Which bits, then? I never had a problem in Belgium, France or Germany, but then I did cross the land border rather than go by air.

Flying is the problem re: liquids / foods.

Only fresh food like fruit, you can walk through eating a bacon sandwich if you want.

Customs is different, that's a weight and quantity of meat issue though so you don't avoid VAT or something (very large quantities).

Flying is awesome!!!!!
Got annoyed with Vodafone last year. I turned my phone on in Spain with the mobile data turned off, and they still charged my a daily rate for data usage. Luckily they sent me a text saying they were doing it, so I left my phone in flight safe mode for the remainder of the holiday.

Airplane mode means no phone calls or SMS either.

Making sure Roaming Data is switched off in the Settings is sufficient. I did that when I visited the UK, just turning it on once a day to pull down work e-mails (company phone). I incurred about 5€ of data during the 2 weeks I was in Blighty.


To be honest, I've never switched my smartphone "off" during take-off or landing. I put it in airplane mode and stand-by.


Same situation here, I hate my iPhone and mainly use call forwarding to my Android device and leave the iPhone on my desk / at home.


The food to airport - it is cheaper to take your own, I think that was the main point.

Italy is lovely, although Venice can be a bit smelly at certain times of the year...

I have friends over in the direction of Brescia and Lake Garda, it is absolutely fabulous.

The best bit about Italy is that they know how to make coffee. If you are a Costa or Starbucks fan, avoid Italian coffee like the plague, otherwise you'll never be able to drink a Costa or Starbucks again.

Thanks for the advice everyone! Getting ready today and heading of to a friend's house just outside Birmingham, she's going to take us to the airport tomorrow.



We've got sun cream with included bug/mosquito repellant in.




I'm really looking forward to the breads, the fruit, the ICE CREAM! Erm...And now the coffee!

Ditto.

Ok, if you're using it to amuse yourself fill your boots. I guess for me, 2hrs is nothing on a plane. But my first flight was 8hrs and that was nearly 10 years ago. The first time is a big experience. I'm sure you'll have a great time

I've been flying for almost 35 years, and I swear I will never get bored of the whole experience.

I like flying. I don't like customs.

That's what I said in a later post.

Mark

Or, just a thought, why not leave the phone switched off?
This is a holiday after all.

Indeed, I probably won't use it. I just don't want to go and check something mid-flight and find the plane plummeting into the ground :p

My phone will be on during the holiday because it is also my camera, but I'll probably turn everything else off.

Then how is he going to update his Facebook status every three minutes so people back home know how amazing a time he's having

(Yeah I know some annoying twat who does this - and they didn't go anywhere special)

Venice is amazing I am extremely jealous. Make sure you go off the beaten track and explore but do have a drink in St Mark's square and watch the world go by. it is expensive in the square but worth having one drink for the experience. Also go on a gondola though try not to sing 'just one corneto'

Take lots of pictures!!



What no calling mates from the beach saying what a great time you're having?

Your mates don't really care though. Unless you're bringing back vast amounts of booze for them. Then I'd put up with it.