And I am indebted to my friend and Travel mover and shaker, French-based Irishman, Michael Collins for sparking me to revisit an old series, Holidos and don’ts.
Michael flagged up that at his local supermarché the aisles selling suitcases and headrests are interdit, or blocked.
Mad hatters: And when I used to take a full suitcase to America
Which beggars the question: how essential are suitcases?
And who doesn’t have one anyway?
Nothing to see here
As all Travel professionals do I like to take advice from seasoned pros, like doyen and Americanophile JP Thomson, erstwhile of the Sunday World.
JP always packs a half-full suitcase to leave space for what you take home.
Half full
Irish Travel professionals, nay all Irish people, love few things better than hitting the shops after they get off the plane.
Possibly the afternoon after they hit the bars.
Anyone got scissors?
And so when our Irelando party hit Aaawlando, and they set aside a couple of hours at a shopping mall, it was like the Olympics 100m final.
Needless to say they all returned with half the mall in their bags, while I bought a tee-shirt.
New suitcase
The fact is though that shopping in America is great value.
Irish and Scots on tour in Orlando
So why not take the opportunity to update your wardrobe and send the outdated clothes you’re standing up in to the charity shop.
The same applies, of course, if you go on a sun holiday.
Pack light
So that the members of my party who took full suitcases to the Maldives found they only needed their swimwear and summer clothes.
Who needs a suitcase? The Maldives
Some of us, of course, found that all you need on dry land is a sarong and flip-flops.
While we’ll not talk about those women who took heels.
And make it snazzy
And in the last instance why not just go out with hand luggage, or better still a rucksack that doubles as a wheelie?
Here’s to hitting the airport again
And buy a suitcase when you’re out in a country where, Zut Alors!, they don’t stop you buying suitcases from their supermarchés.
And for more Holidos and don’ts advice here’s a reminder of how we roll from where we last rocked up… Bergamo.
They arrived from the East, the Three Wise Men, and as we mark the Coming of the Magi tomorrow, another favour… please send some more.
Because as we witness the Gulf celebrating New Year with real-live people, watching real-live performers, it’s clear they can teach us how to zap this Pandemic thing.
These are good times for the Gulf with a New Year bringing new hope too for solving some differences between neighbours.
Qatar star
Saudi Arabia has reopened its air space to Qatar ahead of the Gulf Cooperation Council.
The Saudis, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt all cut ties with Qatar three and a half years ago over allegations that they supported terrorists.
For all of us who are climbing the walls looking to go somewhere exotic (and Celtic FC) then the Gulf is always enticing… and there’s actual life happening.
The Gulf, as we all know, is a favourite stop-off en route to other great locations although we’d recommend staying a while.
But in the words of the inestimable Chris Tarrant, I don’t want to give you that (well, I do but…) I want to give you this.
Joali, 45 minutes by seaplane from Male, which is welcoming back guests from August 1.
There’s everything you would expect in terms of luxury with your own swimming pool, yoga and wellness treatment, private dining options and the chance to go out to your own desert island!
But get this, you and your friends can buy out the island’s own 73 villas and residences and facilities.
Exclusive use buyout will start from $90,000 per night through to September 30 and $185,000 per night between October 1 and 30 November.
For guests 12 and above an all-inclusive full-board meal plan (including alcohol for adults) will cost an additional $450per night per guest. Visit http://www.inspiringtravelcompany.co.uk.
And whaddya mean you haven’t got that kind of moolah? You’ve been locked down for the last four months!
Insert smiley Ryanair emoji here
You know that we’re getting back to normal when Ryanair http://www.ryanair.com are getting funky with their slogans and emojis again and they’ve only taken to dressing oranges with sunglasses.
Where myself and the world’s luckiest woman still have a complimentary bottle of champagne which we never finished 25 years ago still waiting for us.
Wearing my Sandals on my sleeve
A basket of devourables
Caribbeanophile that I am, I’ve been cheering on the Windies in their Test series with England (don’t tell the Scary One).
The Windies are of course promoting Sandals http://www.sandals.co.uk on the sleeves of their shirts and it is timely as their resorts are open for business with some great offers.
Jamaica has been the prize which has been slipping through my grasp these past couple of years through me being in another part of the world at the time when it was offered, or even worse WORKING!
The famous five with Laura and Hayley centre
But I will keep next January free (promise!) for your seven-night stay at the Sandals Ochi Beach, seven nights from £2,129pp including flights.
You can upgrade too to butler elite room for only €156 which tickled the fancy of my colleagues when I stayed there Let’s rumba in Barbados and http://www.visitbarbados.org who I’ll call Laura and Hayley so as NOT to protect their privacy!
And, of course, I’ve been promising you more Jocktails with a Caribbean twist. They’re coming. Don’t you know how difficult it is to get Falernum in Scotland.
Crazy cruisey government advice
And sporting my medallion on my lapel
So, who thinks it’s a good idea to give the green light to pack out pubs and beaches but thinks it unsafe to let cruise companies and grown-ups distance themselves on cruise ships?
Herself was only a little princess when she passed through the Panama Canal with her parents on her trip home on a working ship from Australia as a child.
Panama dancing
Princess Cruises had been traversing the canal for some half a dozen years by then and have continued to do so (lockdown excepted) and aim to do so again.
All of which will be sweet music to the Indomitable Mrs M who wants an upgrade from that working ship!
Fort Lauderdale R&R
For 2021-22 voyages wil range from 10-15 days visiting 17 destinations in eight countries.
Keeeeep dancin’: With Judy Murray in Portugal
Price includes B&B, flights and transfers. Based on travel between October 26-November 6.
