Summer 2016: Little details I worried about – and need not have
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Summer 2016: Little details I worried about – and need not have
I have been thinking about the very helpful responses I have always received here over the years -- and for my trip last summer in particular -- and I wanted to say a little something about how the experiences of others have benefited me.
(I really appreciate everyone who takes the time and effort to respond to travel questions. Your advice can save the time, the money, and the sanity of complete strangers, and really improve a vacation. So thank you, all, again.)
I’m a worrier when it comes to travel planning. Although it drives my son crazy, I feel better having a plan B. So I make an arrangement, I wonder what will happen if something goes wrong, and I have a bit of a back-up plan just in case.
Last summer, my family traveled to the UK and France for a month. There were plenty of things I was concerned about, but needn’t have fretted over because things worked out just fine. Here are a few.
1) booking one-way award plane tickets rather than complete return journeys
Three of us flew from the US to the UK and home from France using award tickets, but from different accounts and with different carriers because we accumulate miles so slowly. It was never going to be easy to get tickets for July for 60K each. But I did, booking six one-way tickets: my DH traveled alone on AA/BA, while my son and I flew over on United and home with Lufthansa. Amazingly, our schedules meshed very well and all planes were on time. Thank goodness we didn’t have to cancel – as one Fodorite cautioned, it would have been very expensive to redeposit those hard-earned miles!
2) finding an affordable flat for a week in London
Thanks to so many who generously answer questions about this, time and time again. I read a million posts and ended up booking one janisj suggested. It was perfect for us. We were in London during a Real Heatwave – 90s if you please – but staying near the marina gave us the illusion of a seaside holiday.
3) getting to St. Pancras for the first train to Paris
Helpful Fodorites assured me that a minicab service was the best bet. Carrot Cars was perfect. Even before 5:00 AM.
3) the Globe Theatre
I was able to buy tickets almost the day they went on sale thanks to advice here. We saw MacBeth, which didn’t get rave reviews, but I must say we really enjoyed the play and the whole experience. (And no one was eating burgers.)
4) picking up a car at Gare du Nord
The advice again was spot on – driving out of Paris (on a Saturday morning) was very easy.
5) driving across France on Black Saturday
We drove from the Loire down towards Toulouse on the last Saturday in July, the day everyone in the North leaves for their vacations in the South. We followed back roads for the most part, paid attention to the traffic/highway app, and had a very enjoyable day. It even made us want to embark on a roadtrip in the US.
Only I think we want to go back to Europe again, really.
(I really appreciate everyone who takes the time and effort to respond to travel questions. Your advice can save the time, the money, and the sanity of complete strangers, and really improve a vacation. So thank you, all, again.)
I’m a worrier when it comes to travel planning. Although it drives my son crazy, I feel better having a plan B. So I make an arrangement, I wonder what will happen if something goes wrong, and I have a bit of a back-up plan just in case.
Last summer, my family traveled to the UK and France for a month. There were plenty of things I was concerned about, but needn’t have fretted over because things worked out just fine. Here are a few.
1) booking one-way award plane tickets rather than complete return journeys
Three of us flew from the US to the UK and home from France using award tickets, but from different accounts and with different carriers because we accumulate miles so slowly. It was never going to be easy to get tickets for July for 60K each. But I did, booking six one-way tickets: my DH traveled alone on AA/BA, while my son and I flew over on United and home with Lufthansa. Amazingly, our schedules meshed very well and all planes were on time. Thank goodness we didn’t have to cancel – as one Fodorite cautioned, it would have been very expensive to redeposit those hard-earned miles!
2) finding an affordable flat for a week in London
Thanks to so many who generously answer questions about this, time and time again. I read a million posts and ended up booking one janisj suggested. It was perfect for us. We were in London during a Real Heatwave – 90s if you please – but staying near the marina gave us the illusion of a seaside holiday.
3) getting to St. Pancras for the first train to Paris
Helpful Fodorites assured me that a minicab service was the best bet. Carrot Cars was perfect. Even before 5:00 AM.
3) the Globe Theatre
I was able to buy tickets almost the day they went on sale thanks to advice here. We saw MacBeth, which didn’t get rave reviews, but I must say we really enjoyed the play and the whole experience. (And no one was eating burgers.)
4) picking up a car at Gare du Nord
The advice again was spot on – driving out of Paris (on a Saturday morning) was very easy.
5) driving across France on Black Saturday
We drove from the Loire down towards Toulouse on the last Saturday in July, the day everyone in the North leaves for their vacations in the South. We followed back roads for the most part, paid attention to the traffic/highway app, and had a very enjoyable day. It even made us want to embark on a roadtrip in the US.
Only I think we want to go back to Europe again, really.
#3
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Just saw this thread again, and I had to laugh at my own wistful last sentence ... because we DO get to go back this year. I am so happy.
But I have made few plans. We have the transportation, the roofs over our heads, and tickets to HRH Prince Charles's backyard. Time to make a few lists, I think.
But I have made few plans. We have the transportation, the roofs over our heads, and tickets to HRH Prince Charles's backyard. Time to make a few lists, I think.
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"(I really appreciate everyone who takes the time and effort to respond to travel questions. Your advice can save the time, the money, and the sanity of complete strangers, and really improve a vacation. So thank you, all, again.)"
This is so very true, and thank you for posting what probably many, many of us think!
This is so very true, and thank you for posting what probably many, many of us think!
#6
yes, Pavot, thanks for your original post and to Pal for topping it. I can't tell you how many trips we've taken that have been improved by the advice I had here, and several of those trips only happened at all because of all those nice fodorites egging me on.
Glad you're coming back this year Pavot; please forgive me if I don't hope that you have 90C again though.
Glad you're coming back this year Pavot; please forgive me if I don't hope that you have 90C again though.
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