Travelling and would like some insight!

Happy to help..what sort of stuff are you into ?

Dont forget that the 5th of November is Guy Fawkes nights so lots & lots of fireworks !!

 

You are staying in a great area (Hyde Park) which will be within walking distance to many attractions, including high end shopping in Mayfair. To that end, I recommend, even it is for window shopping: Saville Row, Bond Street, Jermyn St. Great stuff! You can also probably walk to Harrods, which is close by in the Knightsbridge area. Piccadilly is also close as well, as is Buckinham Palace. The theatre district is also close.

Check out formal tea at the Dorchester. It is a great English tradition and a great thing to do on a honeymoon.

This may not be Honeymoon material, but the War Museum and affiliated buildings (Churchill's bunker, cabinet rooms, etc.) is very interesting.

Otherwise, the classics never die: Parliament, Big Ben, Westminster Cathedral, British Museum, all awesome places to go.

The Underground is easy to navigate, same with the buses, Get a decent city map with the Underground info on it and you should have no problem getting around to other areas.

 

Yes your credit card will work. Although we do have chip and pin here so it might be worth ensuring that you know your pin number.

You are staying in a pretty good location. You are close to the palace and Harrods as well as kensington. To the north of you is Edgware road which is good for late night lebenese food. Also you could walk to Oxford street which is the one of the main shopping streets in London, albiet a bit tired at the tottenham court road end.

If you get a tube map it is very easy to get around, please ensure you get a oyster card (tube pass) as this will save you a couple of pounds on each trip.

I can get you a list of the best restaurants as recommended by the UK ferrari crew if required.

Regards

 

Yes. Your ATM card should work - though some banks will shut off card access if they think your card has been stolen (i.e. suddenly there are charges overseas). You can always call ahead of time and ask them to put a note in your file about travel.

However your ATM card and credit card should be just fine.


Be careful crossing the street in London. It's not that the British are bad drivers - they aren't - but looking for traffic coming from your right (instead of your left) takes some getting used to.

 

I would call your credit card company to ensure it will work overseas before you leave. My credit card didn't work in the United States when I travelled there recently from Australia, I had to call my bank from the US to get it working.

You're staying in the best area of London IMO. I stayed in Hyde Park the last time I was in London and I loved it. As mentioned before you're in walking distance from many major attractions, including Buckingham Palace, Piccadilly Circus, Harrods of Knightsbridge, and Oxford St. Take a stroll past the Dorchester Hotel and on Brompton Rd and you will be certain to see many amazing cars.

 

As mentioned before call your credit card company before you leave. The CC company looks for a certain spending pattern. If you don't travel a lot, and use the same card they will put a block on your card.

Using your card for all purchases is not a bad strategy at all since you will probably get the best exchange rate using your credit card.

 

Are you flying into Heathrow? Be aware that airport makes JFK look like a small local prop plane airport as it is so large and chaotic.

It is a nightmare to transfer through but your lucky as it does not apply to you.

Small tip: when you get ready to go through passport control, just keep waiting until the agent actually calls you. Here in the states the second someone leaves we just walk up. The 10 times I passed through there, I must have seen people get yelled at more than half the time.

You will see what I mean

 

Last tip: why London? If it were me I would catch a quick flight to another country. To me its more beautiful and the exchange rate is much better than the pound.. London is insanely expensive.

Since it is your honey moon, why not take the high speed train into Paris for a couple of days? It is a short trip and not that expensive. Waaaay more romantic.


That is what I would do.

 

My wife and I were just there about a month ago, also our first trip, and we had a very good time, I'm sure you will as well.

I would echo the comments about ATM cards as well, mine worked fine. The only thing I would add is to consider taking the "Big Red Bus" tour of London. Its one of those double decker things, the top is open air, you can't miss them because they're everywhere. IIRC around 25-30 bucks per person, the whole city tour takes a couple hours and they have a live guide on board. It'll take you past all of the standard tourist places like London Tower, Big Ben et al and we found that it was very good to help you get the "feel" for where everything is in the city. After the tour you'll have a better handle on what you want to go back and spend more time at, what wasn't a big deal, that sort of thing. Oh, and if you guys are into shows, get tickets to see The Phantom of the Opera at Her Majesty's Theater. Absolutely incredible. Again, have fun.

 

You will have no problem navigating the airport. What I have learned from a decade plus of international travel is every international airport in any country is virtually the same. The only real change is language and culture.

Europeans in general have a lot less respect for personal space. Heathrow is well marked, but frankly I find the people to be rude. Just my personal experience. The airport is just massive but you will be directed to baggage claim just like any other US airport.

I would go to your bank and buy some pounds. You will get the best rate at any bank and the worst exchange rate at the airport booths.

I like to get a couple ofhundred US dollars in the visiting country currency. That way when I land I ready to go. I am not sure if the cabs take CC. Most people ride "the tube" as cabs are pretty expensive.

If you opt for a cab you will find them just outside baggae claim same as any other airport in the world.

Once your at your hotel, I highly recommend talkng to your Conceigre to set up a couple of days in Paris. There is a highspeed train that goes under the English Channel. Beleive me you will be a hero and your wife will love you for it. I usually check out for a couple of days to visit anther country and then check back in. It s an easy trip to Paris and culturally way different. Paris at night is the city of romance.

 

yes in most major cities banks carry foreign currency. if not they can order the money for you to exchange later.

 

No worry. Aquired from countless trips to Europe. PM me if you need anything else.

 

one hundred pounds won't get you very far - we were in the UK again in September for the LMS race at Silverstone - we've done seven EU car race weekends (long weekends) this year and always exchange money at the airport (has been a good rate) but we never turn it back when we come home as it gets reused - be sure your liquids are in a quart size baggie - don't take any more stuff than you'll need, the most we ever take is a carry-on suitcase along with our backpacks - remember some airlines are charging per bag (which can be a bit costly). We have friends that meet us at LeMans for the 24h in June and take the Eurostar from London to Paris and it takes about 2+ hours, if it's like the TGV, you must have a reserved seat. We took one of the London cabs from Victoria Station to the Euston Station to catch the Virgin Train to Birmingham because of a wx issue leaving the us and it was fun - the cab drivers are excellent tour guides (I think that's required for them). Be sure to check the weather is it seems to be always quite damp!

If your are going and coming non-stop from ORD you won't have a problem coming back if you purchase duty free items over 3 oz. If you have a connection on the return from ORD to somewhere else, if you buy duty free, be sure to take out of box and put into your baggie otherwise it will go in the trash (unless packed in checked baggage) - I usually buy make-up, creams, perfume and do this with the items. Also check the prices in the duty free catalog on the plane, often I've found KLM has specials or lower prices on some items found in the airports. Depending on your airline, you can go to their website and see their duty free offerings for the month.

Don't forget to get adapters for you phone or camera if you want to charge them while you are there. UK is two prong, in fact depending on your phone you might have received plug adapters with the phone (my HTC Imagio had those in the box). Oh yeah...your phone has to be a GSM one to work there. If you have an iPhone, Apple makes adapters that just interchange in the little box (with the US plug) that you plug the usb cable into when you charge the phone.

Have fun.

Carol

 

He wants just enough cash so when he lands he will have something on him and not have to mess around with an ATM. All purchases will be made on a CC or stop at an ATM once situated.