Planning trip to London this Summer

I really use http://www.tripadvisor.com/ a lot.....

They have appartment hotels, as well.

Or try hostels (book well in advance for couples / families rooms, i.e a.s.a.p.)

Hostel sites (you can become an international hostel member and get room discounts, losts of hostels have family and couple rooms now):
www.hihostels.com/
www.hostelworld.com/
 

hey! i havent found any good deals on STA travel. I used to live in Phoenix and my family still does, but now I live in Glasgow (and have never had a problem. It is my favourite city in the UK and I've been to quite a few of the major cities...I think it's due to the nature of the people here, it's great, so come visit!) and travelling from Phoenix to the UK I usually have taken Northwest or American as they ended up being the cheapest. Orbitz.com has always given me the best deals, but kayak.com and travelocity.com and expedia.com are others which I have purchased from in the past. I think you will find good places and dodgy/dangerous places in MOST major cities in the UK (and pretty much the world for that matter, especially Phoenix lol). Have fun planning the trip, I think I booked in March last year for a trip in August and it cost me $820.00 which was good for summer fare on US Airways I thought.

Further to the deposit scheme, ask for evidence in advance that she is registered on the scheme and has the necessary escrow account.

Vicky

Yeah we definitely haven't seen anything for $850 from Phoenix. From NYC or LA maybe, but not Phoenix.

We've found a lady that has a place on Westminster with 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. She is single, 30 yrs old, professional. Wants to rent out a bedroom/bathroom to us for 150 GBP a week. We think we might do it, I'll have to ask her all the info you guys gave here (thanks!) I know I said we didn't want to share a place, but we can't seem to find one by ourselves (no matter how rundown) for that kind of price. We'll keep looking and try to decide. Any advice?

Thanks again.

Oh I'm sorry, I've just heard that it's very dangerous in Glasgow. But I'm probably just a stupid spoiled American.

Yeah probably.

Glasgow is one of my favourite places... i lived there for 10 years, husband comes from there, friends & family live there, etc.
Not saying you SHOULD go there... in fact, people like you probably shouldn't (if indeed you are a stupid spoiled American, as stated above), but... don't knock it till you try it. 

Was just being humble I'm actually quite intelligent and I'm certainly not spoiled. I heard the Glasglow thing a couple times and remember reading about an actor that I like that was ripped open from mouth to ear from some burglars outside a bar. But that of course can happen anywhere.

But that of course can happen anywhere.

Genau!
Ermmm, i mean... exactly!

Yeah we definitely haven't seen anything for $850 from Phoenix. From NYC or LA maybe, but not Phoenix.

We've found a lady that has a place on Westminster with 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. She is single, 30 yrs old, professional. Wants to rent out a bedroom/bathroom to us for 150 GBP a week. We think we might do it, I'll have to ask her all the info you guys gave here (thanks!) I know I said we didn't want to share a place, but we can't seem to find one by ourselves (no matter how rundown) for that kind of price. We'll keep looking and try to decide. Any advice?

Thanks again.

Do you get access to the kitchen?  Is there a washing machine?  If so, that's okay for a short term let.

Vicky

yeh i'd make sure all of that and see if it includes utilities, etc. I think that sounds OK for London prices, I can't tell, my rent is £450 a month for a 3-bedroom house outside Glasgow so it sounds pricey but I hear London is a bit expensive to live in, so it might do you well and maybe this lady will be cool and give you tips/pointers of where to go! I booked my trip last year on expedia.co.uk from PHX to GLA on US Airways, flying into London is usually cheaper so yeh I was suprised I got the ticket for £425 ($800)! keep checking, especially mid-March. After that, I think its harder to get a good deal for the summer.

Might be worth checking out the accommodation web pages of universities in large cities, as many (including the University of London) rent out rooms in student halls of residence during the summer.

I'm 99% certain Roehampton lets rooms during the summer. It's in a nice area of SW London, at least I think so based on the few times I've been on campus so far this year.

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.

There's usually very little difference between carriers, and for every good thing somebody can tell you about one, another person can tell you a bad thing about the same one.

I will say this, though... I met two Air Canada pilots in Manchester last year. They were doing the flight from Toronto (I think) to Manchester, and had a night off in the city. Nice guys, very strange night. Me, an American, two Australian professors I met at a conference, and the two Canadian pilots. People peeled off through the night until it was me, the female professor, and one pilot, wandering around town after last call, looking for toilets and a strip club.

Most of the carriers are good, I like the European ones better, but it may be worth it to see what plane they fly and what time the flights are at. When I travel, if I have an early morning flight going to the UK, and getting there the next day, I feel really worn out, so I tend to choose a flight with the least amount of stopovers for the best price. BA has the best direct flight from PHX to LHR, but it can be pricey. Check out ba.com anyways, might be worth it. Obviously all the aeroplanes are good and will get you there, but American somestimes uses the 777 plane from Dallas to London and it is such a lovely plane! The 767 is nice too, but I've been on US Airways and Continental and they have used the 757 plane which is smaller meaning less leg room for me and less space to walk about. Being 6'6 this is important to me . Not sure what air canada uses, but most carriers going to London will probably use a bigger plane. I suppose I go for the cheap deal, but comfort for the long journey is important to me . My mum always takes American, I usually go for Northwest, British Airways/KLM or US Airways, but if there's a cheaper deal I hop on it! . KLM gives you a hot towel hehe. It's part of the experience for me I guess. If you're just going for price, go for the cheapest one...Air Canada is supposed to be nice.

I flew Air Canada this winter.  The main problem was the snow squall that sprung up while I was waiting in the airport.  Luckily it passed before my flight. 

Other problems, only some of their flights have tv in the seatbacks, a big issue for me since I usually don't sleep.  The other major issue, Toronto Pearson was the most boring sirport I have ever ever ever been in.  Seriously, it sucked.  So bad.