We'd now planned the route, but the next bit was probably tougher. All the planning now had to be put into action. There were the initial flights into Croatia, then the horrible return flight back to the UK out of Amsterdam, all of the overland travel, some of which can be booked in advance, but in some of the far flung corners of Europe we were heading, there was no advance internet bookings. Then the slight problem of the multiple languages that the information we could find was in... Oh, and we had to find somewhere to stay.
Hutch and I work at the same company, and had to sort out getting the required 14 days off work. I had to pull together an intricate handover document, Hutch just seemed to get it authorised. Jammy sod. In the time it took me to get the time authorised, the flights into Zadar had jumped from about £100, to £170... blowing our budgets. Another solution was required.
I became very familiar with www.skyscanner.net, and found some extraordinary low cost budget airlines. Suddenly, something cropped up. An indirect flight via Frankfurt from Stansted, costing nearly half of the direct route, at about £86. A lot of people dislike Ryanair, but I bloody love them. Cheap travel and actually quite efficient and organised for the crap quality they offer.
Then the return flight from Amsterdam. Expensive. An adjustment was needed. Return from Eindhoven? Peanuts, again on Ryanair, plus another city, abliet for just a couple of hours. Thank you Mick O'Leary.
So that was thr flights booked, and over the last few weeks the accomodation has fallen into place. All is now done and dusted. We have shortened Kiev from the original plan; when England are in town for our visit, the prices rocket! So we adjusted and are staying in L'viv for an extended period. So, more bookings than Paul Scholes, it most certainly is, the dossier of information would make the KGB weep!!
Hutch and I work at the same company, and had to sort out getting the required 14 days off work. I had to pull together an intricate handover document, Hutch just seemed to get it authorised. Jammy sod. In the time it took me to get the time authorised, the flights into Zadar had jumped from about £100, to £170... blowing our budgets. Another solution was required.
I became very familiar with www.skyscanner.net, and found some extraordinary low cost budget airlines. Suddenly, something cropped up. An indirect flight via Frankfurt from Stansted, costing nearly half of the direct route, at about £86. A lot of people dislike Ryanair, but I bloody love them. Cheap travel and actually quite efficient and organised for the crap quality they offer.
Then the return flight from Amsterdam. Expensive. An adjustment was needed. Return from Eindhoven? Peanuts, again on Ryanair, plus another city, abliet for just a couple of hours. Thank you Mick O'Leary.
So that was thr flights booked, and over the last few weeks the accomodation has fallen into place. All is now done and dusted. We have shortened Kiev from the original plan; when England are in town for our visit, the prices rocket! So we adjusted and are staying in L'viv for an extended period. So, more bookings than Paul Scholes, it most certainly is, the dossier of information would make the KGB weep!!
