Well, this was an exciting year for travel! I finally made it back to the UK post-Covid and post-health issues. I wondered if this would *ever* happen! I am blessed and happy and fulfilled – until the next time!
Each trip brings with it the information I use to build my classes. And, with each trip, the information changes as technology and the world change. For instance, the ways of paying have changed. The money is changing. The monarchy changed. Prices changed. A whole lotta everything was going on – and I had to learn how to get around in my newly aging body. No more long hikes, I’m afraid. So, let’s dive in and talk about the changes and recommendations from this trip!
Planning
I always overplan. Ask anyone! I want things to go as flawlessly as possible when I arrive in “Old Blighty” – even though perfection does not seem to be in the cards. These were my planning errors this time:
Trains
I always tell my classes to estimate the cost of booking each leg of your trip online vs getting a BritRail pass before you go that allows for more flexible transport at a (supposedly) lower cost. This year, I shot myself in the foot, though! I purchased tickets and had some cancellations that caused me to have to rejig my tickets to other places and things. I found out my cheap tickets were sometimes non-refundable! Speaking of which, they’ve changed the way you get Britrail passes now and you can get them immediately through your mobile phone. I’ve also noticed that post Covid, there are now many more train cancellations. Where it rarely happened before, it’s now the norm especially for some of the less-traveled routes to cancel altogether. Plan to have to wait for the next train when you are riding them as your main mode of transportation.
Recommendation: Always read the small print because this year, for me, it would have been much easier and cheaper to have gotten the Britrail passes. Be prepared for cancellations.
Packing
I packed what I normally do for England which involves layering clothes. This caused overpacking. When that happens you have a few choices: Throw away extra stuff you bring. Mail stuff home. Donate stuff. I left some things behind I really didn’t need, and I mailed two boxes of things home. As it was, I was still carrying way too much stuff for someone in my health and for my age.
Recommendation: Next time, don’t be so silly! Pack light and add to your pack over there if you need to with clothing from charity shops.
Lodging
I went by Tripadvisor for a hotel in Brighton and was totally disenchanted. Tripadvisor is not failsafe! Even though the weather was supposed to be warm this year, I’m from Texas and thought that temps in the 80s wouldn’t be difficult. I was SO wrong! The majority of lodging in the UK is without air conditioning. When I was in every place but London, my lodging did not have a/c and I was burning up! I lost money because I paid a place in Brighton fully for the weekend, but couldn’t stay there in the heat. I decided on a longer stay in London which was my only hotel booked that had air con. Most hotels have nearly doubled in price, by the way. It’s scary expensive out there!
Recommendation: Even if you don’t think you’ll need it, always get a place with air conditioning. I ended up spending much more time in London this year because that hotel had air conditioning. As an aside, my favorite Premier Inn (Earls Court) showed no rooms available for the times I wanted to change to. What I found out was that their online schedule is not correct. Call the hotel reservation desk directly for correct booking.
Also, if you have friends in the UK who don’t mind, check to see if you can stay with them vs. paying out the nose for a hotel. You can offer them something in exchange for their generosity – take them to dinner, pay for their gas, or something else creative and necessary. I belong to a FB group called Solo in Style: Women Over 50 Travelling Solo & Loving It! It’s a great resource! I met a lady there who I think will be swapping hosting so that I can stay with her in Bristol where she’ll act as my host and She can stay with me where I’ll act as the host. There is also a Sisterhood Travel Group that’s solely about swapping hosting, but I find they are much too rigid for my liking. It may be ok for you though!
Health
I am 2.5 years out from a broken ankle that never really did heal properly. I sometimes was able to walk 16,000 to 24,000 steps a day (much less than my norm), but the price I paid was in excruciating pain.
Recommendation: Just because it’s your vacation doesn’t mean you need to be on the go the whole time. I took a day off to allow my ankle to rest and to get some sleep in the coolness that was my lovely room at Premier Inn! I also recommend less travelling around the country or more time with someone who can drive you around. I plan to keep my stays to two “hubs” next year and do day trips from there. Less hauling of luggage, and I have friends who can provide hosting or tour guiding sorts of abilities. This cuts my cost and pain down considerably! The Bristol hub works well for Wales and the South/Cotswolds and London offers a great array of day trip possibilities!
Summary
If you’re planning your trip to Britain soon, I hope these tips help you. I know I’ll be taking them to heart and having an even more amazing time next year than this one. Hopefully, one that is less expensive/less painful/less hot than this year’s trip! Love to all…