Ouzo, Schnapps, Rosé & Prosecco

[Gem56]

This is my first trip report. Well not quite, as I usually supply the photos for Jacques Vert’s reports (my +1). As he just finished a report on our India trip (he finished it from the Al Mourjan lounge during this trip), I thought I’d take the lead this time around. Although I’m sure he will add his comments as we go.

The itinerary:

• CFS-SYD-ADL-DOH (22-hour transit)
• DOH-ATH (25 nights in Greece)
• ATH-LHR-GVA (a few weeks in Switzerland, France & Italy)
• ZRH-AMM-BKK-HKG-MNL-SYD-CFS

I hope you enjoy travelling along with us.

 

[Gem56]

QF2109: The flight from Coffs Harbour to Sydney was uneventful; friendly and efficient as always. Our time in the Business lounge in Sydney however was not exactly uneventful A guy was obviously speaking to his travel agent on his mobile, demanding the agent get him a J seat on his flight (wherever that was). According to the passenger, the agent had F…ed up before and he just wanted a J ticket. He then asked if the agent could bump someone to allow for him to travel in J. We were seriously hoping that he wasn’t going in the same direction as us.

Unfortunately, of the flight from SYD to ADL (QF765) was very disappointing. Only water served before take off and the IFE did not work in either of our 2 seats (3AC).

There were only nine pax in J and whilst the FA looking after the J cabin was pleasant enough, it still took nearly one hour for all pax to be served their first drink. Then, by the time she reached the 6th PAX, the main meal (stir fry) was depleted. Only items remaining were a soup or a cheese box which was less than appealing. The very unfortunate thing is that this is now the 5th occasion this has happened to us in the last two years. Really not good enough IMO and the principal is what it’s all about. According to the FA, this happens on a regular basis and although the staff have mentioned it to those that matter in Qantas, their complaints fall on deaf ears. She tried to offer us a bottle of wine, however getting it in or out of Doha would not have worked.

+1 commented it was as bad as any Y flight he had taken.

 

[goldenhorn]

This is my first trip report. Well not quite, as I usually supply the photos for Jacques Vert’s reports (my +1). As he just finished a report on our India trip (he finished it from the Al Mourjan lounge during this trip), I thought I’d take the lead this time around. Although I’m sure he will add his comments as we go.

The itinerary:

• CFS-SYD-ADL-DOH (22-hour transit)
• DOH-ATH 25 (nights in Greece)
• ATH-LHR-GVA (a few weeks in Switzerland, France & Italy
• ZRH-AMM-BKK-HKG-MNL-SYD-CFS

I hope you enjoy travelling along with us.

Sounds great! Can you let us know what airline(s) and class you are travelling in for each segment?

 

[Gem56]

QR915: Quite the opposite experience from Adelaide to Doha with Qatar. The service was impeccable and the food did not disappoint or run out. Perhaps comparing domestic J to a Long Haul international J is comparing vegetables to salad, but the QR flight just reinforced how cough the QF flight was.

 

[Gem56]

Sounds great! Can you let us know what airline(s) and class you are travelling in for each segment?

All flights in Business except CFS-SYD-CFS. Airlines - QF, QR, BA, RJ, CX, QF/QL

 

[goldenhorn]

QR915: Quite the opposite experience from Adelaide to Doha with Qatar. The service was impeccable and the food did not disappoint or run out. Perhaps comparing domestic J to a Long Haul international J is comparing vegetables to salad, but the QR flight just reinforced how cough the QF flight was.

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Awesome to hear! I'm travelling QR J SYD-FCO in September for the first time so can't wait to experience what everyone is raving about.

 

[Gem56]

JV had booked a city tour in Doha departing at 10am. Unfortunately there isn’t anywhere that you can leave your carry-on luggage, however it is stowed under the bus so is quite safe for the duration. There were 4 stops and the tour goes for 3 hours. Needed to meet at the Transit Tour desk located between gates A3 and A4 30 minutes before. The attendant at the desk took us through immigration and out to meet the Tour Guide. If you want to take a tour on your own it is necessary to book a hotel room prior to being issued a temporary visa, so we decided that wasn’t for us, in any case it was way too hot for us to be roaming around the city. So, back to the Al Mourjan Lounge at the airport for the next 10 hours. I don’t wish to repeat that experience – too long.

 

[goldenhorn]

All flights in Business. Airlines - QF, QR, BA, RJ, CX, QF/QL

Is this a One World RTW award booking?

 

[Gem56]

Dates Festival






Markets

 

[Gem56]

Is this a One World RTW award booking?

It's a One World Classic Award (I dare not use the term RTW because @JohnM will be on to me!

 

[Jacques Vert]

A few more details about the Doha Transit Tour (doesn't my +1 take great photos?).

These tours were originally free a couple of years ago; then the price went up to QAR40. The current price is now QAR75.

Our tour was booked for 10:00AM. When we arrived back at the Transit Tour desk at 09:30 (the time we were told to be there), we were advised that the tour was actually at 10:30. By the time we went through immigration and then waited for the bus to arrive, it was almost 1100. The tour still went for three hours so we arrived back at the airport at 1400.

This wasn't a problem for us but if you had a shorter transit you may be a little concerned about being in time for your next flight.

BTW, if you have a choice take the 0800 tour; by the time we were out & about the heat was already oppressive.

On our tour we were joined by an Asian Tour Group of about 30 pax. I have no problem with that except that few of them spoke English and the tour guide (from the Philippines) had a very heavy accent which even I had trouble understanding. The result was that the guide's comments were inaudible over the chatter from our fellow travelers, which I presume was some of them attempting to translate for the others. Wouldn't you think that for a group of that size they would arrange for a guide who spoke their language?

 

[JohnM]

It's a One World Classic Award (I dare not use the term RTW because @JohnM will be on to me!

But you know far better, anyway - don't you...? .

In any event, your itinerary is not going RTW, which validates why it is not a requirement of a OW Award to go RTW .

 

[Gem56]

The short 4 hour, middle of the night, flight from DOH to ATH was equally as nice as the previous flight, again with Qatar.

 

[I love to travel]

Love the thread title

 

[Gem56]

We collected a hire car that JV organised through Easy Rent Cars. As always extra insurance is offered. In this instance, when we said that travel insurance would cover us if anything should happen, the reply was that no travel insurance will protect us on the ferry over to Corfu. She was trying to frighten us with large amounts we would be up for should we have an accident. Unfortunately for her we don't frighten that easily. As we always do, we had booked probably about the smallest car available, which happens to be a Toyota Aygo. The attendant quickly said that it was really much too small to be driving around Greece on the winding roads. We’re still laughing about her comments. It’s nippy, cheap on fuel, perfect for getting down those narrow streets, and certainly sufficient for us. We think she is from Barcelona!

 

[Major]

Love the thread title

I must admit the thread title piqued my interest as well

 

[Gem56]

Greece

 

[Gem56]

Kalambaca, or Kalampaca or Kalapaca – just depends where you look. Makes it very difficult to find on the GPS when there are multiple ways of spelling. The big attraction here are the Monasteries in the Meteora. Very impressive to say the least. 20 monasteries were built starting in the 14th Century perched up on the tops of these rocky outcrops. Only 6 are remaining. To drive from the beginning of the first monastery back to Kalambaca takes approximately 25 mins if you don’t stop to view these amazing constructions. The opening times of each of the monasteries varies a little however, for example St Stephens is open from 9am to 1.30pm; 3.30pm to 5.30pm in the summer. Of the 6 monasteries, each is closed on 1 day in the week. We obtained a map with opening times from the hotel or alternatively you can check the website before you leave home - Monasteries Visiting Hours and Days - Visit Meteora.

There is a small entry fee – approximately €3. I strongly recommend that you allow extra time to view the monasteries from the outside and from different angles. They are truly awesome. If you wanted to view inside all the monasteries I would suggest that you allow the full day.

 

[Gem56]

Inside St Stevens Monastery






The view from inside the Monastery

 

[Gem56]

We stopped at one of the tavernas at Kastraki after the last Monastery. Cute little village. A Greek salad, bread, moussaka, souvlaki and a carafe of wine was €28.50.