I've booked to meet SummerUK, Milan-London return, yay!... (166)
Nakedpackage: I had a quick look and Heathrow to Birmingham is £61.90 and takes 2hr 50 mins......
How kind of you, thank you!
That helps with planning. I arrive at Heathrow late in the day, and as I have an EU passport, at least I won't be held up at immigration. Yay!
Hmmm....ideas are flowing.
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ChasingCars: Are you sure its Heathrow - there are 3 London airports - Heathrow, Gatwick and Stanstead.
Gatwick is 30 miles to the south of London. Stanstead is 25 miles to the North East and Heathrow 15 miles to the West (all distances approx).
I would look at times costs and routes from whichever airport you are at for coaches and trais and for the trains whether you need to take your luggage over Londons underground system between rail terminals and the number of changes involved. Trains to Birmingham go via Reading.
Trains from Gatwick usually mean getting off at Victoria and taking the underground to Euston. Trains from Stanstead usually involve one change.
Gatwick is 30 miles to the south of London. Stanstead is 25 miles to the North East and Heathrow 15 miles to the West (all distances approx).
I would look at times costs and routes from whichever airport you are at for coaches and trais and for the trains whether you need to take your luggage over Londons underground system between rail terminals and the number of changes involved. Trains to Birmingham go via Reading.
Trains from Gatwick usually mean getting off at Victoria and taking the underground to Euston. Trains from Stanstead usually involve one change.
Yes, just checked. 'Tis Heathrow.
But blimey, CC, now I'm getting all confuseded
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SummerUK: lol yeah call my mobile first maybe haha!!! ... I'm terrible for answering the landline
I would do that as I did before. But I told you with my new plan, calls are no longer part of the $400 monthly credit limit. They would be if it was plain and simple pre-paid. Nuts!
So, you had better get used to answering your landline just over the coming weeks. Pleaseeeeeeeeee.
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ChasingCars: Are you sure its Heathrow - there are 3 London airports - Heathrow, Gatwick and Stanstead.
Gatwick is 30 miles to the south of London. Stanstead is 25 miles to the North East and Heathrow 15 miles to the West (all distances approx).
I would look at times costs and routes from whichever airport you are at for coaches and trais and for the trains whether you need to take your luggage over Londons underground system between rail terminals and the number of changes involved. Trains to Birmingham go via Reading.
Trains from Gatwick usually mean getting off at Victoria and taking the underground to Euston. Trains from Stanstead usually involve one change.
Gatwick is 30 miles to the south of London. Stanstead is 25 miles to the North East and Heathrow 15 miles to the West (all distances approx).
I would look at times costs and routes from whichever airport you are at for coaches and trais and for the trains whether you need to take your luggage over Londons underground system between rail terminals and the number of changes involved. Trains to Birmingham go via Reading.
Trains from Gatwick usually mean getting off at Victoria and taking the underground to Euston. Trains from Stanstead usually involve one change.
Thats exactly what I asked her cos there are cheap flights with Easyjet to Newcastle from Stansted. Much cheaper than the trains..
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SummerUK: Thats exactly what I asked her cos there are cheap flights with Easyjet to Newcastle from Stansted. Much cheaper than the trains..
Heathrow.
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venere08: Heathrow.
Hi Venere... I booked a train on line... twas easy... then went to the station and was given the ticket... the trains are fine... but quicker to fly... try Flybe.. they were alright.. dont do Ryanair... thats a madhouse...
and as for stuff... take your laptop.. and use Skype... thats what i did for all the time I was there...
Oh...Lucky you... I wanna come tooooo...
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Merriweather: Hi Venere... I booked a train on line... twas easy... then went to the station and was given the ticket... the trains are fine... but quicker to fly... try Flybe.. they were alright.. dont do Ryanair... thats a madhouse...
and as for stuff... take your laptop.. and use Skype... thats what i did for all the time I was there...Oh...Lucky you... I wanna come tooooo...
and as for stuff... take your laptop.. and use Skype... thats what i did for all the time I was there...Oh...Lucky you... I wanna come tooooo...
Hiya Merri,
Yes, I've booked train tickets online in Italy, and it is easy. A few things to explore before Summer and I decide what to do. Still time.
I flew Ryanair in '08 when I went to Dublin. The flight was delayed a few hours from Milan, otherwise all was fine.
My poor friend (from CS) picked me up from the airport and it was about 1.30am when we got out! Now I hear they strap you to the wings, or something like that, so I've booked with a different airline this time.
No way am I lugging my laptop around, so I won't be bothering about skyping. I can check emails on my mobile phone, so that's all I will need. I can always use the mobile phone if I need to make calls, though global roaming rates are dreadful, and sim cards/providers can be incompatible with one's phone. I went through all this fun on my last 2 trips to the EU, jeez
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venere08: Well, poor Summer is trying to come up with something, but the last thing I ever wanted was to place her under any unnecessary pressure. Besides the potential expense. I've never been to London, my first time ever. We'll work on a solution, otherwise, hey, I'm happy to meet in Florence, it will be really nice anyway.
I shall have to put off high tea with Fergie!
I shall have to put off high tea with Fergie!
Well… I’ve never been in UK, and never had any thoughts about how British railroads work, but somehow I didn’t expect that it’d so difficult and expensive to use trains there. Though I can’t say why I had any expectations on the matter… (I’ve got my share of prejudices looks like…)
Perhaps I was judging by my experience from Russian and Swedish railroads… In both countries it’s cheaper than air traffic, and in some situations not even slower. Can be difficult to get a ticket during a high season though, so it’d better to buy it in advance. And yeah, it happens that Swedish trains don’t go when it’s too cold or too warm, but as the annual average temperature here is about the zero, the rail road traffic works for the most of times.
But I hope you’d find a suitable solution. Nice journey!
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SummerUK: Thats exactly what I asked her cos there are cheap flights with Easyjet to Newcastle from Stansted. Much cheaper than the trains..
Newcastle from Heathrow? That'd be Picadilly line to Kings Cross (underground) then East Coast mainline (train) to Newcastle - about 5 hours including a bit of waiting. Bet there are coaches from Heathrow. or car hire is always an option. The problem with booking train or coach tickets in advance is yup you get great fares, but if your flight is delayed yer ..... stuffed.
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ChasingCars: Newcastle from Heathrow? That'd be Picadilly line to Kings Cross (underground) then East Coast mainline (train) to Newcastle - about 5 hours including a bit of waiting. Bet there are coaches from Heathrow. or car hire is always an option. The problem with booking train or coach tickets in advance is yup you get great fares, but if your flight is delayed yer ..... stuffed.
Thanks, CC.
It's now become clear that if we don't call the whole thing off, I will need to spend that night in London itself. Honestly, my last 2 trips to Italy have been frenzied because I chose to include way too much. Anyway, this doesn't just affect me, it imposes on poor Summer. She doesn't need the pressure either, and I'm not about to let that happen to either of us.
Thanks for your latest imput, though. It's really helped.
Someone also sent me an email with a really useful link, so I will explore that option, too. So if we can find a workable solution, fine, otherwise I will just hang out in Italy the whole time, and Summer can see about meeting me there. Shopping in Florence isn't half bad. Pashminas for $6euros is pretty good. I'm wearing one right now, and it's the softest thang.
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... no international broomstick flying licenses then I presume !! 
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RDM59: ... no international broomstick flying licenses then I presume !!
I knew you weren't just a pretty face! What a great idea.
All this fluffing around, and all I needed was to renew the ol' broomstick licence.
Hubble bubble, toil and trouble
....... 
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venere08: I knew you weren't just a pretty face! What a great idea.
All this fluffing around, and all I needed was to renew the ol' broomstick licence.
Hubble bubble, toil and trouble .......
All this fluffing around, and all I needed was to renew the ol' broomstick licence.
Hubble bubble, toil and trouble .......
who is the third witch ? .... 
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Tulefel: Well… I’ve never been in UK, and never had any thoughts about how British railroads work, but somehow I didn’t expect that it’d so difficult and expensive to use trains there. Though I can’t say why I had any expectations on the matter… (I’ve got my share of prejudices looks like…)
Perhaps I was judging by my experience from Russian and Swedish railroads… In both countries it’s cheaper than air traffic, and in some situations not even slower. Can be difficult to get a ticket during a high season though, so it’d better to buy it in advance. And yeah, it happens that Swedish trains don’t go when it’s too cold or too warm, but as the annual average temperature here is about the zero, the rail road traffic works for the most of times.
But I hope you’d find a suitable solution. Nice journey!
Perhaps I was judging by my experience from Russian and Swedish railroads… In both countries it’s cheaper than air traffic, and in some situations not even slower. Can be difficult to get a ticket during a high season though, so it’d better to buy it in advance. And yeah, it happens that Swedish trains don’t go when it’s too cold or too warm, but as the annual average temperature here is about the zero, the rail road traffic works for the most of times.
But I hope you’d find a suitable solution. Nice journey!
Well, Tule, you and me the same. I have never been to Britain, other than Gatwick airport in transit once. As I have said, I too, have been used to cheap and really good rail travel, in Italy(quite different in Australia, where travel costs are often prohibitive for regular holiday making unless you catch a red eye flight!
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RDM59: who is the third witch ? ....
Ya lost me. Is that some Scottish term I'm missing.
Remember, it's late at night here, and I'm about to put out the couldron flames.
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venere08: Ya lost me. Is that some Scottish term I'm missing.
Remember, it's late at night here, and I'm about to put out the couldron flames.
Remember, it's late at night here, and I'm about to put out the couldron flames.
Hubble bubble, toil and trouble .......
opening scene of Macbeth, there are three witches .....
Just larking about lass, hope you manage to get a solution to your travel plans sorted and you get to meet S, that would be fab.
I noticed she said something about a possible visit to Scotland also. If that comes off you must get in touch OK ....
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RDM59: Hubble bubble, toil and trouble .......
opening scene of Macbeth, there are three witches ..... Just larking about lass, hope you manage to get a solution to your travel plans sorted and you get to meet S, that would be fab.
I noticed she said something about a possible visit to Scotland also. If that comes off you must get in touch OK ....
opening scene of Macbeth, there are three witches ..... Just larking about lass, hope you manage to get a solution to your travel plans sorted and you get to meet S, that would be fab.
I noticed she said something about a possible visit to Scotland also. If that comes off you must get in touch OK ....
Ah, the ol' opening scene trick!
Which reminds me of a local CS'er and his Three Witches wine label.
Blimey, Summer's going to Sctoland too? Jeez, she's a bit of a traveller. How lovely that would be. Very kind of you and thank you, R.
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venere08:
Blimey, Summer's going to Scotland too? Jeez, she's a bit of a traveller. How lovely that would be. Very kind of you and thank you, R.
Blimey, Summer's going to Scotland too? Jeez, she's a bit of a traveller. How lovely that would be. Very kind of you and thank you, R.
Really, I do know how to spell 'Scotland'. It's all this hubbling and bubbling ya know
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venere08: Really, I do know how to spell 'Scotland'. It's all this hubbling and bubbling ya know
And I thought you could 'SPELL' .....
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Gatwick is 30 miles to the south of London. Stanstead is 25 miles to the North East and Heathrow 15 miles to the West (all distances approx).
I would look at times costs and routes from whichever airport you are at for coaches and trais and for the trains whether you need to take your luggage over Londons underground system between rail terminals and the number of changes involved. Trains to Birmingham go via Reading.
Trains from Gatwick usually mean getting off at Victoria and taking the underground to Euston. Trains from Stanstead usually involve one change.