Powell : I like your answer. Travel truly is a way of finding truths.

It is also a way of discovering things : The way people in similar circumstances as yourself live everyday, their outlook on life and the things they value in it, the beauty to be found in the most complicated of things and also in the simplest things. Travel makes you count your blessings and realise the value of belonging somewhere, however much you may complain about it. It also puts perspective on things, and makes me long for my bed at home.

DLN : How true. We all need to get out of our everyday surroundings in order to....well, forget about them and think differently for a bit.

All that being said, I travel for the gorgeous women everywhere. (Except Scotland.............Kidding !!!)

one reason i particularly enjoy european travel is that as i have my own business and when travelling within the US, i'm really too close in touch. when i'm in europe i simply let it all go with the realisation that i'm gone for ten days and i'm not going to come back to "fix it" (at least not at that moment's notice).

the two times i go overseas per annum are the only non-stressfull periods of any given year: no irate phone calls, no employee hassles, no sense of urgency...no nothing. i love it.

No one has yet mentioned the pre-trip planning which, for me, is at least half the fun of travel. I love to plan a trip, and I start maybe a year or at least half a year in advance, trying not to peak too soon.

As for travel itself, I go to new places in the world to see different peoples, cultures, traditions, arts and artifacts, and natural environments.

I go to places that have some significance in my family, to see relatives and understand my ethnic heritage.

I go back to places I have traveled or lived, to recapture the past. Paris and the Burgundy region of France will always recall for my husband and me our newlywed selves on our honeymoon. Oxford will always recall me as the graduate student.

Always, when deciding where to travel, I am torn between venturing out to new places and going back to familiar places to revisit the past.

I know I'm early but next March will be the first trip to Europe and I'm starting to reserach now. As far as the airlines go, I think I read her before that many "regulars" to Europe generally try to fly on "foreign" carriers and NOT on 747's...is this the case? <BR> <BR>I'll be traveling from Los Angeles to Heathrow and will go Non-stop for sure. I see British Airways and Virgin flights but they both fly the 747's...any thoughts? And does anybody have any idea about a "decent" airfare for this flight? <BR> <BR>Thanks for your help/thoughts/opinions!!!

We like BritAir because of their non-stop flight from our city to London (flies into Gatwick), very clean planes, good food, good service, tres chic hats on the female flight attendants. We're willing to pay a few extra $$ for the non-stop convenience (usually it's actually cheaper than the airlines with connecting flights - go figure). Unless you fly business or first class, no matter what airline you're on, you will be squished like toes in a cheap pair of shoes. Resign yourself to this immutable fact. <BR>Don't plan your trip around the airline; plan your trip, then look for airlines. If, for example, it's a cheap flight to London, but you really want to visit Athens, then what's the savings? <BR>Airfare in March is iffy - Jan/Feb are usually the cheapest (after the holidays, nobody travels, it's cold, what nincompoop would go to London in this weather, let's give away the tickets); March/April is getting more expensive (when's Easter? that can drive up the price). Our flights in February are usually about $500 from the southwestern part of the U.S. to London.

Mike, From LAX look into the United Airlines 777 flight direct to Heathrow. I wouldn't recommend any other flight--just the one with the 777. Reserve the 2 seats next to the window--the plane has 2 together then an aisle on either side. It's not wonderful, but it certainly beats a 747 or, I think, the nasty attitude of British Air. It depends on what city you fly out of what type of crew you get on BA. It appears, but I may be wrong and will stand corrected, that from California we get the older and less tolerant and more fatigued flight attendants. That seems to be the case whether on foreign or domestic airlines. It would be interesting to hear from others on this opinion. At any rate the UA 777 is tolerable and that's all I expect these days in a coach fare seat. We go to Europe a lot, frequently to London from SFO and always try to get the 777 flight. If you book a couple months ahead, you'll be successful.

Ditto sentiments on the 777 flight on United - great plane. Have taken them several times on business (fortunately sitting in business class), but hear they have the best coach section. Virgin would also be fun as they are a much more "hip" airline. first to have individual entertainment screens for each seat in coach. if you have a bunch of credit card or frequent flier miles to combine a business class upgrade (even one way during the night flight) is well worth it to get the trip off on the right foot.

If you want great flight, safe aireline, good food and a 34" seat pitch instead of a 31" AND seats with adjustable head and foot rests and thin backs (same seats other airlines use in business class) then fly Air New Zealand. They do now fly into London and Frankfurt. Check the cheap flight forum www.eurotrip.com as your vacation gets closer and to check on airfares for Air New Zealand go to www.rebel-tours.com or their website

Mike - <BR> <BR>Had the best overseas flight of my life on Virgin - flew nonstop from Orlando to Gatwick and it was delightful. Best in-air service I've ever had. Yeah, seats are still tight (we lucked out with the bulkhead on the return flight, though and it was great) but the service makes up for it a little. If I ever fly to London again, I would only go with Virgin!

Oops - almost forgot - we booked a March flight in August the year before and got a spectacular $400 per person fare on Virgin - they were running a special and booking VERY far in advance always helps. Plus, March is still kind of off-season - it's a bit chilly over there and the fares are still a little lower. Once you hit April, they shoot up. Good luck!

Mike, <BR> <BR>I just got back from London. Flew British Airways - they have all new 777 planes for the North America to Europe routes. Wonderful, clean, roomy, and you have your own video screen so you can select the movies (or tv shows) you want to see.

We normally fly British Airways - they connect at Heathrow to just about everyplace in Europe so it is easier to do it that way too. We fly from LA usually and they use 747's on that route - never had any problems really, crews were all nice and professional, food was exceptionally decent. No flight of over 10 hours is fun but it was tolerable, the crew was very attentive even in coach class. The only thing I hate about them is their 13 lb limit for carry on bags (l per person) in coach, that is not much believe me! In the past we've flown American (horrible .. cramped seating, lousy good), TWA, and going a ways back PanAm and British Caledonia (anyone remember them????) Usually we just stick with BA tho.

oops -- I meant lousy good with American!!!

oops....I meant lousy food with American!!

Lori, if I was a follower of Freud, I'd think you really liked the food on American and are just having a tough time admitting it. I mean, two slips?

Brian in Atlanta, <BR>Can you believe I did that twice - that is what I get for talking while typing I guess. (I have to admit I feel like an idiot tho!!) Actually I did have some decent food on American once, lasagna on a flight back from Maui. Did I spell this all right??? I better get off this Forum and go hide for awhile.