The TSF Travel Tips Thread
-
-
@MajorRage said in The TSF Travel Tips Thread:
4 tube stops then 10 min walk pretty close for London!
I'd say 5 minutes from Camden Lock to Camden town Station, 5 stops to Moorgate and a brisk 15 minute walk to Brick Lane.
I worked in Brick Lane for about 12 months and that Moorgate walk was twice a day.My point was that I doubt most would describe the two places as 'close'. It's like saying Lords is close to the Oval.
It is a relative term though, I guess
-
@MajorRage said in The TSF Travel Tips Thread:
London. Well, where to start.
Firstly, commuting in/out with kids vs staying in the city is not a big deal. If it saves you a ton, then just do it. As an aside, Windsor is a lovely town with a buzz to it, and a castle, so probably worth checking it out anyway.
Borough Market is always first on my list for guests. It's a bit more of a tourist trap these days as opposed to a market, but it's still a fantastic spot. Afterwards, tie up your shoelaces and walk along the south bank of the Thames to Tower Bridge. There will be something going on there (often small festivals on there during the summer) and then you can walk across Tower Bridge to the Tower of London. I've not been in there so can't comment, but doubt it's worth the entrance fee's.
Of the tourist traps, I'd say London Eye is the one that gets the best reviews from people who have been there. But book in advance as queue's can be off the charts. The Museums around Kensington way are excellent as well, but gotta get there for opening. Great for kids too, and (when inevitably) you have a shit day or two weather wise, these are great spots to hit. You gotta check out Harrod's too, as it must be done.
I've not been to Camden Market in years, but when I was younger I spent plenty of time there as it was so eclectic. Also always worth grabbing a curry in Brick Lane too which isn't far from there.
Last piece of advice, Hyde Park. Like Central Park in NY, it's just a massive fucking park in the middle of the city. But if here when British Summer Time festival is on, go and check it out. Some massive acts (Pearl Jam confirmed next year (I'm going but no spare tix)), but on the off days (no massive act), you can go in and wander around and ther ewill be some smaller bands playing. Well worth doing. Then you can finish off by walking out and strolling up Edgware Road, which must be the most cosmopolitan street in the world.
This could go on for hours, but the above is some initial thoughts.
Borough Market is fantastic still, in my opinion. Freshest Oysters I have had outside NZ.
I challenged the guy to give me an oyster better than a Bluff Oyster and I think he did. It was amazing and he shucked it right there and then
-
Something simple that just occurred to me. Probably needed for Rome as well and that is a battery booster for your phone.
You can eat through your battery quite quickly on a day out in London especially if looking at maps/guides etc. The cell coverage, while good, can also get weak going in and out of shops/tube etc and your phone is almost always moving cell site as you move around.
-
and it finally happened. Our flights to Europe have been officially cancelled
fucking stupid fucking virus
-
@mariner4life said in The TSF Travel Tips Thread:
and it finally happened. Our flights to Europe have been officially cancelled
fucking stupid fucking virus
When were you supposed to be flying out?
-
@mariner4life said in The TSF Travel Tips Thread:
and it finally happened. Our flights to Europe have been officially cancelled
fucking stupid fucking virus
Refund or credit?
-
@canefan said in The TSF Travel Tips Thread:
@mariner4life said in The TSF Travel Tips Thread:
and it finally happened. Our flights to Europe have been officially cancelled
fucking stupid fucking virus
Refund or credit?
so far refunds. However my Singapore money still hasn't come through. All just stashed in a savings account until we can travel again.
-
@mariner4life said in The TSF Travel Tips Thread:
@canefan said in The TSF Travel Tips Thread:
@mariner4life said in The TSF Travel Tips Thread:
and it finally happened. Our flights to Europe have been officially cancelled
fucking stupid fucking virus
Refund or credit?
so far refunds. However my Singapore money still hasn't come through. All just stashed in a savings account until we can travel again.
Air NZ have only offered credits. We have a Hawaii trip in July that I will be pushing for a refund. Apparently this should be a done thing once the flights are officially cancelled
-
@mariner4life said in The TSF Travel Tips Thread:
@canefan said in The TSF Travel Tips Thread:
@mariner4life said in The TSF Travel Tips Thread:
and it finally happened. Our flights to Europe have been officially cancelled
fucking stupid fucking virus
Refund or credit?
so far refunds. However my Singapore money still hasn't come through. All just stashed in a savings account until we can travel again.
I have a holiday/travel account in my bank acc which is slowly growing with all my recent refunds. Still waiting on Bluesfest tickets refund, and my Asia flights are so far only credits.
-
@canefan said in The TSF Travel Tips Thread:
@mariner4life said in The TSF Travel Tips Thread:
@canefan said in The TSF Travel Tips Thread:
@mariner4life said in The TSF Travel Tips Thread:
and it finally happened. Our flights to Europe have been officially cancelled
fucking stupid fucking virus
Refund or credit?
so far refunds. However my Singapore money still hasn't come through. All just stashed in a savings account until we can travel again.
Air NZ have only offered credits. We have a Hawaii trip in July that I will be pushing for a refund. Apparently this should be a done thing once the flights are officially cancelled
We had a US trip planned and they offered credits too. Once the flight is cancelled you can get a refund, which we are in the process of getting.
-
@Kirwan said in The TSF Travel Tips Thread:
@canefan said in The TSF Travel Tips Thread:
@mariner4life said in The TSF Travel Tips Thread:
@canefan said in The TSF Travel Tips Thread:
@mariner4life said in The TSF Travel Tips Thread:
and it finally happened. Our flights to Europe have been officially cancelled
fucking stupid fucking virus
Refund or credit?
so far refunds. However my Singapore money still hasn't come through. All just stashed in a savings account until we can travel again.
Air NZ have only offered credits. We have a Hawaii trip in July that I will be pushing for a refund. Apparently this should be a done thing once the flights are officially cancelled
We had a US trip planned and they offered credits too. Once the flight is cancelled you can get a refund, which we are in the process of getting.
So it pays to wait for cancellation?
-
We had to cancel a bunch to, from and in Japan, only have credits for those as the flights weren't cancelled at the time. The worst thing they did on a couple of them was change our flights, then refuse to refund, only credit. I have a bloody spreadsheet tracking them all now as I know I'll forget where they all are!
-
We had our ferry bookings for next week fucked up. Something to do with the schedules getting stuffed by re-fueling times.
Bluebridge (who are usually much better than Interislander) decided that it was going to be less damage if they totally screwed a couple of sailings ather than have to re-jig everyone's bookings. Fair enough I guess, as a business decision.
Took a bit of pressure but I finally found the key to unlocking the slots put aside for those that fought back hard enough and have managed to just slide the bookings out a week.
They had been saying we could sail over next week but not come back until late June!Have no idea what is going to happen with our Jetstar bookings in July.
-
@mariner4life yeah supposed to be going to Crete in ten days and had to pull the pin on the hotel on Friday. Still waiting to see what's happening with the flights. Gutted.
Even more gutting is our trip in October down under is looking pretty unlikely too. Although I'm thinking the wedding will be postponed as the bride's olds live just around the corner from us.
-
@mariner4life said in The TSF Travel Tips Thread:
@Snowy we are going June/July. So Rome is going to be fucking packed.
Opening this thread took me back to here for some reason.
Reckon Rome may not be too crowded ...
-
@booboo said in The TSF Travel Tips Thread:
@mariner4life said in The TSF Travel Tips Thread:
@Snowy we are going June/July. So Rome is going to be fucking packed.
Opening this thread took me back to here for some reason.
Reckon Rome may not be too crowded ...
No queues except for the ICU....
-
@canefan said in The TSF Travel Tips Thread:
@Kirwan said in The TSF Travel Tips Thread:
@canefan said in The TSF Travel Tips Thread:
@mariner4life said in The TSF Travel Tips Thread:
@canefan said in The TSF Travel Tips Thread:
@mariner4life said in The TSF Travel Tips Thread:
and it finally happened. Our flights to Europe have been officially cancelled
fucking stupid fucking virus
Refund or credit?
so far refunds. However my Singapore money still hasn't come through. All just stashed in a savings account until we can travel again.
Air NZ have only offered credits. We have a Hawaii trip in July that I will be pushing for a refund. Apparently this should be a done thing once the flights are officially cancelled
We had a US trip planned and they offered credits too. Once the flight is cancelled you can get a refund, which we are in the process of getting.
So it pays to wait for cancellation?
We did, not by design as were planning on just going next year. Now we are making plans to travel inside NZ as there is more certainty, and to try and help more local businesses.
-
We're supposed to be travelling to the USA in August, flying out on the 9th direct to Chicago. Wife's birthday, so we were going to spend a few days in Chicago, New York (for the actual day), Boston, and a tour of Niagara Falls, Philadelphia, Washington DC, and back via LA (it was cheaper to stop over in LA overnight than to fly straight home).
Can't say we're too keen right now, so are hoping for flight cancellation so we can get our money back. Credit would be better than nothing, at least we could use that round NZ. Our travel insurance doesn't have an exclusion for pandemics, but it does exclude government regulation, so if the flights resume but there are border restrictions, we're just out of luck as far as I can tell.
