Florida Travel Day September 2023

Pre Travel Day

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It’s Florida pre-travel day for us! Tonight, we’ll be staying at the Holiday Inn Express near Manchester Airport. We’re looking forward to doing the Virgin Twilight check-in, something we haven’t done in many years.

It will be such a relief to ditch the big suitcases and just deal with our hand luggage tomorrow on travel day.

We’ve got our cases all packed up. I must admit, I probably packed more than I should’ve, even though I tried to be more minimal this time. It just never seems to work out that way for me. Vlogging and editing gear takes up a lot of room !

We’re flying in Virgin Upperclass, which gives us the option to bring three cases each if necessary.

We decided to bring just one extra case filled with Crunchie nut cornflakes for the Bazzas. This means we will have an empty case for the return journey for anything we buy (nicks new 50 t-shirts)

My parents are kindly driving us to Manchester Airport. They’ll drop us off right at the terminal. Once we arrive, we’ll make our way to the Virgin desk to check in our cases before taking a short walk down to the hotel.

I’ve just wrapped up editing the latest video. Now it’s time for me to get ready for the day. I’m really looking forward to heading off to the airport later.

At the airport

We’re staying at the Holiday Inn Express, conveniently located about a 20-minute walk from the airport. Since the weather had cleared up, we decided to take a short stroll to get here.

The best part is that breakfast is included in our booking, and it only cost us £61. The rooms are perfectly decent, although I wish the bed was a bit bigger. But overall, we can’t complain.

It’s important to note, especially if you’re traveling during the peak of summer, that the hotel doesn’t have air conditioning.

They provide helpful notes in the rooms with tips on how to keep cool and ensure a restful night’s sleep during hot weather (a fan would probably be of more use)

I can only imagine how challenging it must have been during the UK heatwave. It might be wise to consider bringing a fan along, just in case.

For dinner, we opted for a two-course meal at the hotel restaurant. To be honest, it was a bit pricey, but the food tasted good, so we can’t really complain.

We decided to have an early night and ended up falling asleep around half past eight. For some reason, we were both exhausted. Before turning off the lights for a long night’s sleep, we managed to watch the end of “Man of Steel” on TV.

Travel Day

Usually, travel days for us involve an early alarm. However, today was different. Our Virgin flight was scheduled for 1 p.m., allowing us to avoid rushing.

Initially, we had agreed to skip breakfast at the hotel since access to the 1903 lounge at Manchester Airport was included with our upper-class booking.

But hunger got the best of us, and we couldn’t resist heading down to the buffet for a quick bite. We managed to exercise some restraint and only had a small nibble (a bit of bacon and some yoghurt)

Originally, we had planned to walk to the airport, but the weather didn’t cooperate and started pouring down.

Thankfully, the hotel offered a taxi service (no shuttle buses) for £14 per car. However, we decided to check Uber and were able to secure a ride for just £10.

The journey to the airport took a mere 5 minutes, but it saved us from getting completely soaked.

The Airport

No check-in desk was necessary this morning since we had already completed the Twilight check-in. It made the morning travel experience a breeze as we simply walked straight to the security gates.

However, we arrived a bit early, with more than three hours until departure, so we had to hang around for a while.

It was during this time that we encountered our first lodgers, a lovely family who shared a similar story of losing their Mum, much like Nick’s experience. They were embarking on a much-needed break in Florida.

About ten minutes later, we proceeded through security. Nick passed through without any issues, but my bag was stopped (the first time in a long time, I’ve gotten away lucky the last few trips)

The abundance of chargers in one of the pockets raised a flag. They opened the bag, performed a quick swab, and then I was on my way without much hassle.

Typically, when we have access to a lounge, we bypass the duty-free area to maximise our time for food, drinks, and a bit of a chill.

However, today was an exception. I had a particular item in mind to purchase: chocolates for the cabin crew.

In the past, I had considered this gesture a bit odd and cringeworthy, especially if it was done with the expectation of receiving better service rather than as a kind act.

However, a discussion in our Orlando Facebook group shed new light on the matter. I learned that cabin crew members cannot eat the plane food and have to bring their own packed lunches.

Some people give them chocolates so they can enjoy them during their breaks. This changed my perspective, and I thought I’d give it a go.

I should have brought chocolates with me, as the prices at the airport were quite high. I ended up purchasing a £13 bag of chocolates to take on board.

Afterward, we made our way straight to the 1903 lounge, and to our surprise, it was relatively quiet. We both indulged in a light meal and a couple of drinks while enjoying the relaxed atmosphere.

We also had the pleasure of meeting a few more lodgers who approached us to say hello. We always enjoy interacting with viewers and hearing their stories.

Everyone is so considerate and apologetic for interrupting us, but truthfully, we love meeting people who watch our videos. It’s all part of the wonderful community that has formed around our channel and our shared love for Florida.

So, if you ever spot us around, please don’t hesitate to come over and say hello.

Our gate was called so off we went to A10. We boarded pretty quickly after meeting some more lodgers while we waited.

When we got on the plane we realised I was in the middle of the aisle with my back facing Nick. There was only one window seat left at the time of booking. I’m not particularly fussed about seeing out so Nick took the window seat.

I asked for a Mimosa (or Bucks Fizz to me) when the drinks came around and got myself sorted in the seat. When the air steward came around with the menu I grabbed the bag of chocolates for the cabin crew to give her, knocked my drink, and spilled half my mimosa all over the place with a loud clink of the glass.

Drawing attention to myself, everyone looked at me while I had one wet hand and one hand handing over the chocolate. I was probably the kiss-arse person I always thought chocolate givers were at that moment.

For anyone wondering about the chocolate giving, I could see into the galley and could see them sharing out the chocolates and each crew member taking some to wherever they stored them. This happened a few times throughout the flight and I saw some of the crew take a few handfuls to their bags for later or when they were in their hotel in Florida.

Knowing they were going to enjoy them with a cuppa during the flight really did make me feel good and I’ll probably do that most times now (hopefully without the spilling of Mimosa next time)

Up in the air

I’m currently seated on the plane as I write this section of the blog. So far, the flight has been smooth, although there’s a bit of turbulence at the moment, nothing too severe.

The seat belt light hasn’t been illuminated yet. We’ve already had our meal. Both of us opted for Waldorf salad as a starter, followed by chicken. I chose a chocolate dessert, while Nick went for a crumble.

Fear of flying

I’ve mentioned this in our vlogs multiple times, but as I sit on the plane now, feeling completely carefree without a single butterfly in my stomach, I thought I would touch on it briefly once more.

In my younger days, I used to be absolutely terrified of flying. I remember my first flight when I was around 12 years old. I wasn’t overly keen on it, but it wasn’t too bad. I was with my parents, headed to Spain in the early 1990s.

I’m not exactly sure why, but my fear of flying intensified over the years to the point where it made me reluctant to travel abroad.

My parents, Uncle B, and Auntie B used to go on trips almost every year and would invite me to join them when I was a teenager.

I went a few times initially but eventually stopped going, mainly because I didn’t want to fly. The first time I flew with Nick, I remember looking at my book and hardly speaking throughout the journey.

It saddened me that I felt this way because it was Nick’s first time on a plane, and he was excited and enjoying the experience. I couldn’t fully participate in the excitement as every noise and movement of the aircraft filled me with dread.

This fear persisted over the years and reached a point where I sought help from a doctor, who prescribed me some tablets. Although I ultimately didn’t take them on the day of the flight, I still sat silently, not engaging with my surroundings throughout the journey.

There were times in the 2000s when I could have easily canceled our holidays simply to avoid flying. Turbulence, in particular, would exacerbate my anxiety and make me feel ill.

If you’ve read my blog post on mental health, you’ll know that in my younger years, most things made me anxious, and unfortunately, flying was one of them.

Similar to many of my anxiety and mental health issues, they have significantly improved as I’ve grown older. I can’t pinpoint the exact moment, but I started to find myself enjoying flights.

Reframing my fear

This transformation has only occurred in the past five years or so. Nowadays, I absolutely love travel days and flying.

Somewhere along the way, I began treating flights as precious moments of “me time.” It’s the only time these days when I can truly disconnect from the world, stay away from social media, and indulge in some reading.

I load up my Kindle with new books and download films onto my tablet. Sometimes I even save a new TV series to watch exclusively on the plane, creating something to look forward to.

Instead of dreading the flight, I’ve reframed travel days as an oasis away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. It’s a chance to switch off, where nothing is expected of me for the duration of the journey.

I’ve learned not to feel guilty for spending hours watching TV or reading—it’s genuine quality time for myself. The more I embraced this perspective, the more I began to anticipate flying.

These days, I can’t wait to board a plane. If it’s a short flight, I’m even a bit disappointed because it means I won’t have an extended period to simply relax and dive into a good book.

A flight to Orlando is the perfect opportunity for me to switch off and catch up on various tasks. If we’re in Premium or Upper class, I have enough space to work on my laptop, write a blog post if I feel inspired, and get caught up on work.

I find it to be an incredibly productive time because I turn off the Wi-Fi, eliminating distractions. On today’s flight, I’ve already managed to edit the Travel Day vlog (so far), write a significant portion of this blog post, and make progress on a book I’m reading.

Alongside a three-course meal and a mimosa, the flight truly feels like an integral part of the holiday rather than a tedious chore to endure.

I wanted to share this story in the hopes that it reaches readers who may also experience anxiety when flying. Whenever I talk to someone who is nervous about flying, I always suggest trying this technique and viewing the flight as a time to indulge in their favorite things.

Consider it a mini-getaway from the responsibilities of everyday life. Stock up on your favorite magazines, books, TV shows, and movies. Bring your Journal and catch up on writing.

Do anything that brings you peace and can be easily done on the plane. This approach completely changed the way I thought about flying.

These days, I even find enjoyment in turbulence because I’ve embraced the mindset of relaxation and indulgence during the flight.

Back to the flight

The cabin crew just came by with ice cream and sorbet, but I wasn’t in the mood for either, so I passed on them. I might ask them for a coffee instead.

Originally, we had booked to fly in Premium class. However, Nick called Virgin and inquired about using a companion voucher to upgrade to Upper class, and they agreed. The cost was £230, which, in our opinion, is well worth it.

While Premium class is fantastic, the extra space in Upper class allows us to work and vlog more comfortably during the flight.

If you’re curious about how we manage to fly premium or upper class frequently without spending a fortune, I recommend checking out our blog post and video on the topic.

We would never pay thousands for an upper class ticket as we don’t believe it’s a wise use of money. However, if we can secure it for a couple of hundred pounds or even less than that for premium class, we believe it’s a worthwhile investment.

We still have 5 hours and 48 minutes remaining on the flight. Nick seems bored, so I should go and sit with him for a while to keep him entertained.

I haven’t watched any movies or TV shows thus far. Instead, I’m reading a book called “More or Less” by Joshua Becker. It’s a book on minimalism, a topic I’ve become interested in over the past year or so.

The Next Day

We have finally arrived! I’m currently writing this in the villa where we are staying. The latter part of the flight seemed to drag on longer than any of our previous flights to Florida.

We had to fly over Bermuda to avoid a storm, which added some extra time to the journey. Interestingly, the return flight from Orlando to Manchester later in the day only took around 5 and a half hours due to a helpful tailwind.

Upon landing, the sun wasn’t shining brightly, but the temperature felt just about perfect. It wasn’t the usual blast of heat that hits you the moment you step out of the airport.

To our surprise, we were the first ones off the plane, which was a first for us. We swiftly made our way into the immigration hall, where once again, we were the first to arrive.

It was an unusual sight to see the hall completely empty. The immigration officer we encountered was incredibly friendly. He asked us about our YouTube channel and became quite excited when we mentioned our van build. He expressed interest in doing a van build himself and even asked to see photos of ours.

It’s a significant contrast to how immigration officers used to be in the 2000s when we first started visiting Florida. Back then, we used to dread that part of the process, as we would often be interrogated by stern-faced employees.

On a lighter note, I recall a funny incident from one of our trips to Florida with friends. We all wore T-shirts that said “Boyz on tour” on the front.

The immigration officers quizzed us for quite a while, thinking we were a boy band on a tour of the USA. We genuinely thought we might be sent back to Manchester on the next flight!

Thankfully, it all worked out fine, and now we can reflect on those amusing memories.

Picking up the car

After collecting our luggage, we headed to the Alamo desk. Instead of talking to a representative, we opted to use the self-check-in screens.

It’s much simpler to click “No” on the screen when they offer various upgrades rather than having to decline them in person. As usual, we paid for a compact car with the hope that there would be none left by the time we arrived. (I believe now that you can skip the check-in screens also on an app which is even easier, we didn’t have the option at the time)

Luckily, our strategy worked once again. The three compact bays were empty, and we were instructed to choose a car from the next row up. We decided to go for a seven-seater Chrysler Voyager.

It’s always nice to have the extra space for luggage and the flexibility to transport friends if necessary. We also chose to pay for the petrol through Alamo, so we didn’t have to refill the car when we return it to the airport.

It’s a bit more expensive than filling it up ourselves, but it’s a convenient option that reduces some hassle on our travel home day.

After a quick stop at the villa where we are staying, we dropped off our luggage and immediately headed to Margaritaville to meet up with our friends, Dan and Kelly, who were on their last night of vacation.

Their Virgin flight the following day was canceled due to storms, so the airline provided them with accommodation and they got to stay an extra day.

Out for food

We had initially planned to go to our old favorite, Ford Garage, which we have visited a couple of times before and always enjoyed their excellent food (especially their cheesecake).

However, this time we decided to explore and see if there were any new restaurants we hadn’t tried yet. Eventually, we all settled on Cowboy Chicken, a new BBQ restaurant. It’s like a fast-food version of a smokehouse.

I opted for the Keto chicken bowl, while Nick went for a smokehouse plate. The food was absolutely delicious. We would highly recommend Cowboy Chicken and would definitely go back there again.

At this point, we were starting to feel tired, and the time zone change was catching up with us. We made our way back to the villa and went straight to bed.

Nick managed to sleep until around 4 a.m., but then he couldn’t fall back asleep. As for me, I was able to sleep until 6 a.m., which I considered quite good.

Overall, apart from the long flight, it was a pretty good travel day. There was a time when we used to head straight to one of the theme parks as soon as we arrived in Orlando.

It’s hard to imagine how we managed to do that. These days, we prefer to have a more relaxed start to our Orlando trips.

I hope you enjoyed this little travel day trip report. Stay tuned for more updates and adventures from our time in Orlando!

You can watch our travel day vlog below.

• Where to get music for YouTube videos
• The Best Time to Visit Orlando, Florida: A Month-by-Month Guide
• EXPLORING BEYOND THE FLORIDA PARKS – SOME OF OUR TOP PLACES TO SEE OUTSIDE THE MAIN THEME PARKS
• CAMPER VAN DIARIES | LAYBY PARK UP CLOSE TO ALNWICK CASTLE | APRIL 2024
• Camper Van Diaries | Belmont Park & Ride Durham | April 2024