Preparing parents for their visit to Britain

Terinth, i hear you.
My passport-less parents will never visit me, but if they DID,  im sure it would be one endless complaint after another, because it's different from their happy little world.

"Passport-less parents" - that's exactly what I always thought about mine, and their complete and total lack of previous intention to ever come is what’s worrying me now. They asked at one point whether they could fly into Dublin and take a train to Norfolk. Okay technically I suppose they could, sort of, but it does make me wonder just how much they know. At least they haven’t asked about Paris being the capital. So I suppose I should be more precise and say it's the baby they're coming to visit, not me and my husband at all...

But Terinth's experience is exactly what I'm trying to avoid. (Just the mere fact that endless complaining is itself frowned on is one of those things I’d like to address!) I’ve warned them that the bedroom is upstairs, as is the toilet, and I expect they’re also going to have a hard time with the prices being/seeming so expensive—the exchange rate isn’t in their favor. I don’t really know if they’ll be able to cope with the concept of changing money anyway.

Maybe understating the issue is indeed the way to go--Marlespro's idea of saying "Don't expect it to be America, just with a funny accent. Expect it to be different"  leaves it completely open and makes them start wondering. Has anyone tried to get their visitors to develop a taste for tea?

I can't offer that much help here as the bulk of my family are either seasoned travelers or arm-chair travelers. I will post a link to my 'guide' if and when I ever do it! What I can say though, is that you cannot make them love this place if they don't want to or, even do want to and just don't. All you can do is make the transition as easy for them as possible and try not to apologize to them for things that are normal here. If they complain a lot, just be very matter-of-fact about it 'that's the way it is here'. It might also be useful to have a few reminders of anything back home that drives you or them mad up your sleeve, too. No place i perfect. Focus on the great history here, the beauty, etc. Is there anything you parents do like (sewing, trains, whatever) that might present an opportunity to explore here?

And as for the tea, well, my family lived in India for a few years so I grew up on the stuff anyway! Most tea shops have decent coffee as do pubs and restaurants.

Good luck!

Hi, I've been lurking on this topic for a few days ... wondering whether to post but (a) I'm the Brit of our couple and (b) Lisa's folks are seasoned travellers.   However - here's my 2 cents' worth.

I was on a flight from Fort Lauderdale to Gatwick a few years ago, in the company of lots of travel agents who were visiting England so that they could see what it was all about and know what to recommend to their customers. Theirs was a 4 day trip ... so I said "but you won't see very much in that time."   "Yes, we will" they assured me - "we're seeing London and Stonehenge and Startford Upon Avon just like all our customers will - we don't need to do anything else".

Which set me thinking ... why not get the professionals to deal with your parents / visitors ... - have them book a tour where they'll be gladhanded around Britain for the first few days at least, introduced gently, helped through the thinks you take for granted.  But have them book a tour where they can extend their stay for a week or two of "free time" which they can spend with you .... after they've been softened up.

When my best friend came to visit, it was her first trip out of the Pacific Northwest (Washington/Oregon).  I had given her all sorts of "tips and clues" before her trip to make it easier on her, but it was still difficult for her to grasp a different culture.

Her biggest shocks were the money, the transport system, the food and the accent.  Given I am in Scotland and the accent is just that much harder to understand.  She was also a bit upset with the general lack of "customer service".

I would just instil in them that the only thing American and the UK have in common is the language, and even that is a world of difference, as we have all learned.  Good luck, and have a great visit with the folks.  I'm sure it will go fine over all.

I'd really warned my mom that it was different to what she's accustomed to.  I'd told her all about it for 4 years.  I seriously tried to paint a picture of what it was like.  Still.. I think I'd have been better of taking her to a Holiday Inn on the outskirts of Phoenix.  I was EXTREMELY disappointed with the whole thing.  I didn't post about it here afterwards because I was just too.. exhausted/distraught over the whole thing.  She complained about the food, having to walk everywhere (which I told her months in advance that she'd be doing.  Told her to take walks every day for like 8 months before the trip.. she didn't listen, and then complained the entire time about it), the cost of things, the fact that everything wasn't kid-friendly, the expense, the small'ness of things.  It just.. it hurt our relationship for a few months afterward.  Not something I'd ever consider with her again.  She's happy and comfortable in America and thinks any other way of doing things isn't as good.  Shame really.  I did try.

I think everyone's suggestions are quite good. The one I would like to mention to my Mother when arriving in England is to *talk quieter* Sorry to offend anyone but Americans by our very nature and accent are LOUD. Wow, even when I arrived in Toronto before taking off for London the Americans were instantaniously recognisable as they were the loudest and most vocal about every little thing.

This was even more apparent when on the tube and a group of American young  people would be obnoxiously talking louder than anyone else, or the American family who didn't know which "subway" stop to get off at.

For my part I too am quilty of this, at work the ladies loved how talkative and loud I was Though of course, as an American I never realised that hehe!

cheers,

Samantha***