Keep Calm and Have a Cocktail March 2018: Pre Travel Day

[WileyCoyote]

Pre Travel Day - Thurs 8 March

As we were both working today, it was that balancing act of desperately finishing the final emails while getting the last bit of washing, cleaning and packing done.

We were in pretty good order though - mainly as the packing had been pretty much done the previous weekend.

Although I continue to be confounded by the amount of last minute items that suddenly pile up next to the neatly packed case.

It rained, which is completely irrelevant but continued the tradition of it always being a soggy start to the travels, and meant the dogs kept leaving me paw prints on the newly mopped floor

4pm arrived before we knew it - well, not technically, as it came after 3pm like normal - and Jamie was home and keen for us to tootle off asap.

After some faffing about we set off at 1645, stopping for fuel and a quick tiddle, as of course we were right in the M1 and M25 rush hour.

It was slow but moving and after 3 hours we pitched up at the Cambridge Hotel - courtesy of a minor detour round Horley as the Sat Nav decided to re calculate just at that critical moment as we were coming off a roundabout and we ended up taking the scenic route- although it was dark so not that scenic really.

First impressions of the hotel were

Er, it’s not the premier inn. In fact, I was all for thinking it was Fawlty Towers and though neither of us said it, we were both thinking this could have been a disaster booking - cheap or not.

The room was big and very clean - just a bit old fashioned but in fairness a comfortable bed and we were surprised that it was quiet - even though its close to the road.

After dropping our cases and breaking out the picnic stash

we headed down to have dinner

Andy is now flexitarian. Well, that's one word for it

It's officially a thing and is either a veggie that eats occasional meat or a carnivore that eats more veggie depending on your starting perspective.

So, he is 80 % Veggie at home and 100% steak hound on holiday

Except tonight when he picked Spag Bol Didn't see that coming. But it is a quirky menu ...

What's that I hear you say ... Spag Bol? White Top? Twirly fork business?

We all know how that ends don't we ...

I had the chicken skewer which was nice and totally reminded me of Turkey. Except it was chicken, not turkey. Laughs at own joke

I had a Diet Coke and Andy just had water.

Bill was £32, felt expensive but food was nice.

There were a few people in the bar but it felt a little bit soulless so we headed up to attack the wine minis which was a total fail as we were asleep within half an hour - never fear the remaining drinkies made their way to Miami and New Orleans!

Travel Day is here

[Melbatb]

The hotel reminds me of ones I stayed in as a youngster in Blackpool. The fact that it was clean though is a big big plus!

Dinner looks nice too!

Looking forward to reading the rest 😜

[Goldia]

Yay, you've started! The hotel does look a bit fawlty towers...Hmm the room is big with the bunks out the way in the corner, but I think I might stick with what I know. I like your little room snacks bundle, nothing like a g&t in a can to start off a holiday. It's not a proper pre travel day if you don't have cheap alcohol in your hotel room.

[Fuellady]

It's always a faff working on the day you have to head off... but at least you're near the airport now. The hotel does look a bit old fashioned, but clean is good and the food looks nice.

Haha, I always think I'm packed too and then more and more appears

[CuriousAlice]

A bit of a quirky hotel but food looks good ( I know you gave us spoilers in the food report). Like how you took celebratory room drinks but fell asleep before the party. I do that too! x

[WileyCoyote]

Originally Posted by Melbatb

The hotel reminds me of ones I stayed in as a youngster in Blackpool. The fact that it was clean though is a big big plus!

Dinner looks nice too!

Looking forward to reading the rest 😜

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It was that old fashioned " boarding house" style of décor but it was meticulously clean and the staff were very helpful. And for the price that included 11 days parking, I would stay again. Although it looks like its up for sale.

Originally Posted by Goldia

Yay, you've started! The hotel does look a bit fawlty towers...Hmm the room is big with the bunks out the way in the corner, but I think I might stick with what I know. I like your little room snacks bundle, nothing like a g&t in a can to start off a holiday. It's not a proper pre travel day if you don't have cheap alcohol in your hotel room.

See more...

Lol hat G&T made it to New Orleans and the Rose wine wasn't consumed till the last day ! V V poor effort on our part. The M&S bread snacks are very nice - they lasted as emergency fodder for a couple of days . Hotel was ok - for £72 , not complaining. Just got too used to the modern PIs !

Originally Posted by Fuellady

It's always a faff working on the day you have to head off... but at least you're near the airport now. The hotel does look a bit old fashioned, but clean is good and the food looks nice.

Haha, I always think I'm packed too and then more and more appears

See more...

Where does the extra stuff come from and its always either awkward or heavy ( like trainers or washbags).

Originally Posted by CuriousAlice

A bit of a quirky hotel but food looks good ( I know you gave us spoilers in the food report). Like how you took celebratory room drinks but fell asleep before the party. I do that too! x

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Quirky - that's a better word than old fashioned - It was actually a residence of a Duke of Cambridge so a big old mansion house , hence the odd layouts. I did manage half the Aperitivo Fizz , tastes a bit like Lucozade tho. Made up for it the rest of the hols tho

[yellowrose78]

Been looking forward to this report, the hotel does look a bit old fashioned, but I'm sure it served its purpose, we had a dodgy airport hotel last year, was horrendous! Loving the room snacks and drinks

[WileyCoyote]

Originally Posted by yellowrose78

Been looking forward to this report, the hotel does look a bit old fashioned, but I'm sure it served its purpose, we had a dodgy airport hotel last year, was horrendous! Loving the room snacks and drinks

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Hello there - thank you- yes it certainly did and despite our initial misgivings, it was ok. Its not great if you start off with a nightmare !

[Twentyyears]

Yay Amanda!
Another trip report, I shall settle in after Easter Dinner!

[WileyCoyote]

Originally Posted by Twentyyears

Yay Amanda!
Another trip report, I shall settle in after Easter Dinner!

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Ah bless you, hope all well with you x