Maybe next time for me also. I booked a TT tour instead, especially since most of the places on the BB tour, I have been recently. The one I'm doing next month, has only one "repeat" city for me. However, if a BB tour goes to Italy or Ireland, I won't mind going again. Wouldn't mind doing an England, Scotland, Wales tour again either.

I agree Linda - I would love to do both Italy & Ireland again.

Tuffet

What about a BB tour to Scandinavia?


Jimbo44 - the fires in California don't seem to want to give up.

Thanks Dragon and September for your good wishes.

quote:

Jimbo44 - the fires in California don't seem to want to give up

Yes September, you are right. We have been keeping a close "watch" on them. Hopefully when we get there,nature will have said ENOUGH-let these good people through!!!

Only 9 more sleeps!! Jim

With 22 days until we fly out to our Trafalgar tour and 41 days until we meet you all in Frankfurt, we have just ticked the last major box on the “to do” list. Madam has just phoned from Bangkok to say that she has just left the French Embassy with her Schengen Visa, but not without difficulty!

The total cost was $296, Visa $90, Air fares $120 and totally unnecessary health insurance $86. Fortunately we have a pied-a-terre in Bangkok or there would be five nights accommodation added to the cost.

During an interview on Tuesday, she was told that she needed health insurance from a recognized company. We both have world wide coverage with AIA, but evidently American International Assurance is not recognized!

They phoned on Wednesday and told her that she had to get me to send them a letter saying that I was travelling with her. This despite her having submitted letters from two different Travel Agents stating that we both had bookings with them, air and rail tickets in both names, receipts for two people for both tours and bookings for two at hotels!

They also wanted a copy and a translation of our marriage certificate, this from a country whose President was, until a few months ago, having his mistress accompany him on official visits!

So I emailed it all off only to receive a reply stating that they had to be attached to the application and submitted by the applicant. Fortunately I had copied them to her so round she went yesterday morning to submit them only to be denied access as she didn’t have an appointment. Finally she got in yesterday afternoon only to be told “We have these, your husband emailed them to us!”

As nobody ever answers the phone in the Visa section, she couldn’t find out when to collect her passport so went around at 2:00 this afternoon and finally got it after 4:00. To add insult to injury they didn’t even want to look at her health insurance merely telling her to take it with her in case she got sick. I suspect she is off to the Insurance Company to cancel it and get a refund.

It wasn’t only the bureaucracy that put her off; the staff were all very rude as well. The “western” Embassies in Bangkok all have this reputation for rudeness, one suspects that they advertise “Rude Thais wanted to work in the Visa section.”

However, I’m sure she will be happy once we get there.

Oh, my! We will all give you extra hugs when we see you in Frankfurt!

What a tale you tell!

quote:

Originally posted by Tangata:
Madam has just phoned from Bangkok to say that she has just left the French Embassy with her Schengen Visa, but not without difficulty!

The “western” Embassies in Bangkok all have this reputation for rudeness, one suspects that they advertise “Rude Thais wanted to work in the Visa section.”

However, I’m sure she will be happy once we get there.

Tangata, after reading that saga, I think 'madam' is a saint. All that, just to spend one night in France or are you guys spending more time there pre/post tour?
(I haven't been keeping up to date with who is doing what pre & post tour)
I'm certainly looking forward to meeting your lovely lady. Oh and you too.

I need some help.

I have to change the e-mail address that I have given Insight when I registered. That server no longer exists.

What do I do?

You all know I am computer-challenged!

quote:

Tangata, after reading that saga, I think 'madam' is a saint. All that, just to spend one night in France or are you guys spending more time there pre/post tour?

Hi Pauline, yes she is a saint - but don't tell her I said so!

It is not one night, before joining the BB Tour we have a 15 day Trafalgar/Uniworld cruise through France. The visa also serves for Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

September, I am looking forward to the hugs!

Not sure about you email problem, but I think I went through the same process and just updated my profile.

See you all soon!

Regarding the fires in Northern California. I am in Sacramento and the fires are about 60 miles away in different directions. The air here is very bad and we are all having repiratory issues. It's very hazy and visibility is less than 10 miles. Plus we just came from a few days of over 105 degree temperatures. It's only 98 today, so much better No one can really say when the air is going to clear so I just wanted to prepare anyone who was coming this way in the near future.