Senior Railcard, Twilight Bag Drop, Wetherspoons for Breakfast and Ben’s Buses

The alarm went off at 5.20am.  I am not a morning person but London beckoned for the Friday ahead of the long awaited (it’s the best part of a year since we last got back) ski trip.  S dropped me at Peterborough Station and once onboard the train a (actually two) very nice stewards served me tea, a bacon roll and a satsuma on the 50min train journey to Kings Cross.  From there things were a little slower and the Lizzy line does not do refreshments to seats which is a shame but entirely understandable.

The working day was book(train)ended with the Stansted Express from Liverpool Street to the Airport.  Not being peak hours this meant I could use my Senior Railcard for the first time.  

I met S at the Radisson Blu, the car was safely ensconced in the multi storey and all our bags were piled on a trolley in our room.  I avoided the trolley and luggage negotiation nightmare in England but checked in to our French hotel earlier in the week - ‘cos what’s not to love about completing a form in French online?

Jet2 had offered us ‘FREE’ Twilight Bag Drop.  We both drew the line at this.  For preference we would rather have our bags with us as much as possible but more pertinently the small matter of having to either put our overnight stuff inc toiletries either into our cabin bag or take it to the car doesn’t really make for an easier morning for us.

The Radisson Blu was its usual entirely acceptable self for what was being asked of it.  Admired the room view over the Ryan Air hub, admired the impressive wine bottle tower, ignored the wine list and ordered beers.  The food was fine, had a bath, went to bed.  Rude awakening at 3.45am Saturday.  I have clearly offended the sleep Gods.

….and so to Bag Drop which had no queue (presumably others took up the twilight option), very pleasant staff as, for that matter did the ski/outsize luggage drop point.  security was a breeze and so to The Windmill which for a moment looked like we would not manage to get a table.   Luck held out and very shortly after 5am we were tucking into traditional breakfasts, tea for me and latte and orange juice for S.

On to the Gate etc etc.  Arrive at Grenoble where the threatened delays for the new finger print and photo thing didn’t happen.  Baggage reclaim arrivals was the usual scrum, it’s not a light luggage holiday and ski bags add an additional level of unwieldyness (is that a word?).  Having survived the trip hazards we just have the transfer to go.

Having always been with a ski club tour company previously we were aware of but had never used Ben’s Buses.  So this was a first for us.   We had allowed a load of time just in case of the rumoured finger print/photo etc delays.  Far too much as it turned out but an enquiry to a Ben’s Buses rep who was holding a board for Les Deux Alpes got us on a bus a hour earlier than timetabled.  Result - Grenoble arrivals has its limitations.