Last week the lovely people at Jet2.com and Jet2holidays sent me an enormous hamper of treats to celebrate their new routes flying from Bristol Airport – Jet2’s 10th and newest base in the UK. You can now fly to over 40 European destinations with Jet2 from Bristol. What a hamper – Jet2 know exactly what a grounded traveller is missing!
Let’s start with the crisps! Anyone who’s spent time on holiday on the continent knows what Lays crisps are to a British holiday-maker. They are far better than any kettle chip and the bag was open the second I saw it, as good as I remembered. I don’t think I realised the degree to which this particular little bit of fast food epitomises European holiday travel, until I was sat munching my way through the bag and ogling the other goodies!
The one gift from Jet2 that really stands out to me is the Lonely Travel guide of where to go and when in Europe. Hands up who has googled exactly that before planning a getaway? Well no need to anymore as they’ve done the research and there are neat little flow diagrams (I’m an auditor, I love a process flow…) for each month of the year with fabulous suggestions. I love the Lonely Planet guides and this one is a classic that is already well thumbed! It came with some beach reading – Malibu Burns – and my goodness have I missed my holiday reading! I haven’t read a book in yonks but I’ve been enjoying reading a few chapters of this each evening at bedtime – it’s a great read.
Digging deeper into the box I found a selfie stick and a single use camera. Totally retro, totally awesome! We are far less likely to ask a stranger to hold our phone or camera in this day and age to take a picture of our little family so the selfie stick could just become a travel essential once again (sorry Mr P)! The single use camera will be a trip down memory lane for me, taking it off to Boots to be developed – I’m going to do this with my toddler so that he can experience just the once that long wait for prints that we all grew up with!!
If your worrying that it was just a bag of crisps to sustain me, for balance a box of pre-mixed cocktails appeared from under a beach towel – they look delicious. I haven’t had a cocktail since at least February 2020, as I haven’t been ‘out out’ since then! I’m actually fascinated to try them as there’s a couple in the selection that I’ve never had before – I rather like the ability to try them in the comfort of my own home, so that next time I’m at a beach bar on holiday, I can order with confidence!
Thankfully there were some other holiday staples in my box of goodies. Bondai Sands suncream, for the September heatwave I’m sure we are due, a delicious Kip candle I’m burning as I write this and a handy travel size speaker as well as charging bank and headphones. Also – to my delight – there’s a Yosh waterproof bag for a mobile phone, exactly what I need for taking our little one sailing soon and keeping my phone/camera dry!
Jet2 have definitely succeeded in making me thirsty for travel again with goodies that epitomise travel and sunshine and summer holidays abroad. I’ve been scrolling their destination map and it is full of inspiration. There’s places I adore that I want to go back to didn’t used to feel so far away – Madeira, Crete, Mallorca – and ideas for gorgeous city breaks too! Whilst I’ve been more than happy to staycation this last 18 months, we’re double vaccinated and quarantine free travel no longer seems as far off as it did a few months ago…
And thankfully Jet2 have taken the time to help us plan safely too. They have a full page dedicated to informing their customers about the new (always changing…) travel requirements, which destinations are in Green, Amber and Red and the deals they have to those places as well to help you book with confidence. I must admit I’ve been losing track of where is ok to go to quarantine free so this little resource is one I’ve bookmarked, because I really want to get back onto a plane soon and show my little boy the joy of overseas travel and share the experience of flying with him!
Take a look at the Jet2 website, there’s some great ideas, accommodation and routes and some really handy tips! Thank you to Jet2 and Jet2holidays for sending me such a fantastic hamper of holiday fun, and a relaxing evening candle lit enjoying relaxing with books and cocktails!
