London Transportation Tips by A2002

'Mode': TO
Category: Airplane
Getting TO/AROUND: I realise many VTers arrive in London from Europe or will be travelling around Europe from London. So I will put this tip here:

Low cost airline:
www.easyjet.com
www.bmibaby.com
www.berlinair.com
www.germanwings.com
www.ryanair.com
For the low cost airline, if you book near the dates or on the spot, it gonna be more expensive than the normal commercial airline.
British Airways, British Midlands, KLM and Lufthansa seems to have slashed their prices from UK to Europe. It is worth checking them out too.
Virgin has a low cost subsidiary too and they operate within Europe but not from UK.

For other deals:
www.cheapflights.com
www.justtheflight.com
www.lastminute.com
www.dialaflight.com
www.bargainflights.com

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'Mode': AROUND
Category: Other
Getting TO/AROUND: After arriving safely in London, before starting to explore, you will need a map. Everytime I go to London, I will search for new maps.
There's a good London Map for the tourists from Victoria Coach station. It is available in several languages and is a very detailed and good. You can just take it from the place where they put many information for people to take. Inside the Coach station.

Alternatively, if you stay in a hotel, the conceige will be more than happy to provide you a good map of London.

For the tube map, just go to any underground stations, there should be abundance of the underground maps there.

You will need a map if you are going to take the bus around London. You can get it or buy it at the underground station where you buy your day pass. Or get it from the conceige of your hotel.

Websites for free maps:
http://homepages.which.net/~m.harris/GLBM4.html
http://www.thetube.com

I have just found a eye-pleasing and useful site:
http://www.quickmap.com/

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'Mode': AROUND
Category: Bus
Getting TO/AROUND: www.theoriginaltour.com
www.bigbus.co.uk

These are the popular open top buses for tourists. I find them quite expensive though. I prefer the day pass on the buses and underground.

Big bus company seems more value for money and the ticket includes a river cruise along Thames, as well as free walking tour with a guide.

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'Mode': AROUND
Category: Other
Getting TO/AROUND: Underground and Buses.
Tube infor: http://www.thetube.com/

You can get a day pass for GBP4.20p per day (2003) valid for both the tube and buses for zone 1 and 2. Or get the weekend pass which is valid for both Saturday and Sunday with a slight discount at GBP7.10p, and is valid on both the underground and the buses. I would suggest the tube if you are short of time. If you have loads of time, take the buses to see the city. Alternatively, a day pass just for the bus cost GBP2 (in 2003), but you will certainly need a map of the bus routes. Ask for one when you buy your tickets at the underground station.

The picture is taken while on a bus along Oxford Street. Look at the heavy traffic. I will try not to take the buses when I am rushing for time.

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'Mode': AROUND
Category: Car/Motor Home
Getting TO/AROUND: I had couple of bad experiences with Alamo car rental once at Heathrow and once at Stansted. My sister also had bad experiences with Alamo at Stansted Airport.

Their customer service representative are very rude. I believe many people like me had bad experiences cos I have seen people arguing with their representative at the airport while I was waiting in the long long queue. Any way, as a customer, being given the wrong information is the responsibility of their customer even though information are given by their customer services through the telephone is absolutely ridiculous.

Go to other rental company such as Hertz. Their car is good and new. Alamo's car, though said that it was new, it is not very new as the engine are a bit noisy for a new car. The car do not seem to get washed for the next customer. At Hertz, the cars are more reliable and clean. I tried to choose a car at Heathrow (Alamo), and all the cars have scratches or dents! And the exterior was not cleaned, hence I was left with a blur side mirror.

ALAMO = SUCKS !

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'Mode': AROUND
Category: Car/Motor Home
Getting TO/AROUND: There's a congestion charge to drive in central London from Monday to Friday from 7am to 6.30pm. For more information such as the map of the boundary and about the charges, go to http://www.cclondon.com/.

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Website: http://www.cclondon.com/

'Mode': AROUND
Category: Car/Motor Home
Getting TO/AROUND: I had good experience with Hertz. It's on the expensive side though, but I was pleased with the optional upgrade at the counter when I pick up the car I had booked.

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