General Chat

You get what you can afford to pay for.

I agree with Rollo wholeheartedly - particularly the Tenerife comment (in my experience).

We may be going from Gatwick now, but are organising our June holiday first (the Ryanair one is October. If we go from Gatwick we can go BA.

I won't have anything bad said against Tenerife North, it is lovely and the people are lovely, both Tenerifian and ex Pat. The climate is good, the food is good, drink is cheap and compared to the south it is relatively peaceful And the flowers are lovely too. Just sad we don't look to be going this year.

Errol so what was your experience that makes you agree with Rollos comment?

I think it's sad when people comment publicly about places that they clearly know little or nothing about. Apart from this it just makes them look small minded and stupid, which may or may not be the case!

As you both know I live in the north of Tenerife, a green and vibrant part of the island. Today, even now at 7.15 pm the sky is blue, the sun is shining and the mountain and forests below it are so clear to see. In the other direction I can look out over the sea and watch the sun sink down into the water from red skies promising another lovely day tomorrow. The people are friendly and welcoming, not swearing all the time. The locals are very proud of their culture, very little if any graffiti here.

Now I don't know where you live but one town does not give the whole island a bad name. If it did then there wouldn't be much hope for your choice of country. To back up this statement I am sure that my experience of the UK is far greater and longer than your experience of Tenerife.

We fly with Ryanair at least once every year. We've never been delayed either going or coming back and have had no cause for complaint in the last twelve years. They have rules like any other airline but, if you abide by them, you won't have a problem. We always have a good meal before we fly so can't comment on the food they serve, although we have bought some snacks on a few flights. We're going with them again in June from Bristol to Ibiza, as we do every year.

Annie

Thanks Annie

What has bothered us is the undignified rush for seats we have witnessed when their flights are called. We like to book our seats together before we fly. However, it may be that they have the facility to book seats now as well as Easy Jet do.

We have found a flight by Monarch going out of Luton. We have had good and bad with them in the past but recently they seem to be better.

Oh yes, meant to answer Errol's 'you get what you can afford to pay for' Not if it isn't available you don't.

Precisely!

Pay for a budget airline and you are not going to get the same level of service, comfort etc etc that you would get with certain other airlines. Hence the term "budget".

As for Tenerife (and I did say "In my experience"), I have travelled extensively all over the world and Tenerife is the only place where I have been threatened by a local, with a knife, demanding all my money, passport, watch etc.

ERRol, many moons ago you did tell me that you had been to Tenerife, once, and many years ago. You were on a walking holiday. You enjoyed the experience, or so you said at the time. Never once did you mention a knife wielding local bandit!

On the subject of getting what you can afford, some people buy/pay for things that they can't really afford while others go for cheaper options than they can afford as they prefer to spend their money in other ways.

Saying 'you get what you can afford' suggests that people who travel with budget airlines can't afford to do anything but that. A slightly snobbish comment I think.

Another way of 'reading' Ann's comment "Not if it isn't available you don't." - there may only be budget airline flights available from her prefered airport at the time/period she wants to travel!

A brief search for October suggest that the National Carriers (BA, Iberia) tend to go via Spain.

A valid comment nonetheless - it merely means that if people pay for a budget airline then that is precisely what they will get and many people choose that option because it is all that they can afford to keep holiday costs down.

As for visiting Tenerife, many moons ago I had only visited once but have revisited since - not that I feel I should justify that.

I have flown Ryan several times with no problems, not my 1st choice but then I am not yet a millionaire So I close my eyes and fly and be thankful that I land as I do with every other airline. The only airline I will not fly with is flybe.

Enjoy your holiday Ann

Thanks Uzzi, Det's comment was correct, it was only Ryan air flying there at that time from Birmingham. Then we were going to go BA from Gatwick but while discussing it the price rocketed up. Realised that the second week we are booked for is half term in Scotland. Lanzarote is very popular with Scots.

Anyway we are now booked with Monarch from Luton, however have had to accept the inevitability of arriving back at midnight.

I'd be happy with any airline that did direct flights from Cardiff but sadly they are few and far between.
Lanzarote would be via Dublin!

We have often done Tenerife north via Madrid with Iberia from Heathrow. It is a long day but it works well.

wise choice, Ryan Air will do anything to keep flying weight down, sometimes it is not only your eyes you need to keep shut

http://goo.gl/PhLTXe

Something to have in yr flight bag lol.

True Tenerife N is far more civilised than the rest of the place but by far the maj. of tourist go to Tenerife for cheap hotels, all day english breakfast, clubbing, very loud music, cheap alcohol and so on and so forth. Much the same in Ibiza and other Spanish islands and enclaves.

You can find much the same sort of thing in Bournemouth without all the hassle of the airlines ...

whereas if you want nice green hills they have a good line in them in the Brecons and the Lake District.

My OH family own an old place in Murcia and we chunter down there from time to time avoiding July/August. She likes to yak with all her Spanish friends and rellies I like the food, water sports and have even been known to play golf. There is no good way to get there ... ferry and long drive, drive all the way, airline circus. Much as I hate cheap airlines I have given in but keep a car in Spain so as to avoid renting wrecks at high prices .

We were in Alcazares a week ago near the Mar Menor.

take your own supplies......

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/travel_news/article-3065166/Passengers-horror-board-Ryanair-flight-Spain-London-told-plane-didn-t-TOILET-PAPER-near-three-hour-journey.html

Seems they prioritised taking off on time rather than waiting for supplies.

I hope you all have a lovely holiday spending your money abroad.

Me? Well, running out of fuel mid-flight or toilet paper rationing are the least of my planned Devon based break worries. I just hope I do not get too punctures as I cycle around this lovely county. I’m doing it for Devon!