Free and Easy holidaying in UK

[nightwolf75]

hi, folks!

my wife and i are planning a FnE holiday ard UK during the school holidays. her aunt is working in london. so, we are going to base ourselves there and explore UK from her place. planning to spend mebbe 2wks.

for those who went to UK and/or Ireland b4 on backpacking, izit true we can arrange for local tour packages thru their travel agencies there? we have no intentions of following singapore tour packages from our travel agencies, and are looking at arranging for our own travel iternary.

*yes... i know can use lonely planet guides. but, nothing beats a local guiding u and showing u the history of the place!*

TIA!

 

[scud]

may i suggest www.contiki.com

 

[nightwolf75]

may i suggest www.contiki.com

oh yeah. heard of them b4. a bit too expensive leh. just like insight and trafalgar, these are international tour grps. i went for my honeymoon 2yrs back with insight... almost blew away $10K...

 

[scud]

oh yeah. heard of them b4. a bit too expensive leh. just like insight and trafalgar, these are international tour grps. i went for my honeymoon 2yrs back with insight... almost blew away $10K...

last year wanted to tour europe from london.
but last minute, there was a biz trip to jpn :bheart:
that time, their prices were attractive, ranging from US400-600 per pax for 15 days. i guess they have revised their prices.

 

[Sjourn]

was there in london last Nov...darn expensive place to travel...no more moola to upgrade liaoz.. :what:

Anywayz, you must catch the theatres there, cheaper than watching in SG and thier cast is original.

Shopping is a no no, unless its unique. Can buy a week travel card to travel on buses and thier underground which is easy to use. usual spots, bukingham palace, chinatown, picadilly, harrods, big ben, London eye, london bridge, etc etc..

the rest is up to you to research...happy travels..

 

[LazerLordz]

Travel on the Tube, and do note that RyanAir flies to major European cities from Heathrow, you can even fly to Amsterdam or Majorca for very cheap rates.

 

[jsbn]

going on holiday soon?

Enjoy ur break man. U deserve it.

 

[Shodan99]

NW,

Try here:

http://www.thomascook.com/superbreaks/ukbreakshome.asp

Its one of the largest and the only one I can remember of the top of my head.

If you plan on using such commercialised travel packages, I think it is likely to be the same as singapore... rush here, rush there....

If you like to go free and easy, its best to drive. May I suggest going to lake district? The national park in West Yorkshire is almost the size of singapore. Must remember to bring a 10-22mm lens yah :sticktong

Anyway, enjoy your trip!

 

[nightwolf75]

NW,

Try here:

http://www.thomascook.com/superbreaks/ukbreakshome.asp

Its one of the largest and the only one I can remember of the top of my head.

If you plan on using such commercialised travel packages, I think it is likely to be the same as singapore... rush here, rush there....

If you like to go free and easy, its best to drive. May I suggest going to lake district? The national park in West Yorkshire is almost the size of singapore. Must remember to bring a 10-22mm lens yah :sticktong

Anyway, enjoy your trip!

hey, folks!

thanks for ur suggestions! shodan99 - definitely will check out the lake district. my fren who studied there for 3yrs highly recommended a visit too!

and, pray, tell. where am i going to get my 10-22?? sponsor? :angel:

 

[nemesis32]

oh yeah. heard of them b4. a bit too expensive leh. just like insight and trafalgar, these are international tour grps. i went for my honeymoon 2yrs back with insight... almost blew away $10K...

NW, contiki is the cheapest of all organised tour. If you look at the itinerary etc, it's virtually identical with trafalgar and insight.

Insight - 4-5 star
Trafalgar -3-4star
contiki -2-3 star

 

[nemesis32]

Impt thing is to decide the duration and places to visit. As pointed out, there's many budget airlines that you can fly to various european cities, some at 9.90 pound plus taxes or less!

In london, i can tell you where to shop, eat etc as i was there for a mth couple of years back to visit my brother, who is still there.

 

[nightwolf75]

NW, contiki is the cheapest of all organised tour. If you look at the itinerary etc, it's virtually identical with trafalgar and insight.

Insight - 4-5 star
Trafalgar -3-4star
contiki -2-3 star

hi, nemesis32!

thanks for the tip! :thumbsup: actually, i was hoping my wife's aunt can help us book the contiki package in london (since she lives there). but dunno if we can make it in time for jun this year, as she might be coming back to singapore for a while (requirements to keep her citizenship here).

 

[nemesis32]

hi, nemesis32!

thanks for the tip! :thumbsup: actually, i was hoping my wife's aunt can help us book the contiki package in london (since she lives there). but dunno if we can make it in time for jun this year, as she might be coming back to singapore for a while (requirements to keep her citizenship here).

You can try and look for the packages online 1st. She can make a deposit for you or pay for you then send/pass you the receipts and vouchers? Thats what i did when i went italy last Nov when i ask my brother to book the trafalgar tour thru thomas cook. Oh yes, if you book in advance, they can give u up to 15% off and if you travelled with them before (ie in your case, insight) they will offer discount for repeat customers. I know trafalgar has it.
http://www.contiki.com/en-PH/

 

[syrinx]

Hi NW,

First, you have to decide where in UK to visit from London. IMO, it's really not necessary to book packages in UK unless you're happy to just tag along with the itinerary. It's really easy travelling in UK cos the train/coach services are easy to use and understand. Self-drive is easy too.

To me, Lake District is best seen own time own target with your own rented car, especially if you're going to take photos. There are many off the beaten track places that you can explore if you have a car.

If you're into musicals/plays and museum visits, 4 or 5 days in London not very enough. For me, that is... :bsmilie:

Anyway, you decide where you wanna go and if you need to, talk to me lah...

 

[espn]

There's something called the LonelyPlanet, check it out

 

[nightwolf75]

There's something called the LonelyPlanet, check it out

oi... never read #1. i know abt lonely planet. more interested in having a structured iternary. :sticktong

 

[nemesis32]

structured itinerary means cannot take nice pics leh...

In any case, another option is to use london as base, book some short trip out to say lake district, dublin or whereever... more freedom

 

[reachme2003]

hey, folks!

thanks for ur suggestions! shodan99 - definitely will check out the lake district. my fren who studied there for 3yrs highly recommended a visit too!

and, pray, tell. where am i going to get my 10-22?? sponsor? :angel:

do not forget your camera whilst you are at lake district.

 

[espn]

Having lonely planet you can plan your own itinerary and duration of visit for each location.

 

[Xing]

Hi NW, maybe you can get a pictorial guide book like DK (Dorling Kindersley) Eyewitness Travel Guides. I've been using this for my free & easy trips to Middle East and Europe.

As mentioned by most CSers, England is a pretty easy place to find your way around with public transport. Getting this informational pictorial guide, will help you decide where and what to see, without engaging a guide. And they really got some pretty nice pictures too.