Two more countries added to the list!

Today we got an eMail from Princess Cruises, telling us that they've had to change the itinerary on the Panama Canal cruise that's the last leg of next year's big holiday.

Although we're still going to Panama, of course, including shore excursions around the Canal, we're now not stopping for the planned day at Fuerte Amador in Panama. This is a bit disappointing, because we'd have been able to go into Panama City from there, and from the small amount of research I had done so far, it looked like an interesting city to visit.

However, instead, we're going to go to two extra places - San Juan Del Sur in Nicaragua, and Cabo San Lucas in Mexico.  

In my youth, Nicaragua was a place that you would never dream of visiting, but now the travel websites say things like "Once viewed as a 'no go' holiday destination, Nicaragua has overcome civil unrest, dictatorship and natural disasters." - and even from a quick look it does seem that we should enjoy our short time there.

And of course, I've heard of Cabo San Lucas - it looks like a lovely 'last stop' on our very long holiday.

So, the count for this holiday is now 13 completely separate countries, some of which we visit more than once!  Just have to hope that the dollar stops its downward slide, or I'll be working until I'm 97 to pay for it  :-)

Hotels and other plans

Gradually getting the plans done. Travel insurance is now all ok, although in the end not with Travel Insurance Direct. All good though.

I've now started looking at hotels. There's no need to rush for some of them, but both Copenhagen and Fort Lauderdale have lots of cruises starting and finishing there and hotel prices don't tend to get cheaper as you get closer - not unless you want to risk not being able to get a decent room at all.

Fort Lauderdale looks like it will be ok - I've had a quick look today though and it seems I'll be able to have a reasonable choice of places well within the rough budget I've set.

Copenhagen is also kind of under control - we already know which hotel we're going to stay in, we just need to decide whether we're going to spend one night there or two, and then I can book it. A lovely lady on the cruise has organised for us to be able to access their group booking rate, which reduces it from 'wildly expensive' to 'a little less than wildly expensive'! However, I knew going in that Copenhagen translates into English as 'leave all your money here' so I'm not really surprised.

Not the case in the UK. I also knew that hotel rooms in London would be very expensive, but it seems I've underestimated just how how expensive. We're going to stay in Cambridge for the first few days after we get to the UK, then go to London the day before the coach tour starts. Since the tour starts fairly early from a meeting point at a hotel, it makes sense to stay at that hotel the night before - lots of people do, and the coach tour company will book it for us at a slight discount from the currently quoted price. However, the slight discount is still $356 for the night for the two of us - including breakfast but even so, wow!. And, although it's a nice hotel - it's the Thistle Marble Arch - and in a good location, it's certainly not top of the range. Ouch.