Mittens Benidorm 2006 - WED 16 AUG to WED 23 AUG

[magintz]

Ah didn't notice all these new posts. I'm fine bussing / training it down with Disco.

[Disco]

I don't know what a duffel is, but I like the sound of it, so - cool!

Do you have a constant access to the net, Disco? We should arrange a meeting place & time soon, and leave phone contact (SMS, expensive for us abroad) for emergency...

I do not have regular access to the internet until the 1st of August. I am currently on the Isle of Skye in Scotland for the next two nights (Yay! \o/). My duffel bag is about the same size as a normal backpack, but is carried rather than worn.

So Magintz is the fifth wheel? There is still one more spot I believe.

[Pumaman]

Ok, I have booked a car for pickup at Barcelona Airport.

The Barcelona Crew is:

GOING WITH GOLDMUND:
Disco
Magintz
Layabout

COMING IN HIRE CAR:
Me
AGA
scotch
m0ds
mattgoble

mattgoble: we're assuming you're coming with us, as there's no particular need for you to get the train. If you want to go by train though, that's fine, the car is still worthwhile even with only 4 of us.

UNKNOWN: Spleen -- for now we're assuming you're not coming; if you can make it in the end, you may need to get public transport.

CAR COSTS:
The final hire car cost was 169.72. If there are 5 of us in it, that means 33.94 each.
If only 4 of us are in it in the end, it's 42.43 each.
This excludes petrol and any road tolls.

[Chrille]

If Goldmund intends to travel on after Mittens rather than going back in the same direction that would mean you'd have to take the train back to Madrid if that's where you guys are flying home from. Just thought I'd bring it up in case it wasn't thought about. Would be a bummer if you had to order traintickets at the camp and find them sold out (although that'd be unlikely).

[Pet Terry]

Here's a list of people who are coming via Alicante airport and meeting up (in order of arrival):

6:45 Sinitrena
13:25 Petteri
14:10 Helm
16:00 Grundislav
16:45 Radiant
17:20 Chrille

Naturally we'll be waiting for everyone in front of the hall of arrivals when they arrive. You'll recognize me of longish brown hair and an A4-sized Bluecup poster + way too much clothes to wear in Spain. There's a bus leaving from the airport at 17:30 so we'll probably miss it briefly. The next bus to Benidorm would leave around 21:00 (!), so Grundislav and I were planning that we could take a bus to Alicante city and another bus from there to Benidorm. Grundislav and Lorena know more about this route.

This is starting to get exciting, only 20 days to go.

EDIT: knowing from where/on which flight people are coming might help, I remember last year people didn't know that I was coming via Zürich so they went to look for me in the wrong hall of arrivals.

[m0ds]

Sounds good, CJ. Only thing is - how much is petrol going to cost, roughly?  Maybe Farlander knows. £30-42 is a nice figure, but I can only imagine we'll end up paying £50 each for petrol each way. Which will screw my finances right over! Hopefully this can be at least semi-worked out before we go, so I can save even more money.

[scotch]

It seems like for both ways it'll be about 16 eur each for fuel (if there are 5 of us), not a whole lot. The tolls are an unknown quantity though, impossible to work it out on the internet... unless you speak spanish perhaps.

[Matt Goble]

mattgoble: we're assuming you're coming with us, as there's no particular need for you to get the train. If you want to go by train though, that's fine, the car is still worthwhile even with only 4 of us.

I'm coming you you guys!

(does a little dance)

[m0ds]

I'm coming you you guys!

Cool! Just don't make a mess mess

PS, thanks scotch - sounds very reasonable!

[Pumaman]

The route planner at www.viamichelin.com reckons that the tolls come to 40 EUR (approx 6 GBP each) if you use the motorway the whole way, however I'm sure we can try out the alternate routes and see whether it's viable to go with a non-tolled route most of the way.

[Goldmund]

If Goldmund intends to travel on after Mittens rather than going back in the same direction that would mean you'd have to take the train back to Madrid if that's where you guys are flying home from. Just thought I'd bring it up in case it wasn't thought about. Would be a bummer if you had to order traintickets at the camp and find them sold out (although that'd be unlikely).

No, we return through Barcelona. But what time do your planes leave from there, Nika/Gold crew?

As for the 16th, we propose to meet at 2pm by the Nelson's Column in Barcelona.
Also, please PM me your cellphone numbers.

[Matt Goble]

I'm coming you you guys!

Cool! Just don't make a mess mess

PS, thanks scotch - sounds very reasonable!

I think there was supposed to be a 'with' in there somewhere  :

Don't worry I'm housetrained - so Chris, am I on 'ratrun' duty again? 

[m0ds]

The route planner at www.viamichelin.com reckons that the tolls come to 40 EUR (approx 6 GBP each) if you use the motorway the whole way, however I'm sure we can try out the alternate routes and see whether it's viable to go with a non-tolled route most of the way.

Off road!!!!!!1!

Thanks for checking...ahh well it won't be tooo costly

[Chrille]

Madrid? That's where my flight stops along the way. I did mean Barcelona obviously.

Farlander, I am slightly worried about the tent-sauna situation that will occur in the mornings since there won't be any protection from the sun at the campsite. Found out just recently because the campsite-images led me to believe there would be trees n stuff to like in Agia Anna (have to suit myself for not checking properly). It's not that big a deal if there was nothing that could be done about this. But if there are special areas of the camp located under trees it would be great if you could book us those particular spots. Alternatively, if you can somehow obtain party tents for a fair price (something like this http://outdoor-leisure-garden-furniture.co.uk/uploadimages/party-tents-and-gazebos(1).gif ) that would be awesome.

[magintz]

sure 5 peoples luggage will be able to fit in the car?

[Goldmund]

If not, and they are tremendous, people in the back may carry them on their knees. :-P
Do you also want to go with us, Magintz?

edit: the car looks like this:
http://www.auto.cz/base/2004-14/toyota_avensis_406d94c2ccb1d.jpg
Should be no problem.

[Nacho]

Working on it Chrille, we'll probably get something similar.

[Chrille]

Excellent, thanks Nacho. Another solution, as Grundislav suggested, would be to get up early, take an afternoon nap and stay up late.

[Matt Goble]

Excellent, thanks Nacho. Another solution, as Grundislav suggested, would be to get up early, take an afternoon nap and stay up late.

Having already burnt myself to a crisp a few weeks back, I agree about the need for a bit of shade & coolness if possible!

[magintz]

Do you also want to go with us, Magintz?

Yes, I do; and I am.

...

GOING WITH GOLDMUND:
Disco
Magintz
Layabout

...