Around the USA in 80 motels and 123 days - Getting there and Hannibal

[AndyGB]

Wed 8th April 2015
11:25AM - Manchester Airport

So far so good, both trains on time, both cases easily under the 20kg limit and positively flew through security with no queue at all. Now waiting in a busy lounge for the gate number to be displayed and have 2 hours and 25 minutes before flight time. However we have found two nice seats near the window and away from the crowds.

8:40PM - Metrol Hotel Dublin
Getting ready for an early night in preperation for our 4AM start tomorrow. Lunch at Manchester was a very disappointing (dry and overpriced) beef sandwich. Despitr leaving late our flight (Ryanair) made very good time. A was rather peturbed when his hand luggage was moved to the back of the plane and he had to fight his way against the flow of disembarking passengers from our front row seats to retrieve it. Picking up the rental car involved a courtesy bus ride and we then took a rather roundabout trip to find the hotel and had a bit of difficulty accessing the car park involving two trips to reception. That all done however we discovered our room was a large apartment type room with lots of space. We enjoyed a sunny walk to a nearby retail park for an alfresco McFlurry and ended the day with a very tasty meal in the hotel restaurant, fish and chips and a pint of Bulmers for A and lamb hot pot and a pint of guinness for me (and Hannibal).

I should say that L and our youngest are fans of the Hannibal TV series and so we took a POP Funko Hannibal doll with us and he sent regular facebook messages back to Will (apparently the person trying to catch him in the TV series). This was the Hannibal story so far, just to give you a flavour of what went on:

Thur 9th

12:20PM Gatwick

Well we've been awake since 2:38 but did have a good 5 1/2 hours sleep in Dublin in a very comfy bed. I think it was a mixture of excitement and fear of being late for check-in that kept me awake. So we left the hotel about 4:15 with A being escorted to the car park by the door man for 'safety reasons'. Had no problem dropping the car off or getting boarding passes for both flights (Dublin to Gatwick / Gatwick to Orlando). Dublin airport is one of the nicest, friendliest and efficient I have ever been to. Have spent the last three hours in the posh BA lounge getting free food and drink. Due to start boarding in about 3o minutes. A is very excited about his flat bed (I was)

Fri 10th

Ramada Gateway, Kissimmee

Excellent flight, A did use his flat bed for a little nap.

It is so much more comfortable in the Club World posh seats. Arrived in Orlando at 6pm, no problems getting through security with our VISA's but it took a little while to to get the car - a mustang convertible - sorted (long queues and then missing keys), so we were very happy to arrive at the hotel and get some much needed sleep approx 24 hours after leaving Dublin. We are now up and about and ready to get used to the time and temperature difference. Just planning to have a bit of a chill day of breakfast, shopping etc.

Index

[P&S]

Great start to your journey

[mick]

Great start

Joan

[Guest]

Great start
What an adventure
Can't wait to here more
Xx

[ILoveDaveLamb]

Did you save a lot flying via Dublin? Starting in style!

I bet oacking was an art form.

[AndyGB]

Originally Posted by ILoveDaveLamb

Did you save a lot flying via Dublin? Starting in style!

I bet oacking was an art form.

See more...

I think we saved about £2000 by flying from Dublin. Packing was quite easy, you won't see many variations in outfits as the trip progresses

[disney owl]

good start

[Twinkletoes47]

Without seeming to be too nosey did you require visas because of the length of your trip - if so how was that experience at the Embassy - was it a speedy process?

If not just ignore me!

[AndyGB]

Originally Posted by Twinkletoes47

Without seeming to be too nosey did you require visas because of the length of your trip - if so how was that experience at the Embassy - was it a speedy process?

If not just ignore me!

See more...

We did as ESTA / visa waiver only covers staying for 90 days , although I alfready had one because back in 2002 I went over there to learn to fly but was turned away because the flying school had said I didn't need a student VISA for it but the immigration people disagreed so I can't use the VWP.

Laura got hers relatively quickly, I think she was able to get an appointment about 3 weeks in advance and was only at the embassy for about 3 hours. But I know that when I renewed recently I had to wait about 5 weeks for the appointment, but was only at the embassy about 3 hours,the same as Laura. Most of that time is just spent waiting to give in your documents and then waiting whilst they are processed and someone calls you to have a talk/interview (all done through bank counter type screens/positions and they then say yes or possibly no. It then takes a few days for the embassy to actually produce the VISA, stick it in your passport and courier it back to you.

[Twinkletoes47]

Originally Posted by AndyGB

We did as ESTA / visa waiver only covers staying for 90 days , although I alfready had one because back in 2002 I went over there to learn to fly but was turned away because the flying school had said I didn't need a student VISA for it but the immigration people disagreed so I can't use the VWP.

Laura got hers relatively quickly, I think she was able to get an appointment about 3 weeks in advance and was only at the embassy for about 3 hours. But I know that when I renewed recently I had to wait about 5 weeks for the appointment, but was only at the embassy about 3 hours,the same as Laura. Most of that time is just spent waiting to give in your documents and then waiting whilst they are processed and someone calls you to have a talk/interview (all done through bank counter type screens/positions and they then say yes or possibly no. It then takes a few days for the embassy to actually produce the VISA, stick it in your passport and courier it back to you.

See more...

That's great thank you - much quicker than I expected and sounds fairly painless

Your trip has inspired me to plan a post retirement trip across the States but I have a few years to plan it - will mark this post to remind me