http://www.car4play.com/forum Car4play forum en-gb Mon, 13 Jul 2026 23:49:57 +0100 Copyright: Car4play webmaster@car4play.com (Technical) 5 car4play690448 Mon, 13 Jul 2026 23:49:57 +0100 I always check in my Jet2 10kg ‘cabin bag’. That’s because my trekking poles are not allowed in the aircraft cabin…they are the 3 piece folding variety which fit into a small cabin bag. Very inconvenient but a 10kg bag is sufficient for a months worth of holiday, plus a small rucsac with battery pack, tablet, maps etc Black Diamond Z poles in case anyone is interested ( Highly unlikely:-)) http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=690448&v=e car4play690446 Mon, 13 Jul 2026 23:11:10 +0100 research the locations on line, https://www.visitsicily.info/en/itinerario/discovering-the-places-of-montalbano-tv-series/ https://www.thethinkingtraveller.com/blog/sicily-locations-of-the-montalbano-tv-series I chose Marina di Ragussa as a base (unspoilt not overly busy or touristy seaside resort) Booked hotel flight through Tui https://maps.app.goo.gl/Y7buU97oj2aVfY5CA Trivago etc will find you that hotel, fly to Catania hire car there - two hour drive if you want to be independent Hired a car locally for three days/ All the Montalbanno locations are no more than an hour away from marina di Ragussa. Public transport down there is pants. Avoid late jun/july/aug/early sep - too hot http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=690446&v=e car4play690444 Mon, 13 Jul 2026 21:35:38 +0100 What's the best way to do it? Analyse the packages and reverse engineer them, book flights, hotels, hire car? http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=690444&v=e car4play690442 Mon, 13 Jul 2026 21:32:37 +0100 Did a self guided Montalbano tour last year, most of the scenes are down south. His house is in Punta Seca, his arch nemsis lived in Castello di Donnafugata, and most of the scenes were filmed around Ragussa and Modica. All down south. Most of the good roman remains are on the east coast Catania down to Syracuse http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=690442&v=e car4play690441 Mon, 13 Jul 2026 21:20:32 +0100 I want to go to Sicily, inspired by Inspector Montalbano! Isn't that the 'heritage coast'? http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=690441&v=e car4play690438 Mon, 13 Jul 2026 17:08:13 +0100 Thanks-Good call. Doing the North Coast this time, staying at Cefalù, its a 40 minute train ride into Palermo, probably no car hire this year, not needed. http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=690438&v=e car4play690437 Mon, 13 Jul 2026 16:30:46 +0100 I enjoyed this place in Sicily. Not all would... https://www.catacombefraticappuccini.com/en/ http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=690437&v=e car4play690436 Mon, 13 Jul 2026 16:04:54 +0100 Off to Sicily again in October, Flying Gatwick to Palermo EeeeezyJet. Booked one 20kg check in bag that we will share. And we will both have a Ryan Air sized cabin bag, 7 days. http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=690436&v=e car4play690433 Mon, 13 Jul 2026 14:35:33 +0100 SWMBO simply doesn't understand "travelling light" and to be fair when we head out to Portugal for 7 weeks we are across seasons and you will undoubtedly need your budgie smugglers some of the time and your jumpers and scarfs at other times. So for those trips we have 23kg each (often only reach 20kg) plus a cabin case each (I think I usually have about 10kg in mine). Plus my laptop. I prefer to not drag mu stuff around the airport but don't pay for the cabin bag to go in the hold as they will always put it in for free. Must admit although stuff is expensive we don't particularly scrimp on flights - the last long haul was TUI to the Caribbean in Jan and we paid quite a bit to upgrade everything (sort of upper class I suppose). The regular Portugal flight is short enough not to bother so much though we have sometimes paid a lump which gave us 1st row seats, speedy boarding (onto the bus anyway!! :-) )and extra cabin luggage. On the last flight back from Faro we got upgraded by BA which was nice. http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=690433&v=e car4play690432 Mon, 13 Jul 2026 14:19:14 +0100 Just back from a week in Spain. Managed to pack all needed in a free cabin bag. I resent paying double what it costs me for a seat to put an inanimate bag in the hold. All in pursuit by the airline of a low headline price. The reduction in free cabin bag size was largely to increase revenues from hold luggage. I also avoid speedy boarding, seat choice, in flight package etc. In flight catering tends to be a visit to an M&S sandwich selection the day before rather than overpriced poor quality fare available at airports. It would be easy to assume I dislike air travel and airlines but the golden age is long past. It is just a largely unavoidable travel experience - the less attractive option is don’t go anywhere. http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=690432&v=e car4play690431 Mon, 13 Jul 2026 13:04:25 +0100 >> think finding 22kg of clothes for my recent Jet 2 flight is going to be >> more stressful than filling my rucksack! Mrs B and I only get a little over 23kg between us!! http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=690431&v=e car4play690429 Mon, 13 Jul 2026 12:58:18 +0100 think finding 22kg of clothes for my recent Jet 2 flight is going to be more stressful than filling my rucksack! http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=690429&v=e car4play690426 Mon, 13 Jul 2026 11:53:15 +0100 Most people don't seem bothered and prefer to avoid charges for hold baggage. No doubt true but I guess I’m not “most people”. http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=690426&v=e car4play690424 Mon, 13 Jul 2026 11:44:01 +0100 >> Well if you are happy trailing a bag around tye airport then that’s fine. I >> just prefer not to so I don’t. Most people don't seem bothered and prefer to avoid charges for hold baggage. Recently we've been on Jet2 packages so price includes 23kg of hold baggage and another ten in the cabin. Use a rucksack for cabin baggage and could theoretically get all I need for a week in it. http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=690424&v=e car4play690423 Mon, 13 Jul 2026 10:40:03 +0100 Well if you are happy trailing a bag around tye airport then that’s fine. I just prefer not to so I don’t. http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=690423&v=e car4play690422 Mon, 13 Jul 2026 10:31:53 +0100 CGN - totally disagree - a wheeled cabin bag is no issues and then at the other end you are straight off without having to wait at a carousel (and paying extra for the privilege) http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=690422&v=e car4play690421 Mon, 13 Jul 2026 10:10:37 +0100 I used to travel in Europe with a cabin bag that I took on the plane with me. Lately I have tended to pay to check the bag into the hold. I like to be unencumbered when at the airport and boarding. Far more pleasant experience http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=690421&v=e car4play690420 Mon, 13 Jul 2026 09:53:27 +0100 Many years ago I bought two soft bags at the then Ryanair under seat sizes. We find that they are fine for 3 or 4 night stays. We have suitable coats and footwear. One little trick is to buy a carrier bag at the duty free shopping at the airport (remember that you may need to buy a different one before boarding elsewhere) and you can sneak a bit extra through. We have not often been checked, Once in Malta (easyjet) (by a very unfriendly gate agent, but zero problems and Nuremberg (Ryanair) zero problems. We have also seen people let past with bags that didn't quite fit, but never take it for granted. A while back I flew Ryanair.. Stansted to Nice for the princely sum of £8.99 return, didn't check in till 23 hours before and took my little bag. Random seat selection gave me an extra leg room seat as well. (bus Colchester to STN was free with OAP bus pass) I often look on skyscanner for very cheap deals for flights from Stansted http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=690420&v=e car4play690419 Sun, 12 Jul 2026 22:43:03 +0100 >> https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09DKWNN9B Dunno where the full stop came from in the URL Sorted, FWIW http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=690419&v=e car4play690418 Sun, 12 Jul 2026 22:34:26 +0100 https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=cabinmax+metz+30l&crid=1FN0OP1QLMI4W http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=690418&v=e car4play690417 Sun, 12 Jul 2026 22:25:33 +0100 https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09DKWNN9B http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=690417&v=e car4play690416 Sun, 12 Jul 2026 22:24:21 +0100 We have a couple of these. They come in different sizes, we have the 30L ones. Cabinmax Metz 30L. They are soft so conformable to bag gauges if necessary. http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=690416&v=e car4play690415 Sun, 12 Jul 2026 22:22:20 +0100 Link not working for some reason? http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=690415&v=e car4play690414 Sun, 12 Jul 2026 22:21:35 +0100 Yeah the plan is jeans hoodie and waterproof when we get on the plane! http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=690414&v=e car4play690413 Sun, 12 Jul 2026 22:07:39 +0100 We have a pair of these. https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09DKWNN9B Found them good, but like all these things check out all the guide how to pack to make the most of them. (rolling stuff up tight for example) I wear my gundog vest, lots of pockets in that! 'Er indoors & mates when they fly out for weekend breaks wear multiple layers of clothes, then strip off* on the plane! *BBD - Down Boy. http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=690413&v=e car4play690411 Sun, 12 Jul 2026 21:45:51 +0100 After our week in Parga in Greece where we had 22kg each of luggage, we’re have just booked to go to Nice for 5 days and from there to Majorca for 5 days. With under seat rucksack only (EasyJet) I realise that EJ allow more space than Ryanair do but in the spirit of getting the smaller size to do both, does anyone have specific rucksack recommendations that meet the Ryanair criteria but really maximise the space available. Ideally with some sort of locking mechanism on it. I did see an IT luggage hard case that had removable wheels that looked quite effective but decided definitely want a rucksack rather than pull along. Also will be looking for one of these cross chest bag things that will take your mobile phone and maybe another couple of bits as well. That could be worn under a t shirt if needbe. I believe the pickpocketing is really bad about Nice especially in the train network. Any recommendations for either? http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=690411&v=e