I will be presenting a paper at an academic conference in Aberystwyth, Wales, next May. My twin 17 yr. old daughters will be accompanying me. I've never been to Europe and could use some help even with the basics.

1) Train or rent car? The train seems expensive to me (L150 for the three of us one-way), and hectic. I can rent a car, apparently, for L149, for ten days, unlimited miles. However: After a 13hr. plane ride, do I really want to learn on the spot how to drive on the opposite side of the road in London traffic for a necessary four and half hour trip to Aberystwyth? I prefer to drive, but, from what I see of the route maps, driving in the UK may not be like driving in the states, where I hop on an Interstate and cruse at 80mph with no stopping.

2) We will spend four days in Aberystwyth, and have that planned, but the two extra days are up in the air. We are considering either a two day horse trek around Aberystwyth, or a full day and night in London after a train (or car) ride back. Frankly,I can imagine myself in London being too anxious about money (we're on a teacher's budget) and how to get around to enjoy any of it---but, maybe it's easier (and cheaper---I doubt it)than I imagine.

I'll probably post more questions later. But for now, if anyone has any advice (on anything), I'd appreciate it.

just a brief note for now - I hope you are arriving in London at least a day or 2 before needing to be in Aberystyth. It is a very bad idea to drive immediately upon landing after a transatlantic flight - what w/ jetlag and not being familiar w/ right hand drive cars etc. It would be best if you could unwind, relax and get over the jet lag w/o a car for a day or so.

£149 is VERY low for a 10-day car rental. What does it include (class of car, mileage, insurance, ??)

As for trains - the fares are all over the board - and discounts are available depending on the route and how far ahead you buy. No one needs to drive IN London - but to get around Wales a car is a big help.

You could take a train to someplace like Cardiff or Swansea, and hire a car from there.

I assume that you will be arriving at LHR so there will be no need to go into London.

I would suggest a car hired from LHR would be best, but do look at the option of hire off airport in say Slough - a short taxi ride from LHR as you will escape the airport surcharge.

Having hired the car drive west and stay in somewhere like Bath for a night and catch up on your sleep and rest. Then on to wales next day. Since budget is an issue avoid London and if you want to get nearer to LHR after wales think about Oxford, a delightful city and typically English with lots to see and do, especially since you are an academic

Wales is nice but since this is your first visit to Europe I would do as flybob suggests and take in another English town. London for a day or two will be a waste as you need 4 or 5 to see it. Save London for another time. Oxford, Bath are both typically English and worth a visit

the joys of wales are in the countryside, not the cities...keep this is mind if you spend any time in wales besides what is required for the conference.

Aberystwyth itself has seen better days but there is a lovely walk along the coast if you follow the path from the beach up the hill. this is in the direction going south of Aberystwyth. pick up a map and just keep walking.

a car is the best way to go but only if you are comfortable with it. but i think you would feel very 'stuck' without a car. london would probably be the most stressful place for you to drive but be prepared that even smaller towns can approach the stress levels of a big city. even quite small aberystwyth can be busy. oxford certainly is.

all of the uk is expensive. the hotels in london are more but there are many great deals to be had if you search the web. london can be the same or cheaper for everything else like food due to very stiff competition. a curry or simple meal is typically better quality and no more expensive in london than anywhere else on the island. likewise souvenirs like british clothing, etc can be found cheap in london's markets and charity shops. outside of london, there is much less choice and you basically will be shopping in the high street shops which deliver poor value and things similar to what would be found at home. ok, there are markets and charity shops everywhere but typically not the quality and concentration found in london.

london is also disproportionately blessed with free tourist attractions. these are not second rate but many of the very best tourist attractions in london are completely free (museums, markets, etc). it is hard to fill your day with so many great free things anywhere else (countryside walking excluded). even driving around visiting villages, etc will cost you in petrol. many of london's attractions are walkable.

if london is your preferred destination, i would not avoid it for reasons of cost...overall value for money as a tourist destination is better (more bang for the buck as they say) than many other destinations in the UK, especially for the first time visitor. i would consider time though. two days is not a lot of time at all.

So you arrive in LHR after a long flight and could drive or take the train. Either way its going to be confusing because you have to deal with trains and central london or the M25, M4 which are motorways to Wales.

Tough choice, might also be worth looking at buses to Bath or Oxford and then rent there.

Dring to Aberystwyth is not like cruising in the US. In the english bit you have to deal with fast moving tight traffic and in the Welsh bit the density drops off and roads go single lane and twist and turn.

I think aim to get some where away from London for a first night

Your car deal would be hard to beat for three, so how about renting at Heathrow and driving a short distance (say, to Windsor) the first day and resting up before hitting the M4 to Wales?

You could tour the castle and get acclimated to the culture without risking life and limb.

Oxford really isn't on the way, but might make for an interesting detour. See viamichelin.com.