Holidays

[Blue Maverick]

Ha ha, if only. We’ve had to go to the EES station on every trip so far. Sometimes you then get a message on screen that you can go straight to the e-gate, but we’ve done the photo/finger print 3 or 4 times.

It’s a very messy system where you have three stages - fingerprints, e-gate and then you still have to wait to get your passport stamped. If they don’t get their act together, there will be enormous queues in the summer.

So is it only for people not in the EU then?

 

[RobMCFC]

So is it only for people not in the EU then?

Yes. And on our recent trip to Madrid, that was a lot of people. Having said that, we were through in about an hour because although it was busy, they have plenty of EES machines. You do wonder what it will be like at smaller airports where they don’t have many machines and three flights land in 10 minutes.

Was just reading about passengers who missed a flight out of Malaga. EasyJet say they aren’t to blame’ but I think they are. They only open the back drop 2 hours before your flight which will give most people less than an hour to clear EES and security. Even with the ongoing problems, they are refusing to open the bag drop any earlier.

My advice would be to get to the airport 3 or 4 hours in advance and only use carry-on luggage so that you can skip the bag drop.

Or take off and nuke it from orbit, it’s the only way to be sure :)

 

[blue b4 the moon]

Off to Lanzarote after the semi, hoping as I'll need a read up how it works properly that my next trip to Frankfurt in June will mean I can fire straight through rather than my mates who'll not have been abroad since this came in.

 

[Djibrilshairdo]

Advice on Barcelona…

Fancy taking the kids probably next easter, doing camp nou etc but dont fancy staying in Barcelona itself as not a fan of busy citys.
So can anyone suggest a place to stay, outside of barca itself that has a nice smaller town, beach/harbour/village sort of vibe with good train/transport links into Barcelona ?

I'd second Sitges, on the train line and handy for both Barcelona and the airport. It's very gay but a safe enough place to take the kids. Easter will be busy though with lots of processions taking place.

 

[Bluesince1979]

Off to Lanzarote after the semi, hoping as I'll need a read up how it works properly that my next trip to Frankfurt in June will mean I can fire straight through rather than my mates who'll not have been abroad since this came in.

Well…
I went to poland in feb, portugal in march and italy 2 weeks ago and had to do the fingerprints and photo every time.

I was an hour getting through in poland, just over an hour in portugal and italy was utter carnage and nearer 2 hours.

 

[blue b4 the moon]

Well…
I went to poland in feb, portugal in march and italy 2 weeks ago and had to do the fingerprints and photo every time.

I was an hour getting through in poland, just over an hour in portugal and italy was utter carnage and nearer 2 hours.

Bugger.

 

[Ho Chi Man City]

Bugger.

My mate came back from Lanzarote three weeks ago, no issues with the passport, I flew from Alicante just over a week ago (Good Friday) and again no problems.

I always aim for 3 hours at the airport before flight time, get the difficult bit of passport control and baggage drop out of the way then into a bar for a couple of chilled drinks. We did Wetherspoon (no S) at Alicante, was cheap at around €5.25 for a large Cruzcampo but it was honestly shite beer! Rather pay a bit more for a decent beer.

 

[Bluesince1979]

My mate came back from Lanzarote three weeks ago, no issues with the passport, I flew from Alicante just over a week ago (Good Friday) and again no problems.

I always aim for 3 hours at the airport before flight time, get the difficult bit of passport control and baggage drop out of the way then into a bar for a couple of chilled drinks. We did Wetherspoon (no S) at Alicante, was cheap at around €5.25 for a large Cruzcampo but it was honestly shite beer! Rather pay a bit more for a decent beer.

I think they are making it up as they go along to be honest

 

[Ho Chi Man City]

I think they are making it up as they go along to be honest

You’re right there, they’re ambivalent to UK tourist especially in Spain, I went to Portugal last October and found the attitude far more relaxed at the Airport.

Saying that I can’t fault the general friendliness of the Spanish people especially at the hotel where we stayed. The Receptionist saw my City badge (day after we’d won the Carabao) and said she was an Atletico fan and it broke her heart when Sergio left but she was very pleased how well he did with us!

 

[carlosthejackal]

The world is heading for economic disaster, food and oil shortages, holidays will be a distant memory very soon .

 

[Bluesince1979]

You’re right there, they’re ambivalent to UK tourist especially in Spain, I went to Portugal last October and found the attitude far more relaxed at the Airport.

Saying that I can’t fault the general friendliness of the Spanish people especially at the hotel where we stayed. The Receptionist saw my City badge (day after we’d won the Carabao) and said she was an Atletico fan and it broke her heart when Sergio left but she was very pleased how well he did with us!

It cannot be helping though. Lots of little things are in chaos, like transfers. The taxi/bus drivers have no idea what time to come get you so that creates an issue

Im not suggesting for one second that they should be grateful for us visiting and spending money, but i do think they should have one eye on not making travel to europe a monumental pain.

We travel a lot but we are now having a break , last 3 trips have done us in with all the arsing

 

[Bluesince1979]

You’re right there, they’re ambivalent to UK tourist especially in Spain, I went to Portugal last October and found the attitude far more relaxed at the Airport.

Saying that I can’t fault the general friendliness of the Spanish people especially at the hotel where we stayed. The Receptionist saw my City badge (day after we’d won the Carabao) and said she was an Atletico fan and it broke her heart when Sergio left but she was very pleased how well he did with us!

Agree with the friendliness in most countries we have visited.

People are generally good, and nice, arent they

And despite our always pathetic attempts to speak the language they will always help

 

[Rory Bluelow]

The world is heading for economic disaster, food and oil shortages, holidays will be a distant memory very soon .

Two weeks in Tehran, travel by camel and a packed lunch all-in £9.99 what’s wrong with that !

 

[Ho Chi Man City]

Two weeks in Tehran, travel by camel and a packed lunch all-in £9.99 what’s wrong with that !

Double up with a two centred weekend break, fly Tehran to Ukraine, can even take on Chernobyl, can’t beat adventure.

 

[Thaksins Love Child]

Is this summer gonna end up like the Covid years of holiday cancellations due to fuel shortages all over Europe and beyond. How do people feel about paying your holiday in full then be told you can’t have a refund only vouchers back. Tough choice

Is this a genuine concern? I was hoping to book 10 nights in Portugal for the start of June later tonight.

I need to look into whether Jet2 etc would refund should this be the case.

 

[itsnevereasy]

The world is heading for economic disaster, food and oil shortages, holidays will be a distant memory very soon .

No they won’t, far too much tax income across the world depends on holidays.

 

[carlosthejackal]

No they won’t, far too much tax income across the world depends on holidays.

?

 

[Xhavenjoe]

Well…
I went to poland in feb, portugal in march and italy 2 weeks ago and had to do the fingerprints and photo every time.

I was an hour getting through in poland, just over an hour in portugal and italy was utter carnage and nearer 2 hours.

Might be quicker to cut off your hands.

 

[Bluesince1979]

Might be quicker to cut off your hands.

Less painful

 

[JULES]

Sorry I didn't notice that. These new EES regulations are going to make things a little crazy for a while at some airports.

oh! I got it wrong, I thought it was Brexit regulations , how fuckin stupid of me!