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Happy to wave goodbye to Vodafone

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I’ve just waved goodbye to Vodafone.  Regular billing problems coupled with the fact they couldn’t come close to competing on the best deal I’d found all contributed to the breakdown of our relationship.

To be fair to Vodafone, the one person in the company who does get problems sorted promptly is their chief executive, or one of his team.  When I’ve got fed up with Vodafone’s customer service I’ve mailed their chief exec direct, after finding his contact details on this wonderful website which shares names and emails of heaps of top company bods.    Once I’ve mailed things always seem to be sorted on a very speedy basis.

The sums don’t add up

One problem I’ve found is that whatever deal you agree, it never seems to tally with what’s on your bill, so last time round I took to asking for text confirmation of the deal as proof of what we’d agreed.

So it wasn’t without a smile on my face that I rang Vodafone’s ‘disconnections’ department to finally pull the plug as I’m now happily out of contract.

Told them I was leaving as I was unhappy with the service and got my ‘PAC’ code to transfer my number,

Just let me go…….

But despite being elusive and hard to get hold of when I’d had problems, Vodafone took to mounting a ‘Keep the Customer’ campaign with several phone calls.  Missed them both, but traced them back to Vodafone plus a further email sharing the neews that they now had a ‘better’ plan for me.

If ever I needed proof that Vodafone can’t do its sums, this is it.   The ‘deal’ they  were offering was twice the price I was paying before I left, but not for double the data or anything else.  In fact it’s a worse deal in terms of what I’d get for my money than the one I was on before deciding to switch.

Funny enough Vodafone’s email tells me that they’ll ‘transfer’ me on to this new deal by August; so good luck with that as I’ve already left and taken my phone number with me!   So that’s a double no thanks Vodafone and goodbye……..

Nice – see the sights and save money

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Nice may look pretty fancy but there’s plenty of ways to see the sights and save money.  I’ve just been there to see a friend for a couple of days and absolutely loved the place.

And it’s easy to get there.   It was just a two hour easyJet flight from Luton and if you jump on the number 98 bus at Nice airport, you can be on the beach in around 10 minutes.

I’ve always been a cabin bag kind of girl, (unless my hold luggage is included in the ticket price!), and if you’re happy to travel light, then I reckon Nice has got to be one of the easiest weekend breaks in terms of speedy arrival so you can enjoy every minute and won’t waste several hours trekking to and from the airport.

So here’s my tips on making the most of your time and saving some cash along the way….

Getting into town

Pick up the 98 bus at the airport which goes all the way along the seafront, or Promenade des Anglais to give it its correct name and it’ll set you back just six Euros.

Nice airport is so close to the centre of town that you could actually walk it.  Yes it saves money, but unless you’re happy to do around an hour’s walk in the heat and got super small cabin luggage youmight regret it.

See the Statue of Liberty

Yes, I know, I haven’t got my countries muddled up.  You really can see a smaller version of this iconic statue outside the Opera House on the Quai des Etats-Unis. 

In fact most people miss it, as it’s not that big, (around four feet high), but well worth stopping to take a look.

And in case you didn’t know, the designer of the world famous statue was French; one Frederic-Auguste Bartholdi.

Best view over Nice

Head for Castle Hill if you want a stunning panoramic view over Nice.

You can climb the steps or get a free ride in the lift, which is slightly hidden away, but saves your energy in the heat.  Long story, but don’t expect a castle at the top as that’s long since gone but it’s a beautiful area to wander round with views over Nice and you can see the port from the other side.

Most people take their snaps from the top but if you head down a few steps to the waterfall you can even get the view all to yourself.

Explore the old town

Half the fun is getting lost in this labyrinth of narrow streets packed with shops, cafes and squares with open out to reveal some stunning churches.

Stop for ice cream at Fenocchio  which has two sites in the old town.

This family run ice cream place has over 80  flavours, from the rather unusual ones like Cactus, Poppy, Beer and Avocado to some truly yummy ones with my favourites including white chocolate, both honey and nuts and Baileys.

Yes at two Euros a scoop it’s not cheap, but worth it, and if you pick up a crepe or galete for a couple of Euros, you’ll have a cheap lunch.   Or pick up some pastries from the Moulin de Flor bakery.

Food & drink

Plenty of restaurants to choose from if you want to eat on the beach.   One of my favourites is Sporting restaurant and beach  But while it’s great with  delicious food and great service, you will pay for the experience so if you want to save money you’ll have to be prepared to swap that lunchtime beach view.

So why not pick up some snacks around the Cours Saleya market as there’s plenty of pavement cafes there.  Or for authentic and delicious tapas style finger food, head for Rene Socca, which is tucked away in a backstreet in the old town near Garibaldi Square.  We shared several dishes, had a couple of glasses of wine and still had change from twenty Euros.

Watch the world go by

Nice is a fabulous place to watch the world go by.  Plenty of free seats along the Promenade des Anglais, so you can stop and take in the views, take some snaps of the iconic Negresco hotel,  (or pop in for a drink if you can afford it), or go and sit on the beach.

 

 

 

 

Jersey – see the sights and save money

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I’ve just come back from a long weekend in Jersey.  It’s the largest of the Channel Islands and in fact it’s so close, just 100 miles from mainland Britain, and a 40 minute easyJet flight from Luton airport that I can’t believe I’ve never been there before.

It’s packed with amazing beaches, fabulous waterfront restaurants and bars and plenty of culture in the form of castles, museums and heaps of history.

So here’s my top tips on ways to get around, see the sights and save money. 

Getting there

I jumped on an easyJet flight at Luton Airport which took just 40 mins once we were up in the air.

If you’re flexible with dates, you can bag flights from under £10, yes really!  I found some going for just £7.93 in June, so if you’re flexible with your dates you could bag yourself a return ticket for under £20.

Free maps at the airport

If you’re flying in, make the most of the free maps and island guides at the airport.  Plenty of ideas for things to see and do along with tips from the locals, so it’s a great way to start your trip.

Get the bus

You can hire a car to get around but you’re looking at around £45 a day all in.  As well as the big names, there’s a couple of smaller companies offering car hire on the island but getting around is actually really easy thanks to Jersey’s brilliant bus company  So I went for the bus option.  You’ll pay just £2 for any single trip and you can buy an all day pass for unlimited travel for £8.

In fact I don’t think I’ve ever anywhere with such frequent buses.  I never waited more than 5 minutes for one and if you’re catching one from St. Helier to get out and explore the island, it’s very easy to find the bus station as it’s just behind the Liberty Wharf Shopping Centre near Liberation Square.  And there’s a really helpful information desk if you get stuck and need a hand.

Free trips 

Check out the ‘What’s On’ guide for discounts, deals, special events and free days out.    A great day trip is to walk out to Elizabeth Castle along the causeway at low tide although you’ll usually pay £11.60 to get into the castle.

So save money by going there on Saturday 28th April when you can get in totally free from 10am through till 2pm and enjoy a whole heap of special tours and events.  All thanks to a collaboration between Jersey Heritage and Lloyds Community Banking.

Enjoy the beaches

Jersey may be just nine miles by five but it’s got fifteen miles of stunning beaches.   Two of my favourites are St Brelade’s Bay and St. Aubin’s Bay. 

You can catch the bus from St. Helier to St. Aubin for £2, enjoy lunch at one of the harbourside pubs like the Tenby and then walk back to St Helier across the beach at low tide.   It’s about a three mile walk so easy enough and only takes about an hour.

Take enough cash

There’s plenty of cash machines on the island, but as Jersey isn’t part of the UK, it means you may be be clobbered for ‘overseas’ charges if you use your debit and credits cards while you’re there.

Check any charges with your bank before you go, but there are some cards that don’t charge any extra fees when you use them outside the UK.  These include both the Santander Zero and Halifax Clarity credit card.

 

Norwich – see the sights and save money

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I’ve just been to Norwich for a couple of days.  Two of my fabulous friends were getting married there so made my first trip back in about five years.

It was a quick visit but still time to explore this fabulous city so here’s my round up of ways to see some of the city’s gems and save money.

Walk the streets

Norwich city centre is easy to get around on foot and you can pick up lots of leaflets and maps and information from the Norwich Tourist Information Centre

If you want to join an organised walk and pick up a bit of history along the way, ask at the Tourist Office as trips leave from outside and you’ll pay £5 for a 90 minute walk.

If you’re taking a solo trip and get lost, make sure it’s in Norwich Lanes as there’s no shortage of cafes, shops, bars and restaurants there.   Brunch is fabulous at the Iron House or check out No. 33 just around the corner, though this does often mean a queue.

While you’re over that way,  step back in time and walk the cobbles of the city’s most famous street Elm Hill  which is the most complete medieval street in the city.  But if you want your snaps minus the tourists you’ll need to be up early.  I headed over there early on a Sunday morning, Starbucks in hand to take mine.

Norwich Castle

Well worth a trip but tickets to Norwich Castle will set you back £9.15 for adults.  But you can get in for £2 with a ‘Twilight’ ticket if you go along just one hour before closing.  Open Monday – Saturday 10am – 4.30pm and Sundays 1pm – 4.30pm.

Norwich Cathedral

Get a free tour inside Norwich Cathedral It’s absolutely stunning and the most complete Norman Cathedral in England and tours leave every hour between 10am – 3pm from Monday to Saturday.

Free stuff

Pop in the Forum which is home to both BBC Look East and BBC Radio Norfolk as well as hosting free exhibitions and events.   Usually always something going on and it’s open every day.

Snap up some discounts

Sign up for a free Norfolk Passport for deals and discounts across the county.

This includes savings on food, drink and rooms at the stunning Assembly House  in Norwich, which is a Grade I listed building and designed way back in 1754.

Cheap sleeps

Plenty of great places to stay but if you’re on a budget head for the Travelodge 

Go for the ‘Central’ one in Queen’s Road so you can be in the city centre in seconds, close to the Castle, Lanes, Forum, markets and Royal Arcade.  Prices vary but you can snap up Travelodge rooms from £29 although you’ll usually need to stay Sunday to Thursday for these.

Save or Splurge? Spotted this bargain turntable from Aldi……

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Just spotted Aldi’s ‘ Retro Vintage Turntable which has got to be a winner at just £29.99.   Especially when I reckon it’s so ‘super similar’ to one I spotted at Urban Outfitters at £128.99.

Aldi’s version comes in lilac, cream, grey and a fabulous floral design.

It’s got a three speed turntable for everything from 7″ up to 12″ and comes all packed in a handy little portable case with built in speakers and a three year warranty.

 It’s available in store only and on ‘Specialbuy’ which means once it’s gone that’s it.  So if you want to save yourself £99 and get a great portable turntable into the bargain, you’d better be quick!

Why does everyone want feedback?

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Why does everyone want feedback?  Shop online or hand over your email address and you’re bound to get ‘follow up’ emails asking ‘how did we do?’ and wanting your feedback about the service.

Yes it’s all great that companies are keen to improve their customer service and make sure they get things right, but is constantly pestering people for feedback for online purchases while waving tiny carrots of prize draws at them really the best way to go about it?

Who reads this stuff?

Ok so if a company can persuade you to air and share your views on the promise of being entered for a prize draw, means of course they get free feedback.  But as most of these company ‘feedback’ surveys are merely a list of questions where you score or tick boxes, I’d be interested to know who really looks at this hastily given feedback or whether the companies involved really take any notice of it?

Argos want feedback

I’ve just had not one, but two separate emails from Argos, several days apart, and both asking for feedback on a recent ‘Click & Collect’ order.

Both emails claimed the feedback survey would only take a few minutes and came with the promise of entry into a prize draw to win a £500 Argos gift card.

Now you may think the chance to win a £500 gift card is incentive enough to spend a few minutes airing and sharing your views, though Argos did seem to have a rather extensive list of questions, 35 in total!  And covering every aspect of the buying process down to rating the price and product.

But oh dear, Argos made a bit of a muck up, as it clearly hadn’t updated its system, as I spotted that the promised ‘Prize Draw’ had already ended several days ago according to the small print at the bottom of the email!

Everyone’s at it!

And of course Argos aren’t the only company wanting feedback.  If I’m ever in touch with my mobile phone company I get an instant text asking me to rate their performance and only the other day when I rang to find out what had happened to my Tesco delivery, I had to decline the option of being called back to give ‘feedback’.