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Caribbean, Countries, Flying

They think it’s Barbados Crop Over it is now

27th February 202227th February 2022 funtime65

They think it’s Barbados Crop Over it is now the Caribbean island is getting back to normal.

All of which means you won’t have to row across the Atlantic!

No, of course, the Covid regulations never got to that stage.

And we do, of course, have the gift now of the Virgin Atlantic route from Edinburgh.

Can you hear me row?

It’s just I mention the rowing because Irish record breaker Dr Karen Weekes has just arrived in Bim.

After more than 80 days rowing the 3.000 nautical miles from Gran Canaria.

And there to greet her was my old sparring partner and Ireland’s Travel Journalist of the Year and Travel Times blogger Isabel Conway.

She had, of course, taken a different route, by air, and business class too.

Which is how we have often rolled together in our shared travels.

2022 will be the bounce back year for so many of us and for countries who depend so heavily on tourism that’s multiplied.

And for islands in the sun (not the UK and Ireland’s USP) that means being able to put their carnivals on again.

Carnival time

Larger than life: With Rihanna in Barbados

Barbados’s Crop Over is one of the most celebrated in the Caribbean.

And it doesn’t hurt it any to have Rihanna promoting it.

Who knows too her Big Reveal may even coincide with Crop Over season?

Ri-Ri, as you’d expect, is all over the island.

And her oversized image greets you from the wall as soon as you walk through the open-fronted Grantley Adams International Airport.

You’ll also get a cheery Irie from the customs officers who are only too happy to help even the most accidental tourist.

Sign of the times

Colour of Barbados: Bright, Mon!

Yes, that’ll be me. And that was me when I asked to double back to see if the party I was meeting was there.

I’d arrived in the balmy terminal on my first visit to Barbados, tired, hot and excited but confused when I couldn’t see any sign of my hosts.

The only sign was for a holiday prize winner.

The line was long and snakey and as I scanned it for evidence of a placard I fixed my eyes on a mop of sky high blonde hair.

The Fab Five: Early Angie, Laura Disorder, Hayley the Soca Blogger, Ab Fab and Bim Jim

A long story short (always a first time) the mop of blonde hair belonged to Laura Bartlett and the holiday prize guide was radio DJ Angie Greaves.

And both of them unbeknown to me were on our party.

You might know Angie too from Magic Radio and now Smooth Radio.

Or Pointless Celebrities, and yes I paid extra notice on that otherwise uneventful winter evening.

And you might have seen House of Coco on the shelves, the travel and fashion bible of founder Laura Bartlett.

Cast of Crop Over

Cream of the Crop: With the best Soca singers

Laura, Angie, Rihanna, Lewis Hamilton, Brian Lara, Bim Jim (that’ll be me) have all made up the cast of Crop Overs.

And we will again… Barbados is reopening and they’ll make you really welcome.

Just look out for the placard, the mop of big hair (Laura Disorder has gone back to black) and the Bandana.

They think it’s Barbados Crop Over it is now.

Virgin Atlantic, TUI, British Airways and Aer Lingus all fly from the UK.

Barbados has, of course, like all islands a North, South, West and East and a middle (called Scotland).

And you should check it all out.

The South, around St Lawrence Gap, and the West, the plush Platinum Coast is where most visitors gather.

And so, of course, I’ve road tested some of the best Sandals, Turtle Beach by Elegant Hotels (in the south) and Club Barbados (in the west).

MEET YOU ON THE ROAD

Countries, Flying

Holidanxieties and Don’ts

26th February 202225th February 2022 funtime65

Even for the most experienced traveller these past two years have compounded our Holidanxieties and Don’ts.

But fear not help is at hand.

Both here in your series at Holidos and Don’ts and through the experts at ParkSleepFly.

And they have only enlisted the help of psychologist Lee Chambers to help relieve your stress with these five tips.

All of which I’ll put my own spin on and lessons, all at my own expense.

Prepare a distraction

Lee recommends mindfulness and breathing exercises.

And he adds: ‘It can be useful to utilise healthy distractions.

‘Especially things that help you get into the flow, whether it be games, music or creative activities.’

And, of course, your mobile phone playlist can be your friend.

Although you’ll need to ensure that you’re plugged in so as not to wear out your charge which may have your ticket on.

Seek out too chill rooms, sleep pods and chapels.

And if you’re in Kythera airport, off the coast of Athens, then read the poetry from the books on the hooks by the seats.

Fly safe

Now everyone’s flight experiences are different.

And there’s no doubt a difficult trip can make anyone become a nervous flier.

Lee again: ‘Positive, realistic thoughts can also help, perhaps think of the hundreds of safe flights that take off and land every minute, and believe in the fact that you can handle your nerves with techniques and support.’

Sometimes even airplane fans can be brought down by nervous flyers.

And the Californian who was sick in, and passed me her sick bag, and bug was a case in point.

Not that that put me off my own flight as the queasiness didn’t kick in until later.

And that was in large part because of the services of the…

Flight attendants

The steward on that Aer Lingus flight to Los Angeles mopped up that particular messy moment.

A true angel in the clouds generously relocated me to another seat on my suggestion to give the lady more room.

And attending to her throughout the flight and giving her a wheelchair and first aid on arrival in LA.

‘Sharing your feelings with those you are sitting near or staff can feel a little scary, but it ensures you have support on hand.’ says Lee.

Go with the flow

Expect the unexpected and be prepared to respond and you will surprise yourself.

And allay your Holidanxieties and Don’ts.

Over to Lee: ‘We all know the feeling of the stress when going on holiday, before finally arriving and just letting it flow away.

‘It is often a disruption to our routine, and knowing this can help us to feel less stressed about the unknown.’

And remember worse things happen at sea!

Keep your eye on the goal

Be guided by those who have an adventure in them.

Like Bilbo Baggins… ‘Not all those who wander are lost’.

And our friends at ParkSleepFly advise that we keep our eye on the goal.

Not everything works out the way we envisage but often it does in the end.

And if you have missed your through flight in Munich for Athens.

And you fear you’ve lost the opportunity to see the Acropolis take counsel.

Chances are you’ll find time on your way back from Kythera to see Acropolis Later.

So the last words to Lee: ‘If you do start to get anxious about your holiday going ahead, seek calming activities, and visualise yourself enjoying your break.

‘And finally, have some compassion for yourself, it’s been a very challenging two years and the reward of travelling is something we should cherish.’

Hope then that allays your Holidanxieties and Don’ts.

Countries, Flying

Battery powered planes save air travel

1st February 202231st January 2022 funtime65

Amid all the hot air around Boris Johnson something even more important swirling above our heads. How Battery powered planes save air travel.

As with most things technological it’s the Japanese who have been leading the way.

The Japanese National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS), in conjunction with technology investment firm SoftBank, has developed a lithium-air battery.

With an energy density of over 500Wh/kg.

And this battery can be charged and discharged at room temperature.

The benchmark

And why this is important is that that is the figure viewed as an important benchmark.

For both long-haul and high-capacity flights.

There are a lot of naysayers and sneering eco-cynics out there.

And you suspect don’t even want the air industry to try to go green.

Take that Greta

Because Greetin’ Greta and her flygskam brigade would then have to admit something.

That airplanes are a force for good and not some sky monsters.

Until now, electric planes have been small and incapable of carrying large numbers of passengers long haul.

They have instead been focusing on short-distance, private aircraft.

And there’s a further upside of electric planes.

Because it would not only reduce pollution from fuel-burning engines.

But it also eliminate noise pollution that forces airports to be located in areas with low population densities.

A United front

Now with every new innovation it is best listening to those in the know about what they think and I’m thinking one of my favourite airlines.

So over to Captain Ross ‘Rusty’ Aimer, CEO of Aero Consulting Experts and retired United Airlines Captain.

He said: ‘Battery technology or the lack of, has been the greatest deterrent against electric flight.

‘If this new concept is proven to be practical, we are on the way to electric air travel!’

Yes we agree and look forward to the day. Battery powered planes save travel.

Countries, Deals, Europe, Flying, Ireland

Ryanwhere is Scotland?

29th January 2022 funtime65

Ryanwhere is Scotland? A question asked by one of its staff to a Polish family returning to Scotland from Portugal.

It was all to do with different Covid regulations applying to Scotland and England.

And fair’s fair because it’s complicated too for those of us who share this island of Britain.

It is of course an occupational hazard of being one of Jock Tamson’s Bairns (that’s being a Scot).

And on my first visit to America nearly 40 years ago the young people I’d meet would ask me if Scotland was in England.

The capital of North Dakota

It irked me then until my American History tutor I learned under when I got back and studied in Aberdeen asked me what the capital of North Dakota was?

And like all lessons in life it’s stuck: Bismarck.

All of which ramblings brings us to Ryanair‘s flash sale which ends tomorrow, midnight, Sunday, January 30.

Michael O’Leary’s empire, of course, is built on a model of flying to out-of-the-way destinations to cut down on prices for the punters.

And so Scots (and non-Scots) have had to become educated in towns we’d never heard of before.

Some of them are also in the same country as the destination we want to visit.

Some out-of-the-way places

For our Ryanair pal Edinburgh is the capital of Scotland, which is the northern country of the island of Britain.

And it, and Scotland’s largest city Glasgow, is €9.99, from my old stomping ground of Dublin (Ireland that is, not Ohio).

But like Geography Gio we had to look up the map to find some of these others.

Billund in Denmark is the cheapest destination on offer at €7.99.

The good news for kids (and big kids alike) is that Billund is Legoland.

The bad news is that if you wanted to see Copenhagen then you’d have to island hop and it’s 261kms away.

Eindhoven, 122kms south of Amsterdam, too comes in at €7.99.

And while I’m sure that Eindhoveners are very friendly, their centrepiece the Philips Electronic Museum is always going to be a hard sell.

Do you know these cities?

Happy Hamburg is in the same price bracket and is instantly recognisable for anybody who has seen the map of Europe more than once.

Now I’ve had the good fortune to attend the German Travel Mart in Dresden and stay abreast of most of what is going on in Deutschland but Memmingen? Sorry.

Well, the old Roman fortress town is 116kms west of Munich and is clearly a smaller airport than the Bavarian capital which you can get lost in (trust me).

We dare say too that in Lublin‘s fair city the girls are so pretty.

Only it’s pronounced Looblin and is in Poland, 170kms south-west of capital Warsaw.

And you can get there for €12.99 where film buffs may recognise if from the film The Reader.

So the next time an airline worker asks you Ryanwhere is Scotland (insert your own country) then take five.

And reflect on the fact that we don’t all know where each other live.

And it’s all the more exciting when we find out.

MEET YOU IN THE AIR

America, Caribbean, Countries, Flying, UK

Dominica where tall is her body

26th January 202226th January 2022 funtime65

What does your country mean… and surely it isn’t as lyrical as Dominica where tall is her body?

The good people of Dominica came-a-calling yesterday as part of our Caribbean Tourism Organisation conference.

And we kicked off, of course, with their biggest calling card, the Waitukubuli Trail.

At 115 miles long, in 14 segments, it is the longest trail in the West Indies and will take you ten to 14 days to compete.

Named by the indigenous Kalinago people it showcases the 29.2 miles high north-south island.

With peaks as high as 4,747ft.

What’s in a name?

And Waitukubuli is, of course, where the poetic Kalinago came up with the name.

There are other appealing place names and attractions across the island such as Boiling Lake, Champagne Reef, Trafalgar Falls…

And wellness, spas and warming springs aplenty.

Our friendly smiling Dominicans put up with good grace when people mistake them for the Dominican Republic.

Which is about 600 miles from Roseau, the capital of Dominica!

Your best way (and what a way) is by a short boat ride from Guadeloupe where Death In Paradise is filmed.

And Guadeloupe is served by American Airlines from Puerto Rico.

Then Nevis

Our friends in Nevis, a twin island with St Kitts & Nevis, has to field similar calls.

With mountaineers mistaking this island in the sun with my island in the snow and its largest mountain, Ben Nevis.

And Hamilton, of course

Scotland and Nevis, of course, have a very topical association through a son they both share.

And he spawned the most famous opening lines in the history of musicals when Alexander Hamilton’s nemesis Aaron Burr sang:

How does a bastard, orphan, son of a whore and a
Scotsman, dropped in the middle of a forgotten
Spot in the Caribbean by Providence, impoverished, in squalor
Grow up to be a hero and a scholar?

Of course it is forgotten no more and not just because of its association with the Founding Father and hero of New York, but it all helps.

And his birthplace on Nevis is a must-see for fans of Hamilton.

A better Montpelier

Holiday hopefuls too get a pleasant surprise when they go looking for Montpelier in France…

And find the luxury Montpelier Plantation & Beach hotel in Charlestown set on a 300-year-old sugar plantation.

While Restaurant 750 offers diners views of St Kitts.

And yes, we’ll meet you on the road.

And reveal more of these lyrical islands.

Such as Dominica where tall is her body.

Countries, Europe, Flying

Turkish Airlines’ 12-hour flit

19th January 202219th January 2022 funtime65

You pack the box in and pull down the car boot but the glass smashes… this house mover should have asked Ilker Ayci, mastermind of Turkish Airlines’ 12-hour flit.

If you’re in the middle of a house move and wondering how you’ll get it all done in time then check out National Geographic’s documentary which showed this week.

And see how TA moved 5,000 workers and 47,300 tons of materials (that’s 33 football pitches) from Atatürk Airport to Istanbul Airport in 2019 in half a day.

Mega relocation

In there somewhere: At Turkish Airlines H

The national flag carrier paused all flights for 12 hours for the ‘Mega Relocation’.

Throw in 12,000 parcel and some 1,000 vehicles and what you have amounts to a military exercise.

I’ve had the pleasure of enjoying TA’s hospitality both at Ataturk and Istanbul Airports.

And had the privilege of being invited behind the scenes at TA HQ and even got to fly a plane myself.

The pilot episode

The simulator gave me the chance to fly in over the Hudson at JFK Airport in New York.

And to witness the rescue operation complete with slide and ice pool where the staff learn the drills.

In truth, if you’d been on my plane and had me as your pilot you’d have needed to know how to slide and plunge.

As I overshot the runway and skidded off it.

It’s always best to leave it to the experts.

TA is the business

Boy Racer: In Turkish Airlines Business Class

And TA is the world’s fourth largest flight network and flies to 315 international destinations in Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas.

And that makes it the largest mainline carrier in the world by number of passenger destinations.

Anyone who has flown with TA will have enjoyed the experience thoroughly.

And particularly if you’ve treated yourself to their world-beating Business Class with its Flying Chef and sleeping booths.

You’ll appreciate it if you happen to be en route to one of their long-haul dream destinations like Kuramathi in the Maldives.

The layovers of layovers

And the airport layovers to beat all layovers.

The Turkish Airlines Business Lounge where you can drive on the range (I’m safer there), the model fast cars, go the cinema, have a nap and massage.

And eat, drink and be merry.

And to think they did all this on Turkish Airlines’ 12-hour flit.

America, Countries, Europe, Flying

Why airports are museums

18th January 202218th January 2022 funtime65

For some they are stressful thoroughfares but for the rest they are objets d’artes and why airports are museums.

If you are a seasoned traveller then it is inevitable that you will have spent hours on end in airports.

Go Broncos

Denver: Now if you have found yourself with eight hours before your next flight from Denver you might wonder what you’ll do.

Where’s a mini-golf course when you need one?

Well, yours is at the south end of Jeppesen Terminal in the pre-security area.

That Denver International Airport should have a mini-golf course should come as little surprise.

To those of us greeted by a giant blue Bronco installation, entering the airport.

The hip and humorous hombres from Denver have a thing for big blue animals as we know from our own perigrinations in Mile High City.

When in Rome

Rome: It would have been the preserve of the Gods, of Mercury, to fly in Ancient Rome.

And so in today’s Leonardo da Vinci Airport they celebrate their seafaring past.

And so when I last visited the Eternal City they had an exhibition to Ostia.

Of course it wouldn’t be Rome if they weren’t honouring their most famous citizens with sculptures scattered through the airport.

And an array of mosaics including part of a mythological depiction of signs of the Zodiac and the four time zones, or the four seasons.

Epic Athens

Spoiled and ruined at the Acropolis in Athens

Athens: Now what the fast food chain was in the days of Socrates and Plato is anybody’s guess but I’m thinking Figs on the Run.

Civilisations meet near the Burger King on the upper level of the main departures hall (before security).

And there you’ll see 172 authentic artefacts dating from the Neolithic and Early Hellenic eras to the post-Byzantine period.

I will be back to check them out only I’d messed up my connections through Munich and had a date with Athene on a hill. But that’s another story.

Amsterdam in miniature

Amsterdam: The Netherlands have long been a crossroads from these islands, Britain and Ireland, where I live.

And, while of course, we should always take time out to see its largest city, the gem that is Amsterdam, there are times when Schiphol Airport will be a layover.

Now I’m a long-term advocate for art galleries, and believe that there is never a wasted minute, hour or afternoon spent in one.

And so if you have time on your hands, and even if you don’t, then you should check out the Rijksmuseum.

Which became the first art museum in the world to open a branch at an airport in 2002.

And where travellers can visit the museum free of charge, 24 hours a day.

Qatar welcomes the world

Qatar: Now Qatar will be welcoming peoples from around the globe at the end of this year when they host the World Cup.

So we’ll all see the herd of metal oryxes, a nice treat in arrivals.

Have a lie down: And there are more funky sculptures

As well as the jumbo yellow Lamp Bear by Urs Fischer after departures, security and passport control at the South Node.

Or the wooden toy Small Lie which looms 32 feet over passers-by in the North Node.

And the larger-than-life sculptural Playground.

All of which we’ll appreciate all the more as we get back out flying again.

That’s why airports are museums.

America, Countries, Deals, Europe, Flying

Goodbye to pre-departure tests

8th January 20228th January 2022 funtime65

If a week’s a long time in politics then a day’s an absolute lifetime as we say a tentative goodbye to pre-departure tests.

The UK and Ireland are not exactly throwing their doors open… we still have to put those little sticks up our nose.

But it’s enough to see punters bombarding their travel agents for summer holiday ideas.

Special agents

Our holiday providers have reported business up 150%.

With operators at the likes of Jet2Holidays (flash sale) and Barrhead Travel here in Scotland glued to their phones.

A kinda Christmas come late.

For us Caribbean converts in Scotland (I’ve always been a believer) there has been a rush.

To get on the new Virgin Atlantic Edinburgh to Bridgetown, Barbados route.

While old favourite Tenerife (and why not take in the north and west of the island too) is also seeing brisk business.

State of redemption

Acting Goofy: And a big dog in Disney World In Orlando

The Oo Es of A is always a dream destination with Orlando warming up nicely with a whole raft of attractions.

See you there in June (although I’ve jinxed that on so many occasions I’m loath to name it in case I can’t claim it).

While start spreading the news, New York is among the dream destinations we are lining up as our big comeback holiday.

Now if you’re a UK/Ireland hopper like me then you’ll always favour going through Dublin for your transatlantic trip.

You skip pre-clearance you see.

Aer of optimism

Stairway to US heaven: Brohna Tinnelly and Sean Ryan at the steps of an Aer Lingus plane in Dublin

Our old pals at Aer Lingus are always front and centre with their deals.

Ireland’s national airline carrier has a January Seat Sale.

They have two million seats on sale including up to 20% off European and UK* travel.

As well as flights to North America from just €169 each way as part of a return trip.

And as they reminded us when I was over in Dublin for our American Thanksgiving catch-up their VeriFLY app takes all the work out of it for us.

That way you can upload your Covid-19 related documentation required for your destination,

And that way all of your Covid documentation is verified before travel.

As usual we’ll bring you the best deals and destinations right here.

And with that in mind Michael O’Leary and Ryanair never miss out on the opportunity to seize the moment.

And they are offering 100,000 seats from €16.99.

Politicians watch out

So let’s say a tentative goodbye to pre-departure tests.

Safe in the knowledge that politicians being politicians then they’ll likely change all the rules next week.

Let’s not let them.

America, Countries, Flying

Clip our wings we’re off to Portland

21st December 202121st December 2021 funtime65

Clip our wings we’re off to Portland with a new non-stop British Airways route to Oregon.

This time of the year, more than any other, we look up to the skies… for a flying sleigh.

Santa Super Spreader of love

Now none of us really expect Santa to show he’s double vaccinated and boosted.

That he has to take a Lateral Flow Test, PCR test, show a vaccine passport, or have to self-isolate.

And surely if anyone would be a super spreader it would be Santa who is in and out of every house in the world.

So go figure, Government?

Fantasy? No more so than anything else being inflicted on us just now in this parallel universe.

The Great Unknown

Thankfully there are those of us throughout history who have always been prepared to set into the Great Unknown.

And I reckon I’d be that type of Frontiersman.

All who do yield the benefits, such as those who took the trail out to Portland.

And looked for gold.

Golden liquid

The gold now comes in a whiskey glass and their distillery at their airport.

And that’s the kind of welcome I’ll always appreciate.

British Airways, of course, always oblige.

Fly to Portland

On June 3, British Airways will launch their first year-round, nonstop flight from London to Portland, Oregon.

The new service will run five days a week from London Heathrow to Portland International Airport.

The service was originally due to start on June 1 but was delayed due to Covid.

Fares start from £499 ($662 USD) based on return fare in World Traveller (economy).

Flights to Portland will depart on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday during the summer and in the winter.

And it will be operated on a Boeing 787 Dreamliner.

All the way to Oregon

Portland Bandana/ Straight from Portland

All of which is unfinished business with the pesky Delta variant putting paid to that visit in September.

And old acquaintances will be brought to mind and my Portland sparring partner Laura from American travel fairs…

There’s dancing to be done.

So clip our wings we’re off to Portland.

America, Countries, Deals, Flying

Happy Quacksgiving Day

25th November 202125th November 2021 funtime65

And the most famous Donald on Earth is certainly celebrating today because duck isn’t on the menu.. Happy Quacksgiving Day everyone.

We all know about the Other Donald, the one with the tuft and the big mouth who doesn’t make any sense.

I’m more interested in My Donald though – Donald Duck – and of course we go way back to when we had a quacking time out in Disney World in Orlando.

And if my luck holds out then I’ll be dancing with the duck next year at the American Travel Fair, IPW, next year.

But many of us can’t wait until then and have been working with Visit USA to get out there before then.

So, it’s just as well then that our old friends, Ireland’s national airline carrier are there to help us.

Aer we go to Orlando

From this Saturday customers will be able to travel directly to Florida, following the lifting of travel restrictions to the US earlier this month.

From this weekend, Dublin to Orlando will operate three flights per week to connect families, friends, and business in the run up to the holiday period.

This weekly schedule of direct flights to Orlando will fly on Saturday, Tuesday and Thursday with fares starting from €169 each way, including taxes and charges.

Those looking to visit the Sunshine State can avail of the great Black Flyday offers on flights to the US with Aer Lingus.

Flyday Friday

You’ll get €100 off return fares to North America and €200 Business Class fares to the US (travel 1st January to 31st May 2022). Book by November 30.

With 13 direct routes between North America and Ireland, including New York, Chicago, Boston, LosAngeles, San Francisco, Orlando, Washington, Seattle, and Philadelphia, offers, which run until November 30.

That includes €100 off return flights to North America and €200 off return business class tickets.

They’ll be valid for travel from 1st January to 31st May 2022. And remember there’s pre-clearance.

Very VerifLY

Now if you want the best advice on how Aer Lingus flies then it helps to have access to the people who fly us.

And fortunately I am and they gave us the rundown on how they, and us, travel these days.

And their super-duper VeriFLY travel pass app.

Most importantly… Aer Lingus customers cannot check-in online ahead of flights to/from the USA unless they use VeriFLY.

The app allows users to upload and ensure that their travel documentation is checked and approved before travelling to the airport.

This will allow customers to get their online boarding pass and go straight to bag drop/boarding gate, and avoid queuing at check-in.