"How to Create the Perfect London Getaway Weekends" London by Callavetta
London Travel Guide: 26,474 reviews and 43,584 photos
With the volatility of airfares and a flexible lifestyle it's become rather easy to enjoy periodic long weekends in London. Often one of the majors will offer deeply discounted fares and the others will follow. $300 RT fares from San Francisco become a nearly regular thing on the off seasons. (Don't expect to find these fares in June or July!)
Thanks to a bunch of business travel for a couple of years I have managed to attain Elite status and as such, get double miles. A trip to London gets me enough miles for a free domestic trip. So $300 is a no-brainer! In fact, it's stupid to pass them up.
That said, this year brought two "long weekend" to London. In March daughter Jill and I headed across the pond for 4 days. In December, both daughters, Lorna and Jill and I are making the trip to shop, see the Christmas decorations, visit a Museum, and take some of the wonderful London Walks.
Someone asked me how many times I've been to London and I answered by counting the Hotels I've stayed at. Accommodations in London are among the most expensive. But it's easy to find deeply discounted fares at various internet hotel booking sites. So when a trip is in the offing I start surfing all the different sites and pick a Hotel that fits my budget for that particular trip.
The first thing one has to do when planning a trip to London is determine what neighborhood they want to be in. Obviously, that's going to be tough on a first trip. I started out right next to Buckingham Palace, at the recommendation of a family member. While that was nice, I soon discovered Knighsbridge, where I am very happy. I suppose I should branch out and try another area or two and when the Savoy fits my travel budget I shall do that!
To find the best websites for hotels at any particular time, simply google the hotel name and most of the references will actually be web booking sites. Compare and contrast. Different sites seem to get different fares. And of course, try the Hotel website itself to see if there might be a better offer. My collegues tell me Priceline is the way to go, but thus far I haven't been willing to continue past the "enter credit card" page.
Helpful websites for booking hotels are:
www.londontown.com
www.smoothhound.com
www.laterooms.com
www.hotel-booker.com
To learn more about booking through Priceline, check out www.biddingfortravel.com
I was chatting with a friend the other day about places we love and places we just love (and even some places that for some unknown reason just leave us cold). We kind of came to the conclusion that some of us have "warm souls" and some of us have "cold souls". Or maybe we could say that some of us have Northern souls and some have Southern souls. I am definitely a person with a "warm" or Southern soul.
So that leaves a few questions.... What is it about London that has won my heart? The same thing could be said about Amsterdam. Both are more northern and certainly colder than some of the places that just don't ring my bell like London or Italy or Croatia or Greece.
I ran across this photo and it spelled it out for me: it's all about diversity. In other words, it's more about attitude than lattitude. London is a City of incredible diversity. The many languages you will hear on the streets create a cocophony of sound that is music to my ears. The international spectrum of restaurants offer a selection like nowhere else.
London truly has something for everyone!
- Pros:History, Theater, Shopping, Museums, Parks, and the wonderful ability to lose oneself in a huge city
- Cons:London can be VERY expensive. Getting there is only half the battle.
- In a nutshell:I have developed a couple of times a year London habit!
Reviews (43)
Italian on Haymarket
Restaurants
(2)
Galileo is a large modern Italian restaurant chain. We ate at the one just across the street from Her Majesties Theater... more travel advice
On the subject of driving in London
Transportation
(4)
Just don't do it! It's crazy enough to try to negotiate the City streets with all the traffic, busses, taxis, and... more travel advice
The Pub Experience
Restaurants
(2)
The Pub experience is essential in experiencing London (or the rest of the UK for that matter). There are so many... more travel advice
By Boat
Transportation
(4)
In every great city with water nearby, it's great to get out onto the water to take a peek at the land. In London, take... more travel advice
Callavetta's Related Pages
London Travel Guide
Member Travel Pages
- "My Current Home"
- "Maybe it's Because I'm A Londoner...."
- "Gor Blimey guv'ner...you'r having a larf......"
- "London, the capital of England"
- "London, Misty Albion"
- "When a man tires of London, he is tired of life"
- "Maybe it's because I'm a Londoner ..."
- See All...
Explore the World
Badges & Stats in London
- 43 Reviews
- 56 Photos
- 21 Forum posts
- 38 Comments
- 6,942PageViews
- See All Stats
- See All Badges (16)
Have you been to London?
Share Your TravelsLatest Activity in London
- Replied to Dabs's Travel London Forum Forum Question "Books and Movies set in London"
- Posted in Travel London Forum "Heathrow Terminal 5"
- Commented on cheezecake_deli's London Page
- Uploaded a Photo to "The Temple Church"
- Wrote a Review Italian on Haymarket about Galileo's Locanda Toscana in London Restaurants
- updated a London Travel Page "How to Create the Perfect London Getaway Weekends"
Photos in London
See All Photos (56)
Top 10 Pages
-
San Francisco
Intro, 54 reviews, 113 photos, 5 travelogues
-
London
Intro, 43 reviews, 56 photos, 1 travelogue
-
Heidelberg
Intro, 31 reviews, 62 photos, 4 travelogues
-
Top 5 Page for this destination
Keystone
Intro, 36 reviews, 51 photos, 5 travelogues
-
Paris
Intro, 41 reviews, 40 photos, 1 travelogue
-
Chicago
Intro, 10 reviews, 48 photos, 3 travelogues
-
Rome
Intro, 28 reviews, 28 photos, 1 travelogue
-
Beijing
Intro, 4 reviews, 37 photos, 2 travelogues
-
Top 5 Page for this destination
Healdsburg
Intro, 14 reviews, 24 photos
-
Florence
Intro, 15 reviews, 20 photos, 1 travelogue
Wine Tasting
Sailing and Boating
CyclingLatest London hotel reviews
- The Washington Mayfair Hotel
- 247 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Jan 5, 2012 - Abercorn House
- 45 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Jan 8, 2012 - Westland Hotel
- 64 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Sep 22, 2011 - Americana Hotel
- 128 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Jan 8, 2012 - Ashburn Kensington Hotel
- 400 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Jan 9, 2012 - YHA London Thameside
- 44 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Nov 27, 2011 - St Christopher's Inn - 121 The Original Hostel London
- 35 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Jan 5, 2012 - The Mad Hatter Hotel
- 170 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Jan 9, 2012 - Travelodge London City Liverpool Street
- 259 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Jan 12, 2012 - Osterley Park Hotel London
- 107 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Dec 6, 2011 - Marriott London Kensington
- 374 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Jan 11, 2012 - Radisson Edwardian Kenilworth Hotel
- 749 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Jan 13, 2012 - Tonys House Hotel London
- 76 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Jan 6, 2012 - Belvedere Hotel
- 154 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Jan 4, 2012 - Balham Lodge
- 43 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Jan 8, 2012
Comments (37)
Thanks for your great page and pictures! ><><><><
Thanks for your BDay wish! Hope to do a new London walk soon ;-)
Excellent hotel tips in UK...thanks for sharing, Norman :)
Thanks for the visit Katherine. You would not believe how many diverse people from all over the world have said that they love Mr Bean. I may have to start dressing like him lol. Great travel pages. Next time in London, we should arrange a VT meeting. Jon
there are some excellent tips in here, especially the london dungeon one - i quite agree
Great tour of London--lots of good tips and excellent commentary. THANKS...cute story about your JACK THE RIPPER tour.
That earwax looks painful. I've said it before and I'll say it again "I love London!"
i loved your photos!!! and your solo travel tips!!!!!! 'talk to strangers' is my motto while solo travelling;^) salam from London, a:^)
Lots of valuable tips on this great page. I especially liked the accomodation ones. Planning a return to London and have 'borrowed' one of them. Finding somewhere decent to stay is always a headache! Cheers...
Just had to take another look at your London page. I am still thinking about going there this summer.
1 - 10 of 37
View 27 More