Planning trip to London this Summer

You have to weigh out what's important to you.  For us, it was owning our own home after 4 years of renting.  And as I'm the only one who has to worry about travel, it seemed a no-brainer.

I would much rather this commute - approximately 1.5 hours by train & tube/bus where I don't have to worry about the driving and can read or sleep or whatever - than the one I used to do in Florida, driving 45 minutes to up to three hours each way.  And, interestingly (or not!) I cook a "real" dinner 4 out of 5 nights when I get home, unlike my usual M.O. in Florida which was drive-thru meals 4 out of 5, as I couldn't be bothered to cook when I got in.

I'm with you! Let me tell you my travel experience for today, being in Phoenix, AZ. I woke up at 6:30 AM, I started driving to Tempe (Arizona State University) at 7:00 AM and I arrived at my "parking lot" at around 7:45 AM, approximately 45 minutes later. I then drove in circles trying to find a parking spot for 8.7 miles, taking me 30 minutes to do so. I then walked to the bus stop for another ten minutes, and then waited for a bus for five minutes, and then rode the bus for another 5-8 minutes and THEN began walking to see my professor, which took another 5-8 minutes. I didn't see him till about 9:30 AM, so from my house to his office (approximately 24 miles away) it took 2.5 hours. WHAT!? It's crazy. Granted today was exceptionally bad, but even on a great day, I can't make the 24 mile trip door-to-door in under an hour.

(-) Parking
(-) Driving
(-) Accidents

It's not even about the time really, I'm fantastic with time management. If I was on a train or bus or anything else for the entire time I could have been studying, reading, sleeping, eating, whatever. You cannot really do anything while driving in traffic and trying to find parking. Even with audio of course material retention and comprehension is much, much lower when you are trying to drive, not to mention dangerous. So bring on the tube traffic, because I'll pick that over driving traffic with me in the driver's seat every day.

Anyone know any other references to universities that offer cheap short lets during the summer? How early do those start popping up? I'd think they would start by now, but if what you're all saying about everything in London happening the week or day before applies to university dorm lets during the summer as well, then maybe not. Maybe we can rent a dorm and also rent a refrigerator  .

Sure is mind-boggling at how many scams there are out there. Had somebody respond who was supposed to be a 24 year old woman who was born in Sydney, yet attached plural (s) to just about every word. It read just like a craigslist India scam. They speak English in Sydney! Fortunately the plural (s) on everything and the request at 450 GBP to start the contract was quite a tip off!

It often takes the bus two hours here in Cambridge to go 5 miles from my work to home due to narrow roads and bad traffic management.  That means standing outside in the rain and cold waiting.

Often I will walk home as it is always faster.  I'd rather have my car.

So I was just curious, is there any cool scenery on the Eurostar from London to Paris? I understand a great deal is water, but other than that? I think we're gonna take a trip to Paris for a day or two during our stay. We won't want to stay in a hotel though because it'd be too expensive. What's the price of an average Paris brothel? Or could we drink a ton of energy drinks and go for 48 hours straight? Or is there nothing to do in the wee hours of the night in Paris?

By the way, has anyone seen Passport to Europe? That lady has the best job ever =/.

So I was just curious, is there any cool scenery on the Eurostar from London to Paris? I understand a great deal is water, but other than that?

Only about 30-40 minutes of the 2.5-hour journey from London to Paris is water, although considering that the tunnel is underground, you'll be unlikely to see any water anyway - just a dark, brick tunnel:). I guess you'll see the scenery of northern France on the way to Paris, although from what I remember, it's mostly fields and power lines!

In terms of places to stay, you can probably find a cheap youth hostel in Paris - if you do a google search for Paris youth hostels, it comes up with rates as cheap as $19 per person per night. It's probably going to be the Eurostar tickets that will set you back the most in terms of cost, though - depending on days and times a standard round trip ticket can cost anywhere from £60 to £300 per person.

It's probably going to be the Eurostar tickets that will set you back the most in terms of cost, though - depending on days and times a standard round trip ticket can cost anywhere from £60 to £300 per person.

Yeah I noticed that it was basically a minimum of 60 GBP for a round trip. That's a little unfortunate, but I think it'll be worth it as we're not really doing that much sightseeing or spendy vacationing. I couldn't believe how high the tickets could get, up to 225GBP for one way back? Do you get your own cab with unlimited booze, food and massage therapists!?

Yeah I noticed that it was basically a minimum of 60 GBP for a round trip. That's a little unfortunate, but I think it'll be worth it as we're not really doing that much sightseeing or spendy vacationing. I couldn't believe how high the tickets could get, up to 225GBP for one way back? Do you get your own cab with unlimited booze, food and massage therapists!?

I have no idea, lol!

Alternatively, you could also look for cheap flights to Paris if the Eurostar prices get too high - www.easyjet.com currently have fares in July from £23.60 one way (incl. taxes).

Any tips with actual flight carriers? For example, would it be worth it to pay $75 extra for American Airlines rather than Air Canada? I don't even know, maybe Air Canada is better. I'm just curious because 15-20 hours is a long trip!

The lady does say we get access to all appliances/kitchen and have our own bathroom.

i live in bellingham washington, and most the people I know who fly go with air canada over any american airlines, air canada is great.

We are looking at a flight with 3 hour time gaps each, sounds perfect.

Problem with this flight is it's saying 6 hrs from Phoenix to Philly, that seems a bit much. Anyone know if that sounds a bit right or is the Airbus just a jankey plane?

i hate airbus haha

I know you're primarily interested in London, and who could blame you? It's a fabulous town.

Have you considered staying in Brighton? It's a beautiful seaside town, it isn't horribly far from London, and they have a decent selection of hostiles. It has a day life, a night life and often times concerts and festivals are held there in the summer, so you'd be in the middle of the action. It has its own train station in the middle of the city that you could get to by foot. I also don't think it'll be nearly as expensive as staying in London.

I just think if living in England is truly your passion, staying in London the entire time and being on "tourist mode" for a month isn't going to give you any insight to what it's like to live here.

I live two miles from Gatwick airport, and often see planes flying over our house. Nearby we have Arundel (gorgeous little town with a castle well worth seeing), Hever Castle, Hampton Court, Leeds Castle, various medieval summer festivals all within an hour's travel from our place.

Contemplate Brighton and maybe book a London hotel via priceline for a couple of long weekends. Then you'd probably get to see more of England that way.

brighton is soo beautiful, my favorite place in england, ive bugged my wife to move there, but she only wants to stay in london..

i live in bellingham washington, and most the people I know who fly go with air canada over any american airlines, air canada is great.

Aww, Bellingham!  I grew up on Bainbridge Island and remember trekking up there for weekends to visit all my friends at Western...

We won't want to stay in a hotel though because it'd be too expensive. What's the price of an average Paris brothel?

I think you mean hostel not brothel. 

If so, there is always: http://www.hostels.com/en/index.html

I think you mean hostel not brothel. 

I can only imagine what Freud would make of that!!!!

I think you mean hostel not brothel. 

Never assume with UKY posters!