Almeria 2010

[El Gordo]

Someone had to do it -- and I've done it. Welcome one and all, to the Almeria 2010 thread.

For anyone unaware of this annual tradition, I'll explain. For the last 5 years, we have gone to Almeria, southern Spain, for the half marathon. It's usually the last weekend of January. In 2010, the race is on Sunday Jan 31st.

Who are "we"? Anyone who wants to go. The irrepressible party animal, Sweder, has been an ever-present. I've been 4 times. SP and Niguel 3 times. This year, the one occasion I've not been able to make it, the group was more than a dozen, though it has usually been smaller. In short, it's open to all, and includes partners and anyone else who fancies the possibility of a bit of winter sunshine, and the certainty of much Guinness, Rioja, and camaraderie.

Oh yes, and there is a race involved. The medio maraton is a decent half marathon. It's a road race; two loops around the pleasant town of Almeria, including one medium hill tackled twice, and long stretches along the Mediterranean. It finishes in the new Almeria La Liga football stadium.

The entry fee is ludicrously low - usually less than 10 euros, and includes pre-race meal, tee-shirt, and goodie bag filled with unlikely items, including a punnet of tomatoes. Weather is changeable. We've had warm sunshine and we've had an arctic-style blizzard. No guarantees available.

We traditionally fly out early on Saturday and return sometime on Tuesday.

We also traditionally have a big meal on Sunday after the race, then get drunk. On Monday, we run along the beach, run down a mountain, then get drunk again.

Our ever-helpful, over-tolerant host is Antonio, or Anlu of this parish. We are very grateful for him putting up with our appalling behaviour, which he seems to accept with an admirably detached bemusement. He also has very nice friends who we look forward to seeing each year.

Until this year, there were direct flights to Almeria from Gatwick but these seem to be discontinued. We now have to fly to Murcia or Malaga, and drive to Almeria.

We stay at the Tryp Indalo, a smart and cheap hotel a mile or so from the action.

So. Firstly, who's in? First timers particularly welcome, but if some of the same-old same-old insist on coming again, then so be it. I'll have to grin and bear it.

Second, for my benefit please, can I ask people who went this year what can be learnt regarding transport and general arrangements? Should we try the Malaga route this year? I see that Aer Lingus and Monarch fly from LGW, arriving around 11am on Saturday, and EasyJet fly back at around 6pm on Tuesday. Total cost at present about £53.

All thoughts welcome.

[Antonio247]

As EG says you all are welcome to come here again or for the first time. I´ll do my best to make the weather be sunny although I can´t promise anything. Anyway, I´m sure that you all will have a great time here.

As for Málaga, it is a good option although the road is not very good in some parts since the motorway is not completely finished but the views near the seaside are fine.

Saludos desde Almería Greetings from Almería

Antonio

[Sweder]

I'm in

No earthquake there ... but at least I've committed to my second race in 2010. Now for the training ...

For any newbies thinking about coming to Almeria for the first time don't underestimate the fun to be had falling down through the Sierra Almahillas on the Monday.
This is rapidly becoming my favorite part of the trip
Read more here

I guess we need to start checking out travel options ... (yuck)

[ladyrunner]

I am planning on coming along again for this great weekend. I just need to swap my work committees around and get my boys looked after for the weekend, then I will confirm.

Julie

[El Gordo]

I guess we need to start checking out travel options ... (yuck)

One possibility --

AER LINGUS EI902
non-stop
London/Gatwick 06:40 Sat 30 Jan 2010
Malaga 10:30 Sat 30 Jan 2010

AER LINGUS EI907
non-stop
Malaga 21:25 Tue 02 Feb 2010
London/Gatwick 23:10 Tue 02 Feb 2010

Price for this Journey Prices are shown in Pounds Sterling
Passengers Fare p.p. Taxes & Charges Cost p.p. Total
1 Adult 0.00 43.06 43.06 43.06
Handling Fee 10.00 10.00
TOTAL GBP 53.06

[ladyrunner]

Another possibility is Monarch but no flights to Murcia. And the flight home from Malaga on Tuesday is a lunchtime flight.

Saturday, 30 Jan 10 ( ZB 736 )
London Gatwick to Malaga
07:15 11:00
- fare£5.99- infant/s£0.00- taxes & chgs£31.80

Tuesday, 02 Feb 10 ( ZB 737 )
Malaga to London Gatwick
12:00 13:30
- fare£5.99- infant/s£0.00- taxes & chgs£14.55

total price£58.33

[ladyrunner]

And this one for Easyjet with a flight home at 18:55 on Tuesday:-

Saturday 30 January

London Gatwick (North) to Malaga
flight 8601; dep. Sat 30 Jan 06:00
arr. Sat 30 Jan 09:45
£30.99
per person
(incl. taxes and charges)

Tuesday 02 February

Malaga to London Gatwick (North)
flight 8608; dep. Tue 02 Feb 18:55
arr. Tue 02 Feb 20:45
£17.92
per person
(incl. taxes and charges)

Total amount due:
1 adult
£48.91
(total cost)

[El Gordo]

Good work, LR, thanks.

I'm making the executive decision that this time around we'll go to Malaga rather than Murcia. We seem to have more options, and anyway, it's good to try an alternative so that we'll know which works best (not that I was there last year...).

It seems that we have several possibilities for the flight out, all leaving at the same sort of time i.e. OhGod o'clock. Personally, I like Aer Lingus as they are a normal airline with meals and everything... BUT the danger is that if we don't book that quite soon, the fare is likely to go up to the normal rate which could be a lot. Given that there are several early Sat morning options, we could leave the outward flight to individual choice, and just meet up at the other end.

The return is more important becasue of the wide range of departure times -- from lunchtime up to late in the evening. I guess the EasyJet return at 1855, arr LGW at 2045 is a good compromise.

Some of these fares won't be available forever, so best not to hang around.

At the moment then, here's my thought -- that I fancy flying out on AerLingus at 06:40 (second choice Monarch at 0715), both around £35-ish.

Return EasyJet 18:55.

A word from Sweder and SP would be useful, otherwise I will book this soon.

[Sweder]

I like the look of AL (begorragh!) out and Easyjet back.

Lunchtime Tuesday flight would mean a hurried departure (around 8am) -I'd much rather have a quality breakfast and maybe another stroll along the prom. Traditionally the weather improves Monday/ Tuesday. I know that's a bit hopeful but at least the last three years have seen wet/ cool conditions for raceday, showers on the Monday and a cracking Tuesday.

You watch - boiling for the race and torrential downpour thereafter (said Eeyore) ...

[Seafront Plodder]

A word from Sweder and SP would be useful, otherwise I will book this soon.

Not had time to research flights etc but looks like El G and LR have it sorted in terms of options.

I'm likely to go, and so is my bar-surfing associate.

[El Gordo]

OK, I've been and gone and done it....

Booked my flights today:

LGW-Malaga: Sat 30 January on Aer Lingus time - 06:40 (flight EI 902);
Return Tues 2 Feb EasyJet time - 18:55 (flight EZY8608).

The Aer Lingus flight was £29.99 all in.
The EJ flight was a base of £22 but they charge for card use. I paid by debit card which was +£3. Credit card is +£8

Total price inc tax £56 (NB this price does not include any checked-in bags).

The standard Aer Lingus price is £159, so I strongly recommend you book ASAP to get the cheap ticket. If you miss the deal, don't panic. Book with one of the other airlines flying to Malaga early that morning and we can rendezvous in Malaga, as they all arrive within an hour or so of each other.

The return is more important as the alternatives are lunchtime or much later in the evening. If you have to book an alternative and want to travel back to Malaga with us, make it the later one.

At the moment, I think the definites are:

El Gordo
Sweder
Seafront Plodder (+1?)
LadyRunner

Who else?

Antonio -- when you get a chance, could you talk to the hotel please? Not sure of exact numbers at present but if you could perhaps reserve 10 rooms, and we can adjust nearer the time.

[Sweder]

Booked as per above - Aer Lingus on 30th LGW - MAL, Easyjet back on 2nd in the PM. Guess we need to think about ground transport too at some point but that will depend on numbers.

Last time we had 15 travellers and used 2 x mini buses (7 seaters) which proved ample for the task. They were usefull for excurstions including seafront visits and dropping off the Sierra Plummeteers on Monday.

In order to give Antonio a chance and to secure best rates for vehicles perhaps we could set a cut-off date, say 1st December? I'm guessing most people will know by then if they can make it or not. Besides, if you've not booked a flight by then it'll cost in excess of 200 sovs.

Urm, I suppose I ought to ask Mrs S if she'd like to join us (oops)

[Antonio247]

Well, this looks great. I´ve already sent an e-mail to the person in charge at the hotel. As soon as I have any news, I´ll tell you.

Looking forward to meeting all of you both those who have already been here and those who haven´t been yet.

Saludos desde Almería

[El Gordo]

Booked as per above - Aer Lingus on 30th LGW - MAL, Easyjet back on 2nd in the PM. Guess we need to think about ground transport too at some point but that will depend on numbers.

Last time we had 15 travellers and used 2 x mini buses (7 seaters) which proved ample for the task. They were usefull for excurstions including seafront visits and dropping off the Sierra Plummeteers on Monday.

In order to give Antonio a chance and to secure best rates for vehicles perhaps we could set a cut-off date, say 1st December? I'm guessing most people will know by then if they can make it or not. Besides, if you've not booked a flight by then it'll cost in excess of 200 sovs.

Urm, I suppose I ought to ask Mrs S if she'd like to join us (oops)

Good man.

I've asked Mrs EG but she's opted out of this one on the basis that she will probably come to Connemara, and her patience with drunken fools is not completely limitless. She didn't use those exact words, incidentally, but I'm skilled at reading between the lines...

Partners are of course more than welcome.

Yep, I'm happy with Dec 1st as a target date.

[Sweder]

Mrs S declined, also favouring the later trip - she's never been to Ireland & would dearly love to join us there.
I reckon these ladies know us only too well ...

[El Gordo]

Mrs S declined, also favouring the later trip - she's never been to Ireland & would dearly love to join us there.
I reckon these ladies know us only too well ...

Good news for M. She was stalling on Ireland, waiting to hear if any 'normal' people would be going. With Mrs S and Suzie, we now have quite a healthy normal contingent to balance the party.

[Antonio247]

I´ve got an e-mail from the person in charge at the hotel. He can offer the same conditions as the previous year, that is, 50 € + 7% VAT the room per night. Breakfast is not included. If you decide to have it, It would be 5,90 € + 7% VAT. If you agree, I´ll tell him that it is OK. The exact number of rooms and the names would be given a few weeks before the stay.

Saludos

Antonio

[El Gordo]

I´ve got an e-mail from the person in charge at the hotel. He can offer the same conditions as the previous year, that is, 50 € + 7% VAT the room per night. Breakfast is not included. If you decide to have it, It would be 5,90 € + 7% VAT. If you agree, I´ll tell him that it is OK. The exact number of rooms and the names would be given a few weeks before the stay.

Saludos

Antonio

Thanks Antonio -- that's fine by me.

[The Beast of Bevendean]

Very tempted, though would need to square 'er indoors, who, when this latest bout of running madness started six years ago said I could do what I liked, so long as I never raced abroad. If you can reassure her there are no sloe-eyed Iberian maidens there to turn my head, I might stand a chance.

[El Gordo]

Very tempted, though would need to square 'er indoors, who, when this latest bout of running madness started six years ago said I could do what I liked, so long as I never raced abroad. If you can reassure her there are no sloe-eyed Iberian maidens there to turn my head, I might stand a chance.

Welcome to the Possibles Posse, Tom.

First of all, you can invite her along, if that's domestically feasible. Most partners have made an appearance at some point.

I couldn't possibly risk insulting our host and his personal army of striking female friends by passing comment on the company. But please assure Mrs R that at our advanced age our Almerian preoccupations seem to be running and eating and drinking -- not necessarily in that order.

All good clean fun.