Or How I Saved $300 on the First Day of My Trip

          After an overnight flight on United Airlines with a stopover in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, I arrived at London Heathrow the following morning at about 10:30.  I’d reserved a bed at the London Central Youth Hostel since I knew where I would be that first night and because hotels in London are notoriously expensive.  Before I could relax and begin enjoying one of my favorite gateway cities there were several housekeeping chores that had to be completed.  My first job was getting into town from the airport, then I had to find the hostel and get checked in and finally I had to find an ATM to get some Great British Pounds.  At the end of this posting I share with you some important travel tips that helped me get these tasks done quickly and got me off to a good start on my trip.  As you will see, each one came into play within the first few hours of landing at my destination city.

A ‘Walkable’ City

          Planning ahead and knowing a few travel secrets really paid off and by early afternoon I was hoofing it around London.  Although this fun and interesting place is one of the major cities of the world, it is still very ‘walkable’ for the fit traveler.  I had been to London a number of times before, but there are certain places that I never get tired of seeing, no matter how many times I’ve seen them before.  Starting from the hostel I made a circuit around the city visiting some of the world’s most famous sights, including St. Paul’s Cathedral, Trafalgar Square, Nelson’s Column, the site of Shakespeare’s Globe Theater, Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, Whitehall, No. 10 Downing Street, Hyde Park, SoHo and Piccadilly Circus.  It was especially fun to see Westminster Abbey and Buckingham Palace just a few weeks after William and Kate were wed.  Hopefully, I didn’t cause an international incident when I found myself in the wrong place during the changing of the guards at Whitehall!

John Gets a Little Too Close to the Guards at Whitehall!

 

New Attractions Among the Old (Some Very Old!)

          This time there were several new attractions on my list of things to see in London, like the Millennium Bridge (footbridge across the Thames), the Ferris wheel (known as the London Eye) and the Diana Memorial Fountain (honoring Princess Diana).  The footbridge and Ferris wheel seemed to be a magnet for young families and it was fun mingling with them as they enjoyed a beautiful Saturday afternoon along the Thames.  It seems that each time I visit London I discover something new.  On one trip the highlight was taking the tour of Buckingham Palace.  Another time it was visiting the Royal Mews and actually getting to see the Cinderella Coach!  This time I was struck by the beauty of Hyde Park…such a serene and pastoral setting so close to the hustle-bustle of the city.  The nearby Diana Memorial Fountain seemed to be an appropriate and fitting tribute to the Princess and she certainly would have approved of all the children frolicking through the water as it cascades down the oval, granite-lined stream bed.

Miles to Go

          I’m already looking forward to my next visit to London when, once again, I’ll enjoy seeing something old and something new.  My relaxing first day in this fabulous city just whetted my appetite for the rest of the trip still ahead of me.  I would be up early the next morning to catch the first train heading west to Bath.  Sure hope you’ll join me as I wend my way through England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland over the next three weeks.

Tricks of an Experienced Traveler

1)     Join Hostelling International and take your membership card with you on every tip.  Take advantage of the great lodging they provide at locations throughout the world, especially in cities where hotels are expensive.  The London Central Youth Hostel was a modern, clean facility located in the heart of London.  I shared a room with five other travelers for $40 rather than spending hundreds of dollars to sleep for a few hours in a hotel room.

2)     Consider reserving accommodations ahead on the first and last nights of your trip when you know where you will be.  It relieves a little of the stress after a long flight at the beginning of the trip and again after a number of days on the road at the end of the trip.

3)     Get a Capital One Credit Card and use it often.  It is the only credit card that I know of that does not charge a foreign transaction fee.  I used it to purchase a metro ticket into London before I had a chance to withdraw cash from an ATM and it came in handy numerous times throughout the rest of my trip.  Don’t you love Capital One’s commercials with the Vikings and the Goat!  What’s in your wallet?

4)     Do your homework ahead of time and find out which of your ATM cards charge the lowest fees overseas.  For me it was Citibank (depends on your account) and USAA.  I checked the locations of Citibank ATMs in London before I left home and headed for one as soon as I arrived in the city.

5)     Ask questions.  The fare from Heathrow Airport to Paddington Station in London on the Express Train is nearly $30 and you still might need to buy a metro ticket from there.  For only $8 and about a 30 minute longer trip you can take the metro from Heathrow to any location in London.  The ticket agents for rail service throughout Great Britain and Ireland are extremely nice and helpful and are happy to assist you in finding the least expensive fare for any leg of your trip.