Portimao 29-31 May 2021. RTTL Extravaganza

[Yorick]

Was that Easyjet refunding?

Anything from NL?

[weeksy]

Was that Easyjet refunding?

Anything from NL?

Correct Easyjet. There's some rule where if the flights are changed 3 times they have to offer a refund. Happily we fell into that.

NL are in complete radio silence. TBH i've pretty much written that £600 off now, if we get anything in terms of credit/refund it's a bonus i wasn't expecting.

[Tricky]

Just had a mail from Easyjet this morning saying our previously cancelled/changed flights have been changed again - return flight has been moved from 10:00 to 19:45 Faro departure
I can't see any way this event it going ahead currently, but am going to hang fire until I see what NL come out with in the next week or so, then all being well either switch them to the September Porto or Oct ParcMotor trip, or maybe request a refund if neither of those look viable or attractive.

[Dodgy69]

Can NL help themselves to our Balance payment if the event goes as planned.?

[weeksy]

Can NL help themselves to our Balance payment if the event goes as planned.?

Can't see any way how.

[Bigyin]

Just to add to this i got 2 emails from Ryanair today

1st one said my flight time had changed from a mid day departure on the return flight to and earlier morning departure.

8 hours later i got another one to say my departure on the outbound flight had changed from 27th may to 1st of June ......... 2 days after the event ffs .....with a return flight on the 2nd of June.

I have sent this to NL and told them my fights have now been changed to after the event and as i can no longer get there have requested a credit to allow me to book next year ....we will see

[weeksy]

Right, i'm going to offer up a potential curveball for you lot !

https://eurotracks.nolimitstrackdays.co ... =0&pbinf=0

Cartagena 23-25 Oct with NL.... All of this assumes of course that NL re-credit us with our deposit money.. Which will of course be a deal-breaker for them in terms of whether we use them or not. But with my 50th birthday being on the 26th, it seems like a perfect trackday in terms of date at the very least. Price wise it's coming in reasonable too. It's also half-term which would mean my boy would miss 1 day of school, but we can live with that as we'd actually be in Spain for my 50th, which sounds cracking to me.
In terms of location, it's as far south as Portimao is and temps should still be up in the 20s.
Flights with Easyjet are to Alicante, prices coming in about the same as they were to Faro. So again, nothing lost massively there.

I've been watching videos of the circuit and asked a few of the boys who've been there and say it's more suited to a 600 than a 1000, but considering the bikes we'd all be taking, well, that's kinda ideal in many way.

Yes i know it's not Portimao... i get that... but i'm still putting it up for discussion at the very least. I'm not doing anything or sending anything to NL... but .. it's a discussion point for me. I understand that things like NL deposit refunds, Flight refunds, hire car refunds etc will affect peoples decisions, but if we leave some aspects of that out, how does it sound as far as plans go ?
I know some specifically wanted Portimao over any other circuit, but as stated, i can't promise that NL or indeed anyone will have Portimao next year on a date that suits our family situation. As much as i'd like to say yes, it just may not work.

[Yorick]

Been there 3 times and it's ok. Some dull bends,but some great bends.

It's about 30 mins from hotels.

If I can fit in a Jerez on same trip, count me in.

[weeksy]

the hotel seems to be 4km from the track, they may be using a different/new one since you went. But it seems close by.

[Yorick]

the hotel seems to be 4km from the track, they may be using a different/new one since you went. But it seems close by.

It's in the middle of nowhere. The town is at least half hour away.

[weeksy]

the hotel seems to be 4km from the track, they may be using a different/new one since you went. But it seems close by.

It's in the middle of nowhere. The town is at least half hour away.

10.2km to hotel, 17 minutes. Google maps.

[Yorick]

I camped at circuit in my camper

[Tricky]

I've never been there, nearly have a couple of times and know plenty that have and yep, they've said same as you- it's slower/tighter than the likes of Porto , Jerez , Almeria, etc and Almeria-ish in terms of facilities
Apparently the town is pretty good for nights out - Would be a definite contender for me, the half-term proximity fits well here too

[Yorick]

Thinking back, the first time, I flew over as part of package and we all stayed at La Manga golf course by the coast. At night a short trip to sea front and nice places.

Cartagena town is not as nice apparently.

[Noggin]

I've done a couple of ETD's at Cartagena - was my first ever Euro trip!!

Bloody loved it! Tight and twisty, so fast bits (not for me!!) but seemed to have enough of everything to keep most happy.

[weeksy]

Wife seems to be feeling the "leave it till 2022" idea more.

[Dodgy69]

Wife seems to be feeling the "leave it till 2022" idea more.

Tbh, so am I... Europe could easily still be in Covid shit in October. 2022 would be a safer bet. We don't want to go through all this again in a few months. But, I'll go with the flow.

[Bigyin]

As my flights were now after the trackday thanks to the muppets at Ryanair i have applied for the refund. To replace them with Easyjet will cost me double so i havent booked anything and waiting to see what /if/ anything/ ever NL say in reply to my email

[Yorick]

Any news from NL?

[weeksy]

Any news from NL?

You're a funny guy

it's not like it's less than 3 weeks