SP27 - All Change

After a lot of thought we have decided to change the early 2027 trip to Spain.

Claire was a little worried with driving to Marbella from the UK so early in the year.

On top of that since I was 70 I seem to have had more than my fair share of medical problems. None of them ongoing and none to worry insurance companies about! But annoying all the same.

The final timeshare stay is the only constant from SP27 to the newly labelled SP27-FLY. 

It means I have had to cancel the three campsites in Spain I had booked. I had only paid a few euros deposit on each. If we get anything back it will be a bonus.

I checked with DFDS and we can reschedule the ferry crossing for later in the year. Obviously the new fare will be subject to the crossing being charged at the rate on the day. It will undoubtedly be more expensive in May or June.

So how to get to Marbella? Fly.  I checked a few websites. Málaga is a popular destination. It was a toss up between Easyjet or British Airways.

Easyjet looked the cheapest but their fare only included one item of hand luggage. That seemed to only be a handbag or small backpack.  Not idea for a week away. The quoted fare was £49 each return. To take a small cabin bag in addition was £53 per person per flight. That escalated from £49 to £155 each.

BA's fare is more on first glance at around £115 each, but it includes both pieces of cabin luggage. The sizes of which easily exceed the size of the Touratech bags we used in the large panniers fitted to the BMW R1150GS and plan to take, plus a laptop/handbag.

Also in BA's favour are the flight times in each direction.   I have never been fond of hanging around on the last day just for the sake of it. We have done that before.

Checking out of the apartment at 10am and then hanging around all day, with the hire car full of luggage, simply doesn't appeal.

Next on the list is car hire. We have used Málagacar several times before.  Depending on times of collection and return it's possible to get the smallest car, last time an Aygo, for around €100 a week. Fully insured with a return to base fuel level the same as its went out.

I have messaged them to see if they have age limits.  In UK some hire companies won't rent to anyone over 70. I passed the driving test in the UK in 1973......

So that's where we are now.