Fodor's Travel Talk Forums - Your best money-saving tips! (Britain especially)

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www.visitbritain.com has a special offer right now on the Great British Heritage pass - buy two for the price of one! It lists several tourist centers that are offering the special - you cannot take advantage of the deal until you are in the country. I was obsessing about buying passes for our children; I could not decide whether the cheaper entrance fees for children made the pass uneconomical - this offer made the decision for me! Always looking for a bargain.....

Always be mindful of the fact that there is more than one "Britain" and not all of it is expensive. London Hotels are insanely priced, but you can save a good amount by using hotels that are a bit further out and commuting into the centre to see the sights etc (after all that's what we natives do everyday). Also remember that there is a "natives" market and a tourists market. There are many places in London that would simply fold if it were not for tourists trade. They are usually awful and expensive and don't have to build a repeat business clientele. The Angus Steakhouses are an extreme example of this, as are most west end pubs and clubs. Eat where the natives eat (ask us we don't usually bite, and most Americans are too big to eat :0). There are many areas of good restaurants that are off the tourist trail that offer excellent food of all types etc and are still very accesible (eg Battersea, Clapham, Stoke Newington Church st, Upper St Islington, Putney etc). You will have a better time and pay a lot less. Most major museums are now free, although they do charge for special exhibitions (around £5-10). The restof Britain is significantly cheaper than London, but the same advice about following the locals still holds true

Marita, tried unsuccessfully to find the 2 for 1 offer of the Great British Heritage Pass on the visitbritain web site, did you have to go through Britrail or another agency for the offer. Thanks for your help, Deborah

Go to Boots. Cheap cokes (50p), even ready to go sandwiches (cheap). Film, batteries, emergency toiletries and over the counter drugs.

Deborah For two-for-one on Great British Heritage pass, try this - http://www.visitbritain.com/usa/special_offers/gbhp_offer.htm Does that get you there? Marita

For vacation rentals throughout UK, try www.gtunlimited.com. We've booked two places in the Cotswolds and a flat in London through them for a trip we're taking in June. They represent properties with a wide range of prices, but almost always far less than we would have paid at a hotel or inn. Obviously haven't actually lived in the places yet, but they look wonderful.

Amen to Boots!! Cheap snacks and beverages. We stopped in practically everyday to buy a Coke or Pepsi! We stayed in London and saw several Boots, and there was one each right in the heart of Oxford and Stratford. Nice to pick up a nice COLD beverage to enjoy on the day trips!

Wanted to share (I can't believe the deal I've just got!) For cheap - basic - clean - Summer -London Accommodation you can get an unbelievable deal at the Imperial College (South Kensington & Notting Hill Gate). These types of accommodation are for those that are out and about most of the day and wish to spend their hard earned money on other pleasures. And for those posts that talk about Notting Hills Gate being dodgy just try and compare it to Brixton and areas outside the City of London. Do what the locals do - have a handbag that has a zip and don't hang it over your shoulder but strap it across yourself and have it in front of you. Anyway I digress. I've just got a deal at the Pembridge Gardens Halls of Resident a single ensuite room for all of July for just £19.50 a night (inclusive with contin. breakfast). Unbelievable. Check out their website... http://www.ad.ic.ac.uk/conferences/ South Kensington Halls of Residence - Prince's Garden - 5 Nights for the Price of 3 Single Standard Bedrooms £118.50 per stay Twin Standard Rooms - £177.00 per stay 3 Nights for the Price of 2 Single standard Bedrooms - £79.00 per stay Twin Standard Rooms - £118.00 per stay Rates subject to availability includes Full English Breakfast and V.A.T Valid for arrivals on any day of the week. No restrictions except 24 hour cancellation policy apply. Valid from to 28th of March to 16th of April 2002 and from 24th of June to the 22nd of September 2002. Notting Hill Halls of Residence - Pembridge Gardens - Single Standard Bedrooms - £15.00 per night Single Ensuite Bedrooms - £19.50 per night Twin Ensuite Bedrooms £29.50 per night includes V.A.T. and Continental Breakfas Please note this rates are valid for a stays that are a minimum of four weeks and above and are subject to availability Rooms available from 24th June to 22nd September 2002. _________________________ These rates IMHO are unbelievable for central London! A place where you have your own room and a shower and toilet for under twenty pounds. Some of the cheap B&B were more expensive and looked downright tacky. It's my understanding that staying in Halls of Residence is a considerably safer bet than booking with a private hostel or youth hostel. With the Halls they would much rather cater for groups that are coming to London for conferences etc. Earlier posts quite rightly said that often some hostels can be used for young beer partying folk as well as for London's homeless whereby standards are often not well maintained. Anyway I was so amazed at this deal I just had to share!!! Other sites during my research.. http://www.budgetbritain.com/places/london.asp#hostel

if you can get the GB Heritage Pass 2 for 1 it is an absolute no brainer. At full price for most people it saves 2 to 3 times its cost. if your entire trip is in London it is not as good a bargain - but does still save if you go to Hampton Court, Windsor, Tower Bridge and the Tower. If you ARE a 2-3 castle/garden a day person it saves even more. If you just go a few places then it saves at least its price. The main reason is that besides the historic and National Trust sites (Stonehenge, Sissinghurst, Hidecote, hailes Abbey etc. etc.) the Pass also covers most of the privately owned and Royal properties - which tend to be more expensive. Blenheim, Warwick, Windsor, Chatsworth, Castle Howard, Longleat, Beaulieu, Woburn Abbey, etc are all privately owned and cost between 8 and 11 GBP each. So it is easy to save a LOT of money.

Marita, thank you, thank you, thank you the web address you gave allowed me to print out the form that I will turn into the tourist information center at any of several places in Scotland, you have certainly helped me save on the heritage pass. one more thanks, Deborah