My first Uk visit soon, is a Credit Card good enough?

If you're travelling all this distance to come and see her, can she not come and collect you at the station?

Or doesn't she know you're coming?

She doesn't drive.

She doesn't drive.

She could get the bus, I always pick my DB up at the airport, even now he lives here! Mostly because I've missed him, but also to help with luggage etc.
I was about an hour early the first time he came to make sure I didn't miss him and I wanted to make sure, after a long flight and a confusing airport, he had a friendly face and some help.

I don't drive either, I used a combination of bus/trains.

Well she's currently unemployed as well and funds are limited at the moment for her.

Well she's currently unemployed as well and funds are limited at the moment for her.

If you sent her money for the train/bus and you both used public transport , it would be cheaper than you getting a taxi.
Even a short taxi ride could be £5-£10 depending on how far it was and in what city.

If you're asking the most basic questions about arriving in the UK (nothing wrong with that! it's your first time out of the US after all, very understandable) then it sounds like her help when you arrive would be really useful for you and sending her about £20 for the train would probably enable you to avoid spending more than that on taxis etc

Have you two met before? A first airport meeting is always exciting anyway, and she can be on hand if you have any problems at immigration. 

If you sent her money for the train/bus and you both used public transport , it would be cheaper than you getting a taxi.
Even a short taxi ride could be £5-£10 depending on how far it was and in what city.

If you're asking the most basic questions about arriving in the UK (nothing wrong with that! it's your first time out of the US after all, very understandable) then it sounds like her help when you arrive would be really useful for you and sending her about £20 for the train would probably enable you to avoid spending more than that on taxis etc

Have you two met before? A first airport meeting is always exciting anyway, and she can be on hand if you have any problems at immigration. 

No we havn't met yet. Looking forward it! Problem is she's terrified of planes and airports, so we can't meet at the airport..though she has said she could possibly try to brave her fear of it for me, but I don't know if i want to put her through it. I could send her some funds to meet me somewhere, maybe at a train station. That could be nice.

No we havn't met yet. Looking forward it! Problem is she's terrified of planes and airports, so we can't meet at the airport..though she has said she could possibly try to brave her fear of it for me, but I don't know if i want to put her through it. I could send her some funds to meet me somewhere, maybe at a train station. That could be nice.

Meeting at a half way point sounds like a good compromise Like the train station in her town or in London if you fly into a London airport. Then you'd just need to get on the right train at the airport (which isn't too hard)  and she can help you deal with local trains and buses which is a bit more complicated

Meeting at a half way point sounds like a good compromise Like the train station in her town or in London if you fly into a London airport. Then you'd just need to get on the right train at the airport (which isn't too hard)  and she can help you deal with local trains and buses which is a bit more complicated

That sounds like a plan! It's already scary enough to figure out where to go from the aiport! 

A taxi from Cambridge station to my house is less about 4 miles and costs around 13-15 pounds depending on traffic.  The main taxi company just lowered the prices, they used to charge extra to go the surroundning villages and have now removed that fee.  I haven't taken a taxi since, so I am not sure how much it will cost now.

My husband used to take a taxi from Cambridge to Heathrow, it was about 70-80, but that depends on where in Cambridgeshire you are going to and it was a good two years ago.  Pathner Taxis in Cambridge lists the fees for going to the airports.   

Meeting at a halfway point sounds like a plan Usually when Steve flies into Portland, he takes the light rail through most of Portland into the metro area where I'm at (I don't drive either, and my mom isn't keen on driving over the Willamette River ) and I'll meet him when he gets into Beaverton. Then we ride the rest of the way back to my house, so it's kinda like the halfway point for us.

But, this time I think I'm gonna meet him at the airport--I can't sit around and wait for him to call me and tell me he's coming up to Beaverton, I'd rather wait in the airport

Well my destination is Cambridgeshire

Can you tell us where in Cambridgeshire you are going? Armed with that information it might be possible to suggest you best route. For example, if you are going to somewhere in north-east Cambridgeshire, not too far from Norwich, maybe your best route might be first to Amsterdam, and then a short hop across to Norwich airport.

Can you tell us where in Cambridgeshire you are going? Armed with that information it might be possible to suggest you best route. For example, if you are going to somewhere in north-east Cambridgeshire, not too far from Norwich, maybe your best route might be first to Amsterdam, and then a short hop across to Norwich airport.

Sure, I'll update when I'm closer to the holiday and have more solid plans!

Ah sorry, I thought you were going to meet someone in a specific location!

I think it has been suggested in another thread that your girlfriend meet you at the airport...

Vicky

I think it has been suggested in another thread that your girlfriend meet you at the airport...

Vicky

I don't remember what thread that was, but yes it was suggested. However she's terrified of airports, so it's not an option.

Ah sorry, I thought you were going to meet someone in a specific location!

Yes I will be, but I don't know where that is yet as I havn't made any solid plans yet.

Just to add in my 2p again, because I can't help it It's extremely helpful to have the person waiting for you at the airport, IMHO. I would be wandering around Birmingham at this moment if Steve hadn't come to pick me up and drive me back to Northampton--emotionally speaking at least, it's much less stressful to have a guide get you out of tricky situations even if you guys still end up taking a train or bus. Hehe, I found overall you'll end up relying on your SO for a *lot* of info, just where things are at, what shops to go to, what pubs are decent, etc.

The only reason Steve doesn't mind taking light rail when he's here is it's so bloody uncomplicated. Get on red line, take red line till it stops, call me, and I come and collect him. I'm not sure if it's that easy in the UK, we didn't embark on that adventure when I was there 

I know she's really scared, but this might be the thing that gets her over her fear; her excitement will supercede her phobias, and it's something she might seriously want to look into if you guys plan on doing any US traveling in your long-term future