Herself and I are scheduled to visit Vienna next month, mainly because she has for a long time harboured a wish to go there. I have been there before (some time ago, before Herself became a major part of my life) and in my mind Vienna is "done". It's one of those places that I think it sufficient to visit once. So next month's trip is for Herself. Yes, I am self-serving enough to let her know that. I tell her that I would be happier to take her to Budapest, but she has been there once and considers it done.
Anyway, she phoned me from work to ask if I was aware that Aer Lingus was running a seat sale with fares as low as €1. I was, and we had a brief discussion about taking advantage of it. She pointed out that as we don't greatly like high temperatures it might be a good opportunity to visit the south of Spain or some other warm place which might be comfortable for us in winter. She checked her diary and identified times that she could take a few days off. So I went online and found availability to Almeria, Alicante, Malaga, and Seville. Lisbon, too, but we have been there recently. Marseille, which seemed interesting to us, was not available on suitable dates. We hummed and hawed a bit, thought we needed more thinking time, and decided to leave the decision until the evening (the sale ends today).
I did a little more research, and found that they had similarly good prices on destinations that were not flagged on their website. I could get to and from Bordeaux for €13 each way. So I called her back to tell her. No more hesitation -- a decisive "go for it". So I did.
Of course, it's a trivial basis on which to make decisions. Our €13 fare is not really €13. The add-ons more than treble the price, and if you have some flexibility, you can get deals about as good as that quite often. Further, the cost of travel is only a small component of the cost of a trip; accommodation, meals, and other spending will amount to much more -- and such things are generally more expensive in France than in Spain. So it's not really price-driven.
So what underlies our decision-making? The Aer Lingus seat sale was a trigger, but no more than that. The real motivator is caprice. Rightly so: our travel is, for the most part, undertaken for fun.
> Herself and I are scheduled to visit Vienna next month, mainly because > she has for a long time harboured a wish to go there. I have been > there before (some time ago, before Herself became a major part of my > life) and in my mind Vienna is "done". It's one of those places that I > think it sufficient to visit once. So next month's trip is for > Herself. Yes, I am self-serving enough to let her know that. I tell > her that I would be happier to take her to Budapest, but she has been > there once and considers it done.
> Anyway, she phoned me from work to ask if I was aware that Aer Lingus > was running a seat sale with fares as low as ?1. I was, and we had a > brief discussion about taking advantage of it. She pointed out that as > we don't greatly like high temperatures it might be a good opportunity > to visit the south of Spain or some other warm place which might be > comfortable for us in winter. She checked her diary and identified > times that she could take a few days off. So I went online and found > availability to Almeria, Alicante, Malaga, and Seville. Lisbon, too, > but we have been there recently. Marseille, which seemed interesting > to us, was not available on suitable dates. We hummed and hawed a bit, > thought we needed more thinking time, and decided to leave the > decision until the evening (the sale ends today).
> I did a little more research, and found that they had similarly good > prices on destinations that were not flagged on their website. I could > get to and from Bordeaux for ?13 each way. So I called her back to > tell her. No more hesitation -- a decisive "go for it". So I did.
> Of course, it's a trivial basis on which to make decisions. Our ?13 > fare is not really ?13. The add-ons more than treble the price, and if > you have some flexibility, you can get deals about as good as that > quite often. Further, the cost of travel is only a small component of > the cost of a trip; accommodation, meals, and other spending will > amount to much more -- and such things are generally more expensive in > France than in Spain. So it's not really price-driven.
> So what underlies our decision-making? The Aer Lingus seat sale was a > trigger, but no more than that. The real motivator is caprice. Rightly > so: our travel is, for the most part, undertaken for fun.
On Thu, 05 Oct 2006 18:18:11 +0100, Padraig Breathnach wrote: > Herself and I are scheduled to visit Vienna next month, mainly because > she has for a long time harboured a wish to go there. I have been > there before (some time ago, before Herself became a major part of my > life) and in my mind Vienna is "done". It's one of those places that I > think it sufficient to visit once. So next month's trip is for > Herself. Yes, I am self-serving enough to let her know that. I tell > her that I would be happier to take her to Budapest, but she has been > there once and considers it done.
> Anyway, she phoned me from work to ask if I was aware that Aer Lingus > was running a seat sale with fares as low as ¤1. I was, and we had a > brief discussion about taking advantage of it. She pointed out that as > we don't greatly like high temperatures it might be a good opportunity > to visit the south of Spain or some other warm place which might be > comfortable for us in winter. She checked her diary and identified > times that she could take a few days off. So I went online and found > availability to Almeria, Alicante, Malaga, and Seville. Lisbon, too, > but we have been there recently. Marseille, which seemed interesting > to us, was not available on suitable dates. We hummed and hawed a bit, > thought we needed more thinking time, and decided to leave the > decision until the evening (the sale ends today).
> I did a little more research, and found that they had similarly good > prices on destinations that were not flagged on their website. I could > get to and from Bordeaux for ¤13 each way. So I called her back to > tell her. No more hesitation -- a decisive "go for it". So I did.
> Of course, it's a trivial basis on which to make decisions. Our ¤13 > fare is not really ¤13. The add-ons more than treble the price, and if > you have some flexibility, you can get deals about as good as that > quite often. Further, the cost of travel is only a small component of > the cost of a trip; accommodation, meals, and other spending will > amount to much more -- and such things are generally more expensive in > France than in Spain. So it's not really price-driven.
> So what underlies our decision-making? The Aer Lingus seat sale was a > trigger, but no more than that. The real motivator is caprice. Rightly > so: our travel is, for the most part, undertaken for fun.
And after all, Padraig, that is exactly what travel is all about............fun. Gerry
On Thu, 05 Oct 2006 18:18:11 +0100, Padraig Breathnach
<padra...@MUNGEDiol.ie> wrote: >Herself and I are scheduled to visit Vienna next month, mainly because >she has for a long time harboured a wish to go there. I have been >there before (some time ago, before Herself became a major part of my >life) and in my mind Vienna is "done". It's one of those places that I >think it sufficient to visit once.
Yeah, Vienna is of limited value but please consider going there anyway and going up to Cesky Crumlov for a night or preferably two. It's really nice, and you wont run out of things to do there. It's only a couple of hours from Vienna.
Also, there are plenty of really charming, cheap, and non-touristy places in Slovakia that are in easy reach. Start from Levoca and keep heading east stopping at every town mentioned in the guide book. Really nice, and really good value. -- --- DFM - http://www.deepfriedmars.com --- --
>>Herself and I are scheduled to visit Vienna next month, mainly because >>she has for a long time harboured a wish to go there. I have been >>there before (some time ago, before Herself became a major part of my >>life) and in my mind Vienna is "done". It's one of those places that I >>think it sufficient to visit once.
>Yeah, Vienna is of limited value but please consider going there >anyway and going up to Cesky Crumlov for a night or preferably two. >It's really nice, and you wont run out of things to do there. It's >only a couple of hours from Vienna.
>Also, there are plenty of really charming, cheap, and non-touristy >places in Slovakia that are in easy reach. Start from Levoca and keep >heading east stopping at every town mentioned in the guide book. >Really nice, and really good value.
That looks like a heavy programme for four lazy days in November. I'm thinking of just one day trip outside the city (using public transport -- I'm not very interested in hiring a car) , and the recent discussions here on Bratislava suggested to me that it might be a good trip. Is that a good idea?
Dave Frightens Me wrote: > On Thu, 05 Oct 2006 18:18:11 +0100, Padraig Breathnach > <padra...@MUNGEDiol.ie> wrote:
> >Herself and I are scheduled to visit Vienna next month, mainly because > >she has for a long time harboured a wish to go there. I have been > >there before (some time ago, before Herself became a major part of my > >life) and in my mind Vienna is "done". It's one of those places that I > >think it sufficient to visit once.
> Yeah, Vienna is of limited value but please consider going there > anyway
Vienna has huge historical and cultural significance, a world-class art museum, one of the most beautiful palaces in the world, and lots of great architecture.
> Also, there are plenty of really charming, cheap, and non-touristy > places in Slovakia that are in easy reach. Start from Levoca and keep > heading east stopping at every town mentioned in the guide book.
<padra...@MUNGEDiol.ie> wrote: >Herself and I are scheduled to visit Vienna next month, mainly because >she has for a long time harboured a wish to go there. I have been >there before (some time ago, before Herself became a major part of my >life) and in my mind Vienna is "done". It's one of those places that I >think it sufficient to visit once. So next month's trip is for >Herself. Yes, I am self-serving enough to let her know that. I tell >her that I would be happier to take her to Budapest, but she has been >there once and considers it done.
>Anyway, she phoned me from work to ask if I was aware that Aer Lingus >was running a seat sale with fares as low as ¤1. I was, and we had a >brief discussion about taking advantage of it. She pointed out that as >we don't greatly like high temperatures it might be a good opportunity >to visit the south of Spain or some other warm place which might be >comfortable for us in winter. She checked her diary and identified >times that she could take a few days off. So I went online and found >availability to Almeria, Alicante, Malaga, and Seville. Lisbon, too, >but we have been there recently. Marseille, which seemed interesting >to us, was not available on suitable dates. We hummed and hawed a bit, >thought we needed more thinking time, and decided to leave the >decision until the evening (the sale ends today).
>I did a little more research, and found that they had similarly good >prices on destinations that were not flagged on their website. I could >get to and from Bordeaux for ¤13 each way. So I called her back to >tell her. No more hesitation -- a decisive "go for it". So I did.
>Of course, it's a trivial basis on which to make decisions. Our ¤13 >fare is not really ¤13. The add-ons more than treble the price, and if >you have some flexibility, you can get deals about as good as that >quite often. Further, the cost of travel is only a small component of >the cost of a trip; accommodation, meals, and other spending will >amount to much more -- and such things are generally more expensive in >France than in Spain. So it's not really price-driven.
>So what underlies our decision-making? The Aer Lingus seat sale was a >trigger, but no more than that. The real motivator is caprice. Rightly >so: our travel is, for the most part, undertaken for fun.
I like both - long-term planning for major trips, spontaneous reactions for others.
Unfortunately, there aren't many $50 fares to foreign climes from here, so those tend to be long-range plans.
Alan S wrote: > On Thu, 05 Oct 2006 18:18:11 +0100, Padraig Breathnach > <padra...@MUNGEDiol.ie> wrote:
> >Herself and I are scheduled to visit Vienna next month, mainly because > >she has for a long time harboured a wish to go there. I have been > >there before (some time ago, before Herself became a major part of my > >life) and in my mind Vienna is "done". It's one of those places that I > >think it sufficient to visit once. So next month's trip is for > >Herself. Yes, I am self-serving enough to let her know that. I tell > >her that I would be happier to take her to Budapest, but she has been > >there once and considers it done.
> >Anyway, she phoned me from work to ask if I was aware that Aer Lingus > >was running a seat sale with fares as low as ¤1. I was, and we had a > >brief discussion about taking advantage of it. She pointed out that as > >we don't greatly like high temperatures it might be a good opportunity > >to visit the south of Spain or some other warm place which might be > >comfortable for us in winter. She checked her diary and identified > >times that she could take a few days off. So I went online and found > >availability to Almeria, Alicante, Malaga, and Seville. Lisbon, too, > >but we have been there recently. Marseille, which seemed interesting > >to us, was not available on suitable dates. We hummed and hawed a bit, > >thought we needed more thinking time, and decided to leave the > >decision until the evening (the sale ends today).
> >I did a little more research, and found that they had similarly good > >prices on destinations that were not flagged on their website. I could > >get to and from Bordeaux for ¤13 each way. So I called her back to > >tell her. No more hesitation -- a decisive "go for it". So I did.
> >Of course, it's a trivial basis on which to make decisions. Our ¤13 > >fare is not really ¤13. The add-ons more than treble the price, and if > >you have some flexibility, you can get deals about as good as that > >quite often. Further, the cost of travel is only a small component of > >the cost of a trip; accommodation, meals, and other spending will > >amount to much more -- and such things are generally more expensive in > >France than in Spain. So it's not really price-driven.
> >So what underlies our decision-making? The Aer Lingus seat sale was a > >trigger, but no more than that. The real motivator is caprice. Rightly > >so: our travel is, for the most part, undertaken for fun.
> I like both - long-term planning for major trips, > spontaneous reactions for others.
> Unfortunately, there aren't many $50 fares to foreign climes > from here, so those tend to be long-range plans.
>Alan S wrote: >> On Thu, 05 Oct 2006 18:18:11 +0100, Padraig Breathnach >> <padra...@MUNGEDiol.ie> wrote:
>> >Herself and I are scheduled to visit Vienna next month, mainly because >> >she has for a long time harboured a wish to go there. I have been >> >there before (some time ago, before Herself became a major part of my >> >life) and in my mind Vienna is "done". It's one of those places that I >> >think it sufficient to visit once. So next month's trip is for >> >Herself. Yes, I am self-serving enough to let her know that. I tell >> >her that I would be happier to take her to Budapest, but she has been >> >there once and considers it done.
>> >Anyway, she phoned me from work to ask if I was aware that Aer Lingus >> >was running a seat sale with fares as low as ¤1. I was, and we had a >> >brief discussion about taking advantage of it. She pointed out that as >> >we don't greatly like high temperatures it might be a good opportunity >> >to visit the south of Spain or some other warm place which might be >> >comfortable for us in winter. She checked her diary and identified >> >times that she could take a few days off. So I went online and found >> >availability to Almeria, Alicante, Malaga, and Seville. Lisbon, too, >> >but we have been there recently. Marseille, which seemed interesting >> >to us, was not available on suitable dates. We hummed and hawed a bit, >> >thought we needed more thinking time, and decided to leave the >> >decision until the evening (the sale ends today).
>> >I did a little more research, and found that they had similarly good >> >prices on destinations that were not flagged on their website. I could >> >get to and from Bordeaux for ¤13 each way. So I called her back to >> >tell her. No more hesitation -- a decisive "go for it". So I did.
>> >Of course, it's a trivial basis on which to make decisions. Our ¤13 >> >fare is not really ¤13. The add-ons more than treble the price, and if >> >you have some flexibility, you can get deals about as good as that >> >quite often. Further, the cost of travel is only a small component of >> >the cost of a trip; accommodation, meals, and other spending will >> >amount to much more -- and such things are generally more expensive in >> >France than in Spain. So it's not really price-driven.
>> >So what underlies our decision-making? The Aer Lingus seat sale was a >> >trigger, but no more than that. The real motivator is caprice. Rightly >> >so: our travel is, for the most part, undertaken for fun.
>> I like both - long-term planning for major trips, >> spontaneous reactions for others.
>> Unfortunately, there aren't many $50 fares to foreign climes >> from here, so those tend to be long-range plans.
>Nauru or Port Moresby maybe?
Port Moresby is about as inviting as a war zone, Nauru is a lump of rock minus it's guano, and Bali has been crossed off my list - if the bombs weren't enough, the Corby case was.
I've used up the frequent flyer miles from the first northern trip going to Fiji and NZ. Now waiting for Qantas or Air Caledonie to have some specials to Noumea.
I saw the crabs migrating on Christmas Island many, many years ago - that was unforgettable - and visited the Cocos and Keeling Islands (and Djakarta) on that same trip with the military. Islands like that can be idyllic, but they can also get just a wee bit boring after a while.
>>>Herself and I are scheduled to visit Vienna next month, mainly because >>>she has for a long time harboured a wish to go there. I have been >>>there before (some time ago, before Herself became a major part of my >>>life) and in my mind Vienna is "done". It's one of those places that I >>>think it sufficient to visit once.
>>Yeah, Vienna is of limited value but please consider going there >>anyway and going up to Cesky Crumlov for a night or preferably two. >>It's really nice, and you wont run out of things to do there. It's >>only a couple of hours from Vienna.
>>Also, there are plenty of really charming, cheap, and non-touristy >>places in Slovakia that are in easy reach. Start from Levoca and keep >>heading east stopping at every town mentioned in the guide book. >>Really nice, and really good value.
>That looks like a heavy programme for four lazy days in November. I'm >thinking of just one day trip outside the city (using public transport >-- I'm not very interested in hiring a car) , and the recent >discussions here on Bratislava suggested to me that it might be a good >trip. Is that a good idea?
Ah, four days. I now see the issue!
To be fair, it will be cold and probably you would be better off going to a bigger city and concentrating on indoorish type stuff. As I am sure you know, I don't rate Bratislava as being all that special, and would probably prefer Vienna, even though I have been there before.
Actually what I would probably prefer is to rug up and wander through the Slovakian hills and mountains! -- --- DFM - http://www.deepfriedmars.com --- --
