Oh ok I understand now. As I posted previously flights on AA out of DC area are miserable and require three plane changes, so don't think we will use AA, which is annoying since we have a lot of AA points. Sighhhhhhhh!

See you Friday.

Much like us JoAnn we are Delta from yrs ago when Tony traveled and they had good flights out of Jax for His trips - after hoping to use pts for TUT I am for switching allegiance (sp?) really annoys the H out of me they make it so tough

For those interested in the GB - options are pay the price of 299 Euros, 20,000 points per night for an award stay, Marcie's 8,000 points and $150 on Cash & Points, and one other option of "pay" 1,000 points for an SPG50 certificate and get 50% off the "rack" rate (not sure what it is but that could be an option for those with some SPG points).

I know Starpoints are very valuable, if anyone does need an SPG50 certificate I believe I have a couple lying around. Would not pass up a chance to stay at the GB..

FV

What is a SPG50 certificate, Frank? Never mind, I just saw Peter's post above.

A while back we booked the GB for Oct. 1 and 2 using Starwood points also. I need a couple days to get over the jet lag.

Me too Peggy, and I know we are going to come in at least one day early, maybe two, especially since the day of arrival can end up being late afternoon.

Marc, you can add John and me to the roll call list for TUT -- suite 713. Last weekend at Ho-Down got us thinking about that itinerary again, and we've taken the plunge. We are so excited, both for the itinerary and to cruise again or for the first time with some fabulous LCT friends!

Yay!!! Priscilla I am sooooooo glad you and John are joining this group, its going to be a fantastic trip. :app: :app:

Wonderful, Priscilla and John!!!!! What a great group we've got developing here!

JoAnn and Kristin -- Thanks for the warm welcome to TUT!

What great news Priscilla!!! Really look forward to spending time with you and John again - :app: :app: :hug: :hug:

I am so excited I almost can't stand it! So many "old" friends and now so many new ones that I just met at Ho Down.... and it will be here before we know it. (Now Jaonna if you could talk the PV gang into it, it would be perfect!)

Priscilla, you are added. Anyone else to add? Bert and Mitch, do you have a cabin number yet? This is going to be a wonderful group on a wonderful cruise.

:lct:

And you started it all Marc!!!!! Appears you have one big following - XXOO

So happy to hear Priscilla and John will be on, I missed seeing/meeting them at Ngaire's party!

So are you on Olivia? Haven't seen your name posted - but could you just be holding out on us??? Hugs Olivia, fun seeing you again this weekend.

Joanna, isn't at least one of your PV couples booked? I seem to remember that, Jack and Mary?? is that right? Do I have the names right?

Mary and Jerry booked a Baltic trip in place of Tut - they never booked Tut but were very interested - PV group very interested in how we like the Paris river trip - they all have second homes and treat those places like a regular vacation so no need to get out of town like we do!!! - maybe luck in 2011 with them for Regent trip - they loved B2B but not full fledged addicts as we are - they sure are FUN!

Oh well thats too bad, but understand what you are saying.
You and Tony are very lucky to have such a fun group of friends in PV. Sounds like you have your own cruise fun on a regular basis.

Thrilled that Priscilla and John will be with us on TUT!! Sounds like many of us that were at Ho-Down !! (but this time Marc will be with us too!)

I understand Joanna. There really are people out there who are not crusing addicts aren't there? Just know that any time you can talk them into it we would love to see them. They are such a fun bunch.

Marcie, you're right -- TUT will be like a Ho-Down redo in some regard. Thanks to everyone for the warm welcome!

Olivia, we DID miss each other. I went looking for you toward the end of the party but you were already gone. Next time ...

Absolutely next time, Priscilla! (I think I was on the first van out)

JoAnn, yes, I'm on TUT! Been trying to sort out my travel plans land and sea for late 2010 and 2011, and forgot to put myself on the roll call! For now, I'm really looking forward to seeing so many old and new friends again in a couple of weeks. Would be fun if we could bring along Ken's webcam and have another "LCT LIVE" event, wouldn't it? (Just kidding, Ken, we want you to enjoy the next one!)

Olivia, so glad that you sorted out your travel plans to join us on TUT!

:lct:

Olivia - glad to hear this great news, and looking forward to seeing you.

TUT just keeps getting better and better and better.

:app: GREAT news, Olivia! :app:

WELL...after 1.05 hrs with Delta, on phone, I have flights for TUT - not at all what I wanted but as gal reminded me "We are low volume point holders" GRRRRR unlike Marcie using 100 thou PP for perfect AA flights and Tony has flown Delta for 40 yrs biz - this gal was snippy so I was NOT about to tell her bye bye Delta from now on - so for 100 thou PP I fly from Jax to Atl to JFK (excuse me while I wring my hands) to Athens arriving Oct 2...return Venice the 18th at 9:50 am thru Paris home - so have to overnight in Venice did not want to do but.....my experience has been there is so much changing of schedules etc we may end up okay after all - darn I wanted into Athens Oct 1 - this gal made me feel like she had worked wonders for my lowly 100 pts PP - adios Delta no more!!!!!!! Anyone staying in Venice till 18th let us know hotel/eats etc -

Your schedule is soooooo good. Carol and I are staying two nights in Venice. 10/17 and 18. Lets do dinner for sure. I am thinking of staying at the Concordia which was a recommendation from Pat Mongeau. Have not made a reservation yet but may in next week or so.

Carol and I are arriving 2:25 AM on 10/1 so will be there night of 10/2. Made reservation at Grand Bretagne , which seems to be the place. We will be sleeping in on 10/2 until at least noon. I think Tom and Marcie are booked there also.

I arrive Athens at 9:15 AM Oct 2 staying at GB - have stayed before and loved it! Actually I have reservations there for Oct 1 and 2 .. will hold them hoping to get into Athens Oct 1 - Out of Venice the 18th at 9:50 AM so definitely do dinner with you night of 17th and I will look into your hotel suggestion - I like to avoid JFK especially with flights going to Europe from Atlanta much better/direct for us but no luck - at least I have something and can fine tune as time goes on, hopefully at "their" expense - if Delta makes schedule change that impacts me I can usually reselect flights fee free BUT if I find better schedule and change they hit me with $100 PP FEE!!!!

Joanna -- We're in the same situation in Venice, with a hold on Venice-Madrid-DFW on the 18th instead of the 17th like we wanted, using AA miles. I could kick myself for not jumping onto this reservation when flights opened up last week. It's the AA-Iberia flight from Venice to Madrid that is the problem, but I'll keep checking back re Oct. 17 availability.

So, Ray and Joanna, as it stands now, John and I may crash your dinner party on the 17th!

AWWWWW that would be wonderful Priscilla - it is long way off and I may try to get out the 17th but if not the 18th is fine - extra day/night in Venice is fine -

Sorry Priscilla - I must have grabbed the only 2 milesaaver seats on that Iberia flight VCE-MAD. I booked them the morning of the 20th.

Priscilla, we got lucky and snagged 2 Biz seats from Venice to Madrid on Oct. 17th @ 12:15pm. I hope more seats open up on Iberia! We too are using AA miles. You can grab seats now and keep trying for the 17th and change if something opens up.

Is anyone else on our flight?

Since we have used up a lot of our miles taking our 3 nieces, Brad's brother, our nephew in law and their baby to Cabo next week, I booked discount business class tickets on AA/BA on the outbound and out of Venice on Lufthansa to Frankfurt and then on AA through Dallas on the way back. You might want to look into the routing home through Frankfurt, Priscilla, and just pay for the Venice to Frankfurt flight. No big deal if they lose your luggage on the way home.

Andrea, good for you! As I said, I'm kicking myself for not acting faster.

Marcie, will you have an overnight in Madrid before your flight back to the US? That's what I'm finding unless you leave Venice really early in the morning, when the choices are really limited -- that one Iberia flight or Lufthansa to Frankfurt or Air France to Paris. For using AA miles, only the Iberia works.

For right now we're on the early morning Iberia flight on the 18th, then Madrid back to Dallas.

Priscilla Marcie is in NYC BUT I think she said they would overnight at JFK on return and catch flight to LA next morning - notice she gets out of Venice at 12:15 PM SWEET!!!!!!!

The schedule out of Venice is bad. Way too early for Carol and I. That is one reason we opted for a BA flight at 2pm and then an overnight at LHR. We can then take a VS flight late in the AM to LAX. Used miles plus $ for VS flight. The 2pm flight makes for a nice unrushed depart from Venice.

I must say that the biggest issue for Carol and me these days is the air. Gets more and more difficult every month. Starting to bank the miles for ROAR 3 now.

Could not agree more Ralph - in the old days it was an enjoyable challenge to book the FF flights, experience an adventure of 3 airports on way to/from destination, arrive not jet lagged- those days are over for us - we love to travel but the getting to and from tougher and tougher...

We're just rolling the dice and taking Regent air. No stress for us until the air schedules come out many months from now. So far on all of our Med cruises, our air schedules have been ideal when booking through Regent. Of course, now I just may have jinxed it - ;) :rolleyes:

I have a feeling they'll put us on an early morning flight out of Venice since the ship arrives the prior night. Oh well, que sera, sera.

Kristin, we're staying on the ship from Venice to Athens so we don't have to fly out of Venice--you can stay on the ship with us and do a round trip Athens. :D