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Key West, Florida – Time To Relax!

As I begin writing this post I’m sitting on a houseboat in Key West, Florida.  The sun is shining down on me, hubby is sitting right outside the door fishing and I’m feeling very blessed.

It’s difficult to believe that just a couple of weeks ago we were back in rainy old England, huddled indoors trying to keep warm enough to stop our bones aching.  The thought of going outdoors and finding things to do is at best dispiriting.  Like a lot of people I lose all inspiration and enthusiasm during the dark Winter months.  Thankfully,  this is a time I have already planned for.  A time to get our mojo back and start living again.

The Price of Feeling Good

I’d like to say you can’t put a price on feeling good but unfortunately you can.  Not many people can afford to keep following the sun in their retirement but the thought of a well planned break somewhere warm while the UK shivers her way through the bad weather can make life worth more.

Those of you who follow us regularly will know that we value quality over quantity preferring a more enjoyable level of luxury and comfort than your basic package holiday.  Not always easy to do on a fixed income but possible with careful planning.

At this point I should probably point out that we’re not rich by the modern standards of today.   Our trips take time to prepare for and we like as much quality as possible for our budget.

What We Cover:

Miami to Key West

Where we stayed

Things to do in Key West

Places to visit in Key West

Getting out on the water

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Key West, Florida, Getting There

If you’ve been saving your points you can get flights that are subsidised with Virgin Flying Club Points.  This was the way we went, meaning we paid for two economy return flights from Manchester to Orlando but actually travelled here in Premium Economy seats and will fly home in Upper Class.  This is invaluable to us. Trying to make the long journey in the cramped conditions called Economy when you are managing health problems can be miserablle. It would only exacerbate our discomfort.

To see how we achieved this click here!

Road Trippin’ To Key West, Florida!

We were already travelling down the East Coast and stopping off at different points along the way. So driving to Key West, Florida was by far the most convenient. When we started planning this trip we were originally going to drive down the West coast. Once in the lovely city of Cape Coral we’d planned to take the Key West Express ferry from Fort Myers Beach and enjoy the 4 hour ride on the water to Key West.

We were visiting family on the Palm Coast on the eastern side of Florida so it seemed a shame to miss out on all it had to offer and the scenic drive through the other Keys. Click here for more information on Florida Keys. If you’re on the west coast then the ferry from Fort Myers Beach is your best option. Look out for the Key West Express sale in November/December time. If you subscribe to their mailing list they’ll let you know when it’s coming up. The normal price is around $140 for the round trip but you can pre-purchase during the sale for $100. You have two years to spend the voucher with no restrictions on dates and times, even at Christmas.

Miami to Key West

For flying fans a round trip from Miami to Key West airport is roughly $269. But from Fort Myers airport it’s an eye watering $860. Prices from Orlando vary between $280 and $470 return depending on the time of year.

With fuel prices ranging from $2.11 to $2.69 per gallon (heaven for us Brits!) driving was the better option for us. But we will be using those ferry tickets when we visit Cape Coral at Christmas. A word of caution: If you tire easily spend the extra money taking the ferry or flying. You can easily forget how great the driving distances are compared to here in the UK.

view from the overseas highway
Driving on the Overseas Highway

Harborside Motel & Marina, Key West, Florida

Always with budget in mind we had booked into the Harborside Motel and Marina. Like many independent travellers we prefer a home away from home. Here you can book your very own houseboat a with boat dock and experience life on the water. We loved it and we’re sure you will too. Inside consisted of an open plan living, dining kitchen. A large bedroom with 2 queen size beds and a spacious shower room. Plenty of hot water and all the fluffy white towels you could want.

Everywhere was pristine. Not a speck of dust or dirt to be found. Anything else you need is available at the very friendly reception desk. In our case a hairdryer and a kettle (it’s all about the coffee machine over there!). The easy going Southern charm of the ladies on reception made us feel like we’d truly come home.

Boat dock outside Harborside Boathouse
Walking the Plank!

We were fortunate getting the houseboat at the very end. No-one was walking past our window giving us complete privacy and views of the water from the living area. This location was perfect for us and we could watch the sunset over the water from our window. Key West, Florida is only a mile wide so we were still close enough to Duval Street and Mallory Square.

Outside the Boathouse at Harborside Motel & Marina
Entrance to the Houseboat

If you prefer a hotel or guesthouse environment price start from around $147 US per night rising accordingly depending on the star rating. To browse a selection of accommodation including hotels and Key West Resorts click here.

Things To Do In Key West, Florida

The beauty of Key West, Florida is that whatever style of holiday you prefer you won’t be disappointed. You can get around very easily and we treated ourselves to an Uber from the houseboat.

For those who are fitter bike rental is very popular on the island and costs around $20 dollars a day. Scooter rentals start from $45 and golf carts seating up to six people from around $90 upwards. Before renting a scooter check your travel insurance documents as may companies don’t cover you for scooters!

Recommended

I would recommend the bike option or walking simply because parking is horrendous. If you have a rental car you may find it difficult to stop anywhere and this is also the reason we used an Uber.

Places To Visit In Key West

You can take a nice gentle stroll down Duval Street where Key West really comes to life. This the main street stretching 1.25 miles from the Gulf of Mexico to the Atlantic Ocean, North to South. You’ll find it packed with bars and restaurants such as the Hog’s Breath Saloon on the corner of Duval and Front Street.

Sloppy Joe’s

Sloppy Joe’s is almost a tradition when it comes to visiting Key West. Particularly if you’re a Hemingway fan. They have live music from noon everyday and you’ll find it full of atmosphere.

Hemingway Home & Museum

Nobel Prize winner Ernest Hemingway spent 10 years of his life at this house writing and the museum welcomes thousands of visitors a year. There are guides to answer any questions you have so enjoy a step back in time. Then you can visit Sloppy Joe’s for food, drink and entertainment to round off the Hemingway experience. Click here for the home and museum website.

Mallory Square

We used Mallory Square as our starting point and explored from there. People were already gathering nearby to watch the beautiful sunset that Key West, Florida is famous for. We were lucky to find a seat at a restaurant looking out over the water. Be sure to take a fleece though as it can be quite breezy.

The Shops At Mallory Square are situated in the Naval Building, the US Coastguards old headquarters. You can feel the history as you walk in the door bringing cool relief after wandering in the sunshine. There are plenty of opportunities to stock up on holiday clothes and souvenirs.

A stones throw from Mallory Square you may well come across the Butterfly and Nature Conservatory. It’s always a delight to have butterflies fluttering around you and you’ll also see flamingos, turtles and beautiful birds.

Wreckage of the sloop Mary in Mallory Square
Key West Wreckers Sloop Mary

Out On The Water

Like all the Florida Keys getting out on the water is a must. We were lucky to be living on the water. Hiring a boat for the day will set you back around $500 to $600 dollars for 8 hours but the rates get cheaper the longer you hire for.

You only need a full regular driving licence to be able to hire a boat in Florida. There are lots of hire companies to pick from such as boatrentalskeywest.com. I can’t recommend TripAdvisor enough for research purposes and booking. They are your most valuable tool when planning your travels.

manatee swimming under the houseboat in Key West, Florida
Caught sight of this manatee swimming under our houseboat!

Not everyone is confident enough to hire and skipper their own boat and the alternative to this a cruise on the water. Key West, Florida offers everything full day cruises to lunch cruises, snokelling cruises, dinner and sunset cruises and glass bottom boat tours. Lots of choice and worth the investment to glide through beautiful clear water.

Dry Tortugas National Park

Dry Tortugas National Park is a boat ride away and it’s a great way to spend a day on the water. It’s quite an epic day lasting around ten hours but at almost $200 each you’ll get your monies worth. After exploring, swimming and snorkelling hitting Duval Street in the evening to chill and dine will end the day perfectly.

Southernmost Point

No visit to Key West is complete without seeing the Southernmost Point. A large beaconlike structure is brightly painted and declares that Cuba is a mere 90 miles south. However that isn’t really the case. The true Southernmost Point is actually a radio mast just a little further along and it’s actually 98 miles to Cuba. But no matter. It’s a great photo opportunity if you don’t mind the long queue.

Southernmost Point, Key West, Florida
Southernmost Point, Key West, Florida.

Having done your queueing in the hot sun you can take a short stroll to Southernmost House, Grand Hotel and Museum. It has a typical decadent deep south feel to it and a huge shaded bar area. The service here was excellent even though we weren’t staying there. I’m happy to say we spent some time there sitting very comfortably sipping margaritas and mojitos to celebrate David’s birthday. It is possibly one of the most idyllic locations to celebrate any special event with first class accommodation. We’ll definitely be heading back there on our next trip.

OUTDOOR SITTING AREA AT THE SOUTHERN HOTEL
Sippin’ Mojitos at The Southern Hotel

Rounding the day off with a visit to Outback restaurant we tucked into bloomin’ onions and filet mignon. Our time in Key West was coming to an end and the next day we would be moving on to Cape Coral for some more R&R.

sign for Southernmost Hotel

Accessibility

You should find it fairly easy to get around in Key West, Florida. The size of the island means taking an Uber doesn’t break the budget and it’s super convenient. If you need to rely on WiFi to book your journey back then Starbucks are a good bet. You’ll find them located at 508, Virginia Street, just off Duval Street and closest to the Southernmost Hotel. Another branch is located at 430 Duval Street so you can book your Uber from there.

Most of Florida recognises the Blue Badge for disabled drivers but we didn’t get a chance to test it out due to the busy parking situation. Click here to find out more.

Opinion

This was our first time in Key West, Florida and we would definitely go again. It has as much or as little as you want although it was more expensive than the other keys. Because of this I wouldn’t recommend staying for long Winter breaks there, only short ones. You can stay in some of the other keys for much less where accommodation isn’t at such a premium price. This said, I still can’t wait to return there as it somehow managed to steal a piece of my heart.

Sun going down over the water in Key West, Florida.
Waiting For Sundown.
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Travel Insurance – What to check for after Covid 19

British Airways Jet taking off
Take-Off

Coronavirus and Travel Insurance

Travel insurance is something many people take for granted but since Covid 19 Corona Virus became a global pandemic you may not get  the cover you would expect.  With millions of confirmed cases around the globe this virus has devastated the travel industry.  Airlines and travel operators alike are laying off staff and warning of further cuts and in some cases the possibility of administration and bankruptcy.  Here are some basic points to watch out for with your travel insurance.

Annual Policies  

Policy Refunds

Already Booked

Protect Yourself

Covid 19/SARS

Should I Travel?

Many insurance providers restrict cover for any travel policies purchased before 11th March 2020 when the World Health Organization declared Covid 19 Corona Virus a pandemic.  Before you can consider travelling anywhere you must first check the Foreign Commonwealth Office website to see what advice they are giving.  If you choose to travel against the advice of the FCO your travel insurance is automatically invalid meaning you cannot make a claim should anything go wrong.

Post Covid 19 it is vital that you check the FCO website before you even book your holiday as this is an ever changing situation and very few countries throughout the world remain unaffected.  It can’t be any clearer.  Step one of any travel plans for the foreseeable future is check the FCO website before you do anything else.

Annual Policies

If you have an annual travel insurance policy then any trips you book after the FCO has advised against travel will not be covered. If you have booked before the FCO advice changed then you should be able to make a claim for cancellation. Always always check your individual insurers terms and conditions prior to cancellation. They all vary. And the cancellation may have to come from your travel operator before you can make a successful claim. If you decide that your trip is too risky for your own reasons but the FCO advice says it’s okay to go then you won’t be able to claim for any monies you may lose. Insurers call this disinclination to travel and you won’t be covered.

Policy Refunds

Many people with annual travel insurance policies want to know if they can get a refund for the remaining months before expiry. The answer is maybe. Once again they are all different so check with your policy provider. Some of the big names like Churchill, Axa and Direct Line are giving pro rata refunds. Providing you haven’t already made a claim on that policy. Others such as Treatufair will not give any refund. Don’t consider cancelling your insurance until you know if you are likely to travel as soon as restrictions are lifted..

Already Booked Ahead

People often book their holiday well in advance of the travel date. In the months ahead it is vital to keep checking the FCO website. Originally the FCO were advising against travel for 30 days. This made it clearer for tour operators and customers alike when it came to cancellation. In early April 2020 the advice was extended to “indefinitely”. With no clear end date in sight travellers will have to wait and see if the advice changes as their holiday gets closer. Be sure to check with the FCO and your airline or travel operator to see if they cancel your journey. If so you should get a full refund from them. Once you are within 28 days of your due travel date and the advice is still not to travel you can contact your insurance company and begin your claim.

WARNING: Some airlines are offering you vouchers. If your airline cancels on you then you’re entitled to a full refund. Take the refund rather than the voucher because if the airline fails then your voucher will be worthless. If you’re a fan of collecting airline points (Click here to read our article on BA versus Virgin points) ask the airline to return the points to your account or you may lose them.

Protect Yourself

At the time of writing many UK Travel Insurance companies aren’t even quoting for policies. So if you have insurance already it may be worth keeping it going. Travel policies are going to get trickier in the future. As the advice from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office changes you must remember insurance companies are risk averse so premiums are bound to go up. When that time comes be sure to take out a policy that includes disruption cover. You will then be eligible for reimbursement of costs associated with delays. If you’re unfortunate enough to end up in quarantine this will also be covered.

Covid 19 and SARS

One very important fact to check when buying travel insurance after Covid 19 is whether or not you are covered for the Corona Virus or and SARS like infection. Many insurance companies have withdrawn this type of cover due to the global pandemic. You cannot afford the risk of travelling without it. Even if you think your policy is okay, check. Because terms and conditions continually change. The travel industry will recover from this but it will likely be a long and slow return. Make sure you’re fully protected when you can travel again.

Keep Safe !

For more posts about travelling with health conditions click here for arthritis and here for fibromyalgia.

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Airmiles Rewards BA versus VA

British Airways or Virgin Atlantic?

Updated September 2020

When it comes to airmiles rewards the question we are asked most often is whether to join Virgin Atlantic Flying Club or British Airways Executive Club (Avios). After extensive research into the airmiles rewards loyalty programs offered, here’s what we found.

partial view of engines above the clouds
Above the Clouds

What we’ll cover:

Airmiles Rewards – Who Gives The Most Value?

 

That depends on how you use them. If you want to get more bang for your buck then airmiles rewards are best used for their original intended purpose. Flights. Whichever loyalty program you choose you’ll get poor value using your points for accommodation and car hire etc. Save them for booking your flights. You can use your airmiles rewards points to book a reward seat or to simply upgrade your seat for added comfort and luxury. However you will have to pay the taxes and fuel surcharge on your flights.

What Are BA Points Worth?

Here’s roughly how it stacks up:

When you join the British Airways Executive Club you’ll earn airmiles rewards called Avios points and will earn BA tier points every time you fly. The more points you earn and save the closer you’ll get to that first class flight you’ve always dreamed of. For our part we’ll always save for that little bit longer to enable us to travel in style. (Unless the flight is very short then economy will suffice). This is a personal preference rather than using our points on cheaper flight classes more frequently. But of course we’re all different so here’s the lowdown. 1,000 avios are worth around £12 (so 1.2p each)

Not forgetting you’ll have to pay taxes on top you need to be sure that the cost of your flight isn’t cheaper paid for in cash than in avios points. With 5,000 avios worth around £60 and 10,000 points worth £120 etc it’s easy enough to work out. Always try and get a reward seat or upgrade that gives you value for money in excess of the 1.2 pence. Whenever you use any loyalty program it’s always a good idea to check if your travel insurance covers your points and if the Covid 19 pandemic has changed any of the terms and conditions. Click here for more guidance.

What Are Flying Club Points Worth?

If Virgin Atlantic is your preferred airline then their loyalty scheme Virgin Atlantic Flying Club is definitely worth joining. There are so many ways you can earn Virgin points whilst going about your everyday business and several ways of spending those points. I don’t think we’ve ever flown Virgin without getting a free upgrade on our seats.

One Virgin Point is worth around 1.2p – the same as BA avios points. This means that 5,000 Virgin Points are worth about £60 and 10,000 Virgin Points are worth £120 and so on. Making it easy to equate to a cash value and make sure you’re getting the most out of your membership.

Taxes and fuel surcharges can be horrendous on Virgin so it’s even more important to weigh up whether or not you’re getting value for money. Having said that We’ve been using Virgin Atlantic Flying Club for our upgrades successfully for years. But you can use your Virgin Points for Reward Seats and Companion Seats as well. Again I wouldn’t recommend using your points for anything but flights if you want to get the best from them.

Avios Reward Seats

If you decide to go straight for the BA reward seats then the best destination for this is Europe. Mainly because British Airways cap the taxes on European return flights at £35 in economy and £50 in business. A Reward flight from London Gatwick Airport to Malaga, Spain per person will cost you 20,000 avios plus £1 and £35 in taxes. If you prefer to travel in business class then it’s 35,500 avios plus £1 and £50 in taxes.

Virgin Reward Flights

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club Points will get you a reward seat for around 20,000 miles upwards depending on the destination and time of year. The peak season varies from year to year to allow for Christmas and Easter etc. however Virgin’s standard season operates during many Winter destinations Peak season of January, February and March. Standard season is usually around the following dates:

  • Early September to early December
  • Early January to early April*
  • Late April to mid June
  • *around 10 days before and 10 days after Easter

During standard season 20,000 points will get you an Economy round trip, 35,000 a Premium Economy round trip and 115,000 miles for an Upper Class round trip. Peak season round trips are as follows:

  • 40,000 Points for Economy
  • 55,000 Points for Premium Economy
  • 135,000 Points for Upper Class

Upgrading With Avios

British Airways Executive Club allows you to upgrade your seat to the next class using your avios points. Whichever class you book with cash you can then upgrade one class. For instance buy:

  • Economy seat and upgrade to Premium Economy
  • Premium Economy and upgrade to Business Class
  • Business Class and upgrade to First Class

For instance if you want to upgrade from a Premium Economy seat (World Traveller Plus) to Business Class (Club World) it should cost you around 20,000 avios per person.

Upgrades from Economy to First or Business aren’t allowed unlike Virgin Atlantic who will let you upgrade from Classic and Delight Economy to Upper Class.

Virgin Atlantic Upgrade

This is the point where you really must weigh up the pro’s and cons of Virgin’s taxes and surcharges. For best value we try to upgrade from Economy to Upper Class. Something you can’t do with BA’s avios points.

Another tip for you Virgin frequent flyers is rather than book through the Virgin Atlantic website to use your Virgin Points ring the flying club. They’ll try to get you a better deal and if you fall short of points they can tell you if it’s worth buying just that few more to get the offer they’re looking at. The Virgin Atlantic Flying Club number is 0344 4 12 2414 or customer services 0344 874 7747.

British Airways Jet taking off
Take-Off

British Airways Tier Points

Every time you fly you’ll earn Executive Club Tier Points. There are four tiers starting with the most basic which is Blue, then Bronze, Silver and Gold. Each level offering you more benefit as you work your way up.

Blue

With some airlines you can only buy reward seats at certain times. British Airways have a minimum of four economy and 2 business class seats on every flight as standard meaning there are no black out dates. Blue is the entry level tier and gives you access to member only offers and priority waiting lists.

Bronze

When you reach the bronze tier you automatically get 25% extra avios points for each flight you take with British Airways. You also get to use business class check in and have priority boarding on every flight. If you prefer to board as late as possible like us then you can use the priority lane to board when you’re ready. There’s also free seat selection seven days before your flight.

Silver

Getting better all the time. On this tier you’ll get a massive 50% more avios when you fly. This is where it starts to get really good. Silver members get access to the airport lounges usually reserved for business class. No more horrendous airport prices for a cup of coffee. All food and drink in the lounges is complimentary and you take one guest in with you.

There is of course priority seat selection and an increased baggage allowance of two bags in economy each weighing up to 32kg. All this along with the business class class check in and priority boarding. This really does take your journey to the next level in the pleasure stakes.

Gold

The ultimate. It doesn’t get any better than this tier. with a whopping 100% avios bonus on every flight you’ll double your points meaning the sky really is the limit. If you want a quieter, more gentle lounge experience then you have full access to British Airways First Lounge along with access to the Arrivals Lounge at London Heathrows Terminal 5.

Again at London Heathrow and New York’s JFK airports you can relax and rejuvenate with complimentary treatments and skin therapies at Elemis Travel Spas. Worldwide you’ll now have First Class check in, priority seat selection and one extra bag weighing up to 32kg whichever class you’re travelling in.

How Many BA Tier Points?

  • Blue 0
  • Bronze 300 tier points – Fly BA at least twice in one year or take 25 British Airways flights in total
  • Silver 600 tier points – Fly BA at least four times or take 50 British Airways flights in total
  • Gold 1500 – Fly with British Airways four times

Your tier points total will be set to zero each year but your points won’t be lost. So don’t worry if you only take one flight a year and keeping getting stuck on the lower tiers. They’ll be added to lifetime tier points and once you achieve 35,000 lifetime tier points you’ll be awarded Gold membership for life. This has to be one of the best airmiles rewards going.

 

leg room in Virgin Upper Class
Putting my feet up in Virgin Atlantic Upper Class

Virgin Atlantic Tier Points

There are three tier levels with Virgin. Entry level is Red, moving up to Silver and then Gold. Once you join Virgin Atlantic Flying Club you automatically become a Red member.

Red

At this level you can start to collect your Virgin Points, get access to Reward Flights and use Miles Plus Money to pay for your flights. Also included is a 7% discount when booking with Virgin Holidays and discounts with No1 Lounges.

Silver

When you move up to Silver membership you retain all the benefits you had as a Red member. In addition to these benefits you get 30% bonus miles on every flight you book and free standard seat selection even in Economy Light.

The Premium Economy check in is available to you even if you are flying in Economy and you get a Tier Renewal Bonus. Again there’s a 7% discount when booking with Virgin Holidays but you’ll also get double Virgin Points on your booking. If you manage to stay in Silver membership for another year Virgin Atlantic will give you a further 2,000 points.

Gold

The top tier. Without doubt the level to aspire to. As a Gold member you get the full Virgin Atlantic works. Again you’ll retain the benefits of the previous level. Plus you can link your household account with up to nine family members and Virgin will gift you 2,000 points on your birthday. You can give supplementary Silver membership to a friend and the guarantee of an Economy seat on any flight. Always useful if you have to be somewhere in a hurry.

Virgin Holidays will give you a 10% discount, double points on any holiday booking and you’ll get discounted access at No1 Lounges. You’ll also get access to airline partner airport extras.

If you manage to achieve Gold membership then it pays to make the most of that membership year to retain your status. Whilst in your ‘Gold Year’ if you earn 2,000 points you get a Cabin Upgrade Reward and earning 1,500 points will get you Clubhouse passes to keep or share.

Each time you make it to another year of Gold membership with Virgin Atlantic they’ll give you a complementary Companion Ticket.

How Many VA Tier Points?

The only way to earn those coveted Tier Points is by taking flights. To find out how many points are earned per flight click here. To move through the Tiers you’ll need the following points:

  • Red to Silver 400 Tier Points
  • Silver to Gold 1,000 Tier Points

But for me, this is where it gets disappointing. There isn’t any long term loyalty reward that I can see. No benefit to giving Virgin Atlantic your custom year in year out as your tier points expire after one year and you move down a level if you don’t earn the requisite points.

British Airways Amex

A super easy way to earn some extra avios points is by signing up to British Airways Credit Card offer. BA have teamed up with American Express with a competitive market rate of 22.9% APR and you’ll earn one mile for every pound you spend. Along with this if you manage to spend £20,000 in one year (please,please remember to clear your balance every month!) you’ll get a free Companion Voucher when you next book a Reward Seat.

Before our British readers start to groan American Express is now more widely accepted over in the UK as big name brands such as Tesco and over 800 others get on board. These include M&S and John Lewis so make sure all your online shopping is done through this link to maximise your points collection. You can also convert your Tesco Clubcard points into avios at the rate of 600 avios per £2.50 Clubcard Voucher.

Virgin Credit Card

As with most airmiles rewards a good way of earning those wonderful benefits is by taking out an airline credit card. Virgin Atlantic is no different and if you use your card to pay for Virgin Atlantic flights or a Virgin Holiday you’ll earn double points. And a good everyday way to boost your miles is by shopping online at your favourite major stores using Virgin’s ‘Shops Away‘. Tesco Clubcard also allows you to convert points to Flying Club points at the rate of £2.50 for 625 miles.

The basic Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card has an APR of 22.9% which is competitive and on a par with BA’s Amex card. There’s a 5000 points rewards bonus for signing up but you’ll only get 0.75 of a mile per pound you spend. I have to say offering less than one point per pound feels more than a bit stingy.

But if you’re one of these lucky peeps who can afford to spend £20,000 in one year on your virgin credit card (remembering to pay it off in full each month folks!) then you unlock benefits such as Companion Tickets or Upgrades.

Accessibility

If health reasons make long haul flights so uncomfortable they become almost impossible then the most effective seat upgrade on British Airways is from Premium Economy to Business Class aka Club World. This will give you a lie flat bed and space to get comfortable. If you’re travelling with Virgin Atlantic then you’ll need to travel Upper Class for the same benefits but you can upgrade from Economy all the way up to Upper Class if you have enough points. Take a look at our posts in the section Top Tips For Travelling With Arthritis and Travelling With Fibromyalgia for more information on travel assistance.

 

Opinion:

We’ve used both airmiles rewards points from both British Airways Executive Club (Avios) and Virgin Atlantic’s Flying Club to subsidise our travel over the years. And however carefully I try to work out how many Virgin Flying Club Points I need along with taxes and surcharges to arrive at an overall cost I can never get it quite right. But I do love that we can upgrade from Economy to Upper Class. A further bonus is that Virgin have now removed the expiry date of three years for flying club points making them lifetime points that neve expire.

British Airways seem to be much more transparent and have capped fees for taxes on European flights. They also fly both long and short haul flights eliminating the need to use partner airlines. Virgin are mostly long haul flights (which you could argue is when you really need that upgrade!) so partner airlines must be used for short haul flights. The simplicity of British Airways Executive Club Avios points nudges them ahead of the competition for me.

The ability to earn extra points is super easy with both airlines and can be given a healthy boost by signing up to their respective credit cards. Both airmiles rewards loyalty schemes can earn points via Tesco Clubcard and shopping with hundreds of partner brands. Because of Virgin Atlantic’s 0.75 miles per one pound spent against British Airways one point per spent spent then there’s no doubt that again you’re better off on the British Airways loyalty programme.

Both of these programmes give excellent value but I have to declare British Airways the winner over Virgin Atlantic. But only by a narrow margin. The ability to upgrade from Economy to Upper Class negate the 0.75 miles per pound so British Airways win on ease of use and lifetime tier points. We’re now going to work our way towards that milestone of 35,000 lifetime tier points.

Happy Travels!

 

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Thomas Cook Collapse What To Do

If you’ve been caught up in the  Thomas Cook  Collapse and don’t know what to do then here’s some basic emergency help.

airport seating

Already Abroad During The Thomas Cook Collapse

If you’re already abroad and wondering how to get home then don’t despair.  The UK government is launching the biggest peace-time rescue package ever and they’re not just limiting it to ABTA and ATOL protected deals.

In a nutshell this means that even if you’ve booked a flight only then you shouldn’t be stranded by the Thomas Cook Collapse.

Who To Contact

Your first port of call is the Thomas Cook CAA website.  If you’re flying today then this will give you the up to date information you need.  If you’re flying in the coming days then the current advice is don’t go to the airport today.  Finish your holiday.  Turning up at the airport will just add to the chaos and you’ll likely just waste the day.  The website will be updating each day so keep checking online.

If you have any difficulty with the website crashing  (over 650,000 people need bringing home!) then take a look at the information here until it is up and running again.

money in a jar

Reclaiming Your Money

As we said above if you’re a flight only customer then UK government have stated they will still rescue you.  Unfortunately this doesn’t mean some people won’t fall through the cracks somehow.  For anyone needing to arrange their own flights home then the TripAdvisor Flights page is a huge help.  If you don’t automatically have ATOL protection and you paid Thomas Cook with either a credit card or a debit card then those companies (Visa, Mastercard etc) are jointly liable.  This also applies to Hotel only and Car Hire only.  You can reclaim your money under section 75 or the Chargeback scheme.  Click here for help with this then ring the number on the back of your card.

Flights

Various airlines are already  being rallied to rescue passengers stranded by the Thomas Cook collapse.  If you’re in the USA, Cuba and Jamaica then Virgin Atlantic are already helping to bring people home and you can contact them on 0344 742 4384 for return travel arrangements.  You’ll still need to follow advice on the Thomas Cook CAA website though.

Special Needs and Assistance

If you have any special requirements due to health conditions then you’ll need to ensure the rescue airline are aware.  Once you know who you’re flying with make direct contact with them as they’ll need to know in advance.  If you don’t give them the heads up then they may not be able to provide the level of support you  need.  Do this as soon as possible.

Preparing to travel in the right way whether your disability is visible or invisible can have a huge impact on your health in the coming days or weeks.  A lot of our readers are arthritis patients so click here for helpful advice.  We also give tips for travelling with debilitating conditions such as fibromyalgia which you can read about here.  Whatever your condition you should find some of these tips helpful.

Wheelchair Passengers

I cannot stress enough how important it is to give the rescue airline as much notice as possible to help you board.  Airlines are becoming expert at dealing with accessibility but often need some prior notice to make the required arrangements.

Time Limit

The CAA will only be repatriating people for the next two weeks.  This takes you up to October 7th so if you’re due to return on or after that then you will have to make your own arrangements.  Click here for the CAA website section that addresses this. It  gives fully comprehensive advice so you’ll have all the information and guidance you need.

Final Note

Keep your cool and don’t panic.  This is a really stressful situation during what should have been an enjoyable and relaxing break.  Getting angry with airport/hotel staff isn’t going to help and given that anyone connected to Thomas Cook has likely lost their job it will only make a bad situation worse.  Everyone concerned is desperately sorry this has happened but no-one should be stranded for long.  The operation taking part in the UK to get you home has already swung into action so check the websites, call your credit/debit card company then try to enjoy what’s left of your time in the sun.

 

 

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Where To Stay And Things To Do In New Orleans

Wondering where to stay in New Orleans for 5 star luxury?  We found the perfect place!

view of Canal Street on a quiet Sunday morning

We believe the hotels on Canal Street, offer the greatest location when deciding where to stay in New Orleans and what to see.

Jump to:

Read on!

view of Canal Street, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA

Canal Street, New Orleans.

Whilst on a recent road trip from San Antonio, Texas to Orlando in Florida, New Orleans or ‘Nawlins’ was a must.  We hadn’t researched where to stay in New Orleans enough which is unusual for us.  So we turned up there with only a vague idea of which hotels we would like.

On arrival we found our way to Canal Street in the French Quarter and figured the best places to stay in New Orleans would be close to Bourbon Street.  After several tours up and down  looking at New Orleans hotels and with nowhere to park we spotted the Astor Crowne Plaza hotel.  I recalled from the research we had done that we would love to stay there but it was too pricey.  By chance the only break in traffic where we could pull in was right outside. 

Foyer of the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Canal Street, New Orleans

Hotel Foyer – Crowne Plaza

Astor Crowne Plaza – New Orleans Charm

I entered the lobby with it’s good old fashioned New Orleans charm and general air of cool and calm.  After hours of driving from Texas it felt inviting and luxurious.  With my fingers tightly crossed behind my back I approached the reception desk.

The Crowne Plaza is a 5 star hotel with 5 star prices and two years have passed since our stay. But thanks to a quick online check for Room Key discount and a pre mardi gras offer we struck lucky.   With help from a very kind and patient receptionist we paid around $140 dollars per night.  Considering that  a deluxe room with two beds is usually around $250 dollars we were more than happy to stay.

Valet Parking

Valet parking is the only parking option available at this hotel, this was another $47 per night plus taxes.   The convenience more than made up for it though and was our first experience of this kind of parking.  Having already driven around for ages it was quite a relief to not get back in the car again.   We literally stepped out of the car and gave the keys to the valet.  A doorman took our luggage from the boot and we swanned back into the hotel like we were royalty.  

Room to Breathe

Our room was pleasant and comfortable but in need of the upgrade it has had since our visit. But the best part of American hotel/motel rooms is having two beds rather than one. An idea I would love to see more of in the UK. The luxury of tossing and turning or making like a star without offending your other half is a glorious feeling. What better way to start your day than with a good old stretch before your feet hit the floor?

We had all the usual amenities you would expect from one of the best places to stay in New Orleans. Free wifi, aircon, HDTV with premium cable channels and of course the spacious luxury granite bathroom. We weren’t too far away from the lift to all floors so mobility wasn’t a problem. Happily, of all the hotels in New Orleans with pools, the Crowne Plaza is one of them. However as it is outdoors it is only open from 1st April to 1st November. They do have an excellent fitness center on site though and it’s open all year round to burn away those calories.  Click here for deals and reviews on the Astor Crowne Plaza.

Bourbon Street in the French Quarter

New Orleans Police Horse on Bourbon Street
NOPD training a police horse ready for mardi gras

Travelling through the southern states of America in February means it’s dark by 5 o’clock. Feeling hungry we started getting ready to go out in search of something to eat. Then we heard it – a steady bass beat suggesting someone was having a party. We headed out of the hotel and almost immediately came across Bourbon Street. Wow! It was party central.

Anything Goes In NOLA!

Every bar had different music blaring out into the street and not the jazz we were expecting. Most of it was rock and pop with just a smattering of Jazz bars. It was fantastic. You could buy a drink in one bar and walk off into another bar with the same drink in your hand! No one seemed to mind. In fact everyone was doing it! We also noticed that smoking in these bars was also acceptable. Because the hotel was so close and there weren’t any hills to worry about getting around this part of the french quarter is relatively easy.

Hard Rock Cafe

Before we got too carried away we thought an evening meal would be wise. We’d only walked one block up Bourbon Street when we came across the Hard Rock Cafe on the corner of Bourbon and Iberville Street. I have to admit to being quite a fan of Hard Rock Cafe. We’ve been in several of their restaurants now and they never fail to disappoint. After diving into their Original Legendary Burgers we felt better equipped to tackle the night ahead.

New Orleans 3 for 1’s!

Now on the subject of bars, a word of caution! The music is very loud and you have to shout your order across the bar. Everytime we ordered a beer for Dave and a margarita for me and were given 3 beers and 3 margaritas! It was pointless arguing and this happened in almost every bar the length of Bourbon Street. 3 for 1 is clearly very popular and it probably goes without saying we were out quite some time!

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New Orleans Jazz Funeral Carraige
New Orleans Jazz Funeral Hearse

By this point it was clearly time to go bed. Happy and more than a little tipsy on 3 for 1’s we tottered back to the hotel.

One thing is for sure, you’re going to see some rare sights in New Orleans at night. From the macabre to the plain mad. They seem to have it all.

The end of the night on Bourbon Street, New Orleans
Nightlife on Bourbon Street, New Orleans

 

Time to Explore

Sunday Morning in New Orleans it was time to explore the area – A gentle stroll down Canal Street led us to the Mississippi River. A huge expanse of water that snakes through no less than ten states all the way up to Minnesota.

Walking by the Mississippi River, New Orleans
Walking along the bank of the Mississippi River, N.O.

As you approach the waterfront you’ll see Harrahs Casino. As gambling is illegal in Louisiana , quite how that happened no-one seems to know. But there is definitely a casino there. Another testament to the strangeness of New Orleans.

We took our time and found the walk to be relatively easy but there were plenty of places we could have stopped for a breather (and a coffee or cocktail) if we had needed to. The sun was shining and it was a comfortable 70 degrees with a light breeze so not too much of a challenge.

view of Harrah's Casino
Harrah’s Casino

Dining Out

When deciding where to stay in New Orleans access to a wide variety of food is a must. We are not wildly experimental when it comes to what we eat but we always try to sample the local offerings. And they were everywhere! All the usual American cuisine alongside Gumbo and Po’Boys. We did draw the line at biscuits and gravy though, it just didn’t sound very appealing after a night out on Bourbon Street!

The Palace Cafe on Canal Street serves a wonderful breakfast. If you want to add a New Orleans flavour you can have Alligator Sausage, biscuits & gravy or grits. It offers authentic Creole cooking at its finest with a huge selection of seafood dishes. But also a good 12oz Filet Mignon if that’s what your taste buds desire.

The Palace Cafe, Canal Street, New Orleans
Dave relaxing outside The Palace Cafe, Canal Street, New Orleans

A quick browse through The Palace Cafe Menus will give you an idea of their extensive selection. They are definitely well worth a visit for good food and good service.

Take a Tour of New Orleans

Two days isn’t really enough to explore the whole of New Orleans but that was all we had. The best way to see as much as possible was to take a bus tour. There were loads to choose from but we opted for Cajun Encounters morning city bus tour. It was on a mini bus rather than a double decker which we thought would be more friendly.

Barter!

Most of the tours charge around $50 but on a quiet day in February you can often barter them down a bit – we got ours for just under $40. Our morning tour took us around the whole city with particular attention paid to the French Quarter where Hurricane Katrina did her worst.

Hurricane Katrina

A Personal Experience

Our guide had lived in New Orleans most of his life and had escaped the hurricane along with his wife. Returning at the first opportunity to take food for the local pets left behind. He described the lawless state the city was in immediately afterwards and how he carried his gun for protection.

Lives Lost

He talked us through the still abandoned ‘shotgun houses’ and the markings painted on the front of them. Many of these showing the number of dead bodies within who hadn’t got out in time. A truly devastating and dark part of New Orleans history.

We drove through the Garden District and also walked around St Louis Cemetery where every vault is above ground. This is because the city of New Orleans sits below sea level and each one holds several bodies. The hot climate turns the above ground vaults into ovens efficiently decomposing a body within 12 months. This rapid decomposition continuously makes room for more occupants.

Morning Call Coffee Stand

We then drove on to see the huge mansions on St Charles Avenue before stopping at the Morning Call Coffee Stand. Established in 1870 it had a long history of serving locals with chicory rich coffee and beignets. Beignets are a french market donut made on site and they are delicious. Feeling adventurous hubby ordered a Gator burger which was far from delicious and not to our taste at all. Still, you don’t know if you don’t try. The restaurant was clean, friendly and very busy with chic bistro style furniture. I would recommend the Morning Call Coffee Stand in the grounds of City Park and will return.

St Louis Cemetary, New Orleans
St Louis Cemetary, New Orleans.

A More Leisurely Afternoon

For the rest of the day we stayed within walking distance of our hotel. We wandered back up Canal Street stopping off for frozen cocktails in little bars. Enjoying the afternoon sun we meandered in and out of designer shops and enjoyed the breeze from the Mississippi. By this time we were fast running out of steam so a cozy nap back at the hotel was in order. We still had a long night ahead.

Frenchmen Street

If the scarce existence of traditional jazz on Bourbon Street disappoints you then take heart. All is not lost. Head over to Frenchmen Street covering over two blocks of live music with over 20 bars, restaurants and clubs. The entertainment available here needs a bit of planning and offers live music tour, dinner packages, burlesque and more.

A good browse through their website Frenchman Street Live beforehand will tell you everything you need to know. If I had to choose between a night on Bourbon Street and a night on Frenchmen Street then I would definitely choose the latter! Frenchmen makes Bourbon Street look tame.

New Orleans Taxis

We were given lots of warnings about getting into taxis in New Orleans and heard horror stories about getting mugged and worse. To be on the safe side get hotel reception to organize a taxi for you and get their number (or the drivers number) for coming back. If you’re feeling energetic and mobile then it’s a good 20 minute walk and perhaps not something you should be doing if you plan on staying out late. Like any city in the world you need to keep your wits about you and be safe.

Bamboulas

One place you must visit is Bamboulas. They have live music, authentic drinks not weakened to sell to tourists and friendly staff. If you haven’t yet tried the great American classic fried green tomatoes then this is the place to do it. They’re open from lunchtime right through until late night and are extremely popular with the locals. Accessibility is good as they have wheelchair access so no worries there.

Overall Opinion

As brief as it was we loved our time here. When deciding where to stay in New Orleans  we reckon the Crowne Plaza is top of the list.  If we had taken the time to research it more we would have stayed longer than we did. There is so much to see and do and we only covered the basics on our whistle stop tour. But we will be going back some day to sample more of the best places to stay in New Orleans.and hopefully take a paddle steamer up the Mississippi. That is certainly something to look forward to. The tolerance and feeling of welcome we got from the people of New Orleans was memorable and gracious. Thank you.

If you’d like more information on visiting New Orleans with photo’s, deals and reviews click here.

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The Alamo, San Antonio, Texas

the alamo san antonio texas
The Alamo, San Antonio, TX

Why The Alamo?

After a conversation with hubby about his bucket list he told me that he’d always wanted to go to The Alamo, San Antonio, Texas.  He’s been seeing it in movies throughout his childhood but never expected to go there.  He had a big birthday coming up that called for something special so out came the laptop for a bit of research.

The Alamo, Texas
Dave Outside The Alamo

Pilgrimage

I have to confess that although I’d seen the movies myself I hadn’t realised visiting The Alamo, San Antonio, Texas was such a pilgrimage.  It’s somewhere I personally wouldn’t have chosen but I’m so pleased that I went.  It was part of a road trip and the part David was looking forward to the most.

san antonio texas trolley bus
San Antonio Trolley Bus

Beware the Domestic Flights!

You’d think from looking at a map that getting from Orlando to San Antonio would be easy.  Just a short hop across the Gulf of Mexico by either sea or air and you’re there.  Apparently not.  No one offers a direct route from Florida to San Antonio.

The easiest route we could find was in two stages.  From Orlando to Houston (1 hour 15 mins) then Houston to San Antonio (1 hour 5 mins) with United Airlines on a Boeing 737.  Brilliant.  Until they changed the schedule.

san antonio texas the alamo bell
The Alamo Bell

How To Make A Journey Long!

Our original journey time of three hours and twenty minutes turned into five and a half hours via the Carolinas!!!  The plane was tiny and at six feet four inches David struggled to fit in his seat. Nightmare, but apparently not uncommon with domestic flights so there was creaking of joints and muscles by then.  The Alamo, San Antonio, Texas would have to wait a few hours more.

Happily, we arrived safe amidst the cacophony of evening birdsong.  We checked in to the El Tropicano Riverwalk Hotel on Lexington Avenue.  It was clean and inviting, the staff were friendly and helpful and it was perfectly placed for the Riverwalk. Click here for TripAdvisor deals and reviews on the hotel.

san antonio texas el tropicano pool
Pool View from Our Room

 

The only food on offer in the evenings were bar snacks in the hotel Tiki lounge but you could order takeaway food to eat in your room.

The two double beds in our room were comfortable and we could control the aircon/heating.  It rates a healthy 3.5 out of 5 on TripAdvisor but at less than £200 for three nights it gives a good level of comfort.

Unfortunately the weather didn’t play nice for us and it was below freezing which took even the locals by surprise so the Riverwalk wasn’t very pleasant in the biting cold.  Had the sun been shining it would have been beautiful.  Naturally the day we left it was 70 degrees but I digress.  Back to the Alamo.

The Alamo Letter

san antonio texas alamo letter
Letter From The Alamo

I’m a little ashamed to admit the story of the Battle of the Alamo, San Antonio, Texas, had escaped me over the years. The Alamo Letter written by Lt. Col. William Barret Travis is one of the most moving letters I have ever read.  The reinforcements he so badly needed never came and those brave soldiers lost their lives after thirteen days under siege, I defy anyone not to have a tear in their eye as they read it.

Mission San Jose

san antonio texas san jose mission
San Jose Mssion

The Alamo, San Antonio, Texas isn’t the only place to visit.  The San Antonio Missions National Historical Park is just a short ride away from The Riverwalk and again worth the time.  Packed with information on times gone by and plenty of seats dotted around to rest on and videos to watch.

san antonio texas missions historical national park
San Antonio Missions Historical National Park.

The area also boasts a Sea World, Aquatica Water Park and boat tours along the river.  You’ll certainly need more than the three days we had and hopefully won’t experience the freak cold snap that we did.  Overall whilst luxury wasn’t abundant it was relatively easy to get around (trolley buses running every 10 minutes).  Having the ability to control the temperature back at the hotel made it a destination we’d be happy to return to and recommend.

san antonio texas around the alamo
David in the Grounds of The Alamo
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Travelling with Fibromyalgia

Travelling With Fibromyalgia:  Is It Worth It?

Travelling with fibro
Photo by Suhyeon Choi

Best Vacations For People with Fibromyalgia

 Travelling with Fibromyalgia can affect us all in different ways but the best vacations for people with fibromyalgia usually involves a warmer climate.  Warmth and sunshine can make us feel a hundred times better and at times eliminate fibro pain.

Travelling with Fibromyalgia to colder climates usually means you will experience more fibromyalgia pain.  If this applies to you then chillier climes will  be something you avoid so seek out the sunshine. This often means you need to travel in Winter and find a sunny long haul destination.  Don’t be put off long haul because of your condition.  You deserve your holiday as much as anyone else – maybe more.

Successful Travelling With Fibromyalgia

travelling with Fibro keeping warm

Successful travelling with fibromyalgia can be a real challenge but you can take steps to help.  

Plan Ahead

You can plan ahead and keep a checklist to combat fibro fog moments.  There’s nothing worse than not being able to remember what you’ve already packed.  The chronic fatigue that accompanies fibromyalgia has to be carefully managed so organisation is key.

An early part of your planning should be finding travel insurance.  I won’t go on about it at length but you know you should have it as soon as you book.  If your medical conditions make it expensive try treatufair.com or travelinsurance4medical.co.uk

Getting To The Airport


If travelling by car you can make the journey to the airport as relaxed as possible.  Make regular stops for coffee and meals and keep the car warm inside.  If you have a good distance to travel then consider booking a hotel room near to the airport.  You can enjoy an evening meal and a comfortable bed ready for your big day tomorrow.

If you’re using public transport to get to the airport then I will always choose the train over the bus.  The convenience of being able to move around the carriage without annoying your fellow passengers beats negotiating narrow bus aisles.

Premier Inns are one of my favourites to stay with, the price is reasonable and the food is excellent.  They have such comfortable Hypnos beds and a choice of pillows to suit.  They also offer a unique good nights sleep guarantee or your money back.  Sleep is such a big issue for anyone diagnosed with fibromyalgia so being as comfortable as possible is top priority.

Airport Comfort

Drop your cases off and go through security as soon as you arrive.  Then you can browse the shops and look for somewhere to relax until your flight is called.

travelling with fibro airport seating
Photo by Akshay Chauhan

Those endless rows of metal fixed airport seating are not for us Fibromites.  We need more cosy comfort to keep our fibro pain at bay.  All major airports have cafes, bars and restaurants offering tub chairs, padded seating or even sofas.  If your budget will allow then Number 1 Lounges are worth considering.  Adult entry is from £26 and all your food and drink (including most alcoholic drinks) are in with the price.

Long Haul Loyalty

This is often the most difficult part of a journey.  Sitting through a long haul flight with fibromyalgia can get those Fibro flare-ups into pole position.  Long periods of inactivity can cause excruciating fibro pain and joint stiffness. 

Even cruising doesn’t get us off the hook.  Unless you book a round-trip cruise you’ll have to fly in one direction.  To see how we got our first upgraded cruise click here.

Having enough personal space in economy class seats is pure fantasy. The obvious (and most expensive) thing to do is upgrade your seat.  Easier said than done for a lot of Fibromites who are on a tight budget. 

Get With The Program!

Loyalty programs are a good way around this but it takes patience and time to build any real benefits.  There are lots of loyalty cards to be had  so rather than be swamped by joining every program going. 

My preferred airlines are Virgin Atlantic and British Airways.  Both these airlines allow you to convert your Tesco Clubcard points to flying miles.   £2.50 of Clubcard Vouchers gets you 600 British Airways Executive Club Avios points or 625 Virgin Atlantic Flying Club miles.

I already shopped at Tesco so this was a no brainer for me.  You can also apply for the British Airways or Virgin credit cards to boost your points even further.  Whoever you choose to travel with they’ll have a loyalty program so tailor them to your needs.  If you need help picking the right program for you click here.   

Virgin’s Shops Away section helps you collect more miles by shopping online through their website.  You’ll find all your favourites such as Ebay, John Lewis, M&S and many more.  British Airways Avios are equally as good and have lots of spending and earning opportunities.

Planning an upgrade takes time but not too much effort and typically will pay for upgraded seats every other year for us, leaving only the taxes to pay.

Once you’ve gone to all the trouble of getting your upgrade why not stay away for longer?  A few extra days or weeks in the sun is good for our health so add extra accommodation costs into your travel plans and feel the benefit.

travelling with fibro money jar
Photo by Michael Longmire

Short-Haul Economy

If you can’t bag a free upgrade by using loyalty points or flying miles then most economy travel classes offer seats with slightly more legroom for a nominal fee.  Airlines have recently begun to introduce up to three levels of economy seating offering different options.  Extra legroom usually features in at least one of these options.

Once again plan ahead by choosing your seat from the seating plan as soon as your airline allows.  If it’s an Exit Seat make sure you or your partner are capable of opening a heavy door if necessary.

I can suffer economy on a flight of 2-3 hours by doing a lot of in-seat fidgeting, ankle/joint rotating. Frequent trips up the aisle help to keep everything moving.

travelling with fibro upper class
Virgin Upgrade

 

Long-Haul Flight With Fibromyalgia

A successful long-haul flight for me is the holy grail.  Travelling with Fibro means economy does not work for me in this scenario.  If I can’t upgrade I can’t go. My last economy long-haul flight without an upgrade left me in so much pain hubby wanted me to go to hospital.  The last thing you want at the start of your trip!

Travelling with fibromyalgia means finding ways to control fibromyalgia symptoms and avoiding a flare up.  Moving around on the flight as much as possible can prevent joint stiffness and an inflatable travel pillow provides support.  TRTL is one of the best on the market.

Supplements

Anyone who lives in the UK should be taking Vitamin D, especially in Winter time.  People with Fibromyalgia often need extra vitamin D, B and Magnesium to help us through.  Magnesium helps with muscle cramping so whenever I’m  travelling I take an extra dose to prevent those painful spasms

Overall Opinion

There’s no doubt that holidays in the sun give us a real boost.  If you take the time to plan ahead to make your journey easy and comfortable, the benefits are huge.  And if you encounter any severe difficulties airport/airline staff are always happy to help you overcome them.  Your holiday begins the moment you step out of the house and making it as easy as possible will reduce an anxiety you may feel.  Our overall opinion is that yes, it’s more than worth it.

See our post 10 Top Tips For Travelling with Arthritis  for more helpful suggestions.  We also have a sister site for people with living with fibromyalgia. Click our link to take a look at fibrostars.com. Happy travels Fibro friends!

 

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Cunard’s Queen Victoria

Our First (Upgraded) Voyage!

Cunard Queen Victoria in Bermuda
MS Queen Victoria

Cunard’s Queen Victoria sailed from Southampton to the British overseas territory of Bermuda then on to Fort Lauderdale, Florida.  Click here for TripAdvisor reviews on the ship.

For years I’d wanted to try cruising and it just hadn’t happened.  So when our 30th wedding anniversary came around we decided it was time.   I spent hours on the internet researching which cruise, where and if I could get it at a good price and the choice was never ending.  Where to start??

Because we wanted transatlantic to fit in with our other travel plans our search soon narrowed it down.  For the dates we wanted Cunard’s Queen Victoria was perfect for our maiden voyage.

Checking my trusty Tesco Clubcard points I decided that the spending limits were too  restrictive.  You do get £30 of  Cunard vouchers for every £10 of Clubcard points but there is a spend limit with Cunard of £810 per booking and they can’t be used for their Early Saver or Saver Fares.

Cunards Queen Victoria Grand Stairway

Booking Process

Booking 4-5 months ahead we couldn’t find anyone offering a better price on the Victoria than Cunard themselves using their early saver option.   We chose the option without the returning flight because we were continuing on from Fort Lauderdale.  To see how we used our loyalty points to upgrade our flight home click here.

Now, as a cruising newbie I had no idea where in the ship I wanted to be and what to expect.  I needed help.   David has a tendency towards claustrophobia so a basic inside cabin wouldn’t work and neither would one with a porthole.  He needs to be able to get out into the fresh sea air.

Cunards' Queen Victoria leaving Southampton
Leaving Southampton

I did look longingly at the Princess and Queen Grills accommodation I admit.  But once I’d finished daydreaming and reality checked the bank account then Cunard’s Queen Victoria basic balcony was clearly the one for us. 

The Cunard representative on the phone guided me easily through the booking process with advice about where we would be more comfortable.  She was so helpful and patient with me making sure we had a stateroom fairly close to the lifts for accessibility.

Cunards Queen Victoria Ballroom
Formal Evenings in the Queens Ballroom

Health Issues

 Having two types of Arthritis, Fibromyalgia and Asthma, I need to be warm and comfortable, so traipsing along miles of corridors with the aforementioned Mr Claustrophobia isn’t our idea of heaven. Cunard recommended a stateroom that was mid-ship where there is less ‘rock and roll’ which helped to allay any fears about being stricken with mal de mer! 

Cunards' Queen Victoria arriving in Bermuda
Cunards’ Queen Victoria approaching Bermuda

Destination

In Winter, Florida is the perfect haven for me.  Read our article on Florida getaways here.   Not too humid with lots of warm sunshine so exactly where I wanted to be.  Bermuda was on my bucket list so having it as a port of call really excited me.  But whilst counting the weeks to our departure we were in for a lovely surprise.

Cunard's Queen Victoria Commodore Club
The Commodore Club with majestic views over the bow

A Christmas Surprise!

Just before Christmas we received a letter from Cunard telling us they were changing our cabin number.  I was a little concerned as we’d chosen our original cabin very carefully – midship and not too far from the lifts.

Our Welcome Letter.

Going online to see Cunard’s Queen Victoria deck plan I was stunned to see we had been put in a Princess Grill Suite!  I couldn’t believe it.  It must be a mistake.

  I couldn’t  bear the suspense of waiting until Sailing day and then being disappointed so I called them.  It was true!  We had been upgraded.

Cunard's Queen Victoria Stateroom Champagne
Don’t mind if we do – Thank you Cunard!

Upgraded?  But How?

I have my own theory on this.  When I phoned Cunard to book our passage I jokingly mentioned that any upgrades would be gratefully accepted.  To my surprise the staff member said if we were happy to upgrade (happy? we’d be ecstatic!!!) she would put a note on our account in case any became available.  We hadn’t received upgrades on any travel before so I thought nothing more of it.  I honestly didn’t think first timers would get an upgrade.

Cunard's Queen Victoria Guest Folder
Complimentary Folder For Guest Souvenirs

Looking back I’m convinced that booking directly with Cunard rather than a third party agent helped.  It’s common sense that they will give their own customers first priority on just about everything.  Asking about an upgrade when booking was obviously a good move too judging by the response.  I was literally joking when I said it but it’s now part of my standard booking conversation.

Cunard's Queen Victoria Welcome Chocolates

The following year  Cunard had a special promotion offering a free cabin  upgrade to everyone who booked with them.  I’m guessing if they’ve done it once they may well do it again so watch out for their cruise deals .   

queen victoria stateroom 6107
Our Stateroom onboard MS Queen Victoria

Princess Grill

We sailed from Southampton on Cunard’s Queen Victoria in early January, across the Atlantic to Bermuda then on to Port Canaveral and Fort Lauderdale where we disembarked. 

Our stateroom was beautiful.  Spotlessly clean with champagne, strawberries and chocolates to welcome us aboard.  It was cosy and warm with a full bathroom stocked with Penhaligons Quercus toiletries, a dressing area and a safe.  The fridge was fully stocked with drinks, Godiva chocolates and Pringles. The only thing missing was tea and coffee making facilities but I believe MS Queen Victoria has been remastered since our voyage to include these.  The bliss of waking up on a Sealy Cunard mattress and  having your morning cup of tea or coffee just the way you like it  is a wonderful start to your day.  In the meantime though for this voyage we had room service.

queen victoria bathroom

Feeling Special

Apart from having a butler and assistant butler we had the privilege of dining in the Princess Grills Restaurant for every meal on deck eleven.  Access to this deck is reserved only for Grills passengers and to take the lift to this deck you have to put your room card into a slot on the lift panel.  Other passengers could only travel to deck ten.  It was a very special feeling but at first it did feel a little awkward doing this in front of other people.

Who can resist Strawberry Soup?

The Maitre d’  knew us by name from the first evening and we had the same waiter (Nittin) and Sommelier (Roberto). They treated us with courtesy and respect and nothing was too much trouble for them.  We were thoroughly spoiled.  The food was out of this world.  I haven’t experienced such exquisite presentation and flavour and with the exception of our last night I made a point of trying something different every evening.  You are so cosseted the thought of leaving all this wonderful cocoon of service and cuisine behind at the end of our voyage wasn’t welcome.

cunards queen victoria desert
Desert the Cunard Way

Accessibility

Ships aren’t really wheelchair friendly places but if your mobility issues aren’t too severe they’re easy to get around.  There’s always somewhere to stop for a sit down and having a room near the lifts is always a good idea.  You can take  a service dog with you for free.  However if your dog or cat is travelling with you because you can’t bear to be parted then you have to pay.  There are on-board kennels and areas to exercise them along with an owners lounge.

Cunard's Queen Victoria approaching Fort Lauderdale
MS Queen Victoria view Approaching Fort Lauderdale

Cunard’s Queen Victoria’s Comfort Level

If you have health conditions that require warmth and comfort you’ll be pleased to know that even in January the ship is warm and cosy throughout.  The mattresses on the beds have been created specifically for Cunard and they are so comfy.  Thankfully Sealy will sell them to the general public.  When we got home I went straight online and bought one for myself!

Shopping and Spending On Board

Thankfully we got a free on board spend of $325 each for our voyage but even so drinks and goods on first impression seemed expensive.   At various intervals Cunard posts your bill under your door and ours were looking a bit scary.  We highly recommend buying a soft drinks package at the very least. 

Tobacco and alcohol from the duty free shop on board is a reasonable price.  We didn’t go for the wifi package as it looked expensive so we had a bit of a technical detox. However, after nearly fainting at the size of the bill  by the end of our voyage there was some soothing relief. 

The on board exchange rate Cunard work on is $2 to £1 meaning our $1100 bill after taking off our joint complimentary $650 was only £225.  Something to bear in mind for next time and not bad for 11 nights of partying.

Overall Opinion and Cost

For our 11 nights on board Cunard’s Queen Victoria we paid £1149 each for a balcony stateroom with shower only and $325 each on board spend.  Had we paid for our Princess Grill Stateroom the cost would have been around £2300 each with only a $120 spend. 

There’s no doubt that our upgrade made our Cunard experience a very special one but without the upgrade we can still highly recommend everything about our cruise.   For TripAdvisor reviews of the ship click here.

The one word of advice here is to book directly with Cunard – even if you see it cheaper via a third party.  Tell them and you may get a pleasant surprise at what they will offer you.  Happy Sailing Folks! 

 

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Copper Horse Cottages, Seamer

Updated March 2020 – If you’re looking for luxury near the North Yorkshire Coast, the small village of Seamer is host to The Copper Horse Cottages. Situated about 40 miles from the City of York it’s easy to find. The local scenery is truly stunning even in Autumn colouring the trees and landscape as far as the eye can see.  We were booked into a cottage named ‘The Lodge’ at The Copper Horse Cottages and on arrival we couldn’t have been happier,  it felt like a home from home.  The whole house was  fresh, clean, and inviting.

copper horse living/dinng area

Cosy & Warm

The ambience was calm and restful with quality furnishings that were as comfortable as they were good looking and it was cosy warm throughout.  Too often I’ve rented holiday cottages out of season and found the heating timer set to ‘stingy’ and locked away to prevent access. 

If you have health problems that are triggered by the cold this can make your stay thoroughly miserable.  The heating in all Copper Horse Cottages is set to ‘ON’ all the time so you can control it via the thermostat in the hall, that in itself is a huge bonus in my book. 

fluffy white towels and boutique toiletries at the copper horse cottages

Thoughtful Touches

With a well designed layout that offered an open plan kitchen, dining and living area,  all three boutique style bedrooms were en-suite with lots of thoughtful little touches such as a vanity kit, hand & body lotion and shampoo and bubble bath.  All the sinks throughout had boutique hand wash and lotions and the mandatory fluffy towels with lashings of hot water.

upstairs bathroomcopper horse dressing table

Comfortable Beds

The Lodge boasts  superking size beds with quality Sealy Orthopaedic mattresses that you can have converted into twin beds.   You’ll also find a flat screen TV, hairdryer, trinket box, tissues and make-up mirror.  The bed linen (and towels) were supplied by Richard Haworth Linens.  They felt heavenly to slide into and there was even a tower fan in the room to keep us cool if needed.

Well Equipped

Next to the large flat screen TV in the living area we were happy to find a good quality Bose docking station.  There was plenty of information on the local area in this room as well as  games for all the family.  With a well-equipped kitchen that leaves you wanting for nothing this truly is a luxurious and comfortable home from home.

copper horse cool living areatv and sound dock

Pets

Copper Horse Cottages are also pet friendly which is a refreshing change for luxury accommodation. They have thought of everything to make your stay perfect.   Doggy essentials such as a dog bed, dog bowls, blanket, biscuits and poop bags are all provided for you so your pooch can feel just as important as you do.

 

dog friendly holidays

Private Patio

Outside is a paved patio area with chairs and sun loungers but it was the end of September so the time to sunbathe didn’t really present itself.  This area was nicely screened off to give complete privacy to guests. There was parking for two vehicles at the front with large metal gates to keep you and your pet feeling secure.

patio for sunbathing

view of patio

Out & About

Heading out to find somewhere to eat on our first night we discovered a walkway around the rear of the double garage.  This brought us into the car park of the The Mayfield Pub.   They offer pleasant surroundings and a comprehensive menu and carvery at very good prices.  The service was good and the food was delicious so we can fully recommend it.  Finding somewhere so close and accessible makes settling in on that first night after a long journey a pleasant experience.

Further up the Main Street you’ll find more Copper Horse cottages and The Copper Horse Pub with a  more upmarket offering and a friendly welcome.  Scarborough is a short 4 miles away and offers more good restaurants and attractions  including nature parks, theatres and museums.

Accessibility

The Lodge had a good sized downstairs bedroom with large en-suite shower room,  perfect for anyone with general mobility problems.   Unfortunately there wasn’t enough room to get a wheelchair into the room due to the furniture.  However if your mobility makes climbing stairs are a problem then this room is ideal.

dressing gown with logoBooking

The Copper Horse Cottages website matches bookings on the number of guests rather than choosing a particular cottage first.  However it’s worth giving them a call for the pleasure of experiencing their hospitality.  Our hosts genuinely could not do enough for us and we hope we get the chance to visit again.  As with all holidays don’t forget to buy your travel insurance as soon as you book.

Price

A typical two night stay in one of the Copper Horse Cottages starts at around £320 depending on the time of year.  It’s always a good idea to advise them what your special needs are at the time of booking so they can match your accommodation to your requirements.

OPINION

This was by far the best holiday cottage I have ever stayed in.  The attention to detail and the luxury of the fittings and furnishings was a pleasant surprise.  You cannot underestimate the importance of comfort if you have health issues to deal with and being warm and cosy allowed me to relax and enjoy the company of my family, often into the wee small hours.  Copper Horse Cottages have set the bar very high.  We have to give them ten out of ten for warmth and comfort and the same for style.  Click here for TripAdvisor reviews.

More Pictures

 

upstairs bathroom

complimentary dressing gowns

entrance hall copper horse cottages