andybarton Posted November 16, 2020 Share #1 Posted November 16, 2020 Advertisement (gone after registration) Nearly forgot... I am 100% confident that we will be able to meet up on Athens next year, so here is the Save The Date notice for the next One Challenge. Saturday 16th October 2021. Noon. Somewhere in Athens... 5 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted November 16, 2020 Posted November 16, 2020 Hi andybarton, Take a look here 2021 Athens One Challenge - Save The Date. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Dennis Posted November 16, 2020 Share #2 Posted November 16, 2020 I've been in Athens in 2001, it should be time to come back twenty years later 🙂 How does it work? Do you have links or descriptions of past editions? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted November 16, 2020 Author Share #3 Posted November 16, 2020 Here are the instructions from Rome, a couple of years ago. Cross out "Rome" and add in "Athens" and you will be 94.5% there https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/276010-rome-thank-you-one-challenge-2017/ Post 2 there has a link to a pdf of the instructions. We meet at lunchtime to have a bite and a glass of something, and put the €10 entry fee into a pot, then most people re-convene in the evening for a forum dinner. It's a very social gathering and always good to meet new friends. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted November 16, 2020 Author Share #4 Posted November 16, 2020 The PDF link seems to be broken, so here are the Rome instructions again. 170822 Rome Instructions 2.pdf Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
StS Posted November 16, 2020 Share #5 Posted November 16, 2020 I'm in - we can swap experiences with different vaccinations then :) Stefan 1 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lanetomlane Posted November 18, 2020 Share #6 Posted November 18, 2020 Really looking forward to it. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted November 26, 2020 Author Share #7 Posted November 26, 2020 Advertisement (gone after registration) I have just booked our flights from London to Athens next October. There were only two Avios redemption seats available on the dates and times that I wanted, so it was now or potentially never. Using a 2-4-1 Companion voucher, I have just paid £100 + 34,000 Avios for two business class seats. Given that we will never be flying long haul again, so don't need a couple of hundred thousand Avios sitting there, I reckon that's pretty good. The cash price for the exact same tickets would be... wait for it... wait for it... £3,200 !! 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted November 26, 2020 Share #8 Posted November 26, 2020 I hope we can travel freely by next October but I honestly wouldn't bet my savings on it. I've also still got to find a new home and there's all sorts of uncertainty with the work situation right now so I will have to wait and see how things pan out, but I hope I'm there with you all. 3 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RayD28 Posted December 5, 2020 Share #9 Posted December 5, 2020 On 11/26/2020 at 11:43 AM, andybarton said: I have just booked our flights from London to Athens next October. There were only two Avios redemption seats available on the dates and times that I wanted, so it was now or potentially never. Using a 2-4-1 Companion voucher, I have just paid £100 + 34,000 Avios for two business class seats. Given that we will never be flying long haul again, so don't need a couple of hundred thousand Avios sitting there, I reckon that's pretty good. The cash price for the exact same tickets would be... wait for it... wait for it... £3,200 !! Just did a quick look and it's about $1,000 economy roundtrip from Kanas City to Athens. That includes the baggage uncharge. It's a tough time of year for me. The final extended income tax filing deadline is October 15. How does the 3,200 pounds compare to prior year fares? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted December 5, 2020 Author Share #10 Posted December 5, 2020 It’s about 10x probably. They are Business Class, on BA, but even so. There are lots of budget airlines who fly out that way too, of course. The nearest comparable budget flight, on Easyjet, with a bag underneath, two bags on top and food both ways, is priced at £610 (for two) in September (when their schedule runs out). Edit: Two Business Class tickets for the week before on BA are about £1200. Our week must be very popular. Or there is a pricing glitch. The dates we are travelling, they are still £3,200. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
farnz Posted December 5, 2020 Share #11 Posted December 5, 2020 7 hours ago, RayD28 said: How does the 3,200 pounds compare to prior year fares? It depends where you're coming from of course, Ray. Members from Norway, Germany, France, the UK, Greece, Switzerland, Turkey, the Netherlands, Denmark, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Sweden, and Arizona often attend the One Challenge and one of our members regularly travelled from Australia. As Andy's pointed out above £3,600 wouldn't be the cheapest fare from the UK and $1,000 equates to about £740 at the moment. In the eleven years I've been attending the One Challenge I wouldn't have spent more than £250 on air fares (at a guess) but on a number of occasions a colleague and I did road trips instead of flying. On the other hand, I've attended three 'long-distance' One Challenges in Tokyo, Melbourne, and New York and my economy-class air fares were each more than £2,500. Hopefully this gives you an idea of comparative air fares for Challenges. Pete. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
farnz Posted December 5, 2020 Share #12 Posted December 5, 2020 7 hours ago, farnz said: I wouldn't have spent more than £250 on air fares (at a guess) (I meant per Challenge - not in total) Pete. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lanetomlane Posted December 5, 2020 Share #13 Posted December 5, 2020 I'd struggle to get through £3,200 worth of booze on a 4 hour flight. 1 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gibbo Posted December 5, 2020 Share #14 Posted December 5, 2020 37 minutes ago, lanetomlane said: I'd struggle to get through £3,200 worth of booze on a 4 hour flight. Not if Lars is paying 😜😂 1 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted December 5, 2020 Author Share #15 Posted December 5, 2020 It’s £800 each, each way. A bottle of Cristal Vinothèque each both ways would probably do it 😊 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
robert_parker Posted December 6, 2020 Share #16 Posted December 6, 2020 (edited) ..just did a quick check and EasyJet from Bristol (again using September figures from Friday to Friday) is £241.80 return, Gatwick £177.80 ...unless you're driving of course....🐙🏛️🚙💨👀😲😈 Edited December 6, 2020 by robert_parker 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RayD28 Posted December 6, 2020 Share #17 Posted December 6, 2020 16 hours ago, farnz said: It depends where you're coming from of course, Ray. Members from Norway, Germany, France, the UK, Greece, Switzerland, Turkey, the Netherlands, Denmark, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Sweden, and Arizona often attend the One Challenge and one of our members regularly travelled from Australia. As Andy's pointed out above £3,600 wouldn't be the cheapest fare from the UK and $1,000 equates to about £740 at the moment. In the eleven years I've been attending the One Challenge I wouldn't have spent more than £250 on air fares (at a guess) but on a number of occasions a colleague and I did road trips instead of flying. On the other hand, I've attended three 'long-distance' One Challenges in Tokyo, Melbourne, and New York and my economy-class air fares were each more than £2,500. Hopefully this gives you an idea of comparative air fares for Challenges. Pete. I'm coming Kansas City, Missouri and one person round trip economy-class fare is about $900. I must be overlooking something because this fare seems too good to be correct. Perhaps it is airlines trying to lure back travelers. Regardless, I have procrastinating clients that regularly take full advantage of the USA's October 15 deadline to file their income tax returns. Perhaps I'll tell them now that if they don't plan to give me their info by late September they should start looking for another tax accountant. The problem with that is me telling clients during a pandemic that I want to go on vacation in Greece when some of them have been hit hard financially during the past year. I suppose I'll just have to wait for a while to book a flight and pray for a healthy spring and summer and an economic uptick. 3 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
octo Posted December 11, 2020 Share #18 Posted December 11, 2020 Quite a number of flights to choose from, at this time, from Nice and prices around 250€ return. Not knowing Athens, it would be great if someone could point out hotels; no hurry though since an important point, for me at least, will be our rendez-vous, both for lunch and dinner. 5 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RayD28 Posted December 30, 2020 Share #19 Posted December 30, 2020 Does anyone know what hotels are good prospects? Not sure if my bride will join me but neither of us are too picky. I'd like to be located relatively close to where we'll meet for the Challenge gathering and evening dinner. Our budget is flexible but we don't need many amenities. Any suggestions or general feedback is much appreciated. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted December 30, 2020 Author Share #20 Posted December 30, 2020 We had an apartment booked for when this was supposed to be this year, so I will probably be looking for something similar in 2021. Probably within a mile of the Acropolis, but away from Monastiraki Square, which seems to be a place to avoid after dark. I have never been to Greece before, but hotels appear to be very good value when compared to other Challenge cities that we have been to. 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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