[Idyllchat] Travel Considerations

Sun, 13 Aug 2006 09:59:41 -0700

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Came across a travel article this morning "choosing the right airport".  =
The article clearly confirmed my feeling that some airports are to be =
avoided whenever possible. We avoid Heathrow (unless we are going to =
stay in UK), or deGaulle for ongoing travel at all costs.  As many =
Untourists, especially new ones are starting to plan their next trips, =
thought I would provide our experience, and hope others will chime in.

=20

First, my perspective is that of a west coast traveler.  There is a big =
difference on how you feel arriving in Europe from the east coast vs. =
west coast (unless you have difficult connections leaving from inland =
cities in the east as many Untourists do). =20

=20

Obviously we would all choose a direct flight from our own city if we =
could.  This year we opted to do our own travel on our Castle/Austria =
trip in May/June.  We chose Lufthansa from San Francisco direct to =
Munich.  This flight, leaving at 10:00pm is popular with many of our =
friends-going onward to anywhere in Europe.  For most of the flight the =
cabin is dark and we are sleeping (or resting).  First time on an air =
bus where the lavatories are downstairs.  Can you imagine not standing =
in line even once to use the lavatory on an 11 plus hour flight?  Or =
waiting in line next to the poor passengers who are stuck in the last =
rows before the lavatories?  This is a big plus.  It was also nice to be =
able to choose our seats online at the time we made our reservation-no =
surprises.   The Munich airport is just wonderful.  Good food, =
comfortable waiting, and surprisingly economical last minute shopping.  =
If you are going to make your own air travel plans, book as early as you =
can to get good seats. =20

=20

We find resting overnight at your arrival city after a very long flight =
can make your journey to your final destination much more enjoyable (as =
did getting the GPS with our rental car-a joy for the navigator).  We =
compared our trip with other travelers at the Castle.  No question we =
made the right decision.=20

=20

My mind is working overtime on what to do in 2007.  No direct flights =
from SF to Switzerland.  We travel to Los Angeles for the Swiss flight =
to Zurich (wonderful airport too).  Not bad going, but arriving in LAX =
on a weekday afternoon after 20 hours from your Swiss home, facing a =
flight to SFO with all the commuters is not fun.  But then again, =
Switzerland is worth it.=20

=20

Hope others will share their experiences and tips.  Cheers.  Joan.

=20

=20

=20

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<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=3D"Times =
New Roman"=20
size=3D3>Came across a travel article this morning =93choosing the right =

airport=94.&nbsp; The article =
clearly=20
confirmed my feeling that some airports are to be avoided whenever =
possible. We=20
avoid Heathrow (unless we are going to stay in UK), or deGaulle for =
ongoing=20
travel at all costs.&nbsp; As =
many=20
Untourists, especially new ones are starting to plan their next trips, =
thought I=20
would provide our experience, and hope others will chime in.
<FONT=20
face=3D"Times New Roman">&nbsp;<?xml:namespace prefix =3D o ns =3D=20
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" =
/><o:p></o:p>
First, my perspective is that of a west coast traveler.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; There is a big difference on =
how you=20
feel arriving in Europe from the east coast vs. west coast (unless you =
have=20
difficult connections leaving from inland cities in the east as many =
Untourists=20
do).&nbsp; 
<FONT=20
face=3D"Times New Roman">&nbsp;<o:p></o:p>
<FONT=20
face=3D"Times New Roman">Obviously we would all choose a direct flight =
from our=20
own city if we could.&nbsp; =
This year we=20
opted to do our own travel on our Castle/Austria trip in May/June.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; We chose Lufthansa from San =
Francisco=20
direct to Munich.&nbsp; This =
flight,=20
leaving at 10:00pm is popular with many of our friends=97going onward to =
anywhere=20
in Europe.&nbsp; For most of =
the flight=20
the cabin is dark and we are sleeping (or resting).<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; First time on an air bus where =
the=20
lavatories are downstairs.&nbsp; =
Can you=20
imagine not standing in line even once to use the lavatory on an 11 plus =
hour=20
flight?&nbsp; Or waiting in =
line next to=20
the poor passengers who are stuck in the last rows before the =
lavatories?<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; This is a big plus.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; It was also nice to be able to =
choose=20
our seats online at the time we made our reservation=97no =
surprises.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp;&nbsp; The Munich airport is =
just=20
wonderful.&nbsp; Good food, =
comfortable=20
waiting, and surprisingly economical last minute shopping.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; If you are going to make your =
own air=20
travel plans, book as early as you can to get good seats.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; 
<FONT=20
face=3D"Times New Roman">&nbsp;<o:p></o:p>
We find resting overnight at your arrival city after a very =
long flight=20
can make your journey to your final destination much more enjoyable (as =
did=20
getting the GPS with our rental car=97a joy for&nbsp;the =
navigator).<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; We compared our trip with =
other=20
travelers at the Castle.&nbsp; =
No=20
question we made the right decision. 
<FONT=20
face=3D"Times New Roman">&nbsp;<o:p></o:p>
My mind is working overtime on what to do in 2007.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; No direct flights from SF to=20
Switzerland.&nbsp; We travel to =
Los=20
Angeles for the Swiss flight to Zurich (wonderful airport too).<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; Not bad going, but arriving in =
LAX on a=20
weekday afternoon after 20 hours from your Swiss home, facing a flight =
to SFO=20
with all the commuters is not fun.&nbsp;=20
But then again, Switzerland is worth it. 
<FONT=20
face=3D"Times New Roman">&nbsp;<o:p></o:p>
Hope others will share their experiences and tips.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; Cheers.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; Joan.
<FONT=20
face=3D"Times New Roman">&nbsp;<o:p></o:p>
<FONT=20
face=3D"Times New Roman">&nbsp;<o:p></o:p>
<FONT=20
face=3D"Times New Roman">&nbsp;<o:p></o:p>
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style=3D"mso-special-character: =
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