For our joint 60th birthday gift, our daughters treated us to a holiday in Sicily "a proper trip on a plane" they told us. This is the year in which we are 70 - so we decided to treat ourselves to another foreign holiday. This morning we were due to be driving to Stansted and catching a plane to southern France. We had a week booked in Perpignan in Languedoc. But here we are, still at Cornerstones...
We booked with Ryanair, and luggage was planned to an absolute minimum. I bought a tiny tube of toothpaste in Boots.
And a small wheeled cabin bag which fits into the airline specifications [as new, £4 in CS] We also bought Holiday Insurance from SAGA. It was not cheap, but as a proportion of the total expense, not unreasonable.
I am so glad we did. There is no way Bob could have managed the trip. The GP said that even if his pain meds worked, he probably wouldn't feel like doing too much, and wouldn't get the full enjoyment of the holiday. And there is no way I would leave him in the hotel and trot around medieval cathedrals by myself.
So once we realised last weekend that a plane to the South of France was not going to happen this month, we cancelled, and started the business of claiming on the insurance.
I am happy to report that Hertz repaid car hire in full, and Expedia refunded 50% of the hotel costs. SAGA are sorting out the rest for us [the GP said she would confirm the genuine medical grounds for not going]
Once Bob gets his treatment sorted, we will attempt to arrange another holiday. And we now have a quiet week ahead of us with nothing in the calendar. Lazy days and easy meals, and time together in Norfolk. [which is exactly what our holidays used to be like before we retired here] And next weekend, we the family are coming.
I absolutely hate flying anyway, so that is one experience I am happy to live without.
Oh dear. Sorry you are missing your "treat" holiday. I'm OK with flying but I loathe airports.
ReplyDeleteI quite enjoy airports - lots to see and to distract me from flight-anxiety
DeleteThat’s such a shame but being unable to enjoy a precious holiday due to pain or illness is no fun.
ReplyDeleteYou will enjoy it all the more once Bob is back to full speed.
Carcassonne is delightful, especially when it’s not heaving with people in the summer, but beware of thieves and pick pockets. My friend had her bag snatched in a busy street in full daylight, on the way back to the hotel after a lovely meal out.
When we DO get there, I shall bear that in mind. I have a small cross body bag rather than one over my shoulder or in my hand.
DeleteSorry Bob is in such discomfort and pain. Such a wise decision to cancel and make the most of home comforts. Jill x
ReplyDeleteIt is unfortunate, but better than struggling, and being unable to enjoy the holiday.
DeleteSo sorry you had to cancel the holiday - hope you can get away later and I really hope Bob's back pain can be sorted very soon.
ReplyDeleteI am sure that once his back is sorted, we will try again. Thank you for your kind words
DeleteI am so sorry you have had to cancel your trip but agree the best thing to do. So good to have insurance in place. I don't mind flying it is the airport experience I hate. Our abroad holidays are now limited to Eurostar/trains, coaches, and ferries. I seem to cope better with these forms of travel rather than flying. Wishing Bob better and then onwards to your holiday. Thinking of you both. She H
ReplyDeleteEurostar was fine to Paris, but a train journey down to the Med would take too much time out of the holiday
DeleteThere's some consolation in the thought of days free of all the normal routine appointments and activities... and treats using the holiday spending money! Granny Marigold found the right word for me 'unfortunate '.
ReplyDeleteI can heartily recommend the channel tunnel, especially if you upgrade from the normal seats. Admittedly it was back in 2019, but the seats were comfy, plenty of leg room for Bob, delicious food, excellent service, so so smooth!
I'm planning some treats for next week...
DeleteI am so sorry that you have had to cancel your trip. The GP was right, Bob wouldn't have enjoyed it at all and neither would you if you had gone exploring on your own. It is such a shame but such things do happen, such is life. I hope his back is improving would physio help, possibly? Maybe too soon.
ReplyDeleteIt would have been foolish to travel this week in his condition
DeleteThank goodness you took out the insurance. There will be more holidays, slightly nearer to home to look forward to once Bob's back is feeling a bit better.
ReplyDelete👍
DeleteI had the same relief about insurance, we traveled until my husband was 78 and never took out insurance. We foolishly thought of just losing the trip money and not about the possible cost of getting a sick person home! How lucky we were to dodge that bullet as nothing happened.
DeleteMy friend broke her hip on a cruise ship in Norway and I saw the bills which were run up for that! JanF
That must have been very costly
DeleteYou'll love Perpignan, should you get there eventually. Will you get the other 50% of hotel costs refunded? Hope so. Can't believe it's been 10 years since you went to Sicily!There may be travel delays this weekend anyway with Storm Amy imminent. All our local weekend plans have been cancelled!Poor Bob. Have a relaxing weekend.x
ReplyDeleteYes it should all get sorted, but we have to wait till after we should have gone, I'd you get what I mean!
DeletePs next time you're at the dentist, get some of those sample tubes of toothpaste to stash away for future travel, if they have them.
DeleteOur last dentist had them, not our current one, sadly
DeleteSorry to hear this news but it would have been no pleasure to go away when Bob is in such discomfort.Fingers crossed that you will be able to go away when he feels better and enjoy your week off at home. Catriona
ReplyDelete👍
DeleteI'm so sorry that a holiday you had both looked forward to had to be cancelled, but, it was the right choice. Neither of you would have enjoyed the trip as much if Bob had been in pain. Hopefully, you can enjoy a quiet, restful week at home and plan to go on vacation another time when Bob is feeling better. (((HUGS)))
ReplyDeleteThank you Bless. Pleased to read your post today, keep well
DeleteSorry you are missing your holiday but reallly hope Bob’s back makes a complete recovery. There is something to be said for a quiet week at home, just doing things at your own pace, take care, Sandra.
ReplyDeleteSlow and steady
DeleteI'm so sorry to hear this, but am thankful that you are able to recoup some of your expenses. Praying Bob's back pain goes away!
ReplyDeleteThanks Terri
DeleteWhat a shame, Angela, but how sensible to cancel. There is nothing worse than feeling unwell in another country. I found Saga insurance to be very helpful.
ReplyDeleteThank you for a positive comment about Saga!
DeleteIt sounds like you had a lovely trip planned. I hope you can reschedule it soon once Bob is feeling better. Hurray for trip insurance!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad we got a good policy
DeleteI hope that you can fill your week with special treats to make a holiday at home.
ReplyDeleteI hope so too
DeleteSorry you had to postpone your trip, but it's not possible to enjoy it in pain, and the travel wouldn't have helped. Another time! Meanwhile I see you're planning on enjoying anyway. Good!
ReplyDeleteAn empty calendar and time to ourselves should be good 😊
DeleteI'm sorry to read you had to cancel your holiday but probably for the best. Friends of ours have had to cancel their cruise, as they said it was probably not meant to happen. Hope Bob is soon feeling 100% again and enjoy your quiet week together. Xx
ReplyDeleteThank you Gill
DeleteYes, better to wait and enjoy it properly
DeleteSorry about your holiday, good for you for getting proper travel insurance.
ReplyDeleteI dislike flying too, isn't it strange how some people love it and others, like us, loathe it. Flight anxiety sums it up well.
Alison in Devon x
It would have been horrid to have to cancel AND to lose all the money!
DeleteI am sorry that you didn't get away but sensible to be wise. And a week with nothing in the diary is just bliss!
ReplyDeleteI misread that, and thought it said nothing in the DAIRY!! 🐄 am planning, next week, to pop to the farm up the road where they sell delicious milk 🥛 and award winning home made ice-cream 🍦
DeleteI am so very sorry about your holiday and Bob's back. I hope that you can plan something else soon and that his back will have some relief. What a good thing you got the insurance though! What with Kirsten and her faulty canister and an instafriend and her sick dog and this, I feel like everyone this week is having issues with holidays!
ReplyDeleteThank you Kezzie. 💙
DeleteHow disappointing, but at least you had good travel insurance. I hope you enjoy a restful week and that Bob can heal at home. Perhaps you can eat out sometimes to have a break from cooking!
ReplyDeletePlanning to have some interesting meals, home cooked and eating out
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