The Liverpool station will be closed over Christmas. Help us get to Cambridge on Christmas morning!
Sep 12th, 2007, 04:23 AM
#21
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One option for you might be renting a car through Zipcar, a car sharing program. They offer service in several US cities, as well as London (and a few other European cities). You book on-line, and can rent by the day or hour. Once you join ($100 fee, good for one year), you have membership priveleges in all the cities that offer the service. Maybe google them and see if their service might work for you? I use zip car in Washington DC and love it.
Sep 12th, 2007, 04:24 AM
#22
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I should mention that with zipcar, cars are parked in various locations throughout the city. You pick up the car yourself, unlocking it with a special card. So, no need to worry about if the rental office will/will not be open. It's all automatic. Booking is done on-line or by phone.
Sep 12th, 2007, 04:35 AM
#23
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seetheworld, you mention not wanting to drive out of LHR on Christmas Eve in the dark, and that a one-way on Christmas (Day?) would cost more than a single airfare.
It seems that the message from the car rental firms is: avoid at all costs disturbing our employees on Christmas Day.
So, while it seems crazy, it seems some out-of-the-box thinking is required. Why not pick up the car on Christmas Eve when you arrive and park it at an LHR hotel where you stay the night? You have a 'buffer' in the event of late flights (quite possible given Christmas congestion, weather factors, etc.) For that matter, it might actually be cheaper to book a hotel-and-parking package than a hotel room per se at LHR. Drive to your flat in Cambridge Christmas morning - if it's like here, traffic should be super light on Christmas Day itself - and return the car on Boxing Day or the day after, whichever is cheaper. Yes, sometimes a minimum 3 day rental makes for the cheapest 1-way - especially if this allows you to bridge the holiday closures.
In short, don't look for the 'elegant' solution, the one that promises a seamless transition from plane to Cambridge. Sometimes the 'messy' one is more comfortable and cheaper in the long run.
Good luck, let us know how you worked it out in the end.
It seems that the message from the car rental firms is: avoid at all costs disturbing our employees on Christmas Day.
So, while it seems crazy, it seems some out-of-the-box thinking is required. Why not pick up the car on Christmas Eve when you arrive and park it at an LHR hotel where you stay the night? You have a 'buffer' in the event of late flights (quite possible given Christmas congestion, weather factors, etc.) For that matter, it might actually be cheaper to book a hotel-and-parking package than a hotel room per se at LHR. Drive to your flat in Cambridge Christmas morning - if it's like here, traffic should be super light on Christmas Day itself - and return the car on Boxing Day or the day after, whichever is cheaper. Yes, sometimes a minimum 3 day rental makes for the cheapest 1-way - especially if this allows you to bridge the holiday closures.
In short, don't look for the 'elegant' solution, the one that promises a seamless transition from plane to Cambridge. Sometimes the 'messy' one is more comfortable and cheaper in the long run.
Good luck, let us know how you worked it out in the end.
Sep 12th, 2007, 05:23 AM
#24
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<<< traffic should be super light on Christmas Day itself >>>
Which makes you VERY visible to any traffic cops around.
I live a hundred miles from my family and travel on Christmas Day for dinner. Several times I've had someone going past me at high speed only to pass them a few miles later as the local plod "has a word with them".
Which makes you VERY visible to any traffic cops around.
I live a hundred miles from my family and travel on Christmas Day for dinner. Several times I've had someone going past me at high speed only to pass them a few miles later as the local plod "has a word with them".
Sep 12th, 2007, 03:38 PM
#26
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As you can tell by my 2am post, I didn't get a wink of sleep last night and now I am totally shattered.
I knew when we booked our flights to arrive on Christmas Eve we would face challenges. I appreciate your assistance in helping me/us sort this out.
Initially we were going to head straight-away into Cambridge upon arrival and stay there for 3 nights and stay the remaining 5 nights in London (Chelsea). However, we ended up booking a week plus a day in Chelsea since they were going to charge a week's rental for those 5 nights. In the end, we are staying in Chelsea for 8 nights, even though we will stay one of those nights in Cambridge. (I hope I am making sense, lol).
We will sort through out options and figure this all out.
I hate to keep you hanging, but I've got to run...will fill you in later. Thanks.
I knew when we booked our flights to arrive on Christmas Eve we would face challenges. I appreciate your assistance in helping me/us sort this out.
Initially we were going to head straight-away into Cambridge upon arrival and stay there for 3 nights and stay the remaining 5 nights in London (Chelsea). However, we ended up booking a week plus a day in Chelsea since they were going to charge a week's rental for those 5 nights. In the end, we are staying in Chelsea for 8 nights, even though we will stay one of those nights in Cambridge. (I hope I am making sense, lol).
We will sort through out options and figure this all out.
I hate to keep you hanging, but I've got to run...will fill you in later. Thanks.
