Part 1 - getting there!
We booked this holiday over a year ago so we have been waiting a long time.
Finally it arrived. As the holiday we wanted only flew from Heathrow we had to get ourselves down there. OH wasn't keen to drive and I don't blame her at all.
We booked first class on the train down for a bit more room and our meal. We travelled on Friday late afternoon so we could eat our meal on the way down. Not only did it save us money as it's included in the ticket price it meant we didn't have to look for a meal once we arrived.
DD1 arrived in very good time to drive us to the station for our 5pm train. Unknown to any of us one of the major roads was closed so we had to take a massive detour . We did actually arrive in time for our train. Which was then half an hour late! Worse than that was the last minute platform change to one back over the platform
Apart from that the train journey was fine and the meal very nice. The tube journey from Kings Cross to Heathrow which I had been dreading was actually ok. The train being a bit late could have actually helped a bit with the room on the underground train. It was over an hours journey in an extremely hot carriage though so we were like limp rags when we arrived.
We easily found the Hoppa bus which serves all the hotels and that was a short ride to our hotel. I did all my check in on a screen only to be told there were no rooms We than queued to see an actual person who sorted it out easily.
Hot and tired we showered and soon went to bed.
On Saturday morning we had booked a private transfer for the short ride back to the terminal. We booked this for 7am and a lovely friendly lady was waiting in reception and got us to the airport in no time.
I had been dreading Heathrow but in fact we couldn't fault the efficiency. Everything ran smoothly and we were through in no time and sitting enjoying a leisurely breakfast. A much better experience than Manchester which can be hell on earth!
Our flight was delayed by about half an hour ( like the train!) It was fine though and we were coincidentally seated next to two ladies going on the same holiday as us.
Our holiday person was waiting for us in arrivals and all seemed to be going well. Except that two passengers didn't appear and we all had to wait for an hour for them. They never appeared so we don't know why.
We were then told our actual tour guide wasn't in Canada yet! Her flight the previous evening was cancelled and she was flying in that day but arriving after us.
We were taken to the hotel, checked in and had a rest.
We then went down and had something to eat. Our tour guide had arrived by then and put notes through everyone's doors. So at least we now know what we are doing tomorrow.
Our cases need to be outside our room by 8 and we meet our guide at 9. A tour of Calgary is on the itinerary then on to Banff where we will be based for 3 nights .
I will post about our holiday as time goes on.....
We booked this holiday over a year ago so we have been waiting a long time.
Finally it arrived. As the holiday we wanted only flew from Heathrow we had to get ourselves down there. OH wasn't keen to drive and I don't blame her at all.
We booked first class on the train down for a bit more room and our meal. We travelled on Friday late afternoon so we could eat our meal on the way down. Not only did it save us money as it's included in the ticket price it meant we didn't have to look for a meal once we arrived.
DD1 arrived in very good time to drive us to the station for our 5pm train. Unknown to any of us one of the major roads was closed so we had to take a massive detour . We did actually arrive in time for our train. Which was then half an hour late! Worse than that was the last minute platform change to one back over the platform
Apart from that the train journey was fine and the meal very nice. The tube journey from Kings Cross to Heathrow which I had been dreading was actually ok. The train being a bit late could have actually helped a bit with the room on the underground train. It was over an hours journey in an extremely hot carriage though so we were like limp rags when we arrived.
We easily found the Hoppa bus which serves all the hotels and that was a short ride to our hotel. I did all my check in on a screen only to be told there were no rooms
We than queued to see an actual person who sorted it out easily.Hot and tired we showered and soon went to bed.
On Saturday morning we had booked a private transfer for the short ride back to the terminal. We booked this for 7am and a lovely friendly lady was waiting in reception and got us to the airport in no time.
I had been dreading Heathrow but in fact we couldn't fault the efficiency. Everything ran smoothly and we were through in no time and sitting enjoying a leisurely breakfast. A much better experience than Manchester which can be hell on earth!
Our flight was delayed by about half an hour ( like the train!) It was fine though and we were coincidentally seated next to two ladies going on the same holiday as us.
Our holiday person was waiting for us in arrivals and all seemed to be going well. Except that two passengers didn't appear and we all had to wait for an hour for them. They never appeared so we don't know why.
We were then told our actual tour guide wasn't in Canada yet! Her flight the previous evening was cancelled and she was flying in that day but arriving after us.
We were taken to the hotel, checked in and had a rest.
We then went down and had something to eat. Our tour guide had arrived by then and put notes through everyone's doors. So at least we now know what we are doing tomorrow.
Our cases need to be outside our room by 8 and we meet our guide at 9. A tour of Calgary is on the itinerary then on to Banff where we will be based for 3 nights .
I will post about our holiday as time goes on.....
Comment