The Travel Sharing/Help Thread

[HalfCamel]

Hello Kittens! How is everyone today? I couldn't find a thread like this, but if there already is one Mods feel free to move it.

I thought we could use a thread to share our travel experiences, whether to another city or another country. And we could also use this thread to ask for help/advice from other Kittens for future travel plans.


So, I’ll start and I’m gonna ask for help. I was planning a trip with some friends to the UK at the end of December to mid-January and we had wanted to backpack throughout. The problem is I really don’t know where to start. So I was wondering if any Kittens who live there or have traveled there could help me out by giving any advice on what to see, where to stay (like hostels or hotels, I don’t wanna end up in some back alley or anything), where to eat… etc. Also, since we’re still students, how expensive is it? Would a budget of let say $2500 USD be enough? Are there any websites that anyone recommends?

I’d really appreciate any kind of help. Anyone can PM me if you’d like or respond here.

Thanks,
Jackie

[madeinnz]

The amount of money you'll need really depends on where you'll be. USD$2,500 will last you a long time in somewhere like Scotland but will get you a Big Mac and fries in London! I think a really good travel book is essential for any trip - the Lonely Planet guides are great for cheap places to stay etc.

I was really only based in London so I can't tell you much about the rest of the UK I'm afraid. There are quite a few places that you can go for free - museums, art galleries, Changing of the Guard, Covent Garden, the walk along the Thames in Southwark. Things that are really expensive are the West End shows, big tourist places like The Tower of London and clubs etc. in Soho.

The most popular way to travel around the country is probably by rail. Maybe look into getting a rail pass before you go - it may be cheaper.

Have fun. Its an amazing place.Make sure you have bangers and mash, and mushy peas with vinegar. Its a thing.

[Candleshoe]

There are loads of places in the UK to try too - Stratford on Avon (Shakespeare's birth place), the Cotswolds (lots of lovely villages built in distinctive yellow stone), Manchester (vibrant northern city with big gay population, some football clubs or other ), Brighton (ditto, but warmer and in the South), Cornwall (Beautiful scenery, celtic history and folklore), Oxford (T-shirts saying you went to Oxford Uni...), Wales (uhm...the signs are in Welsh?), Scotland (Edinburgh is apparently amazing, but I've not been).

Rail travel is good, but expensive. Travel at off-peak times if you can, if you are aged 17-25 you can get a railcard which will give you a third off. (Tip: ask the price of two singles, rather than a return, surprisingly, it can sometimes be cheaper) You can investigate coaches for long journeys, they are much cheaper. Stagecoach are good, as is The Oxford Tube for getting out of London cheaply.

Travelling in London is much easier - there is the underground rail or buses. This site is the main one for London travelling. An Oyster Card is the way that a lot of Londoners I know manage travelling - it is one card that you top-up, that works on trains and underground and buses and all sorts. There is a link from that London Transport site.

Youth Hostels offer good cheap accomodation. Beware, it is quite basic on occasion, and you are likely to be in big shared communal rooms. "Nocturnal activity" isn't usually tolerated! There are a huge number of places offering Bed & Breakfast, I've found this to be one of the better directories.

$2,500 is actually quite a lot of money, converting by my reckoning to about £1,300. Hopefully that helps you to compare, given the prices on some of the sites above.

I would suggest that you don't necessarily skimp on money in London - you won't be here often, and you will kick yourself if you don't do things like Madam Taussauds, and the London Eye, as well as see some shows and eat out a bit, that kind of thing....

Have fun! Let me know if you need anything else, here or by PM.

[Boschi]

Fantastic thread!

Allrighty - I'm looking for suggestions for a vacation. I really like the idea of checking out the Gulf Islands/Brit. Columbia coast and then spending some time in Vancouver, but I've never been. If anyone has any suggestions for fairly inexpensive things to do there or tips on saving money then I'd be very grateful.

I'll be travelling with my sig. other and possibly her brother and his wife. I'm looking at travel in December, and I'm not really worried about whether or not it's warm, as long as there are things to do, and a warm comfy place to cuddle at the end of the day (preferably with wine or whiskey in hand).

That destination isn't set in stone however, and I'm open to suggestions. So if anyone knows of any hidden jewels that fit the following then please let me know. I will be grateful for any and all suggestions.

1) In North America (mainly due to travel expenses, other cheapo options OK too)
2) Not so secluded that travel there would be overly expensive
3) Possible to have a little fun for not a lot of cash. (you can think "affordable" or "inexpensive" if you like...) . Neither of us are big shoppers.
4) Gay friendly-ish, at least in some places.
5) In or close to a large city with all those fun urban things to do (or at least gawk at - again with the budget)
6) Someplace with good theatre options would be spiffy.
7) Having access to a kitchen for at least one night would be fantastic - a meal is part of the plan.
8) Oh - and on the food front. We're both kinda foodies, and are willing to splurge on at least one nice meal, and a few cheaper, fun ones too. So food centered travel destinations sound great!

Aaand Ok, one more thing: Chicago sounds fun, but has been vetoed.

Heh, right. Sorry, went a bit overboard.

Regards,

Boschi

[NewRuthRising]

Jackie, if you're into scenery, come up north. We have gorgeous views everywhere. The Lake Disctrict is good, although you'll leave a pint of blood lighter, because the midges are vicious. Northumberland is also gorgeous and Newcastle-upon-Tyne has some cool stuff to check out.

[HalfCamel]

madeinnz, Candleshoe, NewRuthRising... Thanks for all the suggestions! Now I have an idea where to start so I'm looking into all of it to see what I find. Thanks!

NewRuthRising: what are "midges"?

[Candleshoe]

Midges are slang here for mosquitoes.

Nothing to do with Midge Ure, because he wouldn't be able to suck as much blood...

[dynigirl]

Jackie - I think most places have been mentioned but I thought I'd add a few. North Wales particulary Snowdonia is just amazing. Camping and hiking is a cheap way around the area. There are lots of options for outdoor sports, mountain biking, white water rafting. Cornwall is a must, its just breath taking. As for getting around this site http://www.attitudetravel.com/uk/lowcostbuses/backpacker.html Seams to have a good comaprison of a few companies. Some places are hard to get to on public transport so tours become a necesatiy.

Boshi - What about British Columbia? Vancouver is a good base if you do. Vancouver Island is a must, especailly up to Tofinio, it is just wow nature. Plus head over to Jasper and Banff in Alberta good moutain ranges. I did a trip called "The Moose Run" you can jump on a off at various stops, making the trip longer or shorter as you like. It is aimed at the early 20's group but if you get a good group and driver, there were only four on the bus when I went, then you can have a good quiet time.

[HalfCamel]

Ms Shoe: thanks for clarifying.

dynigirl: thanks for the suggestions. I personally love outdoorsy stuff so all that sounds wonderful. I'll look into it.

[chronic]

Hi!

My lady and I are going for long weekend in York (UK, in case there's a York somewhere else) in a couple of weeks, and I was wondering if anyone lives there or knows the area and can give some advice.

I know about the Minster and the Viking centre, but are there any other sights we should see? Any good alternative/goth/friendly pubs and clubs? Good places to eat out?

Thanks for any help you can give!

chronic

[Cup]

Hey Guys

In Canada we having something called reading week. Its the second week off in feb basically to give students a break (second week in feb was apprantly had the highest sucide rates...)

Anyways me and a friend want to do something amazing with our reading week this year. So if you guys know of any events going on in the first half of feb anywhere in Canada or the United States please email me.

Thanks,
Cup
(frozen_yellow@yahoo.com)