LONDON - TRAVEL TIPS

"PUT DOWN THAT MAP AND GET WONDERFULLY LOST..."

BUT FIRST GET PREPARED!

I put this list together of little things we learned along the way to help you out and be prepared before you go so you can relax and have fun when you get there!! There's no particular order so bare with me - I promise they're all important!

1.  Browse the web to find out what the weather will be like when you're traveling. How can you know what to pack if you don't know what to expect? Here's a link for a general idea for all of the seasons in London http://www.visitlondon.com/weather/
2.  Set your weather app on your iphone to London, this way when you wake up you can check the forecast for the day and know what to wear and if you'll need an umbrella.
3. Download the open table app on your phone so you can make dinner reservations while you're out and about during the day sight seeing and know you won't have to wait for a table when dinner time rolls around. 
4. Go to your bank and exchange your local currency for the pound. Make sure you know the current rate exchanges so you get an accurate amount. The following link is a conversion for dollars to pounds. http://www.dollars2pounds.com/
5. Make sure you're carrying at least 10 pounds with you when you land so you can tip your taxi driver, private car hire, concierge etc. 
6. Make sure you call all of your credit card companies and banks before you go...let them know the dates and locations you will be traveling to so you don't experience any problems using your cards while there. 
7. A week before you go call to verify airfare, hotel, rental cars etc. and make copies of your reservations to carry with you. (I took an entire folder on the plane in my purse carrying all of our info. just in case our luggage was lost we still had documentation of everything)
8. Check the Groupon page for even more great local deals while you're there!!! You can find a ton of new experiences and save a lot of money by doing so. You have to create an account for Groupon UK but there's no charge to do so. http://www.groupon.co.uk/vouchers/london
9. Go to your local government website and check any travel warnings or alerts that may be issued.http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/alertswarnings.html 
10. If you are recently applying for a passport, make sure you track them and pay any extra fees to get them before you leave. If you currently hold a passport, make sure it's good for at least 6 months as most countries will not allow you to travel if it expires within 6 months.
11. Carry the number for the US Embassy (or for the embassy for your home country you are traveling from) in your phone and in your wallet. You can contact them should you have any problems while there, like losing your passport. 
12. If you are renting a car make sure you obtain your International Drivers license...it's quick, painless and cheap! The only place I know of with experience to get one at is your local AAA office. You do not have to be a AAA member to get one. http://www.aaa.com/Vacation/idpf.html
13. Make copies of your itinerary and travel documents and leave them at home with a trusted family member or friend.
14. Call your cell phone provider to check international plans they offer! Nobody wants to have a perfect vacation and come home to a HUGE bill filled with roaming charges. Make sure you clearly understand what you're paying for and what is covered under their international plan. I spent 2 hours on the phone with my cell phone provider before I totally understood it all (however, that's not saying much as I'm not by any means tech savvy).
15. If you have any prescription medications make sure you have enough to last the duration of your trip and a few extra days should something go wrong and your flight home is delayed. I also bought over the counter medications (for fever and pain) and put it in our checked luggage as it is much cheaper here at home.
16. Get any voltage convertors/adapters before you leave. You can find these at stores like Best Buy and they cost about $20-$30. You won't be able to charge your phone or use your flat iron (GASP!!) without one. 
17. Make sure all your bills are either paid or scheduled to be paid while you're gone.
18. For 2 weeks before you go keep a note pad around the house and write down the things you use everyday that you'll need to pack. Most of us remember the obvious shirts, pants and socks but you'd be surprised how many of us overlook the daily things like toothbrushes, hairbrushes, body wash etc. Make a list for everything you need to pack so there are no surprises!
19. Write down important numbers of family or a trusted friend to carry on your person God-forbid in case anything should happen.
20. Make sure to pack your camera and go pros! Double check the amount of space available on your card and buy any larger memories if necessary. We took over 2,500 pictures on our 2 week trip.
21. You can always try the London Pass (http://www.londonpass.com/) it covers entry for a list of things (http://www.londonpass.com/london-attractions/index.html) and could be a huge money saver. The price ranger from 52 Euro per adult up to 116 Euro...probably not your best bet to use for a day or two but is well worth it for multiple days.   
22. We flew with British Airways, so before I booked the tickets I made sure to sign up with their mileage club and now we have a bunch of points towards another flight or to redeem rewards with! Check the hotel you're booking with too to see if there are any reward cards worth signing up for.
23. HAVE FUN! Get everything in order before you go so you are not preoccupied with any minor things that may come up from not preparing ahead of time. 

LONDON - RESTAURANTS

"One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well"

-Virginia Woolf

I'm not going to lie, we had a hard time finding good food while in London. There are thousands of restaurants to choose from but one can only try a handful of them over a 4 day period. I'm going to share with you the ones we loved and the ones worth avoiding. I have to apologize now, we didn't take pictures of all the restaurants and food as I was not planning on writing this blog while we were there. I promise, the more reviews I do I will make sure to take photos for you! I'll take a moment to add a TIP here: use the open table app to make reservations at restaurants...you can reserve the time, place and number of guests in your party all while you're checking the city out and not worry about waiting for a table later on. I'll start with the places we wish had locations in the States:

1) THE SPAGHETTI HOUSE CUCINA ITALIANA E PIZZERIA (I know it's a mouthful!)
 http://www.spaghettihouse.co.uk/index.php

This is a chain restaurant so I will be reviewing the location we went to which was at

74-76 Duke Street London W1K 6JZ. 

It's a small and cute little place. The staff was beyond friendly and very knowledgeable. They even give the kids a mini coloring book instead of just a place mat to color on which is fantastic and keeps them busy for a while. The menu offers up all things Italian from bruschetta to spaghetti and even burgers! We ordered the bruschetta, margherita pizza, the quattro formaggi pizza (mozzarella cheese, gorgonzola, parmesan and smoked mozzarella cheese) and the kid's spaghetti....none of it was disappointing! The flavors were heavenly and the portions were plentiful. You know it's good when your little one doesn't say a word through out all of lunch and has no food left on their plate. We paid about 40 Euro for everything and it was money well spent. I'd have to give The Spaghetti House a 5 out of 5. 

2) THE BBAR 
http://www.bbarlondon.com/

43 Buckingham Palace Road

London SW1W 0PP

I think this was my favorite place in London! It was next door to our hotel, The Rubens at the Palace. The concierge recommended it to us as a local favorite and I always say "Go where the locals do and you'll never be disappointed" and that saying proved true again! This charming South African restaurant is full of delightful surprises! It has a fun and wild ambiance and the service was better than any service I've ever experienced in Vegas...everyone was professional and yet relaxed and fun but they did their job well. We never asked for anything twice and someone was always available if we needed help and when our son grew a little fussy they even entertained him for us and made him laugh - all while not over staying their welcome at the table. Now onto the food...my husband had the Classic burger and I shared the Parmesan Crumbed Chicken Schnitzel (served with creamed mashed potatoes, spinach and a lemon butter) with my son. The high quality of the food and expertise of the chef were present in the flavors and textures of what we ordered. It was hard to not want to eat here everyday we were in London. I think it is well worth it to go out of your way to try this awesome little bar. In all we paid around 45 Euro for dinner.

3)THE UPPER CRUST @ VICTORIA STATION
http://uppercrust.uk.com/ 

Located inside Victoria Station in London this is the perfect spot for a quick bite to eat (this also is a chain so you will be able to find them throughout London) Their sandwiches are served on fresh baked baguettes and are filled with amazing ingredients such as brie, bacon, spinach & cranberry or honey roast ham & valley cheddar for lunch and bacon with scrambled eggs or Cumberland sausage baguettes for breakfast. Perfect for a budget and on the go - we paid 16 Euro for 2 sandwiches and they were fantastic. 

4)ZIZZI RISTORANTE
http://www.zizzi.co.uk/ 

This is a chain restaurant so I will be reviewing the location we went to which was at 110 Wigmore Street Marylebone, London W1U 3RS.

Unquestionably my second favorite place in all of London. The atmosphere was mellow and yet energizing. I particularly loved the open kitchen where I could watch the chefs prepare our food and watch it come step by step to full glory. We made a reservation on open table so we were seated promptly and had wonderful service from our waitress immediately. We ordered the Italian Bread Bucket with pesto for starters and for our main courses we had spaghetti pomodoro (mozzarella, tomatoes and basil) and penne della casa (penne noodles, roasted chicken, pancetta, baby spinach and cheese in a creamy mushroom sauce) and for dessert a chocolate and toffee nut sundae (Chocolate & crema gelato, banana, whipped mascarpone cream, toffee sauce & caramelised peanuts). The dessert was so good that I still haven't quite figured out how I had lived so long without it. Everything exceeded our expectations from beginning to end and the next time we are in London it will be a must go for us. 

5)CAFFE NERO @ TRAFALGAR SQAURE
http://www.caffenero.com/

This is a chain restaurant so I will be reviewing the location we went to which was at 60-61 Trafalgar Square St. James's, London WC2N 5DS

This little cafe is a great alternative to Starbucks. The staff was welcoming and the view of Trafalgar Square is perfect for people watching and relaxing. Their menu consists of pastries, sandwiches and salads. They specialize in fine Italian coffee but have plenty of drinks for the non-coffee drinkers. It's a great place to catch a break and unwind. 

  
6) PRET A MANGER
http://www.pret.com/ 

These fabulous little places are all over London Town and every time you pass by one you may find yourself craving it. It's the equivalent to a Starbucks addiction in that just the colors of the logo stimulate your cravings.  They sell sandwiches, salads, soups, wraps and more! They offer up an endless variety of hot & cold beverages in flavor combos that you'd never dream of. I love this little place and for the quality you get I personally think they should be charging more than they do! I even snuck a baguette sandwich on our flight back to the US as the airplane food will make you want to starve yourself. This is a must go!


7) THE WELLINGTON @ TRAFALGAR SQUARE 
http://www.nicholsonspubs.co.uk/thewellingtonstrandlondon/food/

I'm very surprised to see the ratings and reviews of The Wellington are so high on some sites, we may have gone on an off day and it might well be worth your while to give it a try but the contents of this review is solely based on our experience and you can decide if it is worth the risk. The Wellington is located near Trafalgar Square and has a ton of shopping surrounding it. The views are good and the decor is classic English which I totally love. There is outside seating available and a bar on the first floor which tends to be noisy and crowded. Located on the second floor is the kid-friendly dining area as well as a full bar for a much quieter atmosphere. The service was insanely slow to the point of being a nuisance. Our food took almost 35 minutes, the order was inaccurate and our food was cold. The server seemed annoyed when we asked for the hot food we actually ordered. Our food finally came out correctly but it was dry, flavorless and poorly presented. The prices aren't bad at all...we all ate for about 30 Euro but I'm sure there are plenty more options close by where that price can buy you proper food. TIP If you do choose to have a meal here sign up on their e-mail list ahead of time as they frequently send out promotions and coupons. 

8) CAFE PANINI 
http://www.thecafepanini.com/ 

I would say avoid this place at all costs. The service was awful, the workers were rude and although we ate first thing in the morning the food tasted stale and old. The food wasn't cooked properly and I was afraid to get sick if we did eat it. They didn't try to correct our food, just stared at us like a deer in the headlights. We just paid the outrageous bill and left as to avoid confrontation. It cost about 25 Euro and there were plenty of places around to get a good bite to eat for that amount.  




Hope these were helpful! Just on a side note, if you are around Victoria Station there are a lot of budget options inside including a Burger King. If you have any questions leave a comment and I'll reply as soon as possible! I will be posting reviews for Paris within the next week so be looking forward for that! Until next time, happy travels fellow gypsies!

LONDON - OH THE SIGHTS TO SEE

"Certainly, travel is more than the seeing of sights; it is a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living." 

- Miriam Beard

There is so much to do in London I'm not sure you can get it all done even if you live there...In this post I'm going to be reviewing the things we did and pass along any info I discovered on things we wanted to do but didn't get the chance to do it. 

THE PLACES WE'VE BEEN: 

1)BIG BEN/PARLIAMENT
Address: Westminster, London
         SW1A 0AA
         Map:    https://www.google.com/maps/place/Big+Ben/@51.500729,-0.124625,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x487604c38c8cd1d9:0xb78f2474b9a45aa9
Tour cost:     Adults: 17.50 Euro, Children 5-15: 7 Euro, Children under 5 FREE
Tour HRS:  9.20am to 4.30pm (except Monday to Friday between 13 April and 6 May 2015, 12.40pm to 4.45pm)  
Tour website: http://www.parliament.uk/visiting/visiting-and-tours/tours-of-parliament/audio-tours/

"Parliament examines what the Government is doing, makes new laws, holds the power to set taxes and debates the issues of the day. The House of Commons and House of Lords each play an important role in Parliament's work." 

Big Ben definitely makes for some great photographs and with Westminster Abbey and the London Eye walking distance away it is a staple for London tourist. Sitting right on the River Thames the views and photo opportunities are endless. I say it's a must go. 

2)WESTMINSTER ABBEY
Address: 20 Deans Yd

         Westminster, London 

         SW1P 3PA

         Map: https://www.google.com/maps/place/Westminster+Abbey/@51.499292,-0.12731,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x487604c4ba43352f:0xda8effa2059b537a 

Cost of entry: Adults: 17 Euro, children 6-16: 9 Euro, 5 and under FREE. They also have   specials for a family of 2 adults and 1 child for 40 Euro and for a family of 2 adults and 2 children for 45 Euro

HRS: vary, check their website for the dates you would like to go http://www.westminster-abbey.org/visit-us/opening-times

      

 This Gothic style church located in Westminster (hence the name) was the location of the wedding seen 'round the world of Will & Kate in April of 2011. The construction of the present church begun in 1245 so you can imagine the history behind those walls. You could probably spend a whole day at the Abbey, in addition to the chapel their are tours (guided and audio), a cafe and terrace TIP kids eat FREE all day every day in the Cellarium Cafe (you get one free kids meal for every adult meal purchased) they serve breakfast, lunch and have an afternoon tea menu. There is the Abbey Shop to buy souvenirs, the Abbey gardens and a museum (open from 10.30-16.00) With over 1,000 years of history this is a must go for any history buff. 

3)LONDON EYE
Address: London SE1 7PB

         United Kingdom

         Map: https://www.google.com/maps/place/London+Eye/@51.503324,-0.119543,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x487604b900d26973:0x4291f3172409ea92

Cost: Adults: 21.50 Euro, children 4 & up: 15.50 Euro, children under 4 are FREE

HRS: https://www.londoneye.com/VisitorInformation/OpeningTimes/Default.aspx

I would strongly recommend going their main website (https://www.londoneye.com/) to view all available options for tickets and experiences. They have the most basic package of a standard ride around the wheel to a champagne experience to a wine and chocolate tasting experience. It's a flexible experience offering great family memories or a romantic date night. The lights of London are gorgeous in the evening and a day time ride offers up the ability to see the city of London until the city meets the horizon. On the last quarter of the ride on the way down there is a camera on the frame of the London Eye where you can smile and have your picture taken to purchase later in the gift shop. The entire ride took between 30-40 minutes. Our 4 year old did great and really enjoyed the views although the last 5-10 mins he grew a little antsy. Bring a water with you and use the bathroom first - once you are going up you are stuck there until you carriage comes around again. 

The capsule below us, the Thames in the background

Big Ben across the street! Spectacular view.

4)TOWER OF LONDON

Address: London EC3N 4AB

         United Kingdom

         Map: https://www.google.com/maps/place/Tower+of+London/@51.508112,-0.075949,18z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x48760349331f38dd:0xa8bf49dde1d56467

Cost: Adults: 22.00 Euro, children 5-15: 11 Euro, 5 and under are FREE (The price does fluxuate through out the year so be sure to check the website for current pricing)

HRS: Tues-Sat 09.00-17.30; Sun-Mon 10.00-17.30 (these are summer hours, winter hours closing time will be 16.30) 

The Tower of London offers up so much history, mystique and beauty one could almost cry as they gush over the 949 year old castle. It offers up stories of love, hate, murder, family and royalty like a soap opera stretched out over a thousand years. Located on the North bank of the Thames River it's about a 15 minute cab ride from the London Eye next to the famous Tower Bridge (or as some call it, the London Bridge...although totally inaccurate, the real London Bridge is rather dull and boring). For all of us addicted to caffeine I must insert here that there is a Starbucks across from the ticket booth for the Tower of London. I would strongly recommend reading up on the history of the tower before you go as there is so much of it but with all of our busy lives and little time to do much of anything they do offer up a FREE tour called the Yeoman Warder Tour. This tour begins at the front entrance every 30 minutes and lasts about an hour.  For a list of activities the tower holds click here http://www.hrp.org.uk/TowerOfLondon/WhatsOn/Familyactivities and for those of you who love to be scared try one of their twilight tours, for more info click here http://www.hrp.org.uk/TowerOfLondon/WhatsOn/TowerTwilightTours.

The tower is also home to the crown jewels which house 23,578 gems and the stories behind them. It also holds the largest diamond ever found (I know ladies...try not to cry when you have to leave). Inside you will also find the 800 year old Coronation Spoon, The Sovereign's Sceptre with Cross (a 530 carat diamond!) crowns, crowns and more crowns! This building within the tower is under armed guard at all hours.

The Sovereign's Sceptre with Cross

The Sovereign's Sceptre with Cross

 Within the tower itself is almost a little city. You will not run out of things to do or see while there. There are shops and little cafes to eat at and a day of fun waiting to be had. TIP there is a Red Rover Cruise Tour dock outside the tower walls that you could catch and ride back up to the London Eye/Big Ben dock that is breath taking and relaxing....continued review below.

All caffeine addicts everywhere - relax, you can get your fix before entering the Tower.

An entire building is dedicated to armor and weapons

The view from one of the walk ways in the Tower.

A city within the walls, truly incredible

Some rooms are still displayed how they would've been years ago.

5)RED ROVER CRUISE TOUR

Website: http://www.citycruises.com/city-cruises-sightseeing-river-red-rover.aspx

This was such a fun little cruise and was a pleasant time to relax while floating down the Thames after walking all day around the Tower of London. Our sore feet and aching backs were delighted to get a break as we took in the sights of London sitting comfortably in a chair. The boat is a guided tour and our tour guide was hilarious! He was well worth the money spent alone. At the bottom level of the little boat is a place to get snacks and refreshments. The cruises take off every 30 minutes and has multiple stops. It really is a great way to get around to some of the major sights off the Thames River. We didn't get a chance to, but I'd imagine the cruise is all the more magic at night with the city lit up. My only TIP is to bring a jacket as the nights do get cold on the water and since you are sitting on top of the boat exposed with no roof it can be breezy. 

6)HYDE PARK

 Website: https://www.royalparks.org.uk/parks/hyde-park 

Out of all of London, this was my absolute favorite thing we did. It was calm, relaxing and playful. Hyde park is absolutely huge (covering about 350 acres) and can easily take all day. It's such a calming atmosphere that as you wander around you will see people (who are not homeless by the way) just taking naps in the middle of the park...we even seen some people with ducks snuggling up to them as they all slept. There were gardens within Hyde park that were beginning to bloom and a cute little cafe right off The Serpentine lake. You'll also find the Princess Diana Memorial Fountain and the Speakers' Corner in Hyde Park. I'll give you 2 of our favorite things we did:

THE BOAT HOUSE - This is open April-October 31st from 10.00 AM until sundown. You can rent either a rowing boat or a pedal boat (The pedal boat will definitely make for a good time) It is 12 Euro per adult and 5 Euro per child per hour. We stopped at the snack stand for food and drinks, pedaled out to the middle of the lake and had a picnic while in our boat. Believe me, after about 30 minutes you are ready to turn around and bring the boat back your legs hurt so bad. It's a beautiful site though as you pedal your way down the lake to see more and more of Hyde park and all the wildlife in between the shores and on the little islands. 

FEEDING THE WILDLIFE - This was so much fun for us. The squirrels and birds in the park are obviously comfortable with people as they will come right up to your hands and eat little bits of food from your palm. They will follow you around if you try to leave and you will probably be tempted to take the little furry things home with you - just remember you can't! :) So bring some popcorn or bread, a blanket and a camera and enjoy the afternoon in the park!

For a list of all the things Hyde Park has to offer please visit their website. 

 

Being from a desert, this was unlike anything I've ever seen

I could've fed these little guys for hours

A little cafe area at the end of the Serpentine

Check out the chucks pedaling away

You can RENT these chairs and lounge around the park...unfortunately for us, everyone watched my husband struggle for about 10 minutes to open the chairs and set them up before anybody told us that - I think they were enjoying our ignorance a little too much. 

There are some of the most remarkable trees in Hyde Park I've ever seen...this being my favorite one. 

7)TRAFALGAR SQUARE

Address:Westminster

        London WC2N 5DN

Once known as Charring Cross, Trafalgar Square is London's largest square. It is often referred to as the heart of the city - filled with statues, fountains, restaurants and shops it's a relaxing place to wander around. The National Gallery is located right in the square (http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/) and there are often musicians playing for tips. There's a wonderful little coffee shop called Caffe Nero where you can people watch through the large windows and sip on your favorite beverage. We did a lot of shopping around this area and took care of everyone's souvenirs to bring home.

 

THE PLACES WE DIDN'T GO BUT ARE AMONG THE TOP SIGHTS:

1)BUCKINGHAM PALACE 

Website: http://www.royal.gov.uk/TheRoyalResidences/BuckinghamPalace/BuckinghamPalace.aspx

Although our hotel was about a 5 minute walk from the Palace, we didn't go. Too much to see and do for the short time we were there. We drove past it several times though and it was stunning. Built in 1703 it is draped with elegance and beauty.  You can visit the state rooms of the palace certain days and times of the year (for that info please click here http://www.changing-the-guard.com/visiting-buckingham-palace.html) and there is the famous Changing of the Guard that takes place on certain dates and times (for the current schedule please check the website here http://www.changing-the-guard.com/dates-times.html) I understand why for some this is a must go; however, I think there are better options around the city to spend your time on. 

2)British Museum

Address:Great Russell Street

              London WC1B 3DG

Cost:FREE
HRS: Everyday, except Jan 1 & Dec 24-26 from 10.00-17.30

Dedicated to culture and human history the museum holds some 8 million pieces. It first opened to the public in 1759 and has housed history and expanded for new history every since. They have FREE activities for the kids (http://www.britishmuseum.org/visiting/family_visits.aspx) and a few places to eat inside. It's a great way to save money and spend a day learning and growing. For more info on current exhibits check their website here http://www.britishmuseum.org/ 

3)The Churchill War Rooms
Address:Clive Steps
        King Charles Street
        London SW1A 2AQ

Cost: Adults: 18 Euro, children 5-15: 9 Euro

HRS: Everyday 10.00-6.00, except Dec 24-26

This underground complex held a British government command center during World War II. In this museum you will see the Cabinet War Rooms and the Churchill Museum. For more info click here http://www.iwm.org.uk/visits/churchill-war-rooms

There is plenty more to see and do in London! These were just some of my favorites and some I wish we had the time for. If you need any additional info just contact me and I'll provide what I can. Until next time...Happy travels my fellow gypsies!

 

LONDON - OVERVIEW

"By seeing London, I have seen as much of life as the world can show."
--Samuel Johnson 

 Samuel sure knew what he was talking about when he uttered this famous quote. London is a brilliant city flowing with youth, heritage, history and modernity. It's like a big casserole of everything lovely (without the calories!) It has music, art, family friendly experiences, plenty of romantic opportunities and fun around every corner. The hustle and bustle of the city will energize you and fill your head with memories to cherish for a lifetime. 

We flew to London at the end of April...it was a little cool and over cast but overall lovely weather. Most days by the afternoon shorts and a t-shirt were what you wanted to be in. We didn't have the craziness of a high volume of tourists and most things we didn't even have to wait more than 10-15 minutes to see instead of the hours of wait time June-Sept would bring. I'm going to walk you through our vacation as simply and orderly as possible, I do get a little excited and my natural tendency to talk fast really comes out my fingers about 100 words per minute. If anything is unclear or you would like more information on something send me an e-mail and I'd be happy to respond as best I can. 

LEAVING THE AIRPORT

When planning out our airfare I knew that after a 10 hour flight we would be exhausted, not to mention we'd never been before and had no idea where to even begin going. A lot of people will say to take the tube (here is a map of the system http://tfl.gov.uk/maps/track/tube) which is basically a subway system. This is definitely an option but for those of us who live in places without subways it can be overwhelming. You can always take a taxi (TIP the black cabs are under special rules with the mayors office to charge the same rate, other taxis are fine also but typically you cannot hail them on the road you must call the private company for a pickup - not everyone follows this rule of thumb though) or another option we chose was to hire a private car - I know, you're thinking that's crazy and expensive but it was well worth it and not that badly priced especially because we had 3 in our party. I hired a SUV to pick us up from Heathrow with a great company called Exclusive Airports (http://www.exclusiveairports.com/) You will need to give them a copy of your itinerary so they can track your flight and adjust a pick up time if needed. The driver had a sign with our name on it by the coffee shop in Heathrow, he took our bags and wheeled them out on a cart, loaded the SUV and took us to our hotel. This cost us about 44.00 Euro for the larger vehicle...and just a TIP if you need a car seat you'll save money by bringing your own and it makes cab rides easier if that will be your main source of travel. Don't forget to tip your driver!! :)

HOTEL REVIEW

We stayed at The Rubens at the Palace (http://www.rubenshotel.com/)in which I cannot, again I say, I cannot say enough good things about! Everything was entirely perfect. This is not exactly a budget friendly hotel but the value is incomparable. We'll start with the staff...super professional. As soon as we were dropped off the concierge took our luggage and walked us to the check in desk. There we were greeted with smiling faces. Our bags were up in our room and on the bed waiting for us as soon as we opened the door to our room. You have to keep in mind, rooms in Europe are small small small compared to the US. This room was very "spacious" for a European hotel. We had a huge king sized bed and a fold out bed for our son and we didn't feel squished or like we didn't have enough space even with all our luggage. The room service was great (although I do have to recommend AGAINST the food as it was pretty gross and not worth the amount you will pay for it) they have movies you can rent in all genres and for all ages in multiple languages. They do have a restaurant on site although we didn't try it as it was probably the source of the food we ordered from room service. If ever we had a question, smiles and help was all we received and if ever we lacked anything in our room we had someone knocking on the door within minutes of phoning the downstairs desk. The concierge would hail every cab for us outside the hotel and he always had the most pleasant attitude of all the staff offering up advice and taking family pics for us (and with us!). They have someone posted at the door 24/7 so you will never open a door or hail your own cab. Okay, now that I've gushed enough about how amazing the staff is I will move along...It has a fantastic location. It is minutes (drive time that is) from Buckingham Palace, Big Ben and the London Eye. It is walking distance from Victoria Station (a tube station that has a variety of great places to eat by the way)and a multitude of other restaurants and little shops. There is a convenience store located a couple doors down where you can go anytime of the day or night for some soda, chips, souvenirs or other necessities. All in all I'd say everything about the hotel was wonderful and convenient, definitely money well spent and a #1 recommendation from yours truly.

fold out single bed

the glowing bathroom... 

CAR RENTAL  

I'll be honest, being from Vegas we thought to ourselves "Psh, driving in a city no big deal...even if it is on the wrong side of the road!" and I'll tell you what...we literally returned the rental car 3-1/2 hours after picking it up for what was supposed to be a 4 day rental. I'd have to say this was probably what my husband was looking forward to the most about London - driving on the other side of the car on the opposite side of the road - awesomeness and thrilling in theory but makes you want to crap your pants in reality. London drivers are a forced to be reckoned with. It felt like hysteria, my advice would be to only get a rental car if you plan to go to suburbs of London or further into the countryside. We actually received a ticket for parking in a condo-owner area only that for us was not clearly marked as such (we were only there for about 20 mins but because of the CCTV cameras they will always get you) thankfully, when we returned to the US, I e-mailed and told them we were American and our ticket was dismissed - hmmm now that I read that I wonder if they really were being nice about it...Anyways, we booked the car with Europcar (http://www.europcar.com/) and again, when we returned home I called them and told them what happened and they even returned our money for the unused days (since you do have to pay upfront) TIP make sure you get a car with GPS in it so your phone isn't always using data.

"we're watching you..."

TRAVELING BY TRAIN FROM LONDON

When it was time to go to Paris, we took the EUROSTAR (http://www.eurostar.com/)(TIP sign up on Eurostar's website before you go and they will send you deals and coupons you can use on your purchase) from St. Pancras railway station to Gare du Nord station in Paris. This was a great line to travel on and I highly recommend it. They have a little cafe bar on the station with food and beverages. The seating is a little tight but you can reserve your seats online for whatever you choose. It's a very unique experience in that you actually travel under the water of the English Channel for about 20 minutes and then through some French countryside before arriving at Gare du Nord - they have rental car stands within the train station and on a side note it is much easier and relaxing to drive in Paris than in London and I think it is well worth your money.  

AIRFARE

We flew with British Airways and while the crew was polite, fun and tentative the plane itself was old, dirty and stinky. Our pilot was fantastic and made a surprisingly smooth landing in the middle of a storm in London. My tv in the head rest didn't work the entire 10 hour flight there and they wouldn't move us as a family to different seats. They only wanted to move me which we didn't want to separate with it being our sons first plane ride ever. The food was okay, we didn't really eat much the entire way. My husband swears he would never fly with them again but I think if it was a nicer plane he may change his mind as again the crew was fantastic.

This will wrap up the overview...I will be doing follow up posts for sight seeing, restaurants and more for London. There will soon be an overview of Paris. I will also post pics as soon as I figure out how :/

Until then...Happy travels my fellow gypsies!