So…my husband and I are planning a trip to the U.K. (OMG, I can't wait!) Of course, we don't have a solid date yet, so we can't do ACTUAL planning, like booking hotels and flights, but we can figure out where we want to go and stay. We can play around with how we're going to travel. We can figure out how much we want to spend.
We just have to get past the planning stage without divorcing.
Mainly, we have to decide where to splurge and where to be a little more frugal. Nice hotel or just a place to sleep? Fly coach or first class? (I never book first class…OMG, are you kidding me? But if I can upgrade later for a reduced price, I do.) Travel inside the country by train, or rent a car?
The one thing I will absolutely NOT skimp on? Food. When I travel, I like to eat. Especially when I'm someplace I've never been. I eat my way through countries, wanting to sample everything I can. Used to drive me batty when I lived in England and my fellow Americans would travel and want to eat at McDonald's or Pizza Hut. Um, no. I want to taste ENGLAND. And the best places to taste England are pubs. Yum. Oh, I'll eat at an American restaurant overseas if they offer something different – a regional addition to the menu. But if that's the case, I order the thing from the menu that I can't get in the U.S., if that makes sense.
So anyway, that's why my husband and I are doing. When you travel, are there things you like to spurge or skimp on? Do you like a really nice hotel room, or do you spend so little time in them that you're fine with the basics? Do you try to sightsee where you won't have to pay outrageous tour prices? Do you prefer paid tours, or would you rather explore the countryside on your own?
The only place where I might prefer the McDonald’s or Pizza Hut would be countries where the food is REALLY weird. But England? Uh, no. I’d be happy to try pub fare. People are so strange!
Okay, when I travel, rverything has to be first class. The flight seats, the hotel, the tours. I like luxuries. My parents traveled a lot and they took us everywhere, too. A really unique place ia India. I was 12 and we went to see the Taj Mahal. Very beautiful. I love food, too. Foreign is the best. But Indian food is very spicy. I’ve been to London (my aunt actually lives there) and loved their fish and chips. America does NOT make it the same way. Anyway, while you’re there, see if you can take a tour of Europe (if you can spulrge), it’s definitely worth it.
Have fun!
XOXO, M
I like to taste local food too, but kidney pies? Thanks but no!!! Most of the time I do everything with modaration, not cheap and not expensive. Hotels must have a good location, clean room and bathroom, hot water, an elevator for luggage and nice people at the desk. I will save money for all local must see places and shows, and I’ll choose to travel like locals do, and in a way that I can see thinks or do something I never did before. For example, if I have to go from England to France, I prefer to go by ferry or train/tunnel under the sea, not by plane for sure.
Wow! How fun!! I’ve never been overseas. My hubby and I took a trip (without kids) to Hawaii a couple years ago. We splurged on the hotel – I wanted a nice one where I could read by the pool and have fu-fu drinks brought to me. We also splurged on food and drinks – meaning that we allowed ourselves to enjoy what we wanted. We rented low end car and we were upgraded to first class for part of the flight (hubby is platinum flyer), but we didn’t pay for that.
I say be comfortable! That’s what vacation is for me!!
Both my parents were born in Scotland. I’d just be happy to get there someday. If I do, I would stay with relatives, enjoy them and visit the best places with the “natives”.
Heeee –
Bet you can’t wait! Excitement levels through the roof! I am like you – if I go to another country I want to explore on my own – savour the culture/people and food of that place – not pop down to Barry’s British Burger Bar on the beach . . .! Sheesh!
Oh and Larissa – you have picked a fine time to come over – petrol/gas prices have reached an all time high roughly $9 a gallon, so me thinks a tent and bicyles might be the order of the day! Feel my pain!
When I finally fly to the UK, I totally play on going first class all the way. I’m fine with a cheap seats for a few hours, but since most international flights are pretty long, I want to be able to relax. I also would love to try as much of the food from the area as possible. Pub food sounds great to me.
When we took the family to England a few years ago hubby and I flew 1st and the boys business class. It was great. The kids kept coming up to talk to us and the attendants were very nice to them. Even let them have the box of Belgian chocolates since no one was eating them. Usually we all fly business. Can’t do coach on long trips – nerve pain in my legs
As for hotels – I think they stink over there so I plan on only sleeping in them. I agree the pubs are the place to go for food. We never use a tour just walk everywhere. You end up in some really “different” locations that way and really see the area.
Hope you and the family have a great time.
“As for hotels – I think they stink over there ” -
a rather sweeping statement to make unless you have stayed in *every* hotel in Britain.
Yay you’re coming to England!! Have you any ideas on places you want to visit? If you’re planning on travelling around the country York is a beautiful place to visit, I stayed there for 5 days last year but could easily have spent much longer as there is so much to see & do – a lot of history to see :o) We also love travelling down to Devon.
Petrol prices are so high at the moment that it would probably cost you a fortune to hire a car but it does give you the convenience of travelling when you want & being able to stop if you spot something you like the look of. Distance travelling by train can be quite expensive but it’s a good way to see the countryside as you travel. If you can it’s much cheaper if you book train tickets at least a week in advance (something to bear in mind if you’re distance travelling in the second week of your hols). A cheap way of distance travelling is by coach but then the journey would be a lot longer – it just depends where you’re going, how you prefer to travel & how much flexibility you want!
As for food you can’t beat good pub grub & of course you have to have seaside fish & chips (much nicer at the seaside than it would be if you had it inland somewhere like London). If you’re brave you could even try a battered mars bar although I’ve only ever seen them up North (sounds disgusting but actually tasty but very sickly LOL) Look out for a Tobys Carvery if you like a traditional roast dinner and of course curry is a bit of a UK fave too.
I’m sure you’ve got loads of UK fans who would be happy to give you tips so give us a shout if you have any questions :o) I’m sure you’ll have an amazing visit!
If you are going to the UK…may I suggest staying at a B&B…the service is so much more personal and quaint. Countryside B&B’s are the best I think.
For flying I’d book coach…and upgrade later if possible! You save sooooo much that way! :-)
For in country travel…why not do both? Within the big city (London) I would definitely do the trains and buses…makes you feel like a local… for countryside travels: the car will allow you to stop and take pictures as you please…maybe have a picnic under a tree by the road somewhere! LOL
Sounds to me like you have an adventure ahead!
Enjoy it to the MAX! And always remember to take lots of pictures!
Much love & many blessings!