First trip overseas

[sbagirl]

I am planning my first trip overseas, to the U.K. in July, and have a lot of questions, some of which may seem pretty elementary. I’m going for an event with a group so all hotels and ground travel from the first hotel are included in the registration.

I haven’t flown very often and never this far (my longest flights were from PA to CA and back). What can I do to make the flights more comfortable? I’ll be flying coach, unless I can find a really good deal on an upgrade. I haven't booked flights yet and might be on British Airways from the US to London.

What’s the best way to get from Heathrow to the first hotel in London?

I’ll probably have one day for sightseeing and I’m interested in riding the London Eye. I don’t want to overdo it, but what else do you recommend I see or do in the vicinity?

What’s the best way to pay for things? Credit card, convert currency in the UK, convert currency in the US before I go, use a MAC in the UK, AmEx Travel Card? I have a AAA Travel Card which I think can be used internationally.

What do I do with my passport while traveling? We’ll be moving around and staying in numerous hotels so I don’t want to put it in a safe and risk forgetting it.

What else should I know for my first international travel experience?

Thanks!

[kib]

Flying: I really like having a window seat if I can get it. Check in often to see when you can reserve a seat ahead of time. The closer you sit toward the front the less noisy it will be. If you have an emergency exit seat or a bulkhead seat you will have more leg room. Jet lag can be a killer. I try to get myself on the time schedule of the country I'm going to before I get there, not easy but great if you can manage it.

The easiest way to pay for things is probably to use a credit card - be sure you get one that doesn't charge a foreign transaction fee. Then use your ATM card to get a little bit of local currency.

Passport: money belt. Be aware that in some countries the hotel will want to hold your passport, I'm not sure if UK is one of them. While it's a bit nerve wracking, this isn't anything to be worried about, it's SOP.

Have fun! Try to learn a bit, and then not be worried about the food or customs too much ... the best thing I've found is to be open to new ideas, and laugh at yourself a bit. Whether it's Peoria or Pakistan, locals do not appreciate being told How It's Done At Home (and why can't you do that here), as if they've had it wrong all this time.

[iris lilies]

As far as sightseeing goes, I would stay far away from Buck House (Buckingham Palace) because you will stand in for hours and see very little. If you have only 1 day for sightseeing, that pretty much boils down to two events: an AM event and a PM event. Then, if you push it, an evening theatre event but that is cramming in a lot of stuff. I've been to London several times and still have not done the Palace tour.

Since you've chosen 1 thing already, the London Eye ferris wheel, find other things in that immediate vicinity that interest you. Those will be your PM event.

There is too much to see and do in London for me to give recommendations, you have to choose the things that you like. For me having 1 day, it would be spent at the Victorian and Albert museum because I like applied arts like textiles, costume, jewelry, etc. YMMV.

[Gardenarian]

Hi - I went to the UK last summer. I was also pretty nervous, but everything was fine.

Use your credit card when you can. If you don't have your AMEX set up to use as a debit card, give them a call and they will give you a pin so you can withdraw money from ATMs. ATMs are plentiful. You generally get the best exchange rate when using your credit card for purchases in restaurants, shops, etc. Get some pounds at the airport ATM (or money exchange booth) so you have cash for tipping, snacks, etc.

There is easy public transport from the airport to London and you will have no trouble finding it. Really, they make constant announcements and there are lots of signs (in English!) and people to help. The Tube is fantastic (and I'm a person who hates public transportation.)

I kept my passport in my suitcase, locked in the hotel room. In the UK you do not need to give the hotel your passport. In fact, the only time I used my passport was at the airports. Do make a photocopy of the photo page of your passport and carry that in your wallet. This will make it easy to get a replacement if it goes missing.

It's a long flight for sure. (We flew from San Francisco.) Our flight on the way out was a newer plane that had personal TV screens for every seat. That was great, I had my own Lord of the Rings marathon, dozing on and off. On the way back there were no movies, and it did seem a lot longer (it is one hour longer flying West) and I slept less. If you can download a movie to your laptop or phone, do so. Your plane may also have electrical outlets, though those are in heavy demand.

Get up and move around the plane as much as you are able. Get a lot of exercise the day before you go (or if you are taking a red-eye, get lots of exercise that day.) That will really help your circulation and make it easier to rest in the seats. Google for exercises that you can do while seated - isometrics, ankle circles, etc. Basically, it's just long and dull. I'm a small person so the seats weren't horrible, but I'm glad I'm not any bigger.

Bring a bottle of water on the plane. Though I don't usually by plastic water bottles, they are lightweight and easier for traveling. I bought a large bottle of water at the airport and just kept refilling it the entire trip.

Don't bring a big carry on. It will be hard to find a place for it and a hassle for everyone. I brought a backpack (the size used by students for books) and a small wheeled carry on suitcase. Keep your valuables and essentials (meds, etc.) in your purse or backpack. On both flights we were asked if we would mind having our carry on suitcases stowed, and we opted to do that. It's actually easier than fighting for an overhead place, and doesn't cost anything. If you need to bring a lot of stuff, just use a larger suitcase and pay the fare. I get really annoyed at people who bring two enormous bags as "carry on" luggage (and so does everyone else.)

London is my favorite city. There are lots of double decker tour buses (the upper level is open air) and I highly recommend taking one of those to see the sites. Many offer all day on/off privileges, so you can just hop off if you see a park or museum or pub you like, then get back on an hour later or so. It's a great way to see the city if you are pressed for time. The tour guides are generally very knowledgable and funny. Don't worry about finding one - they'll find you. You can probably get one that includes a discount ticket for the Eye. Be aware that the line for the Eye is one hour or more (we didn't do it, but would like to sometime.)

You'll have a fantastic time!

The jet lag when traveling East can be pretty bad, but just power through and eat heathy food. Coming back is easy.

[kib]

Re the water bottle, you probably know this from domestic travel, but bring something empty and fill it at the water fountain after you go through security, you can't take an 8 oz bottle of water or a full nalgene bottle through the checkpoints.

Also: I don't know how long you're going for, but they have toothpaste and shampoo in London. While you wouldn't want to spend hours of precious time tracking down dental floss and qtips, it's also not necessary to pack personal items to last a month.

[Ali]

Sbagirl ... If you find yourself near Stonehenge be sure to give me a shout and I'll make you a cup of tea :-)

[iris lilies]

Sbagirl ... If you find yourself near Stonehenge be sure to give me a shout and I'll make you a cup of tea :-)

I went to Stonehenge back in the day when you could walk up and touch the giant rocks, before it was all corded off. But no, I am not old enough to be one of the original placers of those stones. :0!

[Ali]

Iris lilies ... You still can touch the Stones at the Soltice celebrations :-) and I have pictures of my husband on them when he was young. I'm not native to these parts, but I do find Stonehenge an amazing sight and consider myself fortunate to pass by there on a weekly basis:-)

[SteveinMN]

Things I haven't seen others mention:

- For meds, last time we flew internationally (November) the Theater of Security Agency (TSA) required us to travel with the meds in their original container with the Rx labels on. Since we get our maintenance medications on-line, they come in 90-day quantities. We took only the number of doses we needed plus 1 (just in case). Consider packing aspirin, etc. in checked luggage; it's easy enough to come by where you're going and it saves the hassle of some imperious TSA agent "interpreting" the agency's rules for you.

- Make copies. Paper copies. Prescriptions, if you need them. That special page of your passport. Print an itinerary even if you'll have one on your phone or in your email. Cheap insurance for very portable information.

- In my carry-on, I like to bring a bunch of newspapers/magazines/whatever I've been meaning to read. Once I read them (in the plane, in the terminal, etc.), I either leave them for someone else to read or recycle them.

- Stuff to carry on: spare pair of eyeglasses, sunglasses, eyeglass repair kit, travel pack of tissues, necessary electronics (like the charger to your mobile phone if you'll be listening/watching or it's your game machine/alarm clock/whatever), empty plastic shopping bag (takes no space but is useful for wet items, dirty clothing, etc.).

- If you have a mobile phone and plan to make calls with it, check your carrier's policy for making calls/texts abroad. The old advice for people with GSM phones (in the U.S., AT&T and T-Mobile) is to buy a pay-as-you-go SIM for the phone, but for short trips and in some countries, it's just far easier to take the roaming charges rather than sign up for a new phone number for however long.

As for the flight itself, I like window seats, though they are a bit of a pain if you plan to get up and stroll about the cabin often. Consider bringing an inflatable pillow or using a jacket, etc., as a pillow. I try to keep my carry-on small enough to fit under my seat; seems I always end up parking a bigger bag someplace away from me (again, a pain in a window seat). Some airlines will let you upgrade to make sure you get a window seat or an "Economy Plus" seat for a little more legroom; you can decide how important that is. On our last trip to Europe, we flew Minneapolis-Toronto-Iceland-Paris. Sounds kind of like a milk run, but it was nice to know that you didn't have to be strapped into your seat for that long before you could stretch your legs on the ground.

Good luck! Used to be traveling was half the journey; anymore for me the destination has to make up for the pain of getting there and back. :(

[Packy]

Okay--your itinerary. First, go up to the Tower o' Londun, and see the chopping block where King Henry's insubordinate Wife lost her head. Let it be a valuable lesson to you. When he tells you to "go in the kitchen and make me a sandwich and bring me a beer while you're at it", maybe you'll pay heed. See? Then, take a bus to Livverpool, and take another guided tour bus around town called "The Magical Mystery Tour". It goes to the Beetel Museum, it goes to "The Cavern", and you stalk en masse by the former boyhood homes of Lennon and McCartney. It is hard to believe that at one time those old geezers were little boys, isn't it? Then, if you want to, you can take a side trip out of the country to the mainland, go to Mother Russya, and visit Lennons' Tomb in Red Sqaure in Mosgow. I don't know why they buried Lennon there; maybe cemetery plots are cheaper. After that, head back to London, and have a spot o' Tea n' Crumpets, and then Fish N' Chips. Rent a jolly buggy from Avis(because they try harder), and drive over to Glascow(or is it Eddiesburgh?), and just drop in on our friend Ishbell. Don't bother to knock--just walk right in, set right down, daddy let your mind roll on. That's about it. Hope that helps you some. Thankk Mee.

[sbagirl]

Thanks for all the suggestions - very welcome and appreciated! I’m going to print out this list and try to figure out some things. To answer some questions:

I’ll probably get to London on Thursday morning and find my way to the hotel. I’m planning to have Friday to do whatever, then our group is meeting at the hotel Saturday afternoon/evening for a reception. Sunday morning, we’ll get on buses and go to numerous amusement parks, staying in different hotels as we travel around (hence the question about securing my passport). I think we’ll end at the first hotel. If that hotel has a safe (not an in-room safe), would it be wise to lock up my passport there? I believe we’re scheduled to go to 14 parks in 12 days, or something equally crazy. If you want the list, let me know.

I’m planning to only take one rolling suitcase plus my totebag. A friend suggested that I check with the hotel to see if I can store the suitcase there on arrival, before check-in, since I don’t want to drag it around.

I’m not much interested in Buckingham Palace, Tower of London, Harrod’s. etc. but will be happy to see them in passing. I like the idea of the tour buses that I can hop on & off.
Someone mentioned Stonehenge. Due to numerous requests, a stop at Stonehenge has been scheduled for the first day. I’ve been to Foamhenge (http://www.thefoamhenge.com/) and am looking forward to seeing the real thing.

I have a cell phone but it’s an old flip phone, nothing fancy. I’m considering getting an inexpensive fancier phone for the trip, especially if it can double as my Kindle, GPS, etc. Any recommendations for phone and/or apps? I don't want to overcomplicate this.

Thanks again!

[shadowmoss]

Pick up a used cell phone from a friend. Or, if you use ATT, Consumer Cellular or ATT Go phones have a couple of inexpensive-ish smartphones. Consumer Cellular will work on ATT for phone and 2G with a SIM from that company. With CC, you buy the phone outright so you don't have a contract.

[Gardenarian]

Hi sbagirl,

I brought my smartphone with me but for technical reasons beyond my comprehension, it would only place calls/text/email where there was wifi. So I mainly used it as a camera. Virtually all of the hotels have wifi, so I was able to email my dh and do research at the end of the day.

People have suggested to me that buying a cheap pay-as-you go phone in London (we are planning another trip) is the way to go. Honestly, I didn't feel the need to make phone calls.

Do drop your suitcase and check in at your hotel early. The people at the hotel can help you decide where you might want to go and how to get there. We would never have ended up in Camden Town (so cool!!) if our hotel people hadn't suggested it. They can also tell you where to pick up an inexpensive snack, that sort of thing.

The first day you will be tired, but try to stay awake till bedtime. Get outdoors - London has miles of parks, and just taking off your shoes and walking through the grass is really revitalizing.

A thing I do on every trip is buy a postcard each day, and every evening I write down the highlights of the day on the postcard. It's an easy way to keep a brief travel journal, with pictures :)

[Sulevia]

Hi Sbagirl,

How exciting, though sad you'll only have one day for sightseeing - London is one of those places that takes forever to explore! I've been here over twenty years and still discover things daily... it is so weird....

I love the London Eye, and if the day is sunny, it probably is the best place to try and get a view from above, however, this being London, the weather is - as you probably know - unpredictable! Plus, even with a pre-booked ticket, you'll still have to stand in the queue for quite a while. If you are not absolutely adamant you want to do the wheel, you can go climb the Monument (a tower which was built between 1671 and 1677 to commemorate the great fire of London), it stands at 160 ft and you can see in all directions across the City, you'll have to pay about £5 to get in and be prepared to climb 311 steps to get to the top, but - that sells it to any of my visitors over the London Eye - you can get a 'certificate' if you climb all the way up and down :D If you check it out on Flickr, some people have pics of theirs, it does look real official - well, it is in fact...

Plus, to get to monument, you'd go through the old parts of the city, with streets with lovely names such as 'Pudding Lane', or 'Poultry Street' or 'Fish Street Hill'....

And if the weather is playing up, don't forget that most museums in the UK are free, although of course, donations boxes at the entrance welcome a little contribution!

I never knew about Foamhenge, that is hilarious :laff:

[SteveinMN]

Pick up a used cell phone from a friend. Or, if you use ATT, Consumer Cellular or ATT Go phones have a couple of inexpensive-ish smartphones. Consumer Cellular will work on ATT for phone and 2G with a SIM from that company. With CC, you buy the phone outright so you don't have a contract.

You might want to check with your phone's carrier for the ability/charges for use outside the U.S. Some U.S. carriers offer international roaming/texting as part of your service plan, but may allow it only on postpaid accounts or monthly prepaid plans, not pay-as-you-go. Even at a fairly high price per minute/text, though, this probably will be much cheaper and far less hassle than buying another phone and another SIM and airtime.

If you plan to buy service in London, make sure 1) the phone is GSM (in the U.S., phones on the T-Mobile & AT&T networks are GSM; GSM is the standard in Europe [indeed, most of the world]); and 2) make sure the phone is not locked to a U.S. carrier (if the seller can't tell you that the phone is unlocked, it almost certainly is not and you won't be able to use another/European carrier for wireless service). n.b. Consumer Cellular phones are locked to CC, but you may be able to plead your case and have them unlock it early.

Wi-Fi certainly will work almost anywhere, but many/most phones will not be able to place/receive calls over Wi-Fi. And public Wi-Fi is notoriously insecure. But for sending quick emails and pictures, that may not be a huge deal.

If you do buy a smartphone and apps, you might want to look at mapping/GPS apps which will let you download maps to the phone through Wi-Fi/Bluetooth so you don't need to download the entire map wirelessly as you walk/ride. I use an app called Scout on my iPhone; I don't know if it's available outside the U.S., but it does let me download maps so it's not so vital to have 100% service 100% of the time. You might also think about a cheap Garmin/TomTom/Magellan GPS that can handle walking directions, though that is one more thing (and an adapter) to carry around.

[jp1]

With google maps you can download a map onto your phone. It won't be able to provide directions since it needs internet access to be able to do that, but you'd at least have a map of the area. To do this, when you have internet access (wifi or cellular) get the area you want to download onto your screen and in the search bar type "ok maps" (without the quotes). It will download all the map data for that area onto the phone so that you have a detailed map. You can zoom in, etc. with it. You can't download the whole world because that would be too much data, but you could probably download most of London.

[jp1]

You might want to check with your phone's carrier for the ability/charges for use outside the U.S. Some U.S. carriers offer international roaming/texting as part of your service plan, but may allow it only on postpaid accounts or monthly prepaid plans, not pay-as-you-go. Even at a fairly high price per minute/text, though, this probably will be much cheaper and far less hassle than buying another phone and another SIM and airtime.


Definitely look into this ahead of time. I had to go to Canada for work last summer for just a quick one night trip. I checked with my carrier, Sprint, and found that if I turned on Canada service ahead of time I could use my US plan for the low, low additional price of $50 per month. Or I could just use the phone there for insanely expensive charges per MB of data. I opted to just use the wifi access in the hotel. I also learned that iMessage (the iphone messenging app that works with other iPhones only) works over wifi. SMS messaging (standard text messages) only works over the cellular network, so I couldn't do that even when I had a wifi connection.

If you decide not to use your regular phone while there make sure you leave it in airplane mode the whole time you are there. Otherwise you may get nailed for some pricey international roaming charges that you didn't plan on.

[befree]

simple advice - pack the most necessary items in your carry-on: all meds, toothbrush, hairbrush, at least one change of clothes and underwear. Then if your check-on luggage is lost, you will still be inconvenienced but not toally, miserably stranded.

[profnot]

Eyewitness is the best series of travel guides. They offer two books on London.

Congrats on choosing an overnight flight. No need to be awake on a long flight.

Be certain to change planes in your time zone so you don't have to wake up and change planes in New York or somewhere.

So if you are in Oregon, get a plane to LAX or Vancouver where you can get a non-stop to London. Avoid San Francisco as it is so busy many flights are delayed and you could miss your connection. Fog contributes to the problem. Change in Oakland if you need to go to the Bay Area.

Sleep on the plane and drink plenty of water as the air is very drying.

Avoid caffeine for several days before your flight. Eat a low-protein, high-carb dinner before you depart to help you sleep on the plane. On arrival, eat a high protein breakfast and enjoy your coffee. This will help you reset your body clock and reduce jet lag.

The large London guide and the Top 10 guide, which might be best for your short stay.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2/184-2704672-3053859?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=london+eyewitness+travel+guide

You only need one carry on and a purse. I've spent 3 weeks in Europe several times traveling this way. Layers of clothes that mix and match.

If you want to bring home classy inexpensive presents for friends plus, Harrods has a great section. I got great bottle / wine openers with logo for only $7 each. High quality. I always take a rip-stop fold-up small bag inside my carry on for sharp things not allowed by TSA and for clothes I don't mind losing if the bag gets lost.

Take taxis. The Underground is great but you spend tons of time going up and down long stairs to get on coaches. You have little time.

Keep your passport with you always. I second the suggestion for under garment security wallets.

Get $100 worth of pounds so you have money for taxis, etc, when you arrive. Do not use airport ATMs. They charge huge fees. Find ATMs in London.

Most important museums in London are free!

I love London. Have a great trip!