Travel and Food blog - travels around the globe

  So we had landed in Male eager to get to our  final destination not really knowing what that entailed. The Riu rep tags our bags with 1805 - which we later find out is our room at the resort, takes our bags and us for a short walk out of the terminal, as it's fairly chaotic as you exit the terminal. After a short while he tells us to keep walking to the end of the airport, this takes you past the new departures and out to the old domestic departures/ arrivals building. We are met by another Riu rep, who walks us still further and upstairs to a lounge of sorts where we are offered a free drink ( and food if we want it - we don't) whilst the riu rep explains the flight should be ready in about 45 mins to an hour. The room is very basic but away from the hustle and bustle, it looks out over the sea and boats taking people to islands close by.  Apparently your onward passage isn't guaranteed immediately, as we converse with a couple who came in two hours earlier and they co...

 Our Journey starts mid afternoon on a cold January Sunday, leaving home and arriving after around 45minute journey on the M25 , we had booked Pod Parking as it so much easier and had a good deal , we would have arrived in the 5 minute journey, if it wasn't for me leaving my phone in the car, so back to pod parking and return after retrieving my phone !! Today we're flying business class LHR (19.20hrs) to Male and onto our destination island in the Maldives, with a short stop in Doha. We checked in at the first class check in area, as I hate doing the self serve bag drop, the check in lady was as ever really friendly and efficient as you would expect, then through fast track security which is undergoing a bit of a change at LHR but still really fast and efficient. The gate is not shown yet, so we go to the north club lounge - it's busy, but the food and drink is still on lunch/ tea menu so we fill up, as the meal on board would be another 4 hrs proba...

Portugal in November? Why not, it's easy to get to, but is it worth it... So the short drive to LGW, then swiftly through the priority lane (One of the benefits of BA silver) we only ever take hand baggage on the short hops such as Porto. Saw us back in familiar territory- the BA lounge - but the quietest I think I've ever seen as it was late afternoon. But time to fill up with a meal and a few beers courtesy of the brewdog bar which is situated upstairs, just pour yourself a nice cold one (or more!), and the glasses are in the fridge which is a nice touch. The flight soon had go to gate , immediately followed by boarding, this can go one of two ways with BA we've found. You either get to the gate and they've rushed you through just to stand in the airbridge for another 20 mins or you wait forever and do nothing then get told there's a delay. The former today ! as silver you're either in group 1 or 2 so at least get to board 1st so no issues with han...

 Verona - June The usual 20 minute short drive to Gatwick, long stay car park C and the transfer bus arrives almost immediately, down the travellator upstairs through fast track and into the BA lounge as today we are travelling Business class to Verona. After being boarded first we take our seats (2d and 2f) Push back more or less on time ( a first for BA in a long time ! ) but then sit in a long queue of planes waiting to take off. After what seems like an eternity we taxi and take off into the morning sun with great views of Gatwick. After an hour and a half flying over stunning scenery of the alps and lakes, we start our descent into Verona - a small airport by comparison to some, with a few arrival gates and short walk to passport control ( E-gates that are very efficient ) we are through within 10 minutes as we only have hand luggage. A short walk outside to catch the bus (6 euros ) that takes you to the central station ( 15 minute walk to the hotel ) the attendant lady at the...