3 days in London over Thanksgiving
 

Just got an email from Go-Today for short 3-day excursions over Thanksgiving to London, Paris and Rome. Barkston Gardens, a hotel s in Earls Court has received some very good reviews here at Fodors. From what I can tell from the website, it is in the Best Western alliance. Including, air, hotel, breakfast, taxes, and a roundtrip ticket on the Paddington Express, the cost would be $700. <BR><BR>Having been to London about a dozen times, do you think that it would be worth my while to go again to OD on theatre? I could see 4-5 shows, and probably buy all of the tickets to shows at the Leicester Square Ticket Booth -- well that is for possible everything except Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Other than that, I'd probably go to a few museums and take a ride on the London Eye.<BR><BR>If I chose either Paris or Rome, the costs would be about $150-$200 more, which would be slightly more than the cost of the theatre tickets in London.<BR><BR>Any thoughts?

Since there are often air sales in Nov it may or may not be a huge bargain. But it certainly sounds reasonable. Ususally these are priced per person, double occupancy. Are you going with someone else - if not be prepared for a substantial single supplement.<BR><BR>I personally don't Like Earls Court, but some visitors swear by it (I tend to swear AT it). But it is convenient for museums and tube.<BR><BR>If it were me I would ask what add'l nights cost and try for 4 or 5 days. As I get older, the 1st day jet lag (which I never used to suffer) has become a problem so I would like an extra day or two.

Janis, the price I quoted included the single occupancy charge, which is why I thought it was a good price. A 3 day spin is fine, I've actually been to London before for 3 days over Thanksgiving, but that time I had a friend with me. I'd be leaving Boston in the evening, and arriving at Heathrow at approximately 7am. I don't have any problem sleeping on planes, so I'm not overly concerned about the jet lag -- I'll have plenty of time to sleep when I'm dead. <BR><BR>I figure that I would probably arrive at the hotel between 9:30 and 10am, after clearing Customs and Immigration, and after I drop my bag off, I could then go off to Leicester Square and by theatre tickets for Thursday, get something quick to eat, do a little bit of walking, go to a matinee, and then call it a day, and get started again on Friday.

Leslie: I was looking at those same deals. It is sort of a gamble. I went for a weekend in late October last year and got a RT out of Chicago for $320. With a bargain hotel it cost about $500 - leaving me $200 for tickets! My nephew and I went and did just what you described: OD on theater (saw 4 shows in 3 days) and hit Art museums during the day.<BR><BR>Should you take the Go-Today Offer, I say not. I would think Boston would have all kinds of airfare deals in the fall.<BR><BR>

Right now the best fares roundtrip from Boston to Heathrow for the same time period are $510 including taxes. Guess that I will need to wait a few weeks to see if the airfare drops, otherwise, the Go-Today price seems like a decent fare for what it has to offer.<BR><BR>Thanks for your opinions.

Leslie, if you do come and would like some company when going to one of the shows I'd love to join you!<BR>Kavey

Leslie, you need to ask if it's a good idea to go to London to OD on theater??? where's your head girl!!??<BR><BR>sounds like a plan... hmmmmmmmmmmmm.

Kavey, I'm going to make my reservations by Wednesday. I'll confirm with you as soon as I get a confirmation number from Go-Today -- that is unless, one of the airlines decides to start to advertise $200 roundtrip airfares from Boston to London for Thanksgiving, and then I'll just have to make reservations at another hotel -- Thistle is having some great deals now. I'll take you to my favorite restaurant on the Strand, and then we can go to a show.

Sounds great!<BR>I can't promise to show you any London secrets but I can take you to my favourite restaurant, an Italian up in North Finchley, where I live.<BR>Or we can go for great dim sum in China Town.<BR>Hope the deal works out!<BR>Kavey