I Know I Have Posted This Before, But...

I am leaving for Ireland on May 20 and then on to N. Ireland, Scotland and finally to London. I will be there for 21 days. I have a few questions of those who have been there and who live there.

My room, breakfast and transport are paid, but lunches and dinners are not, how much should I budget for those meals while there? How much does it cost to eat at fast food such as McDonald's etc?

I have heard (from the last post) that I MUST see and ride the London eye, is there anything else I just CAN'T miss?

The main question is money. I am really wondering how much to bring. Thanks for you help in advance.

#25430

That sounds like a nice holiday

McDonalds is about £3.50 for a large meal here.

As a rough guide you can multiply the amount in pounds by 3/2 to get the amount in $

Eg. 4 pounds * 3/2 = $6

Apparently food here in supermarkets is much more expensive than in the US. Double i've been told, so that might come as a shop. Also, if you plan on eating out at a *proper* restaurant in central London, you'll need at least 15 pounds each, if not more. Drinks will be expensive too, about £3 for a pint of beer.

Heres a list of some London attractions: http://www.londontouristboard.com/html/ind...pgd=59&rcd=3390

Most of those actually look pretty boring to me, but i don't know what you like doing. That site should help you out.

If you've never seen a proper castle or some history, go to the tower of London.

For shopping go to "Oxford street" which is one long street in London filled with the biggest department stores.

IMO opinion don't go to Madame Tusauds, its supposed to be good, but it always has queues stretching around the nearby streets.

The British museum is good, free and filled with artefacts stolen from around the world over the las few hundred years

The National Gallery - free and set in Trafalgar square which you might like to visit anyway http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/3012843.stm - that guy is mental!

Tate Modern - massive free art gallery set on the banks of the thames, you might want to walk along the banks as well.

Or you can go on one of the river boat cruises - not too expensive, and much less effort than walking the thames. You can see a lot of the sites from the river.

hope that helps,

fissy

#25436

have fun maight (m8)

Sounds like a realy good trip! enjoy!

#25441

I live in Canada and like woah* My friend bought two ice cream cones while he was down there and it cost almost 10 bucks.

#25442

Watch out for the euro trash like Goku.

#25443

my friend spent a gap year in canada and has got 1800 bucks left.

hes trying to spend it all there i think, cause it won't be worth sh## by the time he gets back

#25447

European Vacation:

Once you get to London call me cheap, but when I went what I did was to stop at a Safeway Food Store or something similar. I would buy a can of veggies + lunch meat and pack a lunch in a Tupperware everyday and place it in my backpack with a camera, map, and an UMBRELLA + windbreaker. If you decide to carry some food with you in the backpack take a thermo or cold-lunch pack and ask for plenty of ice at the hotel from the Hotel concierge/Hotel bar/Hotel restaurant (whichever has it). You can carry a couple of cokes and drink them cold at your time of choosing.

I would pretty much go out by 9:00AM and tour certain parts of the city then be back at the Hotel by 7-8:PM and plan the next day. You will not find McDonalds on every street block and it may be relatively expensive and full of other American Tourists.

Find a family restaurant that is not too fancy for dinner or try a Pub. Many pubs have good meals at inexpensive prices but also being a Protestant country they close during the most convenient hours. Check with the Hotel when Pubs are open and close.

Some Hotels will have a restaurant but unless it is an emergency they may be a tad more expensive.

I don't know what accommodations you have but I stayed at the Holiday Inn near the airport which you can pay from the U.S. and have reservations ahead of time. The Hotels near the airport have shuttle buses to the airport which you can take the bus or tube to the city. Regarding the Holiday Inn, this is convenient because by booking from the U.S. in advance you avoid higher local prices during the tourist season. Student Hostels are another route but they have early hours for checking and leaving, have little privacy, and are thrifty not only in price but accommodations. Hotels are very, very expensive especially in the city.

If you are a student the best thing you can do is buy a metro-pass = subway pass for travel in London. It will be for a week, 2 weeks, or a month. Students have many advantages in seeing major sites in London because you can go inside the Tower of London with a student pass and pay nothing (it's included in your Europass or the British equivalent - Eurorail/Britishrail ). It is a crime if you don't take advantage of this. Go to a University and find the Student Travel Agency. You can take advantage of these things even if you are in High School. They will give a student ID pass at the agency.

In the U.S. go to a major bookstore and buy a city map of London and whatever city you go in Scotland or Ireland. After you pick your luggage at the airport pick-up all kinds of brochures inside the airport that will have great explanations where everything is.

Buy a money belt (a plastic wallet with a plastic belt that you wear around your waist and under your shirt. Keep most of your money there. Place about $50-80 U.S. or the British pound equivalent in your regular wallet. London is full of pick-pockets so always be aware of bumps or people that follow you. I had somebody follow me in an industrial part of London when there was nobody in the streets until I slipped a fast one and lost the guy.

Taxi cabs are very expensive and they will not get you where you want fast. The traffic jams in the city are very, very, bad. Bus, The Tube=Subway, and walking are the best ways to travel.

If you take any electronics get a European plug converter so you can use your shaver or whatever electrical stuff you have. If you are going to use a regular 35mm Camera buy all your film in the U.S. . You will pay 2.5-3 times more in London or Europe. I took 10 rolls of Kodak when I went there.

The main points that are a must:

1. Check with a University Travel Agency to see what advantages you can take as a student. Let them know you are going to Ireland/London/Scotland . Ask what places you can visit free or at a discount as a student. Consider an outing to Strafford-Avon, the Thames River boat, The Tower. If you can swing it go to a London Opera (you may discover something lots of people talk about but few try). Check the War ships at the Thames, Hyde Park (depending when you go they may have fireworks). Ask the Hotel if there are any special public events during the time you stay, like national celebrations, public musical events, etc.)

2. If you belong to the AAA (Automobile Club Insurance) check with them for bookings of Hotels ahead of time and if you can pay in advance. Buy American Express Money Orders/Cashiers Checks and ask them how to use them. The AAA also has a travel agency that can tell you what advantages you have as a student (but the Univ. is best)

3. Travel with a backpack and place a TAG on it with your name, present Hotel , Hotel telephone number. This is in case you put the backpack down and forget it in a restaurant, park or bus. In your Main luggage place additional Tags also with the Hotel you are going also your Flight Number and Airline in and out of Europe, just in case it gets lost or stolen. It is not a bad idea to get a small bicycle lock (steel chord) so when you check into the Hotel you can put it around the handle of your luggage and to the bed or furniture. You know everybody assumes that Americans are all wealthy and American kids go to Europe because their parents have much money, so things do disappear. Like everywhere else not everybody is a saint.

4. Keep a photocopy of your:

Drivers License, U.S. Passport, American Express Cashier Checks,

Student I.D., Flight Ticket. Credit Cards if you carry any, and Social Security.

A good place to put this is in a women's wallet/organizer. I buy a leather one so it looks more manly and place it in my backup info, hotel bookings, and flight ticket info. . Pull your regular wallet with a day's worth of money, keep the balance on your money belt and your travel info and copies in the woman's wallet/organizer with a 50% of your American Express Cashiers Check. The idea is that no matter what you loose you have a money backup and a copy of your documents.

5. Umbrella, sweater, windbreaker, and medium coat to handle temps of 50-60F. Nice cushioning sneakers (place a foam insole - walking is your major activity) not too shocking in color (preferably all white) a nice pair of black/brown shoes. Nice shirts (6 sport/1-2 dressy blue/white), and maybe something like a Polo shirt. Keep away from plain T-shirts have some dignity, no Hawaiian shirts either. Don't be overdressed or underdressed in style. Who knows you might meet an American girl doing the same and you might want to go for dinner together. During Summer London is flooded with foreigners mostly Americans, Germans, Japanese, Indians.

6. If you can pay for Hotels from the U.S. do so. Keep a receipt

7. How much luggage?

3 pieces --- One regular=medium size luggage (not big), a medium collapsible leather/nylon bag, and a school style backpack. A collapsible aluminum luggage carrier (like the one pilots/stewardess use all the time in the airport). Did I mention an umbrella?

8. Another thing you may want to do with the luggage is:

a) Take an electronic picture of the luggage print 3 copies keep it with you. Why? Airline carriers in the U.S. loose a lot of luggage or they come in a different flights because they are loaded in a later flight. If you need to report lost luggage you have a picture for them to have at the airport lost & found. Take a 3/5 index card and write your name, flight number (IN and Out of Europe), airline, in and out of the U.S. , your U.S./Canada home phone, hotel phone AND TAPE IT INSIDE THE LUGGAGE. All this in addition to the outside tags. If you need to buy luggage check what is recommended now in terms of size at a travel agency. There are restrictions on sizes or surcharges. Another reason not to buy big things.

Carry your collapsible bag and the backpack with you on the plane with the important info., windbreaker/sweater/camera. Assume what happens if you cannot get your luggage for 24-48hrs, that will tell you what to put in the collapsible bag and backpack. Carry all the money with you until you get to your destination then split the money. Most of the money should be in American Express Cashier's checks and exchange them locally for cash. Buy in US$20.00, $50 denomination. If you loose everything do you have the hotel telephone number, Amex address & phone number in London, or in Scotland, or Dublin.

9. Don't carry computers, palm pilots. Too expensive to replace won't have time. May loose info on power-down. Use a paper organizer if you need to keep notes.

10. Another outing you may consider in London is to go to a soccer match even if you don't care much about the game. Many tourists get caught in the atmosphere of the game and become soccer fans in the U.S. . This has happened many times when the word soccer was unknown in the U.S. . Try it mate!

11. Don't screw-up AIDS is worldwide now.

Now that you are prepared you know that it's safer and less bothersome to stay at home.

------------

I traveled all over Europe by train/subway/bus and walking and the above tips never failed me.

#25499

PS: Last tidbit. The Irish currency is the pound pronounced POO-und as in whinnie the pooh. It is a little insulting to call it pound (they have issues with their British cousins)

#25502

lol.. dem some nice tips there, Veideomann..

#25505

Yeah that's great. Thanks a lot. I appreciate all the info.

#25511

Darn it , I forgot they have the Euro now. Maybe Ireland has no pounds anymore. If you happen to be near the English Channel facing France, do me a favor...drop your pants and Moon them for me.

Which reminds me, you may consider packing a skirt when you go to Scotland, but don't wear it and overuse the word mate!, mate is for England not Scotland switch to lad or lassie, chap or guy.

#25514

juniperlater, I have been there twice to London and Basildon, England; for two weeks at a time. Take alot of money! Stuff is expensive, especially food. Oh, and dont forget to ASK for ice if you want it in your sodas, they use "chillers" but by USA standards these left my sodas tasting like slightly above room temp. I had to ask for ice constantly. But have a good time.

#25518

Many pubs have good meals at inexpensive prices but also being a Protestant country they close during the most convenient hours

eh? most pubs open from 11am to 11pm. If you go to a proper pub (lots of people drinking) they will be full of loud drunks from 8pm onwards so you might not enjoy your meal there. Pubs in the countryside don't have that problem but will be closer to restaurant prices.

(they have issues with their British cousins)

Lol i heard that too, DON'T leave bags anywhere, you risk having them blown up by the army.

That shouldn't happen any more because the IRA seem to haved packed it in, but you never know.

Oh, and dont forget to ASK for ice if you want it in your sodas,

Some cheap pubs will try and sell you warm flat coke, not a problem most places i don' think.

ou may consider packing a skirt when you go to Scotland,

umm what? I don't think the Scots take to kindly to a non-scotsman wearing a kilt if thats what you mean.

If you happen to be near the English Channel facing France, do me a favor...drop your pants and Moon them for me.

If you go to Dover you can see France across the water from the tops of the cliffs, theres also a nice castle to visit, you can drop in on canterbury (home town) on the way back. Canterbury is semi famous right? Its a nice place for tourists to visit anyway.

Most Important advice 1

Try not to stand out as an american tourist, how will people know to rob you amongst the millions of people on the streets of London? - being loud generally, wearing dodgy brightly coloured shirts and bum-bags are most definitely out. Try not to have to huge a backpack (big giveaway) and don't flash your money around.

Overall coming to England should in theory be safer than stepping out on to your drive in the US, so don't worry, but be careful.

2

Bring an umbrella like VM said

edit, you won't go wrong on what videomann said just don't worry so much about getting robbed. and if people ask you if you've got any money to spare, its safest to politely say no, unless they're clearly living on the streets and in need.

#25539

Thanks fissyb and all the rest...

I am actually not sure where all I am staying. My wife and I had this all taken care of through an agency. Unfortuantely I already bought tickets to the tower of london (B4 videoman told me it was free to students).

@fissyb

I am actually bringing a big backpack with a smaller backpack inside of it for trips around town, but for traveling from place to place I am not to fond of a lot of bags. I hope I will have no problem.

I am not worried about getting robbed. I was in Chiapas, Mex (3 weeks) during all the problems with the Zapatista rebels. In fact there were a lot of tourist killed the week before I got there. I think UK doesn't have those kind of problems.

Any particular restaurants in Cantebury you can recommend that are not too expensive but good? I will be there at some point. I have already spent $6000 US on this trip and am trying to be thrifty on the rest.

@everyone

Do you think it would be safe to say that I could pay for 2 meals a day on $30 US (19 GBP)per day?

Thanks again.

#25692

I'm sure the big bag won't be a problem, just be wary of walking around towns/cities with it.

A lot of the time when i'm wondering around, i have a mountaineering rucksac on, i think the iceaxe tends to put off muggers though

The Uk is definitely a safe place, to visit i wouldn't be too worried about it, just try not to advertise the fact that you might have lots of tourist $$$ on you.

---------------------------------

As for canterbury, i don't get much chance to eat out in the city cause its expensive to someone unwaged, i tend to eat in wetherspoons (countrywide pub chain) because the food is cheap (burger king prices), much nicer than fast food, and alcohol is the cheapest in town

Proper restaurants:

Marlowes, very nice (and quite expensive, 4 friends and i spent 100 pounds there one evening). Its on the high street.

Ha Ha's supposed to be very nice, but from what people tell me, you'll need a loan to get in there. Those are students talking though, to someone of your means it might be affordable

Cafe-Rouge - once again never been in there, looks nice from the outside

Pizza hut is sort of a restaurant too.

sorry, theres lots more but i can't remember, canterbury is 200 miles away. Out of the proper restaurants i can only recommend marlowes (remember to take your own wine)

As for fast food -Mcdonalds, BK, Fast buck Freddies (modelled on american diners i think), wimpy, pizza hut etc.

Look on the net for stuff to visit, but if you're in Canterbury you ought to see the cathedral, its pretty impressive, even if you despise religion.

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I think 19 pounds should be more than enough on average over your holiday (i have about that per week )

But some days you might spend more, others less.

fissy

#25715

Thanks fissyb,

The info is top notch.

Juniperlater

#25813

ou may consider packing a skirt when you go to Scotland,

umm what? I don't think the Scots take to kindly to a non-scotsman wearing a kilt if thats what you mean.

It was meant as a joke, but if you do and they have a problem just say you are a 15th generation Roman and proud of it.

#25818