International Travel Advice needed
 

I am going to England for two weeks next month to visit a friend who lives in Essex. I have never
1. Been to England
2. Taken an international flight.


What advice can you folks give me that would make the travel and the stay less bumpy???

International flights are long. Try to get an aisle seat so you can get up and move around a little.

Wear socks through security so you don't have to walk around the airport barefoot. Don't pack stuff that has USA voltage plugs unless you absolutely have to - buy or borrow cheap replacements while you're there. Make sure to pack all essentials and at least one change of clothes in your carry-on bag; getting luggage lost on an overseas trip is a huge hassle and it can take a while for your stuff to show up. Also, don't be that person who tries to game the system by overpacking their carry-on to a point where it takes three flight attendants to jam the bag into the overhead compartment. My heart is always filled with glee when those people are forced to gate check their bags.

Oh you'll have so much fun. What airline are you flying? Please say British Airways...they are the best and have tea service, which is just awesome.

I assume you'll be taking a red-eye there...just try to get as much sleep on board as possible. Will your friend be picking you up to take to you Essex or will you be taking the bus. The bus is very accessible and easy to navigate. Public transportation in the UK (in general) is much better than a lot of US public transportation.

Will your friend be spending the whole time with you or will he/she have to work during the weekdays? There are a lot of things to see in the UK and it's really a pretty small island. If you are staying for two weeks, I'd try to do a few days in Wales if you can swing it (book into a B&B, they are nicer and less expensive than hotels). It's really not far of a drive and is just stunning! Check out the British National Trust (http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/) - there are lots of properties around Essex that would be great cultural things to see. Spend some time in London too since it'll be so close. Maybe take in a West End Theater show -- I did a girl's weekend in London for my 30th birthday (we were living in England at the time) and we saw Wicked...it was AMAZING!

You'll have a fab time! It's an amazing place! We're dreaming of getting back there!

Also make sure to see if your sorority has an alumnae group there -- you could hook up or get some local advice from those living nearby. :-)

White Daisy, you are quite right about flying BA! : ) I travel quite a bit to the UK. Though my English friends may whinge, I just love BA (which says something about flying Stateside.) BA is a bit more expensive but the price is all inclusive (meals, two small botles of wine, blanket) and none of this line item tally. Only one caveat --- beware the British versions of Italian dishes, the sauces were sugared! Weird. Never ordered it in-flight again, so maybe it was an anomoly.

TC, be sure to stay hydrated. The wine is nice, but it is no substitute for water, and it is easy to become dehydrated when you fly.

Leave the hairdryer, etc at home. But if you do have any US voltage appliances, you can pick up a converter for about 7 pounds at any if the airport shops at Heathrow. Will you be taking the Express into London or will your friends meet you? Getting a ticket and accessing it is easy.

Also, if you like international foods, truly some of the most fantastic Indian cuisine can be had there.

English breakfasts can be an experience! Beans (as in baked beans), no thanks. But the grilled tomatoes are nice with eggs.

Lastly, you'll want your credit card, not travelr's checks. I wish we had chip and pin here in the States, but we don't so getting cash can (depending) be a varied experience.

Cheers!

It will definitely be chillier and damper than Charlotte! Check the weather on-line, so that you can pack appropriately. (Checking in the US will also provide temps in F versus C). Don't overpack. And if you forget toiletires, there are shops galore with wonderful products, including trustystand-by Boots.

And lastly, don't mix up your teas! : )

High tea is pub grub, not fancy china and finger foods. High tea =supper. The scone and china tea is simply "Tea".

You will have so much fun!

YES about the Indian food....OMG I'm so craving it now Pinkseuins! There is no good Mexican food in the UK (seriously the local Mexican place where we lived in Cheltenham pronounced quesadillas EXACTLY like it is spelled - Kay sah dill ah -- seriously?! But the Indian food is sooooo good!

Beans on toast is popular for breakfast! So funny. And watch out for the black pudding (blood sausage!). Ick. And bacon is different too...way less fatty and greasy...more like "Canadian Bacon."

When buying things with a credit card (which is definitely better than travelers checks - or cheques as they would say), make sure to say you have a "swipy card" -- that will clue them into what to do with it (all of their credit cards are chip & pin so they clerks don't even hold the card usually). Oh, and your friend will let you know this, but if you pay with a credit card in a restaurant, they'll bring the machine to you...they won't take your card out of your sight. And don't tip as much...10% is usually MORE than enough.

Socks are your friend and alcohol is not. A flight attendant told me one time she drinks a liter of water for every hour in flight. That is a LOT of water, particularly when you want to sleep as much as possible. Just use that as a guideline to drink a lot more water than you think necessary, and that means not waiting for the flight attendants to come around. Get up and go to the galley for water at least every hour you're awake. Besides, it's an excuse to get out of your chair. And notice I did not say soda, tea, coffee, wine, beer or anything else that is not WATER.

And regardless of what anyone says, if you're flying economy, they ALL suck. Going in with low expectations for comfort, customer service, food, etc. will go a long way toward making the flight tolerable.

SigKapSweetie is exactly on point. The flight to England isn't too bad. It's basically the same time from New York to London as from LA to New York. So yes, it sucks, but one of these days you'll be flying WAY further. I wouldn't take a sleeping pill for that length (unless you are on a flight that is at least 8 hours long), but you definitely want to do everything you can to get into relax mode ASAP once on board. Noise cancelling headphones (that technology is completely beyond my comprehension) are invaluable. They're expensive so maybe you have a friend from which you can borrow. In lieu of that, get ear plugs.

If you can at all afford it, try to get the Premium Economy, Economy Plus, whatever your airline calls them. There are several reasons beyond just the additional legroom and recline, like there usually aren't kids in those seats and the air is better in the front of the plane instead of the back. Same with exit row. Bulkhead (the front row) is a bad choice for lots of reasons on a long flight.

OK, one last thing. As soon as you sit down, turn off the fan. All those do is force the bacteria into your face faster. And take lots of deep breaths. Part of the reason people feel bad after they get off a flight is because they have been denied sufficient oxygen.

Check out www.magellans.com - things I've found to be super-useful:

- No Jetlag pills - they really helped me. I usually get VERY nauseated when hit with jet lag but these helped keep it down to a bearable level.

- Good Night Sleep Mask - I have trouble sleeping on a plane. These helped on the plane and during my trip. I can't sleep with pressure on my eyes, so the molded eye cups on these are important to me.

- Econo-high foot rest - I'm 5' 2", so this helped support my legs and feet.

- Last but not least, the First Class Sleeper! I've only flown the dreaded coach to Europe - but using this made it far more comfortable.

I also have a security bag with a steel cable in the shoulder strap - luckily, I've never been in a situation where someone tried to do a cut and run with my bag, but it was great for my peace of mind. HTH!

White Daisy -- LOL at the swipy card! That is spot-on!

Oh, and jacket potatoes! TCSparky, a jacket potato (baked poato with skin) with a topping could be just the ticket for a rainy, chilly day.

White Daisy, the variety of regional Indian cuisines available makes me jealous!! And we are soon entering the season for the tiny mince pies. I literally pack my suitcase for the return trip with boxes from Sainsbury's. Actually, visiting Sainsbury's is a top priority outing for me!

Wear layers on the flight. Being too hot or too cold for that much time is MISERABLE.

DubaiSis is correct on upgrading to Premium Economy if you can. The extra space is worth it. (I am a little person and even I appreciate it.). Don't forget to check your setaback pockets two or three times before deboarding -- you don't want to forget anything! And though DubaisSis is right about water, I still like the little bottle of wine on BA .. : )

Depending on the airline, be careful about the bulkhead seats in the middle. That is often where the families with babies sit bcause of the room for babyseats and gear. If they cry on ascent or descent, it often is because of ear pressure and they do not know how to "pop" their ears. For you, TC Sparky, chewing gum can help pop your ears.

Duty free shopping at Heathrow is extensive. This summer I saw name brand bags for half of the price they sell for in US.