www.virginatlantic.com Archives - Page 2 of 2 - Jim Murty’s TravelTravelTravel

Are you a hoarder? It sounds like one of those American TV ads… call this number for a money back guarantee if you’re not truly satisfied.

I have more toothbrushes, combs, earplugs, eye masks and pens than I know what to do with.

And bags in which to hold them.

And it’s rightly getting up The Scary One’s nose.

Which is handy because I reckon I’ve got some kind of stick for that too.

What’s not handy though is the amount of plastic I’ve accumulated.

So I’m delighted to see that Virgin Atlantic are leading the way in new biodegradable airplane sundries.

What do we get then?

Toothbrushes made out of bamboo which sounds gentle in my toothies which are particularly brittle.

And even the pen is made of recycled kraft paper.

Virgin is hoping to save 945 tonnes of plastic waste each year, the equivalent of six airbus 350 wide body jets.

I’m lucky enough to be a member of the Virgin Atlantic Flying Club who will keep you up to date with all the great deals and more www.virginatlantic.com.

Try out their Caribbean routes and my reviews Let’s rumba in Barbados and My kiss with Rihanna.

The airline are also branching out into Virgin territory as it were with a first foray into South America.

And Sao Paulo in Brazil from Heathrow.

They will begin the route from March 29.

Virgin has also agreed a codeshare with GOL that will serve 37 destinations across Brazil and expand reach across South America.

Berlin y’all

*Fly the flag. Photo by Ingo Joseph on Pexels.com*

Berlin is high up on The Scary One’s wish list… she has a great affinity with the land of her birth.

Any year is good to visit the German capital but this year is best with the 30th anniversary of the Fall of the Wall upon us.

Aer Lingus is offering Berlin from Dublin among its range of destinations in its September sale from €34.99.

Which has a touch of October about it. See www.aerlingus.com for terms and conditions.

And also try the jewel of east Germany which you can reach from Berlin https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/dresdens-renaissance-martin-luther/

Agadir, do, do

*A touch of Morocco. Photo Nicolas Postiglioni on Pexels.com*

I’ll admit it. I have my demons.

Morocco is one.

I might just have got unlucky in Marrakech and the Sahara, almost being mugged, getting ripped off in the souk and getting food poisoning in the Sahara after a tajine.

Or maybe I was in the wrong city.

Air Arabia www.airarabia.com has a special promotional fare of from €135 return Dublin to Agadir.

And they’re pitching (sorry) golf, beach, sun, culture, food and more.

And they’ll give you a 15kg free golf kit allowance.

G’Day Melbourne

*Melbourne. Photo by Tiff Ng on Pexels.com*

I’ve been spending the summer as I do every fourth summer watching the Ashes and the dulcet, or ear-piercing, tones of Shane ‘Warney’ Warne.

Now I heard the former spin king and England legend Ian ‘Beefy’ Botham eulogise about Melbourne (and London).

I know about London https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/the-london-life/ and https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/2019/06/23/carole-king-youre-beautiful/.

But I could if I jumped on Etihad’s http://www.etihad.com Melbourne’s Global sale which is headlining with Business Melbourne from €3,3367.

Now while the old refrain from his team-mates when he was playing was ‘Well bowled, Warnie’, may I offer ‘Well sold, Etihad.’

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Tobago… ready, steady, goat.

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My Dear Old Mum would sometimes chide me for being a bit of a giddy goat.

Nothing much changes, she’s still my Dear Old Mum, although a year older, and dearer, on Saturday, while I’m even giddier and even goatier…

With white hair hanging from my chinny-chin-chin.

We’ve had some travels, me and Mum, and I often think how much fun we’d have had together in some others.

Like Tobago.

Tobago ‘our little dot on the map’ as one local called it lies just off Trinidad and just off Venezuala.

But it’s in a world of its own with a tropical rainforest, its own national dish ‘crab and dumpling’.

And TV chef Ainsley Harriott was there to try some for himself.

Sunday School, which is anything but… it’s actually a street party held in Buccoo every Sunday night.

When our friends from Tobago visit every year it is always a highlight of the Travel circuit.

Last year they brought us up to speed with the many unique cultural aspects of the island.

This year they wanted to stress the nature, animal and birdlife and sustainability of the island.

The best animals, of course, are the goats.

The Tobago Goat Race was started by Bajan Samuel Callender in 1925 as an more everyman’s alternative to horse racing.

It runs every Easter Tuesday… and I’m looking to get out there next year to run too.

*And some cooking… here’s Y*zanne Williams Chance

Am I kidding? You’ll need to keep following to find out.

See http://www.tobagobeyond.com, http://www.visittobago.gov.tt and here’s a neat site I found too http://www.buccoo.net.

How to get there

Virgin Atlantic flies from Manchester and Gatwick http://www.virginatlantic.com

And British Airways flies from Gatwick http://www.britishairways.com.

Now you want to read about my adventures in the Caribbean? Thought you would https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/rihanna-in-barbados/

And https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/my-kiss-with-rihanna/

And you want to see how I got on when I tried to learn how to cook Caribbean-style…

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Holidos and don’ts – packing tips

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She’s the Wonder Woman who sews me up and sends me on my way… and very occasionally I come back with everything I left with.

And I’m getting better.

I’m also prompted by RTE reruns of the sumptuous Silk Road by the even silkier Joanna Lumley who agrees about the importance of multi-compartment purses and wallets.

They come in all shapes, sizes and styles (wives and wallets) and all make your life easier.

So what to remember

Your passport obviously. Now you may want to keep it in your inside jacket pocket or perhaps skin tight in your front trouser pocket.

And you will need to take it in and out at the airport but when you don’t need it, it’s best to put it away in the zipper compartment of your folder. If you’re travelling with your partner and your kids maybe put them all in together.

When you get to your hotel room put your valuables in the safe and only take it out if you need it for ID for bars, nightclubs or to get into some sports events.

Your tickets. Keep in another sleeve or compartment. It will be easier to differentiate. Some people (usually younger) are comfortable with having their tickets on their phones but what happens if you run out of battery (Ally?). Be safe do both.

Currency. Save yourself fiddling around in your wallet/purse between euro and a foreign currency and maybe even a third (sterling) if you’re passing through London. Use a third compartment for foreign dosh.

Now you’re on the plane

If you’re on a long-haul flight then you’ll want to keep your vanity case with you… save yourself from having to tap the person sleeping next to you so you can get up to the overhead cabin.

And if you’ve had the good fortune to go Business Class then remember the little overnight bags they give you the next time you travel.

And the earplugs will block out the noise of the snorer next to you.

Overnight bags tend to be the same but different and it’s always nice to find a little new treat.

A little bottle of Eau de Cologne was a particular treat in the Etihad bag I got this week even though I’m the last person who needs it.

Thank you http://www.etihad.com. And you too http://www.aerlingus.com, http://www.turkishairlines.com, http://www.virginatlantic.com, http://www.britishairways.com and everyone else who keeps us all refreshed in the air.

Luggage

Unless you’re just doing an overnighter you’ll probably be taking hand luggage and putting a suitcase in the hold.

Don’t do as I do, but as I say.

Avoid black or blue suitcases, they all look the same on the carousel. Put stickers on it to identify it as uniquely yours, maybe places you’ve been to cheer you up.

Padlock your case up and choose a lock number that’s not 1234 or your birthday or one you might forget.

And always fill out your luggage tag with your address for obvious reasons.

Don’t forget to remember

Make a list. Check it twice and give yourself enough time.

Better if you pack to go home the night before but if you are making the most if your last night on holiday then set your alarm early or get a room call.

Otherwise…

Next week: How I didn’t take any of this advice and some of the scrapes I got into (and out of) mostly because of the saints and saintesses who helped me out.

Tag: www.virginatlantic.com

Flyday Friday – Virgin vs plastic