We set out from BHX as usual on the early train which gets in to BHI rail station around 6:20.
Usually we can get through security pretty quickly but today it’s rammed. No worries Jet2 has a separate security of its own in Area A. It’s boarded up and closed due to “improvements”
Security is up a lift from check-in at BHX and it was so backed up there was a queue of around 100 people at the bottom of the lift. However if you tell a white lie and say that you are heading for the rail shuttle you can go round the side (or last ditch there are stairs).
Once through the security gate there was once again a backed up queue for the scanners. They are around a corner so not visible from this queue. When I went to take a photo on my phone one of the, clearly stressed out, security guys decided to take it out on me and I was pulled out of the queue and told to delete all the photos then empty the deleted files. He was clearly clueless as I asked what he meant and how and he had no idea. I have this on camera as I actually had an action camera recording at the time. The other guy basically said don’t worry but probably I need to take off my action can. Fair cop and tbh in all the bother that morning I’d forgotten about it.
So once through security and short on time we only had about 20 minutes to grab a drink in the lounge. The Aspire lounge is on the way to the LCC area on BHX just off the corridor.
It’s not the best one in the airport but its much closer to gate 14 that the much better No 1 and Clubrooms lounges. A crafty GnT later and we were off to the gate.
After a literal 30 second bus ride, it took longer getting people on and off the bus, we boarded our Jet2 737-800. This is the first time we’ve flown with them and had splashed out an extra few £ (I think about £20) for exit row seats which had amazing legroom and to our surprise we had the whole row. I guess people buying Low Cost fares won’t pay that bit more to have the extra space. That’s fine by me.
The flight was pretty uneventful and we were soon landing and picking up our hire car. I have Platinum AMEX so use that insurance as CDW is included. I had the impression they didn’t have a car for me despite my reservation (I’d paid the princely sum of £37 for 3 days hire figuring it would be as easy as an Uber and about the same cost. Eventually I was given a BRAND NEW (23km on the clock) Citroen C3 EV. And I was lectured for a long time how I would be responsible if it didn’t come back in BRAND NEW condition. It’s about half an hours drive to the Hotel Meliã Palma Marina. Very simple journey down the motorway to the city and along the edge of the coast round to the marina. Parking was almost impossible but I managed to find a spot about 250m away in a back street, which is where the car stayed until we left.
We checking in and asked if we could have a room facing the Marina but we were told none were available unless we wanted to pay more, irritating as Meliã apparently gives room upgrades for Gold members. When we got to the room it was on the side of the hotel facing a back street with a balcony that would had the marina to the left. However there was construction in the sidestreet below and it was really really noisy. Pneumatic drill constantly kind of noise. I decided to go back to reception and ask if there was somewhere we could go a little quieter. It would have meant having windows shut all day and making the balcony unusable. Also there was no telling how late they would be there or when they’d restart in the morning. It seemed a bit of an unwelcome request but the assistant found us a room facing the inside of the hotel and better still directly over looking the Marina.
Not the worst hotel room view ever.
We had a brief 40 winks then went out for an explore and a drink. I don’t remember much after the Irish bar we found. Yes I know, immersing ourselves in the Spanish culture…. So that was our Journey out.