4200 miles: won't let this trip be FUBAR's. Our trip to London
Oct 4th, 2011, 09:23 AM
#21
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>>And if the OP had acknowledged she made a mistake and taken responsibility for it, I wouldn't have a problem with her. But no, it's "S... happens", "accidents happen", nothing to do with her. It wasn't an accident, that's something you have no control over. She could have prevented this by taking maybe five extra seconds to check the bag, but no, it was an " accident". BS. And for heavens' sake, this was one international flight with one checked bag each, not a major move.<<
Sadly, few people in this earth are perfect, possibly not even you. Life tends to be a lot easier all round if one doesn't feel the need to be right all the time.
Sadly, few people in this earth are perfect, possibly not even you. Life tends to be a lot easier all round if one doesn't feel the need to be right all the time.
Oct 4th, 2011, 11:51 AM
#22
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My DH plastered yellow electrical tape all over our suitcases. You can see them a mile away!! Thank goodness, because when we arrived in Houston from Germany last week, having been up for over 22 hrs, I doubt I would have been able to pick out the right suitcase either.
S*** does happen when you travel. And, yes, maybe you should try to be more careful when you pick up a suitcase to make sure it IS yours, but when you are sleep deprived or jet lagging, ANYTHING can happen and sometimes does.
I can't wait to hear about the rest of your trip, rncheryl!
S*** does happen when you travel. And, yes, maybe you should try to be more careful when you pick up a suitcase to make sure it IS yours, but when you are sleep deprived or jet lagging, ANYTHING can happen and sometimes does.
I can't wait to hear about the rest of your trip, rncheryl!
Oct 4th, 2011, 12:42 PM
#23
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Looking forward to more - can we move past the suitcase?? Some of us want to hear the rest of the story and at this rate I wouldnt be surprised if it was never finished - but I really hope it is!
Oct 4th, 2011, 12:46 PM
#24
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<i>If anything, she messed with her own vacation just as much as the other guy's by accidentally taking the wrong bag.</i>
Or he could have had a connection and had to have his bag forwarded to him to wherever he went, with the attendant uncertainties of deliveries.
Or he could have had a connection and had to have his bag forwarded to him to wherever he went, with the attendant uncertainties of deliveries.
Oct 4th, 2011, 12:53 PM
#26
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<i>It is an abomination (but I have seen it in Southern Italy as well)</i>
Since pizza presumably originated in southern Italy, saying that "it is an abomination" is akin to a French person finding a similar abomination in the mix of pork chops and apple sauce--as one exclaimed to me.
Since pizza presumably originated in southern Italy, saying that "it is an abomination" is akin to a French person finding a similar abomination in the mix of pork chops and apple sauce--as one exclaimed to me.
Oct 4th, 2011, 04:27 PM
#32
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Wow, this European board is a tough group! To be clear, the luggage snafu was our fault, and there is no rationalization as to why we goofed up. We did get the luggage back to the original owner in a matter of a few hours, and considerable expense and effort on our part. I would hope anyone who got our luggage by mistake would do the same.
Anyway, continuing on without attempts at humor (Does Fodors recognize humor?), random musings about our London trip, in the hopes it might prove helpful to future travelers.
WHERE WE STAYED:
http://www.vrbo.com/22387
West Kensington, 10 minutes from tube, safe neighborhood. 2 bedroom, full kitchen, washer/dryer. Owner is very, very easy to work with. On site contact very helpful. We were there when windows were closed; if in summer when windows would need to be opened, train noise could be a problem.
WHERE WE WENT:
TOURS: London Walks; Royal London (missed Changing of the Guards, but nice anyway; British Museum, good high level introduction. Oxford and Cotswolds: wow, high energy, lots of steps but a good introduction to the hinterlands. Oxford is a lovely college town with an historical component.
OTHERS:
Westminster Abbey, Tower of London, including Ceremony of the Keyes, St. Pauls, Churchill Museum/Cabinet War Rooms, Hampton Court, Harrods, London Eye, British Museum, West End show.;
WHAT WE DIDNT SEE: Kew Garden, National Gallery, London Museum, Borough Markets, more West End shows.
FOOD: Nothing spectacular. Our best meal was in a department store: Harvey Nichols cafe. Excellent. Otherwise, beans on toast, beef with yorkshire pudding, fish and chips. Our main meal was at noon: otherwise breakfast most times in the flat, dinner was soup/sandwiches at home.
TRANSOPORT: Outstandingly easy. We took the tube everywhere, and the train where needed. Signs were excellent. We had one problem adding $$ to our Oyster Card in a train station. Helpful young people (re: pierced and tatooed) gave us great instructions.
BEST TRAVEL TIP: Purex laundry sheets: detergent/softener in one thin sheet. Easy to pack, cannot beat it.
TRIP HIGHLIGHT: On Sunday 9/11. We had tickets in advance for the ceremony of remembrance at St. Pauls. There were lines of uniformed officers lining the steps. Our seats were excellent,views of the officiants. It was a cloudy day, but there were times when the sun broke thru the windows, illuminating the gold inlays on the ceiling. Breathtaking. The Star Spangled Banner has never been more emotional to me.
RAMDOM THOUGHTS: London is expensive. The dollar/pound exchange is not great right now. We used Capitol One card with no foreign exchange fees. We would think next time about using all the savings from other travel cards than Oyster.
TAKE AWAY: Even if you are "older" and have issues of endurance, London is a no brainer. Easy transportation, helpful people, easy communication. Every sight is more historic than the next, and there are no downsides that I can think of.
Anyway, continuing on without attempts at humor (Does Fodors recognize humor?), random musings about our London trip, in the hopes it might prove helpful to future travelers.
WHERE WE STAYED:
http://www.vrbo.com/22387
West Kensington, 10 minutes from tube, safe neighborhood. 2 bedroom, full kitchen, washer/dryer. Owner is very, very easy to work with. On site contact very helpful. We were there when windows were closed; if in summer when windows would need to be opened, train noise could be a problem.
WHERE WE WENT:
TOURS: London Walks; Royal London (missed Changing of the Guards, but nice anyway; British Museum, good high level introduction. Oxford and Cotswolds: wow, high energy, lots of steps but a good introduction to the hinterlands. Oxford is a lovely college town with an historical component.
OTHERS:
Westminster Abbey, Tower of London, including Ceremony of the Keyes, St. Pauls, Churchill Museum/Cabinet War Rooms, Hampton Court, Harrods, London Eye, British Museum, West End show.;
WHAT WE DIDNT SEE: Kew Garden, National Gallery, London Museum, Borough Markets, more West End shows.
FOOD: Nothing spectacular. Our best meal was in a department store: Harvey Nichols cafe. Excellent. Otherwise, beans on toast, beef with yorkshire pudding, fish and chips. Our main meal was at noon: otherwise breakfast most times in the flat, dinner was soup/sandwiches at home.
TRANSOPORT: Outstandingly easy. We took the tube everywhere, and the train where needed. Signs were excellent. We had one problem adding $$ to our Oyster Card in a train station. Helpful young people (re: pierced and tatooed) gave us great instructions.
BEST TRAVEL TIP: Purex laundry sheets: detergent/softener in one thin sheet. Easy to pack, cannot beat it.
TRIP HIGHLIGHT: On Sunday 9/11. We had tickets in advance for the ceremony of remembrance at St. Pauls. There were lines of uniformed officers lining the steps. Our seats were excellent,views of the officiants. It was a cloudy day, but there were times when the sun broke thru the windows, illuminating the gold inlays on the ceiling. Breathtaking. The Star Spangled Banner has never been more emotional to me.
RAMDOM THOUGHTS: London is expensive. The dollar/pound exchange is not great right now. We used Capitol One card with no foreign exchange fees. We would think next time about using all the savings from other travel cards than Oyster.
TAKE AWAY: Even if you are "older" and have issues of endurance, London is a no brainer. Easy transportation, helpful people, easy communication. Every sight is more historic than the next, and there are no downsides that I can think of.
Oct 4th, 2011, 05:27 PM
#33
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"The dollar/pound exchange is not great right now."
rncheryl - Just curious as to what you consider a good exchange rate (I mean that seriously, not as a dig). Over the last 10 years the pound has fetched anywhere from about $1.35 to over $2.10. Right now it is at $1.55 or so - not its lowest, but definitely on the lower end of that range.
Admittedly, the exchange rate has improved some since you were in London, but I would be happy if the pound stayed in the $1.55 range until I am in the UK in a month or so!
rncheryl - Just curious as to what you consider a good exchange rate (I mean that seriously, not as a dig). Over the last 10 years the pound has fetched anywhere from about $1.35 to over $2.10. Right now it is at $1.55 or so - not its lowest, but definitely on the lower end of that range.
Admittedly, the exchange rate has improved some since you were in London, but I would be happy if the pound stayed in the $1.55 range until I am in the UK in a month or so!
Oct 4th, 2011, 05:30 PM
#34
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Oh yes - you asked the "lounge suit" question a while back! Very helpful actually, as my son lives/works in London and was invited to a 9/11 memorial at St. George's Cathedral.
I cut and pasted your question and some responses, emailed them to him, and apparently he dressed quite presentably, so thanks for that and the tips above!
I cut and pasted your question and some responses, emailed them to him, and apparently he dressed quite presentably, so thanks for that and the tips above!
Oct 4th, 2011, 07:12 PM
#35
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Thanks for your trip report and I'm glad everything worked out in the end.
Just on a food note-I've found some of the best food in London is ethnic food. Indian, Chinese and even Italian(real Italian, not Olive Garden).
Just on a food note-I've found some of the best food in London is ethnic food. Indian, Chinese and even Italian(real Italian, not Olive Garden).
Oct 4th, 2011, 10:56 PM
#36
rncheryl, thanks, that's all I wanted to hear. Glad you got out of London (although I love London), pity about the food, there really is good food in England! Next time, ribbons and tape, OK?
To those of you who think jetlag is an excuse for perpetrating one of a traveler's worst nightmares, I would point out that everyone who gets off a long flight, except possibly those up the pointy end, is in the same shape. Imagine the chaos if everyone just walked off with the first bag that looked right.Of course, the airport staff should check luggage tags, but I've only seen that a couple of times and these days they're too busy checking people on the way in.
To those of you who think jetlag is an excuse for perpetrating one of a traveler's worst nightmares, I would point out that everyone who gets off a long flight, except possibly those up the pointy end, is in the same shape. Imagine the chaos if everyone just walked off with the first bag that looked right.Of course, the airport staff should check luggage tags, but I've only seen that a couple of times and these days they're too busy checking people on the way in.
Oct 4th, 2011, 11:41 PM
#37
rncheryl
Yep the European crowd here can "take no prisoners" still up-side is if some of the arguements actually tease out some useful facts. Sometimes it goes to far and I've seen worse.
Thank you for the feedback on your trip and I'm glad the remembrance thing went off well.
I have no idea what the problem with sweetcorn is, pizza is realy only cheese on toast after all.
Yep the European crowd here can "take no prisoners" still up-side is if some of the arguements actually tease out some useful facts. Sometimes it goes to far and I've seen worse.
Thank you for the feedback on your trip and I'm glad the remembrance thing went off well.
I have no idea what the problem with sweetcorn is, pizza is realy only cheese on toast after all.
