 8-8.5hrs. We're only docked for 8.25hrs.

How in the world can Disney guarantee that? I have to assume you need to include some time to get off/on the boat?

Anyone have experience with this sort of thing that could comment? Should I avoid that excursion like the plague? I get it that they guarantee you, but would that simply mean they'll fly us to Gibraltar or would they absolutely wait?

The itinerary shows the onboard time of 6:45 - which is usually 30 minutes prior to departure. That's not the time the ship sails. If the ship offers the tour, you will have time for it. If the excursion returns late, the ship will wait.

 

[Ladyshopper]

Nice price! That going on Friday 17th?

We need to sort our hotel in Galveston, it's the one thing we have left to do!

Yes it is. Am already missing a week and a day of school for kids, so really can't do any more - would have been lovely to have a few days in Barcelona but not to be.

 

[Ladyshopper]

Is there a fish extender sign up anywhere? Checked first post and couldn't see it, but probably missed it!