I haven't taken the Cordon Bleu course yet, but there was about 6 people from LCT that took the course this year on their Monte Carlo to Dover cruise. Look through the cruise review section and see the reviews of the cruise: "WAVE" They had a great time, and from what I understand, the by invitation special dinner is almost worth the price of the course.

British Airways allows one way awards, but you have to use BA miles for those awards. A true OneWorld award has to use 2 different airlines besides the airline who's miles you are using, and is based on distance.

For example, if you are using American Airlines miles, you can redeem a OneWorld Award that goes from Toronto to Fort Lauderdale on American Airlines; then Barcelona to London on Iberia; then London to Toronto on British Airways. The total miles for this trip would be 5,888 which would mean you would have to redeem 60k miles for economy, 90k for biz, and 120k for first. You really don't save any miles doing it this way, but it gives you some more choices.

I'm not as familiar with Star Alliance awards, but I think you have to use 2 different airlines and they charge based on round trip.

Kathy,
Are you sure that it is first class and not business? It was my understanding that Air France no longer allowed first class for award tickets...

If that has changed, that would be great!

Ronnie, I am fairly certain the tickets are 1st but I booked through Delta who sometimes doesn't make the deliniation clear. I will have to double check.

John/Tina - I was one of those who took the class on WAVE (Monte Carlo to Dover) last year and I signed up to do it for a 3rd time on CROSS - all with repeat takers!

Tina,

Both Olivia and I are Star Alliance people. As I understand it, she had to use 80K miles for domestic coach to FLL and a biz return from BCN. No one way awards...

I have been pricing it for some time as I am cheap and don't want to burn 80K miles, when I can get a RT biz ticket to Europe for that. (OK, I also tend to hoard my miles for a rainy day, I'm now back up to about 540K). At this point I am going to use RSSC air as I will disembark and go directly to the airport in BCN. If I was going to spend a day or two, I would most likely book through Orbitz as they are offering some decent (coach) airfares to/from the West Coast on Star Alliance carriers to accrue mileage for all important status. (Sorry, I didn't check Toronto).


Hey! Sign up for the cooking workshop.

Tina
I just looked at my tickets. On Delta - 1st from Houston to FLL; Business from BCN to JFK; 1st from JFK to Houston. 90K miles. I am having to spend the night of the 14th in order to get the Biz ticket from BCN. Would prefer to come on home, but.......

Kathy,
I checked with Delta and they do not offer 1st class for award tickets on Air France... they used to but that was several years ago and we did fly 1st class then... in fact, 1st class with any Delta partner is near to impossible...

It does appear that they do have new business class seats...

It is also possible that if you are taking any Delta flights, that those segments are in first and that the over the water on Air France are Business... either way, I am sure that you will enjoy!

Hi Ronnie - you are right - they are Bus Class.

It was another flight I booked on Delta that was 1st with miles. We're lucky we can get Non Stop from LAX to CDG and then a short hop to Nice. The seats are better then Delta's first class Domestic - they're lay flat so we can sleep straight through and arrive somewhat ready to see the world. Whatever they are - they were no cost to us and we have paper tickets so we're totally confirmed.

Kathy,
I agree... in fact my husband and I are probably going to Europe over the Christmas/New Year's period next year and I think that I will use Air France business as they fly directly out of Atlanta on Delta points... Plan on booking as soon as the seats open up... Delta really needs to do something about their BusinessElite...

Enjoy!

Thanks everyone. Agree with Suzanne on not burning the miles for one way travel so booked lowest fare round trip from Barcelona.

Suzanne, Your Norweigan troll looks a little like my Uncle Jack :D

Excursion requests are now open for TAP. On our recent cruise in October, we arranged private excursions with CruiserPK (Pam) and her husband, Tom. These 2 days were some of the best times we had on the trip.

I'm really conflicted about Granada/Alhambra after reading the previous posts. Is anyone else considering doing this excursion privately?

Tina

We did the Alhambra. I think it was worth seeing.

We hired a driver and it's a long drive from the ship. Have lunch right outside the gate at the Hotel America. Andalucian Soup there was spectacular. We skipped the guide inside, but, I think that you should have a tour.

I agree with Kathy--it's worth it, and at that time of year the weather should be lovely, not hot as it was for us.

But do try to find a good guide--our driver was not a guide, and we lost something for that--for example, we couldn't get down into Granada itself, since he wasn't a licensed guide, and he didn't tell us that until we got there. I had been there before, but it was a disappointment not being able to see the old city--the Alhambra itself probably deserves a guided tour as well, although we wandered happily on our own.

The patio restaurant at Hotel America was very nice.

P.S. Tina--do the Cordon bleu course!

Hi Wendy and Kathy:

Happy New Year to you.

I have asked Linda to sign me up for the cooking class and hopefully my mom can join for the final event as she is not going to do the course.

Kathy - did you like your guide? Who did you use? Are there other LCTers who are considering this option?

Tina

We visited the Alhambra in November with a private guide & thought her well worth it. This was our second visit & both times we had guides which we feel add so much to any destination. We had lunch this time at the newly reopened Alhambra Hotel right outside the gate.

Hi Jackie -

Do you have the contact info for your guide?

Thanks, Tina

Tina,

Wendy and David (and Fred and Pat) shared the same driver we did. While he was a good driver, we had literally nothing more than that, so we don't recommend him for anything but a ride.

They will let you bring a guest, and I'd say probably a 2nd one since there will be 3 of you traveling together for the Cordon Bleu events.

Tina,I doubt we still have contact information on our guide. We do not keep journals nor trip details of guides, restaurants or hotels but I will ask Jim if he still has her name.

We use guide/tour agencies that have been recommended and/or researched thouroughly by Jim & we have always been pleased with our guides & drivers throughout Europe/Africa/Asia/South America.

Jackie: like you, I keep few notes on our trips - I always regret it but never seem to have my act together to save info - the only reason I will have Rome restaurants is due to my daughter's notes - Joanna

Crystal sent me this link. This is what we have to look forward to in Agadir!! What's not to love about Tree climbing goats!!

Suzanne - will you ride the camels with me in the Canary Islands? If so, I'll take the photo if Suzette decides to climb a tree with a goat in Agadir. :D

Well one great thing for us CROSS'ers is that we will have all the wonderful information from the TAP'ers on what to see and do!!

Suzanne - your new avitar is a riot!!! Is he poll dancing???

I hate it when I have to post these types of things, but I am really sad to report that I am going to have to cancel TAP. I few people have e-mailed me about my plans. I am so sorry that it has taken me so long to get back to you!

My aunt (my mom's baby sister) fell ill just before Christmas, and has been day to day, and hour to hour until this past Saturday. So we have been very immersed in this, and I have not really had time to think about cruise stuff.

I am hoping to be able to do PANDA, and cannot do both TAP and PANDA in the same year...darned work gets in the way of my playtime! :mad:

I will certainly miss seeing all of you! :(

Sheri, I am sorry to hear about your Mom's sister! I hope she is doing better!!

Sheri, We are sorry not to be able to sail with you on TAP. Hope the health issues with your aunt resolve satisfactorily. Take Care, Andi

Sheri let me know that her aunt's funeral was today.

Oh how sad. Sheri, please give your mom a hug for me and let your parents know they are in my thoughts.

Sheri - our condolences to your family on the loss of your Aunt - please let your Mom and Dad know that we are thinking of them. We so enjoyed meeting Martha and Bill on WINE in 2005, they were so cute, they may not remember us, but we certainly remember them - hugs to your Mom. :hug: :hug: :hug:

Thanks everyone for your thoughts. With my mom's health issues and now her sister's sudden illness and rapid decline, it has been quite an emotional roller coaster.

Sorry to have hijacked this thread!!!

I can't believe TAP is coming up so fast!!!

Oh, Sheri, I missed that somehow. Our sincere condolences for your family's loss of a loved one.

Sheri, Our deepest condolences to your family. How nice to have the "fab four" together for so long. My husband's mother had 3 sisters & like your mom & aunts, they went everywhere together & celebrated each other's birthdays & all important events together their entire lives. They were grande dames in the classic sense.

Sheri, we will miss you on this cruise! I was looking forward to seeing you for the first time since MINT! I'm sorry to hear about your aunt, I know this must be difficult for your mom.

Sheri: So sorry about your aunt -

Sheri,
I too, am very sorry about your loss of your aunt!

Sheri,
So sorry about the loss of your aunt and your mom's health issues.

Very sorry to hear about your Aunt, Sheri. Alan and I wish you and your family the strength to get through this difficult time.

Sheri -- My sympathies to you and your family. So sorry to hear of your loss.

Sheri, Our condolences on the loss of your aunt. I hope you'll be able to do PANDA as I'm sure it will be needed.

Sheri, my thoughts are with you at this difficult time.

Living alone, LCT can truly be a lifeline to a support system...one that is available 24/7!

I dragged my mom into my office today to see what everyone had written, and she was truly amazed at the warmth and support this group radiates!! Thanks from both my mom amd me for all the warm wonderful thoughts. :hug: