ggrant

Hello, returned Friday from short but wonderful trip. Left Sat. eve on Delta, picked up special $480 ticket with 25,000 ff<BR>mile bonus. The 25,000 bonus will get me to Maui to visit my son so I could not pass it up. I picked my seat both ways on the website and received them with no problem. I arrived at Atl. Hartsfield to a huge line at checkin. I only had 21 inch rollon so I bypassed the line and went to the gate to receive boarding pass. Flight smooth, on time and movie was Harry Potter. I loved it. <BR>Arrived Gatwick, went to ATM, Gatwick Express, bought roundtrip ticket on the train. Taxi to hotel, Balmoral House Hotel, 156 Sussex Gardens, 40gbp for single. Always stay there. It is clean, decorated nicely, comfortable bed, good breakfast. I arrived at hotel at 8:30am so they gave me breakfast and I waited about 15 more mins. for room to be ready. Took 2 hr nap as I worked 12 hr nightshift before leaving on Sat. ...continued

ggrant

Trip report cont.. Awake from nap refreshed. Walk down street to Padington rail stn and buy roundtrip ticket to Moreton-in-Marsh 23gbp. Then around corner to tube for the Wallace Collection. It was beautiful and not crowded at all. Left there and walked short way to Selfridges. Wandered all through store, enjoyed "Bollywood" promotion of beautiful Indian products with elaborate rooms set up downstairs. Did a tea taste they had set up and bought two indian teas. Continued walking down Oxford street shopping and people watching until stores closed at 6pm. Stopped at couple of pubs to rest and refresh along the way.<BR>Returned to hotel by taxi, rested an hour and then out to dinner at Steak House on corner. San Marco Ital. rest. I planned on was closed on Sunday.<BR><BR>Down to breakfast at 7:30am, eat, to Paddington for 845 train to Moreton. Arrv, taxi to Stow on the Wold, 10gbp,<BR>Stay at Honeysuckle Cottage, Kings Arm Lane, right off the square. It is a 500 yo stone cottage..so Cotswold. Lovely flowers, extemely nice hosts, small but well furnished room. Double bed, dressing table, armoire, TV, private bath, tea tray, sherry & peanuts,fruit bowl & bottled water. 45gbp for single. I love it. <BR>continued...<BR>

brezzy

Im waiting for you to continue. How was the weather Ive been looking at the reports and its showers every day Cant wait until I leave next week

ggrant

trip report cont..Change clothes, it is chilly & windy. Set out on foot and explore Stow. It is beautiful, clean and not crowded. Go to all the antique shops, buy flow blue platter to die for and other blue & white goodies. Return, soak in tub with lavander bath salts I bought. Rest and to dinner at Stow Lodge. Fixed price 3 course dinner $18.75gbp. It is a beautiful old lodge with lovely grounds. The food is very good, mushrooms in garlic sauce, chicken breast with wine,bacon sauce, vegetables ( esp. like baked parsnip) and lovely strawberry melba for dessert. Raining hard, I walk 5 mins to cottage and fall into bed.<BR><BR>Start day with lovely full breakfast even variety of fresh fruit included. <BR>I hired a tourguide and driver, Genny at Tourgems and she picked me up at 9:30am for tour of Warwick Castle and Stratford upon Avon. It is just the two of us 70gbp for the day. Toured all the houses in Stratford, walked around the Avon, went in Antique shop, then on to Warwick. The drive between was lovely and she went on some back roads to point out special beautiful views. I love the sheep, cows and horses and it is such lush green. <BR><BR>Warwick Castle is my favorite of all I saw. I used my whole roll of film. In my book, it is a must see. Genny takes me to an antique mall in Warwick where I buy a wonderful Cauldon sandwich set, platter & six sandwich/dessert plates for ELEVEN GBP. What a deal. Lovely drive back to Stow with more photo opportunities. I have a drink at the Kings Arm and return to Honeysuckle. I wash my hair, eat cereal and to bed.<BR>continued...

ggrant

trip report cont...The weather was some sun, wind & rain each day. I wore linen long sleeve shirts and my rain jacket and rainhat each day. There were long periods of sun each day though. You would leave with beautiful sun and 15 mins. later rain and wind, then more sun. Layers were the key.<BR><BR>Last day, I have hired Genny for personalized full day tour of vilages for 140gbp. We tour Sudley Castle, very lovely and interesting, then Bourton on the Water, The Slaughters, Broadway and Chipping Campden. We walk, go in shops, eat lunch, do cream tea in Chipping Campden. Also again backroad drives to beautiful scenery. I return, rest, and then to dinner at the Eagle and Child. Excellent food. I had Shrimp and sticky rice with a chili sauce and a salad. I could not eat a full meal since the cream tea earlier. Walk around Stow for final time and to bed.<BR><BR>Genny picks me up for train back to London. 10gbp. I am crazy about the Cotswolds and dreaming of retirement in a stone cottage some day.<BR>continued... <BR><BR>

Mel

GGrant, it sounds like a wonderful trip. Big question--where and how did you find out about Delta giveing 25K ff bonus? I've never heard or seen anything like that with any airline.<BR><BR>I'm a ff with 5 airlines. Am I looking in the wrong places? Thanks.

ggrant

trip report cont...Arrive in London about 10:30, walk to Hotel from Paddington. Yes, I have all my antiques bubblewrapped in my rolling bag, and my clothes in a nylon fold up I carried. I am glad it is only a couple of blocks. I head out for the <BR>Royal Mews and see the gorgeous horses and carraiges. I really enjoyed this, it was something I had meant to do on several past trips. I walked on down to the new Queen's Gallery exibition that just opened the day before but could not get tickets for this day. I should have booked them on Monday. I went in the shop and bought souvenirs of the Golden Jubilee. <BR><BR> My next stop was for tea and a donut. Then on to Victoria rail station to the Lush Shop there. Bought lots of bath bombs for self and friends. Taxi to National Portrait Gallery, another must see in my book. It was so intereting and beautiful. <BR>Return to hotel, rest for one hour. taxi to theatre for Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. It was spectacular. The taxi driver told me it cost 9 million dollars for the production, the most expensive ever. I think about dinner but had snacks at theatre so go to hotel and to bed. Get up at 645am, taxi to Victoria, Gatwick Exp. and home. I carry antiques on plane in my rollon and some in a big mylon tote bag that is also now my purse. My clothes and unbreakables checked in large nylon bag. I arrive home safely, on time, and nothing is broken. I fall in bed to sleep a few hours and to work at 11PM for another 12 hour nightshift. Am I crazy... I am very tired but it was WORTH IT. It was one of my best trips ever. I love going solo.

ggrant

Hello, I subscribe to numerous email bargain alerts like Smarter Living and Travelzoo. Also, in Atlanta we have Clark Howard a local travel and consumer guru who has a website. I think I found out about it through him first; but Delta also emailed me directly about it. It was only for the direct flight between Atl and LGW for a specific time. I was so excited. I got a 9000ff mile bonus a couple of years ago to London and I thought that was great but this was unbeleivable. I really look for the ff specials since it is so expensive to fly to Maui and save the miles to visit my son.

ggrant

ttt for Mel

Jan

ggrant,<BR>Thanks for a wonderful trip report! I<BR>would be interested to hear more about<BR>your antiquing and how you packed for<BR>return. I am always struggling with<BR>hiking boots and porcelain and prints and the three don't mix. Any tips from your experiences?<BR>Thanks...

linda

Thanks ggrant!<BR><BR>Could you provide the telephone number and address for Genny/Tougems?<BR><BR>linda

ggrant

good morning, website www.tourgems.com<BR>email [email protected]<BR>I did all by email. Glad you enjoyed trip report. I had such a good time. I think I saw so much more not having to drive and find my way around and it was not that much more expensive than renting a car for 3 days would have been. If there are two people it is really a good deal.

ggrant

Packing--sturdy 21 inch expandable rollon, large nylon folding bag, nylon<BR>folding tote. Prints btween cardboard in bottom of rollon. Bubble wrap all breakables. Pack flat things such as plates and platters in nylon tote along with few essentials such as meds in tote to carry on shoulder as purse. Pack rounder, larger things in rollon with clothes around and between them. The rest of non breakables, clothes, raincoat and shoes in large nylon bag checked. I have all breakables in the rollon and purse/tote as you are always allowed these two pieces on board. I do not expand the rollon but half way as it is too deep otherwise to get in the overhead bin. I watch carefully to make sure nobody throws something on top of my bag and I put the tote under the seat in front of me. I have had very good luck with this method. I tried packing things very well in bubble wrap etc. and sending them through but it does not work, half were broken. My things are not very fancy very expensive things but the are special to me as I relive the hunt when admiring them.

marge

ggrant: How did you find out about a company like Tourgems? I would like to locate a company like that in Southampton area. The lady sounds like a 'gem'.

juju

<BR>Ggrant: On your recommendation, I stayed 7 nights at the Balmoral House Hotel in London. I never did meet Harry, he was off in Cyprus or some such. I dealt only with Mum and Pops, and we got along famously. Go figure. Pops was even cracking jokes with me. It was a great place to stay for the money. I spent two nights in #11 in the single bed, and then they moved me to #8 with a double bed. I only had one rolling bag that was not too heavy, so I took the underground from Victoria to Paddington. I thought the hotel was very convenient, and lots of places to eat in the neighborhood. I likes San Marcos italian restaurant best. I also used the internet cafe a couple doors down. 5 pounds for three hours, not too bad. Across the street from the internet cafe was a Greek cafe where I bought lattes each day. Very friendly folks in there.

dennisf

I have booked arrangements with Genny at the following:<BR><BR>Tour Gems - Genny Stallabrass<BR>E-mail Address(es):<BR> [email protected]<BR><BR>

Dee

ggrant: Enjoyed your trip report very much. You stated you love going solo - do you mind my asking what age bracket you're in? I've thought that I too would love to travel solo, but haven't ventured out yet - I'm late 50's and not quite as adventuresome as I used to be! Now I worry about such things as - what will happen if I get sick, etc., etc.

ggrant

Hello, 52yo. I buy a phone card immediately and phone home briefly most days so folks know I am ok. I carry lots of what if meds, anitbiotics, sinus meds, nausea & diarrhea meds. I am a nurse so I can treat myself unless I became injured or seriously ill. Then you go to hospital and hope for the best.

ggrant

juju--so glad you liked Balmoral House.<BR>San Marcos Rest. also my favorite. I was disappointed that it was closed on Sunday evening. Did not get a chance to eat there this time. Harry & Begonia were still gone when I was there too. Mom was very nice to me, insisted I have breakfast the morning I arrived & helped me take my bags out that last morning. I also stayed in 8 one night and 11 the other night. 8 is better so for other solos ask for it.<BR> <BR>I found out about Genny at tourgems on this forum. Where else? Genny was having trouble with her email for a week or so that is why the other email address at virgin.net. I think it is fixed now.

Mathew

ggrant,<BR><BR>Thank you for your wonderful report. I visited the Cotwolds last May 2001 and visited 90% of all the places you went to. I even took pictures in the garden of Honeysuckle Cottage, and one of the stocks in the square at Stow-on-the-Wold. Wasn't Sudely Castle neat, especially the walk among the sheep to get to it ? Did you visit the gardening exhibit there ? I bought some pottery in Bourton-on-the-water and still have the bubble wrap at home ! Your report rekindled many wonderful memories.<BR>Great reading tips for others who enjoy travelling solo and inexpensively too.