GABIT attendees thread

[hisg1fans]

Another little piece of advice for travelling round Europe... Eurostar is actually working out cheaper than the "budget" airlines at the moment, and it's better environmentally too. For example, to fly to my old home town in France from my current town in England, I could get a £10 flight out and a £12 flight back, but then they want to charge me £10 booking fee, another £5 per piece of luggage, £10 just to check in and so on and so forth. And that's pretty much one of the cheapest flights around. The only reason it would work out cheaper for me to go from here is because it's a £2 bus fare each way rather than the £12 rail fare!

Also, if it's countryside you're interested in, then it's always worth considering a crossing from Southampton or Portsmouth. It takes a few hours, which is longer, but you can often cross for as little as a pound, and you arrive in La Havre / Cherbourg which I, personally much prefer to Calais. Plus you can see all the buildings and bits and pieces from the famous film!

Whilst travelling around France, make sure you use their "blue zones". Basically, they have on peak and off peak travel, off peak brings 25% off your train fare. If you're under 25, make sure your passport is handy, because you'll get another 25-50% off. Restrictions are basically that you have to travel after 10am and before 7pm, if I remember correctly.

And a last little tip for any of you heading to Paris, Sarkozy recently made the national museums (Louvre, Pompidou, d'Orsée etc) free for under 26s. So take ID there as well. I'm assuming it applies to internationals and that you don't need a CI to do it.

Hmmmm. Sounds like I'm too 'old' to go to France these days

Are there any small towns/rural areas near Cherbourg that are cool and would be neat to spend the night in? The nearest I've been is Ambrières-les-Vallées. Absolutely loved the area!!! Stayed on a farm for a while.

[Celandine]

I took the Eurostar to Paris after the last con. I was advised that the later you wait, the most expensive it is so if you know that is your plan, book early.

Thanks! I should have all my plans plotted out by the end of June latest I think so any tickets needed, I'll try and buy then.

Another little piece of advice for travelling round Europe... Eurostar is actually working out cheaper than the "budget" airlines at the moment, and it's better environmentally too. For example, to fly to my old home town in France from my current town in England, I could get a £10 flight out and a £12 flight back, but then they want to charge me £10 booking fee, another £5 per piece of luggage, £10 just to check in and so on and so forth. And that's pretty much one of the cheapest flights around. The only reason it would work out cheaper for me to go from here is because it's a £2 bus fare each way rather than the £12 rail fare!

Also, if it's countryside you're interested in, then it's always worth considering a crossing from Southampton or Portsmouth. It takes a few hours, which is longer, but you can often cross for as little as a pound, and you arrive in La Havre / Cherbourg which I, personally much prefer to Calais. Plus you can see all the buildings and bits and pieces from the famous film!

Whilst travelling around France, make sure you use their "blue zones". Basically, they have on peak and off peak travel, off peak brings 25% off your train fare. If you're under 25, make sure your passport is handy, because you'll get another 25-50% off. Restrictions are basically that you have to travel after 10am and before 7pm, if I remember correctly.

And a last little tip for any of you heading to Paris, Sarkozy recently made the national museums (Louvre, Pompidou, d'Orsée etc) free for under 26s. So take ID there as well. I'm assuming it applies to internationals and that you don't need a CI to do it.

I actually enjoy the Portsmouth - Cherbourg crossing. We used to do it every summer holiday and if you've spent a lot of time on trains (or in the car in our case) getting around either country I found it was really nice to stretch my legs for a few hours...it's a bit of a break from travelling and can be a lot of fun if you're in a group.

Thanks you two for the info. Might have to revise my plans to include the Portsmouth/Southhamton crossing, though the trek up to Belgium/Germany will be decidedly longer being farther south. Might be cheaper in the crossing, but bus/train fare might make up for it I believe. The scenery might be worth it though. Sounds wonderful!

[SEREN LWCH (MAL)]

209
Days to go until AT4!!!!!!!!!!!

[Shirt'n'Tie]

Hey guys!

Just popping in to say "howdy"...And what lovely photos of Pengyn and Amanda (no the other one!) at Vancouver Con!! Check out the gallery!! Also Pengyn: great con reports!

Hope all well here!!

S'n'T

[NZNeep]

Amanda should just get her name officially changed to "Amanda (no the other one!)."

Some members of my family think it's funny to call me "Eileen I mean" but then I am a twin

[SEREN LWCH (MAL)]

208
Days to go until AT4!!!!!!!!!!!

[Chelle DB]

Any chance of telling us how many weeks??? I love the days but weeks go faster...don't they??
Hang on...let me do the math.....29 weeks if I did the math right...give or take a few days.
I think I like the days better!!

[SEREN LWCH (MAL)]

207
Days to go until AT4!!!!!!!!!!!

[SEREN LWCH (MAL)]

Any chance of telling us how many weeks??? I love the days but weeks go faster...don't they??
Hang on...let me do the math.....29 weeks if I did the math right...give or take a few days.
I think I like the days better!!

Dividing 207 by 7 I got roughly 29 weeks

[NZNeep]

Dividing 207 by 7 I got roughly 29 weeks

Don't do that! Do you know how many essays, assignments and exams I have to do by then!? It scares me.

[~Sarah~]

I can't believe that we're almost under 200 days... one week off from that.... *squee*

[becky_preen]

okay I have a question... By my calculation it' only 204 days to AT4....

today is the 23rd April. there are 7 days left in April
May=31 RT(running total)=38
June=30 RT=68
July=31 RT=99
August =31 RT=130
Septmber =30 RT 160
October =31 RT 191
AT4 starts 13th November so 13 + 191=204....

My excel spreadsheet calculates it at 204 too....
204/7 = 29 weeks and one day
i'm just saying....

Becks

[dipsofjazz]

Hmmm.......divide by 3........multiply by four......carry the one.....minus six.........I do believe you are correct!

Yay!

[SamJackShipLover]

It makes my head hurt, but I think you are right as well

[EH-T]

okay I have a question... By my calculation it' only 204 days to AT4....

today is the 23rd April. there are 7 days left in April
May=31 RT(running total)=38
June=30 RT=68
July=31 RT=99
August =31 RT=130
Septmber =30 RT 160
October =31 RT 191
AT4 starts 13th November so 13 + 191=204....

My excel spreadsheet calculates it at 204 too....
204/7 = 29 weeks and one day
i'm just saying....

Becks

Trust her. It's a math thing.