degrees within 360 degree turns
Another internet adventure that involves degrees with 360 degree turns - starting with a starting point of a weeks time share in the West of England in Uley, near Dursley, near Bristol near a bird sanctuary that my mother wants to visit!
So the fun started - airfares from Johanesburg South Africa to Birmingham or London - Emirates did both and offered the best fare (search KLM with a stop in Paris or Amsterdam - too expensive, Qatar - not cheaper so no great incentive to choose it over and above Emirates that has a long standing reputation). Which was best for car hire - 1car1.com reasonable rates for both. The next step who to visit. Then where to stay. Then what to do.
Airfares
Emirates the most reasonable fare. Next decision whether to take advantage of a long stay over to go into Dubai - 180, 90 degree turns deciding best solution for an arrival of 5.30 a.m. on the 31st and leaving 3.30 a.m. on the 1st - book a hotel or not. Looked at booking into one of the Business Class lounges (loungepass.com - average UK Pounds 17.18 - +-ZAR 274) this only gives you 3 hours but you can shower - not sure if you can sleep. If I booked for two sessions we are looking at the price of a hotel? So decided to search for a hotel and have settled for the moment on an economy hotel - Nova Hotel Dubai which is near the Museum and the Creek - I checked on trip advisor and reading between the lines it seemed to offer value for money, location good. Still have to sort out getting too and from the airport as I gather that Dubai and the airport is exceptionally busy and that one waits for long periods for taxis - a shuttle from the hotel is recommended by not sure if this hotel has that facility. Still on the TO DO LIST - hopefully can secure something for the 1.00 in the morning trip to the airport to catch our flight to Gatwick.
Arrival Gatwick
Finally decided on Gatwick as I thought I would regret not popping into London this time as it will be a long time before going back to the UK - it is very expensive for South Africans and I’m afraid as much as I like the UK there are too many other places to explore. There is also a possibility of seeing someone in Croydon, so Gatwick well positioned only being 15 minutes by train.
Car Hire and Route
Then came the route and realistic mileage per day and an estimate of how much petrol would cost v trains and buses. Bought a Garmin navigator here in South Africa with Europe loaded - this was spured on by a friend of mine in the UK who has a Tom Tom and offered to check some of the distances and times I proposed for a days travel - I had created a framework with the help of a 1999 large size road map of the UK and a piece of string (factoring in getting lost and traffic being heavy - not like travelling through the Karoo!) - I managed to be reasonably accurate - the proof will be in the driving - watch this space after November. Car hire even with the cost of petrol (although that might have changes some what since May?), collecting and dropping off at different locations, automatic transmission (no aircon), two people sharing the cost still cheaper than trains, more expensive than buses, but it gives us flexibility and independence. So car hire was chosen and the best car hire 1car1.com which says there are no hidden extras - confirmation of insurance cover and final booking on the TO DO LIST.
That’s all for now - to be continued 23.8.08
Cherry