bb has booked car rental for both Zurich and London. Hope the dates are fine with mm.

Zurich
At Hertz, using 750934 (note to self: remember to bring business card)
Dates: 29 Sept to 2 Oct
Price: CHF256.80
Car: Ford Focus
Confirmation no.: C6894156625

Using 755555 the best rate is 374.20, and if bb says residence is outside Switzerland it's over 500!

The cheapest at Avis is CHF290.96 for a Renault Megane.

London
At Hertz, using 708870
Dates: 6 Oct to 13 Oct
Price: GBP142.21
Car: Ford Focus
Confirmation no.: C6891175086

Using 755555 the best rate is 158. This goes to show that Swiss discount isn't as good as Virgin's. At Avis using any airline AWD the best rate is 170.36.

lastminute.com seems to have expanded into Brunch, Lunch, Tea, Dinner deals too. They look pretty attractive, and mm is tempted to try them out - at least some of them. prices are ok. here's the website addy:

http://www.lastminute.com/lmn/pso/catalog/Category.jhtml?CATID=95692

mm also thinks that may be that'll give bbmm some new ideas as to where to go for these meals.

very much looking forward to it. :D

bb was thinking if bbmm should go to Munich Oktoberfest. Even though mm doesn't drink and bb has decided not to, it may be less interesting. It's bound to be crowded, not sure if bbmm can find hotel.

bb is looking at swiss website, their web offers start booking on wednesdays, so nothing yet. But mm might want to take a look at the city trips.

mm feels very tired today - fought very hard to keep her eyes open in the afternoon. The program is called "Stairway to Heaven."

can mm remind bb to check if they can retire by being a millionaire?? The winning numbers came out last night.

many thanks. *smack*

mm is hooked onto a new Korean TV program, which is showing on Sunday and Monday. So mm went to Waichai and bought a complete copy. there are 20 episodes - very moving, although bb will say it's emotionally manipulating. mm watched 15 overnight until around 11 am this morning! naturally, mm has called into office and has taken sick leave in the morning. mm also plans to leave on time, then go to post office and then home to finish the last few episodes :P

But the good mm has also bought McDull - Prince de la Bun last night. may be bbmm will watch together during weekend?

what's bb's schedule for the forthcoming trip - departure time on Sunday and returning flight deails please. When bb's back, bbmm will be going on holiday soon :)

bb likes it when mm says "mm has decided on the following travel plan", so decisive, so firm, so awe-inspiring!

bb will send email to zurich friends tomorrow, no time for it today, bb must have recieved 200 emails, more if you count the read receipts and thank you mails that bb usually delete. if it's not so convenient to stay at friends, bb will find alternative accommodation.

while in zurich bb will take mm to schaffhausen, zermatt, geneva and may be bellinzona if time. bbmm can drive to St Anton in Austria or Germany or Alsace. Lots of choices.

$240 for the return ticket is of course no problem lah!

ps bb cleaned up the posts.

mm has decided on the following travel plan and have spoken to travel agent this morning about it, subject to bb's consent.

mm has decided that bbmm should fly to zurich on 29 Sept after they arrive in London. This will avoid the hassle of travelling and staying in London for 2/3 days, then need to go to airport again for zurich. also this would give bbmm one week in london, and may be bbmm can rent a flat for that week, so no hotel for them. then bbmm can make their favourite food - delicious!

bbmm flight arrives at 0620, and the flight to zurich from LHR will depart at 0920. although the baggages could be checked through (because bbmm will be flying with BA LHR-ZUR-LHR), mm thinks it's probably safer to collect baggages and check in again. bbmm should arrive 1215 in zurich - in time for lunch :)

then bbmm will return to london after one week ie 6 oct. they will catch a late afternoon flight, arriving in london in early evening.

One good and one bad news - bad news is that bbmm would have to forego their tickets with swiss air which they got by redeeming their asiamiles. But bbmm would be able to use their ticket with BA (originally for the leg between London to Nice), and exchange for a return flight between London and Zurich. Administration charge is US$30 or 3000 asiamiles. mm is thinking of paying $$$. That would be around HK$240 - not bad for a return ticket, right?

mm hopes bb will ok this plan - and silence is acquiescence! :P

Just as bb says, car hire is cheaper with the magic numbers bb gave mm. new rates are as follows:

Hertz - 29 Sept to 2 Oct - GBP 109.60 - returning at different location - GBP 144.85. mm is thinking of flying to Zurich on Friday, 1 Oct so bb get a good chance to meet up with her darling friends. if so, the rate will be GBP 81.69. there may be a difficulty - bbmm will have to travel early to zurich or the car rental company may charge an extra day for the few hours of difference.

It'll be GBP 87.61 if using HSBC credit card. so bb's rate is still the best re Hertz.

Assuming the same with Avis and Europcar ie flying on Friday 1 Oct 2004:

Avis - 29 Sept to 1 Oct - same location - GBP 93.53.

Europcar - same location - GBP 72.20. For this rate, bbmm will get a VW Golf 1.4 but w/o air-conditioning. mm is inclined to go for this, nothwithstanding the bad experience bbmm had some years ago ...

mm will speak to travel agent to sort out tickets today. Watch this space. :)

mm has been checking our some quotes for car hire for one week - 29 Sept to 6 Oct 2004

Hertz (Ford Fiesta 1.2 5 doors) GBP 159. Returning to different location - same price.

Avis (Peugeot 1.4) GBP 162.36. Returning to a different location - same price.

Europcar (VW Polo - 1.2) GBP 161.84. Returning to different location - GBP 176.84. Alternatively, (VW Golf 1.4) GBP 179.35 or returning to different location GBP 194.35. mm thought bb might like that :)

For say 3 days:

Hertz - GBP 118.49. Returning to different location - GBP 153.74.

Avis - GBP 127.30. Returning to different location - same price.

Europcar - GBP 120.34. Returning to different locatin - GBP 156.35 (pre-paid) or GBP 165.33 (paid on arrival).

PS this post is already mm's second post - mm did the same post but the computer crashed before mm saved it, so mm had to do it all again - so stupid lah.

apology from mm for being lazy and not making any contribution here for a little while. that's because mm went to phuket and bangkok and had a spa trip with her mum, who has become a *real* competitor to bb in terms of going on holiday with mm! ha ha ha!

mm received an email from lastminute.com this morning and this package to barcelona looks attractive (although mm has also seen other similarly competitive deals) - for GBP 285 pp, it includes flight departing from heathrow to barcelona and 3 nights at a "modern & stylish 4* hotel". It's available for 1 Oct 2004. Here's the link.

Re hotel in london - mm mentioned ibis and mariott maida vale last night - whilst talking to bb on the phone :) Details as follows:

Ibis London Excel - 5 mins from London City Airport by car. DLR - 5 mins walk from Custom House (and where's that??)Weekdays - GBP59.95 Weekend - GBP 49.95

London Mariott Maida Vale - Parking GBP 19 - 7 days advance purchase rate in deluxe room for GBP110 prpn. there's something called Government/Military rate for GBP 80.85 - mm supposes that's only available for government or military people, right? mm also thinks that there's those rates are exclusive of VAT.

Best Western Lodge Hotel, Upper Richmond Road - GBP 87 prpn (incl of VAT) - not bad, but question of location. Free parking. Link.

London Holiday Inn Express - Hammersmith - GBP 109 - it mentioned parking, but does not say if it's free or at a cost.

bb knows it'll be a few days before mm reads this, mm and mm's mom are still in Bangkok, enjoying spa and massage and relaxing. hope mm is not too stressed out from having to organise the daily activities :).

bb just wants to say welcome back to mm, cos it'll be a few more days before bbmm are reunited. bb is finding all this travelling a bit stressful and can't wait for it to ease off a little, so bbmm can spend more time together and not have to worry about laundry and packing constantly. bb needs bbmm snuggle time!