Getting the big things right is critically important, but the little things matter too. There is no right or wrong about any of this but here is what I do. You should review your own particulars so do not assume that because all of this is true for me, it will be true for you also.
Before you leave, clean out the purse or wallet. We tend to drag the same wallet every where we go. But you do not need your library card, your punch or reward cards, and credit cards for particular stores, unless they are a Visa/Mastercard/Amex. I have a travel wallet. I move only what I want to take with me and leave all the other stuff behind. It makes it lighter, and also means that if I were to lose or have my wallet stolen, while a serious problem, it would be a minimized problem and not include all the stuff I didn't need there in the first place. Take the time to do one or the other.
Check your credit cards to find out what the International Exchange fees are on each. They can vary widely so you don't want to accidentally use the one that charges you the most for the majority of your expenses. Visa and Mastercard are used basically every where in England. As of late 2013, Discover has been making progress in being usable in more places. Generally, if the vendor will take International Diner's Club, they will take Discover. Note that Discover charges NO Intl exchange fees so it is worth checking the decals in the window or asking the clerks if they take I.D.C. In a couple of places, the clerk didn't know but was willing to try.
Once you decide which cards to take, then call their customer service numbers and inform them about your travel dates. This will ensure that they know about charges that will be coming in from your trip and do not shut off your card until they can confirm they are your charges.
You will typically get the very best exchange rate from credit cards. You will need cash but I personally try to use my credit card for any purchase I can. For cash, I always use one of the ATM's at the airport. Note that many ATM's in the UK do not have fees for out of network withdrawls. Your bank may charge you a fee but if you use at ATM that offers "Free Money", they will not. Your local bank and the Exchange service booths will charge a much higher exchange rate (meaning your money will get you less per dollar) or fees. In my experience, using the ATM has made the exchange rate basically equal to the current exchange rate.
Note that in Europe and the UK, their credit cards have chips in them. In the US, most of ours currently do not, though I've heard that some are moving in that direction. Where I found this to be an issue was in trying to use the pre-paid credit cards that you can get at the grocery store, for instance. In many places we could not use them. They did not have a chip, and without being able to enter a pin #, which of course you do not get with these pre-paid credit cards, their system could not use them.
If you want some security to ensure you don't get caught short, you may want to get some Traveler's checks. This would enable you to exchange (at a higher rate) if you really got stuck because your ATM card didn't work or was lost or your credit cards were demagnetized, etc. I'd make them the last resort. You can always buy groceries with them when you return but for those who are nervous, it could be your back up plan. (I believe AAA members can get them at no extra charge from the local AAA club, but you'd have to check their current benefits information.)
These days we're pretty tied to our cell phones and if you have an iPhone or smart phone then there are great apps that are available for traveling. If you do plan to take and use your cell phone then be sure you check with your carrier and get an International plan for your time away. The charges otherwise will break the bank. I have an iPhone and AT&T. I can't speak for the others but generally you can add an Intl plan with data for a month at a time. Hopefully your trip will be only during one billing month or you may need it for two months. Some will allow you to indicate that you only want it for a month when you sign up, others may require you to call back and cancel once you return. They aren't cheap, but MUCH cheaper than without. The main thing is that you do NOT want your phone roaming any time you are not using it. So, make sure roaming is turned off as you carry it around, sleep etc. Being sort OCD about things like that, I also keep mine in Airplane mode as a back up. If I've forgotten one thing, I hopefully won't have forgotten the other. You also want to turn off the automatic "push" of data in your apps and emails. This will minimize how many GB of data you use, which tends to be the threshold for the Intl data plans. I believe this last time, I paid $30 roughly for 120 MB. After that, it would have been another $30. By keeping your apps from sending you data and emails you don't want or need during your visit, you can save the MB for travel related purposes.
Lastly, be sure you take with you a list of all the phone numbers you might need while you are over there. Your credit cards usually offer a phone number for customer service that is not an 800# (keep in mind, 800#'s only work IN the US, so you need an actual area code and number if you were to have to call from London.) Write down all the cards you are taking, their numbers and your account number. Include the number for your bank/ATM, and your phone service, if you plan to take your cell phone. I have a system for writing down the credit card numbers as well. I do not write down the actual number in case that page might be lost or stolen. It's a system only I know (not that someone else couldn't think of it and copy it) but looking at the 16 digit credit card number, if someone tried to use what I wrote, it would NOT be my Credit card number and they would not have any way of knowing that it wasn't real. I suggest you give it some thought and come up with your own. Then translate your credit card number into this new format. It's highly unlikely you will need it, and highly unlikely that your list would be lost, but it's always wise to plan for the worst and safe guard yourself against something unexpected.
Lastly, as large cities go, Central London generally feels very safe to me. The people are friendly and helpful. But, like any big city, it has it's crime and pick pockets exist there as they do anywhere. It may not be the worst place, but there is no reason to be cavalier. If you are a woman, then take a purse or bag that closes securely rather than one that you can just reach into. A bag that zips would be best. Be more vigilant than you normally would at home about keeping your purse on the front of your body or under your arm. I prefer one that I can put the strap over my head and not have it just hanging off my shoulder. That way no one can just grab it and pull off my shoulder or arm.If in a crowded place make sure you are conscious of how close people are and in a season when you might be wearing a coat, can you put your purse under your coat when in a crowd or being jostled? If you aren't someone who generally has "rules" about all these kinds of things, give some thought to them while traveling. Make sure you zip your purse closed when you aren't putting something in or taking something out. I prefer to use a small purse with several pockets when I travel. It's big enough for my wallet, cell and passport but not a whole lot larger. It is small enough to go inside my coat. I keep my Oyster card (more on the Tube system in another post) in an outside pocket so I don't have to reach in and haul my wallet in and out in a public place where someone could grab and run. I do keep my Passport on me UNLESS the room has a safe (which is not common.) I make sure it is zipped into an inner pocket, thus two zippers from exposure. I then have a backpack or shoulder bag where I keep my guidebook, lip balm, kleenex, umbrella, purchases, etc. They are accessible, and I can get them out while standing in public, on public transportation, etc without opening my purse up and putting my valuables at risk. Even as I type this it sounds a bit hyper vigilant and excessive. But, because I take these steps as a precaution, then I'm not terribly nervous in the moment. I don't think I've been terribly lucky. I've just turned being careful into my travel norm, and then I don't give it a lot of thought while I'm walking around. You don't want to walk around feeling like you are about to become a victim. You should never feel like it can't happen, but if you are smart about how you prepare then you can generally feel fairly protected.
Sunday, November 10, 2013
Saturday, November 2, 2013
Best of London...St. Paul's Cathedral & Westminster Abbey
I think everyone has their favorite. Some people are partial to Westminster Abbey and others to St. Paul's Cathedral. You probably want to do both, as they are unique and different and then you can decide for yourself which keeps drawing you back.
Westminster Abbey has been around in some fashion since the late 11th century though the current structure was largely from the 13th century. The stones are worn and uneven from centuries of foot traffic. There are many tombs of ancient Kings and Queens, including Queen Mary and her half-sister, Queen Elizabeth I, who it may surprise you to know are buried together. Additionally, many literary and scientific figures are memorialized there even if not actually buried or entombed inside the Abbey. Westminster featured in "The Da'Vinci Code", notably the Issac Newton statue, sparking additional interest in the Abbey for not entirely honest reasons, until of course that was overshadowed by the Wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton. You could spend all day just looking at the ornate detail, stained glass, tombstones, statues, etc., to say nothing of appreciating it AS a religious building. There is a line up of statues above the outside doors, best recognized for being where the Royal Wedding Guests entered and exited that wedding, and where you typically exit after the touring. If you look close, you will see that one of them is Martin Luther King, Jr. They do have a very NICE gift shop next to that exit. (To enter, you do have to pay and the entrance is on the north side. If you see a school group in front of you, I suggest you come back another time or day.)
St. Paul's Cathedral is young by comparison. There has been a "St. Paul's" on that site for nearly as long, but the prior church, a marvel in it's own right, burnt to the ground in 1666. The magnificent cathedral that stands there today is Sir Christopher Wren's marvel, completed in the early 18th century. Whereas Westminster primarily seems made of stone and packed with tombs so you wind through sometimes narrow passages, Westminster seems like a marble palace. Open, airy, bright. spacious, breath-taking. It too had it's Royal wedding, that of Prince Charles and Princess Diana. Admiral Nelson is entombed there. You can climb up to a whispering gallery, assuming you can handle about 200 stairs. The dome is the striking noticeable feature of the outside and the inside as well. It has it's own history, apart from the rest of the structure. St. Paul's was sort of the symbol of Great Britain during WWII when the Germans were bombing regularly and seeing that dome still there each morning gave the people assurance that they had survived another night. At the east end there is the American Gallery. There is a large stain-glassed window with a square representing all 50 states. Very poignantly, there is also a book that lists the names of all the Americans who died in WWII helping to defend England. They turn a page every day. Spend a moment looking at that book, reading down the list of names, and try to keep dry eyes. I'm not sure if you still can, but at one time, if the climb to the Whispering Gallery seemed like a warm-up, you could continue all the way up inside the inner part of the dome, to the very top where you could stand outside. Now THAT is a view.
To walk around and tour you do have to pay. And at least once, it is definitely worth it. But, I also have to recommend attending Evensong some evening. It's a church service so you can't just roam around. But the singing is wonderful and atmospheric. It's peaceful. Sit so you can look up in the dome as you hear the singing.
There is a very nice gift shop here too, in the basement and you do not have to pay to enter this area. There is a coffee shop and restaurant as well. And rest rooms. If you are in the neighborhood, it's a nice place to spend a few minutes, even if you don't have the time to tour upstairs or just need a place to sit down, catch your breath, dodge some raindrops, etc.
Note that the third weekend in September is a weekend called London "Open House". It's an architecture focused event and fundraiser, featuring hundreds of buildings around London. St. Paul's is one of those and a very popular one. You get to take a free tour that takes you behind the scenes to areas not often seen by the public, even those who have paid to go inside. Note that you need to arrive about an hour before the first tour starts. You will register and be assigned a time for a tour. After about the first hour, typically all tours are full for every time slot through the day. So get there early! I do not know if the tour stays the same each year or changes. The tour starts at the South Entrance (vs. the West where you typically would enter and pay to enter). We were taken up the stairs almost to the Whispering Gallery but then instead were taken in a door to a private hallway. We saw the Library, the Circular Stairway in the Southwest Clock Tower, as well as the Trophy Room where the Model of the original design by Wren is stored. This was VERY special and if you are a fan of St. Paul's and can be there that weekend, I highly recommend it. For more info on this event, go to this URL: http://www.openhouselondon.org.uk/
Westminster Abbey has been around in some fashion since the late 11th century though the current structure was largely from the 13th century. The stones are worn and uneven from centuries of foot traffic. There are many tombs of ancient Kings and Queens, including Queen Mary and her half-sister, Queen Elizabeth I, who it may surprise you to know are buried together. Additionally, many literary and scientific figures are memorialized there even if not actually buried or entombed inside the Abbey. Westminster featured in "The Da'Vinci Code", notably the Issac Newton statue, sparking additional interest in the Abbey for not entirely honest reasons, until of course that was overshadowed by the Wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton. You could spend all day just looking at the ornate detail, stained glass, tombstones, statues, etc., to say nothing of appreciating it AS a religious building. There is a line up of statues above the outside doors, best recognized for being where the Royal Wedding Guests entered and exited that wedding, and where you typically exit after the touring. If you look close, you will see that one of them is Martin Luther King, Jr. They do have a very NICE gift shop next to that exit. (To enter, you do have to pay and the entrance is on the north side. If you see a school group in front of you, I suggest you come back another time or day.)
St. Paul's Cathedral is young by comparison. There has been a "St. Paul's" on that site for nearly as long, but the prior church, a marvel in it's own right, burnt to the ground in 1666. The magnificent cathedral that stands there today is Sir Christopher Wren's marvel, completed in the early 18th century. Whereas Westminster primarily seems made of stone and packed with tombs so you wind through sometimes narrow passages, Westminster seems like a marble palace. Open, airy, bright. spacious, breath-taking. It too had it's Royal wedding, that of Prince Charles and Princess Diana. Admiral Nelson is entombed there. You can climb up to a whispering gallery, assuming you can handle about 200 stairs. The dome is the striking noticeable feature of the outside and the inside as well. It has it's own history, apart from the rest of the structure. St. Paul's was sort of the symbol of Great Britain during WWII when the Germans were bombing regularly and seeing that dome still there each morning gave the people assurance that they had survived another night. At the east end there is the American Gallery. There is a large stain-glassed window with a square representing all 50 states. Very poignantly, there is also a book that lists the names of all the Americans who died in WWII helping to defend England. They turn a page every day. Spend a moment looking at that book, reading down the list of names, and try to keep dry eyes. I'm not sure if you still can, but at one time, if the climb to the Whispering Gallery seemed like a warm-up, you could continue all the way up inside the inner part of the dome, to the very top where you could stand outside. Now THAT is a view.
To walk around and tour you do have to pay. And at least once, it is definitely worth it. But, I also have to recommend attending Evensong some evening. It's a church service so you can't just roam around. But the singing is wonderful and atmospheric. It's peaceful. Sit so you can look up in the dome as you hear the singing.
There is a very nice gift shop here too, in the basement and you do not have to pay to enter this area. There is a coffee shop and restaurant as well. And rest rooms. If you are in the neighborhood, it's a nice place to spend a few minutes, even if you don't have the time to tour upstairs or just need a place to sit down, catch your breath, dodge some raindrops, etc.
Note that the third weekend in September is a weekend called London "Open House". It's an architecture focused event and fundraiser, featuring hundreds of buildings around London. St. Paul's is one of those and a very popular one. You get to take a free tour that takes you behind the scenes to areas not often seen by the public, even those who have paid to go inside. Note that you need to arrive about an hour before the first tour starts. You will register and be assigned a time for a tour. After about the first hour, typically all tours are full for every time slot through the day. So get there early! I do not know if the tour stays the same each year or changes. The tour starts at the South Entrance (vs. the West where you typically would enter and pay to enter). We were taken up the stairs almost to the Whispering Gallery but then instead were taken in a door to a private hallway. We saw the Library, the Circular Stairway in the Southwest Clock Tower, as well as the Trophy Room where the Model of the original design by Wren is stored. This was VERY special and if you are a fan of St. Paul's and can be there that weekend, I highly recommend it. For more info on this event, go to this URL: http://www.openhouselondon.org.uk/
Friday, November 1, 2013
Best of London... Open Top Bus Tours
There is no question that the Open-Top Bus tours which have sprung up in major cities just scream "tourist." But, if you've never been someplace and you are there to see the city, then why wouldn't you take advantage of something designed to point out all the major spots while having an experienced guide point out interesting and often amusing details. On your first trip, I highly recommend this! There is more than one tour, but here is the URL for the website of the one I've been on. http://www.theoriginaltour.com/
I didn't take advantage of this until my third trip to London and that was a mistake on my part. Having lived in NYC and Boston and being very comfortable with subway lines, I readily and without hesitation took the London's "Tube" service. Their subway map is famous (http://www.bbc.co.uk/london/travel/downloads/tube_map.html ). It's color-coded and many stops are named for the popular site nearby and so I went from one end to the other everyday, whizzing from the Tower of London to Harrod's. From St. Paul's to Paddington. Except "whizzing" is not quite the right adjective. Because London is a large city and it can take a few minutes to travel from one station to another, much less to change trains a few times. Also, what appears to be two stops quite a ways apart, on different lines and stops apart, may in fact be a few short blocks from each other above ground. I wasted a LOT of time going back and forth on the Tube, traveling relatively long distances and thinking that because the Tube map made them look close, that they were or just the opposite. I would have been much smarter to get a sense of the city from above ground. Additionally, there are several major "sites" in London that are primarily just to be "seen."
I think there are several benefits. First of all, you can get the lay of the land, check a few things off your list, and travel for the entire 24 hour period that your ticket is valid (with the exception of the night hours they are inactive) at no additional cost. Not all buses have live guides so try to get one that has a live guide. Depending on bus and route, they may not all have guides. Check the brochure. The guides are able to give advice about good times to visit busy sites, etc. And, if you do it on a day when you may still be jet-lagged, it is nice to be able to get around and yet sit and relax a little.
On my first Open Top Bus tour, we were stopped in place at one point and we were passed by Queen Elizabeth and Prince Charles being driven somewhere. No guarantee that will happen to you, but the sites are still very good!
I think there are several benefits. First of all, you can get the lay of the land, check a few things off your list, and travel for the entire 24 hour period that your ticket is valid (with the exception of the night hours they are inactive) at no additional cost. Not all buses have live guides so try to get one that has a live guide. Depending on bus and route, they may not all have guides. Check the brochure. The guides are able to give advice about good times to visit busy sites, etc. And, if you do it on a day when you may still be jet-lagged, it is nice to be able to get around and yet sit and relax a little.
On my first Open Top Bus tour, we were stopped in place at one point and we were passed by Queen Elizabeth and Prince Charles being driven somewhere. No guarantee that will happen to you, but the sites are still very good!
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