This England: Looking Back -- Some Thoughts on Travel

First, I want to thank everyone who has hung in here with my many posts on our England trip. I've loved your comments and hope I have answered some of your questions. This post might answer a few more. I wanted to wrap up with a few thoughts about travel in general (and maybe England in particular.)

All good things come to an end. We boarded our plane home from England, tired and happy -- ready to get back to Lizzie and not ready to leave! 

It was a trip that was a long time in the making. It was supposed to happen in 2020 and we all know what happened then -- definitely not overseas travel in the midst of a pandemic. Then 2021, but that, too, was still Covid time. Then, some walking and back problems put things on hold even longer. When we finally made plans for fall 2024, it was like a dream come true. (Most of the photos in this post have little relation to the content. I just liked them!)

I suspect many of you have plenty of travel, foreign and domestic, under your belts. And I've been grateful so many have commented on the travel tips in the past posts in this series. I wanted to add a few thoughts and observations from the trip as we close out this series. These relate to traveling for pleasure, not business, though they might apply there as well.

Walking around in Bath

On Packing

I have had a long, uncomfortable history as an over- packer (and taken much grief and abuse for it!) . I have learned my lessons! Wheels on suitcases were a great invention but nothing is better than being able to pack what you need into a bag that goes on the plane with you, so that you don't risk lost luggage or a long wait at baggage. 

My first trip to Paris, 2009. That's a full-size suitcase, travel bag, under bag, purse and rolled poster, waiting to be checked through. Never again!

Three weeks is a long time for a carry on, but we both did it. Below is a page from the travel journal I've been working on with my list. 

With a carry on and an under-seat bag, you can work for a good period of time (We made it three weeks.) It MAY limit the kinds of things you can bring home, but if necessary, you can pack an extra foldable bag to check on the way back or have larger purchases shipped. I managed to buy eight books, some breakables, lots of socks, Christmas cards and other smaller things and still got it home in overhead and underseat bags. 

For three weeks you don't need three pairs of pants. I did wear them all but just two black -- dressy and jeans (preferably black -- they stay cleaner longer) -- will do. Most places, even in the cities, are more casual than they used to be. You can dress anything up with a colorful scarf or accessories.  (We were lucky in that we did have laundry available after the first week and one could always use hotel services or find a nearby laundry if needed). Bathroom sinks worked well for washing tops, socks and underwear. And, you may find something you like with your travels -- a souvenir shirt or sweater is always fun!

Cardigans are useful -- they can be worn over something to layer or buttoned up as a light sweater for another look.  Comfortable black walking shoes will eliminate the need for a second pair of shoes. (And I love to use packing cubes to keep my stuff organized!)

Health and Safety

 

If you have medical anxieties (as I did) talk with your doc. I was very concerned about getting Covid overseas or one of my semi-chronic MRSA infections or a bronchiectasis flare. My docs sent me with emergency medicines for all those things. I only needed the prednisone for a flare but just having them eased my anxiety. (Include a complete medication list with you packing, along with dose and why you take it.)

Grazing sheep at Snowshill

I don't leave home without disposable rubber gloves (still have some left from Covid or from crafting?) I used these on public stair rails and on the tube. And yes, hand sanitizer. I also brought breakable ice packs and yes, they were used. All eight of them.  I was pleased I didn't use the foldable walking stick I brought but I was glad I had it with me. 

I've heard some say "I could never travel there -- it's not safe." And, for some places, that may be true. But don't let that keep you away. Just let that make you aware. And don't accept the news headlines as what a whole country may be like. (I'm thinking of protests and demonstrations, for example.) Things happen everywhere -- even at home. The rules are the same -- be smart, be alert, be prepared. 

Neal's Yard, London

(I will say that for those who speak English only, the UK is a good spot to travel without a tour in that if you need help or directions, it's easy enough to ask.) And, our alphabet is the same, so it's not so much of a challenge to read a map or street signs as it might be in a country like Japan with its very different form of writing.) But people are pretty helpful everywhere and even if language is a problem, one can usually find someone to help you get from point A to point B!

Finances

In England, at least, everything worked by credit card, including all mass transit, which meant we didn't need to worry about cash. That said, take two credit cards and an ATM card if you can, just in case one stops working mid-trip. (And yes, my credit card, which eliminated international fees, stopped scanning and swiping mid-trip. I did use my ATM and the bank removed the fees from that when I returned home but it was still frustrating.) 

Outside St. Pancras

If you don't have a card that waives international transaction fees, get one. You'll save a lot on added fees, especially for dining, theatre tickets and shopping. 

Some banks have reciprocal arrangements with European and UK banks. This means you can withdraw cash from the ATM with no additional fee from your bank. Check it out.

If you're carrying a purse, be sure to have a bag like a cross body bag where you can keep better hold and awareness of your valuables. And leave expensive jewelry at home. You might also consider a hidden money belt or the version that is a pouch that goes around your neck and can be under your shirt or jacket for cash.  

Several people asked me how much our trip cost. For our three-week trip, Rick and I spent about $3,900 each for the entire trip, excluding personal shopping and gifts. This included all flights, three round-trip and one one-way train rides, buses and ground transport, like tubes. It included a week in a lovely cottage and two weeks in a lovely hotel in a safe, convenient neighborhood (with breakfast). It included all food and snacks, admissions to several museums and three historic houses, three plays and five concerts. Breakfast was included in our London hotel and while we'd sometimes grab a sandwich for lunch at a Pret or a street vendor, we did not skimp and eat on the cheap. (We also didn't dine at the Ritz!). In Bath we bought food for our breakfasts and some lunches and made dinner at home a couple of times. We weren't cheap -- but we didn't go all extravagant, either.

The lobby at the Swiss Cottage Best Western

In other words, yes -- that's a chunk of change. But Google tells me a one-week Danube river cruise for one can cost anywhere from 2,834 to $5,858. That may (or may not) include air fare to your destination. We were gone three weeks, so you do the math. We were pleased.

Planning and Prepping

Be sure you have your passport and visas in plenty of time. Now one needs an electronic visa for the UK and will for Europe, if not already. Make sure you have what you need in plenty of time.

Copy those documents for your baggage and scan on your phone or someplace where you have electronic access to them in case they are lost.

The Tower of London

You can pretty much find any info in travel books online when you go, so don't worry about bringing the guide books you used to plan your trip. (Or rip out special pages.) In foreign language countries, a phrase book might be helpful. I prefer a paper map to a phone map so I can get a bigger picture. It helps to get one before you leave home so you have a lay of the land. The Knopf series is my favorite.

A pub in Cardiff

We had a list for the two of us of "must do" and "would be fun to do." This is helpful because sometimes weather plays a role in your decision of the day. We always had back-up.

Getting tickets to major exhibitions and theatre is helpful and can be done from home and saved on your phone or printed out before you leave. It can save waiting in lines -- or disappointment!

Try to get out of town. If you are based in London or another major city, try to arrange time outside of town. If you drive, you have some freedom. Buses and trains are easy to manage and reasonably priced. And tours may not show you all the local color but will at least allow you to see some sights out of the area. We enjoyed a wonderful market day in Frome, country walks near Bath, and a road trip that took us to historic homes and fun antiquing. It provided a richer and more diverse look at the country itself.

Snowshill Village

And finally, I again emphasize that splitting up and doing what you want (while your travel companion goes a different way) can be a very good thing, especially when time is short and the ease of going back is financially challenging. Just make a plan of when and where you'll meet up.

Thanks again for being here for this journey with me. Now it's time to move on to posts from home and soon, for more Postcards from the Lake!

 

I've shared a lot of my favorite travel tips over this series of posts but I know I have lots to learn! So please share some of yours in the comments! (All the England posts are archived in the tab on the menu bar above.)

Sharing with:   Love Your Creativity    /   Share Your Style   /   British Isles Friday