Urgent- Pleaseee HELP - Spain, Italy or France for Xmass and New years
Dec 3rd, 2016, 05:11 AM
#41
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,321
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Christmas is my favourite time in London!! Yes there is no transit on Christmas Day but if you stay central you can walk everywhere. Www.walks.com does a Christmas Day walking tour every year. There is so much to do, the city is all lit up and very festive!
Go for Christmas afternoon tea www.afternoontea.co.uk
Go see theatre, especially a panto!
Visit the many Christmas markets.
Eat some lovely food.
Here is some inspiration
https://flickr.com/photos/[email protected]
Enjoy!!
Go for Christmas afternoon tea www.afternoontea.co.uk
Go see theatre, especially a panto!
Visit the many Christmas markets.
Eat some lovely food.
Here is some inspiration
https://flickr.com/photos/[email protected]
Enjoy!!
Dec 3rd, 2016, 05:12 AM
#42
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,321
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Also the palaces all have Christmas stuff on
http://www.hrp.org.uk/
http://www.hrp.org.uk/
Dec 3rd, 2016, 06:48 AM
#43
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 5,234
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Lilly- the more you tell us, the more I worry. I'm inclined to say just stay in London. You've got so much working against you- your mother's energy levels, potential weather, the dates, the short notice. Even the reduced daylight hours. I do change locations like that on longer trips and I've come to the conclusion that no matter how organized and energetic you are, changing hotels and towns just about kills your entire sightseeing day. Ask your mother to consider the fact that many attractions are open 10-5. Unless you are very early risers, you'll spend each moving day mostly in transit. And it's tiring.
I've two suggestions:
1. Encourage her to make this trip all about the UK and point out that it would be both practical and fun to do a whole separate trip to Spain. There's no reason that she can't continue to travel. If budget is a concern, there's elderhostel. Or just normal hostels. My grandparents did Tauck tours into their 80s and really enjoyed that, if money is no object.
2. If she says no, this is her last hurrah and she wants to take full advantage- look into how much it would cost to alter your return flight. You might have to pay only the change fee because flight prices drop after January 1. You could stay for more days and economize in other ways. And hotels get cheaper after New Years too.
I've two suggestions:
1. Encourage her to make this trip all about the UK and point out that it would be both practical and fun to do a whole separate trip to Spain. There's no reason that she can't continue to travel. If budget is a concern, there's elderhostel. Or just normal hostels. My grandparents did Tauck tours into their 80s and really enjoyed that, if money is no object.
2. If she says no, this is her last hurrah and she wants to take full advantage- look into how much it would cost to alter your return flight. You might have to pay only the change fee because flight prices drop after January 1. You could stay for more days and economize in other ways. And hotels get cheaper after New Years too.
Dec 3rd, 2016, 09:34 AM
#44
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 9,660
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
You have booked flights to London so I would make this a trip to London which is a wonderful city to visit with much to do. I have been there several times and hope to make a trip there in the near future spending a couple of weeks exploring it further. It think you and your mother can have a terrific time there. This can't be the marvelous trip to Spain that your mother hoped to do with her husband so I wouldn't try to make it a less than ideal substitute.
Why not plan another trip to Spain when you have more time to spend there and more time to plan? For me, much of the fun of travel is debating the choices of where to go, taking a good amount of time planning the trip, anticipating the trip, talking about the trip, and finally going on the trip.
Why not plan another trip to Spain when you have more time to spend there and more time to plan? For me, much of the fun of travel is debating the choices of where to go, taking a good amount of time planning the trip, anticipating the trip, talking about the trip, and finally going on the trip.
Dec 3rd, 2016, 09:36 AM
#45
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 3,155
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I do not think your husband and son have as much free time as you think.
Arrival time is touchdown time and your plane still has to taxi to the gate, you have to disimbark and walk to immigration which can easily take another 30 minutes. LHR is also one of the worlds busiest airports and services more than 75 million passengers a year with 5 million last year between December 19-25. Traffic is almost all international so immigration is going to be jammed. I would be surprised if it was less than an hour. So you are down to about 8 1/2 hours at best. On the other end your husband and son will have to wait in line to get their boarding passes and check their luggage in and go through security. Probably also may need to change terminals. I have no idea how long this is going to take but I don't think it will be quick. One to two hours? Gate announcements happen about 30 minutes before departure. So possibly 6 hours left. This is just guesswork of course. Two hours for the Piccadilly line to and from London if there are no delays gives you 4 hours left. The Picadilly line was/is experiencing significant delays at the moment but hopefully that will be fixed by the time you arrive. I personally would just rent a room at the Yotel in Terminal 4 and rest.
I also would advocate London for you. Going onto Paris, which is the cheapest and easiest second destination is going to leave you close to dead by the time you get to your hotel. It also makes you rush through two great cities that have much to explore. Leave Spain for another time when you have time to see more than one city of a whole country.
Arrival time is touchdown time and your plane still has to taxi to the gate, you have to disimbark and walk to immigration which can easily take another 30 minutes. LHR is also one of the worlds busiest airports and services more than 75 million passengers a year with 5 million last year between December 19-25. Traffic is almost all international so immigration is going to be jammed. I would be surprised if it was less than an hour. So you are down to about 8 1/2 hours at best. On the other end your husband and son will have to wait in line to get their boarding passes and check their luggage in and go through security. Probably also may need to change terminals. I have no idea how long this is going to take but I don't think it will be quick. One to two hours? Gate announcements happen about 30 minutes before departure. So possibly 6 hours left. This is just guesswork of course. Two hours for the Piccadilly line to and from London if there are no delays gives you 4 hours left. The Picadilly line was/is experiencing significant delays at the moment but hopefully that will be fixed by the time you arrive. I personally would just rent a room at the Yotel in Terminal 4 and rest.
I also would advocate London for you. Going onto Paris, which is the cheapest and easiest second destination is going to leave you close to dead by the time you get to your hotel. It also makes you rush through two great cities that have much to explore. Leave Spain for another time when you have time to see more than one city of a whole country.
Dec 3rd, 2016, 10:15 AM
#46
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 2,699
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Personally, I'd just do London and Paris. The decorations, roasted chestnuts and holiday feel are had to beat in both cities, I think only NYC comes close.
If your mom still wants warm weather, I'd chose a cheap flight to Seville on a Eurobudget airline. But I'd also go back the night before returning to London to get a hotel there.
Just be aware that older people get tired easier. I took my parents aged 72 to Turkey and they both tired faster than they used to.
If your mom still wants warm weather, I'd chose a cheap flight to Seville on a Eurobudget airline. But I'd also go back the night before returning to London to get a hotel there.
Just be aware that older people get tired easier. I took my parents aged 72 to Turkey and they both tired faster than they used to.
Dec 3rd, 2016, 10:46 AM
#47
There are no direct flights from LHR to Seville the day they arrive on any airline. It makes no sense to do an overnight in London at both ends of an already very short trip.
"Warm" weather is in any case not guaranteed.
"Warm" weather is in any case not guaranteed.
Dec 3rd, 2016, 06:38 PM
#48
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 12,018
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Lilly,
I do hope you can convince your Mom to listen to all those advising you to stay in London.
I won't go into all my personal experiences that validate those opinions or the time I wasted on a trip trying to make an itinerary work that just didn't, and am not trying to be unkind to your Mom. The fact is the itinerary she wants to do is crazy anytime in 7 days, but impossible in 7 days of winter during a prime holiday, departing from Canada via London. You would be traveling at least half or more of 4 of your days, leaving only 3 whole days to be anywhere. That is a bad ratio of travel time (and money spent) to time being and experiencing a great European city. It is the exact opposite of a cruise where everything is planned and done for you and you travel at night, in a comfortable bed.
It was kind of others to check flights to Spain. It did seem logical to do two cities, one in Spain, plus London. I hoped one flight would actually work for someplace in Spain, but none do, so that kills going to Spain because you really do not want to split time in London.
This can be a fantastic trip for Mom and you. All you would need to do is book a nice hotel, make sure you have meals arranged for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Check times that palaces, museums, etc. are open. Pick a nice place to see fire works on NYE. The day you arrive, pick up last minute tickets for shows and concerts for evenings. Great shopping!
I do hope you can convince your Mom to listen to all those advising you to stay in London.
I won't go into all my personal experiences that validate those opinions or the time I wasted on a trip trying to make an itinerary work that just didn't, and am not trying to be unkind to your Mom. The fact is the itinerary she wants to do is crazy anytime in 7 days, but impossible in 7 days of winter during a prime holiday, departing from Canada via London. You would be traveling at least half or more of 4 of your days, leaving only 3 whole days to be anywhere. That is a bad ratio of travel time (and money spent) to time being and experiencing a great European city. It is the exact opposite of a cruise where everything is planned and done for you and you travel at night, in a comfortable bed.
It was kind of others to check flights to Spain. It did seem logical to do two cities, one in Spain, plus London. I hoped one flight would actually work for someplace in Spain, but none do, so that kills going to Spain because you really do not want to split time in London.
This can be a fantastic trip for Mom and you. All you would need to do is book a nice hotel, make sure you have meals arranged for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Check times that palaces, museums, etc. are open. Pick a nice place to see fire works on NYE. The day you arrive, pick up last minute tickets for shows and concerts for evenings. Great shopping!
Dec 3rd, 2016, 07:20 PM
#49
There are direct flights to Madrid (and Lisbon). However, checking historical weather at weatherunderground confirms that while it might be a little warmer in the daytime in Madrid, it will be significantly colder at night.
Dec 4th, 2016, 12:00 AM
#50
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 5,934
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
thursdaysd,
Not talking about LHR on the afternoon of 24th, I was reffering to 15 direct flights from London to Málaga on the 23rd. But 15 direct flights on the 24th as well (from Gatwick/Stanstead)
Not talking about LHR on the afternoon of 24th, I was reffering to 15 direct flights from London to Málaga on the 23rd. But 15 direct flights on the 24th as well (from Gatwick/Stanstead)
Dec 4th, 2016, 12:55 AM
#51
>>I was reffering to 15 direct flights from London to Málaga on the 23rd.<<
Since they are flying over night on the 23rd and arriving on the 24th that won't help them much.
>>15 direct flights on the 24th as well (from Gatwick/Stanstead)<<
They are already going to be frazzled enough without having to transfer from LHR to LGW, or even worse, Stansted. And they would have to leave 5 hours between flights
Since they are flying over night on the 23rd and arriving on the 24th that won't help them much.
>>15 direct flights on the 24th as well (from Gatwick/Stanstead)<<
They are already going to be frazzled enough without having to transfer from LHR to LGW, or even worse, Stansted. And they would have to leave 5 hours between flights
Dec 4th, 2016, 06:06 AM
#53
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 5,934
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
<Barcelona is her top choice in Spain. Seville is mine from what i found online, also my dad played acoustic guitar and loved flamenco dancers - I was told Seville has the best shows.>
Contrary to what many people think, there is a great flamenco culture in Barcelona, much due to earlier immigration from the South/Andalucía. In fact, many of the greatest artists on the current scene are from Barcelona and surroundings. And the greatest of them all, Carmen Amaya (1917-1963), grew up in a poor neighbourhood close to the Barceloneta beach where - as she said - the waves taught her to dance.
Her grand-niese Karime Amaya dances at Tablao Cordobes right on Las Ramblas all December, one of the most famous tablaos (flamenco restaurants) in the country. Her career is taking off right now, but only top of the shelf artists perform here: http://www.tablaocordobes.es/es
Clip of Karime Amaya: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CklXLAvSIyc
Tablao de Carmen (yes, the same Carmen Amaya) is also excellent. It's on the site where she made her public debut in front of king Alfonso XIII during the World Expo in 1929. http://www.tablaodecarmen.com/
One of my favourites, El Junco, in Tablao de Carmen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sENoCuTQYPs
Here is the greatest dancer on the current scene, Rocio Molina, doing her tribute to Carmen Amaya on the Amaya monument a few meters from the Barceloneta beach. An almost magical experience: https://vimeo.com/68734588
Trailer to a recent documentary about the flamenco culture in Barcelona: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BibV3tYo0U
The greatest flamenco artists perform in Barcelona theaters regularly. The program is updated here: http://www.deflamenco.com/conciertos...barcelona.html
Contrary to what many people think, there is a great flamenco culture in Barcelona, much due to earlier immigration from the South/Andalucía. In fact, many of the greatest artists on the current scene are from Barcelona and surroundings. And the greatest of them all, Carmen Amaya (1917-1963), grew up in a poor neighbourhood close to the Barceloneta beach where - as she said - the waves taught her to dance.
Her grand-niese Karime Amaya dances at Tablao Cordobes right on Las Ramblas all December, one of the most famous tablaos (flamenco restaurants) in the country. Her career is taking off right now, but only top of the shelf artists perform here: http://www.tablaocordobes.es/es
Clip of Karime Amaya: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CklXLAvSIyc
Tablao de Carmen (yes, the same Carmen Amaya) is also excellent. It's on the site where she made her public debut in front of king Alfonso XIII during the World Expo in 1929. http://www.tablaodecarmen.com/
One of my favourites, El Junco, in Tablao de Carmen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sENoCuTQYPs
Here is the greatest dancer on the current scene, Rocio Molina, doing her tribute to Carmen Amaya on the Amaya monument a few meters from the Barceloneta beach. An almost magical experience: https://vimeo.com/68734588
Trailer to a recent documentary about the flamenco culture in Barcelona: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BibV3tYo0U
The greatest flamenco artists perform in Barcelona theaters regularly. The program is updated here: http://www.deflamenco.com/conciertos...barcelona.html
Dec 4th, 2016, 06:16 AM
#54
@kimhe - I know you see your role on Fodors as encouraging people to visit Spain (do you work for a Spanish tourist office?) and you often provide valuable advice, but please stop cluttering up this thread with irrelevant information. The OP can't get a direct flight to Barcelona the afternoon of the 24th either.
She needs to either stay in London, or go to Madrid or Lisbon, and once she decides she needs help finding somewhere to stay and eat, not a lot of links about flamenco.
She needs to either stay in London, or go to Madrid or Lisbon, and once she decides she needs help finding somewhere to stay and eat, not a lot of links about flamenco.
Dec 4th, 2016, 01:23 PM
#55
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 5,934
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
thursdaysd,
Something I missed here?
The Op wrote: "Barcelona is her top choice in Spain. Seville is mine from what i found online, also my dad played acoustic guitar and loved flamenco dancers - I was told Seville has the best shows."
As you said, it does help if you actually read what the OP says.
Something I missed here?
The Op wrote: "Barcelona is her top choice in Spain. Seville is mine from what i found online, also my dad played acoustic guitar and loved flamenco dancers - I was told Seville has the best shows."
As you said, it does help if you actually read what the OP says.
Dec 4th, 2016, 01:47 PM
#56
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 49,560
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
OK, let's back up and try to be reasonable. Is it possible for the OP to get from LHR on the 24th to Barcelona or Seville? Direct flight? I can't imagine them being comfortable with that scenario after the drive from Buffalo to Totonto, and overnight flight to London, but if it's possible maybe they could endure it.
PS. I'm NOT going to do their flight scheduling for them. It's late here in Europe and I've had a long day. If someone else wants to do it fine.
And if there isn't a direct flight from LHR to Barcelona or Seville at the right time on the 24th I'm back to my original advice, which is just stay in London for &*ˆ%%'s sake!
PS. I'm NOT going to do their flight scheduling for them. It's late here in Europe and I've had a long day. If someone else wants to do it fine.
And if there isn't a direct flight from LHR to Barcelona or Seville at the right time on the 24th I'm back to my original advice, which is just stay in London for &*ˆ%%'s sake!
Dec 4th, 2016, 01:58 PM
#57
kimhe: >><i>Something I missed here?
The OP wrote: "Barcelona is her top choice in Spain. Seville is mine from what i found online, also my dad played acoustic guitar and loved flamenco dancers - I was told Seville has the best shows."
As you said, it does help if you actually read what the OP says.</i><<
But the OP has ALSO told us -- the travel dates (problematic), her mom has physical limitations (problematic), their flights are in/out of LHR (problematic), the very short timeframe (problematic) and more.
You are focusing on the Spain bits and ONLY the Spain bits. If they were planning from scratch they could have a terrific trip to Spain and your info would be helpful. But they are sort of boxed into a corner and their dream Spanish holiday probably isn't doable/practical . . .
The OP wrote: "Barcelona is her top choice in Spain. Seville is mine from what i found online, also my dad played acoustic guitar and loved flamenco dancers - I was told Seville has the best shows."
As you said, it does help if you actually read what the OP says.</i><<
But the OP has ALSO told us -- the travel dates (problematic), her mom has physical limitations (problematic), their flights are in/out of LHR (problematic), the very short timeframe (problematic) and more.
You are focusing on the Spain bits and ONLY the Spain bits. If they were planning from scratch they could have a terrific trip to Spain and your info would be helpful. But they are sort of boxed into a corner and their dream Spanish holiday probably isn't doable/practical . . .
Dec 4th, 2016, 01:59 PM
#58
As I said a number of posts ago, NO IT IS NOT POSSIBLE to take a direct flight from LHR to Barcelona or Seville. I did check. Try reading the whole thread, kimhe, instead of automatically pushing places in Spain.
Dec 4th, 2016, 02:06 PM
#59
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 49,560
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks, thursdays, for doing the actual research. I'm dragging here after a very long and tiring two days and would have checked it, but meh! Since we haven't even heard back from the urgent original poster, I figured it would be best to just get in bed and read and sleep.
I think it's pretty damn obvious the OP can't do any justice to Spain on this trip, flamenco or anything else aside.
I think it's pretty damn obvious the OP can't do any justice to Spain on this trip, flamenco or anything else aside.
Dec 4th, 2016, 03:31 PM
#60
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 298
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thank you again to all of you who replied. I am immensely grateful.
I have read your posts, I just had out of town guests to entertain and was not able to write back.
I actually did print them all too, and I re-read them as well.
Is there any way I can reply to each post or i have to do one general reply here ?
I have read your posts, I just had out of town guests to entertain and was not able to write back.
I actually did print them all too, and I re-read them as well.
Is there any way I can reply to each post or i have to do one general reply here ?
