Air Travel

Question:

>>To maximize time in Paris, you might consider flying at least one way. >We went on Cathay Pacific, flying time 23 >minutes as I recall

A quick calculation suggests that Cathay Pacific would have to average over 700 mph take-off to touch-down to achieve this!  A lot depends on where you are travelling from in London and Paris, but overall there won’t be a lot of difference between Chunnel and air travel door to door unless your plan is to fly into London and take off to Paris without leaving the airport! Fare structures tend to favour using the same means of transport in both directions Martin Martin — Martin Rich  Phone(0171) 477 8627  Fax(0171) 477 8628 Lecturer in Information Management City University Business School     Frobisher Crescent                   http://www.city.ac.uk/martin

Response:

>My husband and I will be in London for a week, and we thought it would >be fun to go to Paris for a day. >Could someone tell me what the roundtrip ticket price would be using the >Chunnel? We’ll be staying near Victoria Station, so is there a direct >route from there? >Also, how much time will this give us in Paris? >Thanks for any help! >Jan

Jan, You’ve had lots of other replies on how to get to Waterloo station, ticket prices etc, so I will only add – In addition to the tube there is a direct bus (no. 211) which runs between Victoria and Waterloo stations every 10 minutes and takes about 15 minutes to do the trip. It runs via Westminster Abbey and the Houses of Parliament. The stop at Victoria is *behind* the bus station in the main station forecourt. The first train to Paris leaves Waterloo at 0619 weekdays, arriving at 1023 local time (which is one hour in adavnce of ours).  The last train leaves Paris Nord at 2007, arriving at Waterloo at 2213. In between they run more or less hourly. I suggest you book your tickets at Waterloo International as soon as you can once you arrive in London. If you leave it until the day you travel you won’t be able to get the cheap fares. I think the cheapest ticket is UKP 59 return but you have to stay a Saturday night. The cheapest for a day trip may well be nearer UKP 75.

Response:

>My husband and I will be in London for a week, and we thought it would >be fun to go to Paris for a day. >Could someone tell me what the roundtrip ticket price would be using the >Chunnel? We’ll be staying near Victoria Station, so is there a direct >route from there? >Also, how much time will this give us in Paris? >Thanks for any help! >Jan

Jan, You’ve had lots of other replies on how to get to Waterloo station, ticket prices etc, so I will only add – In addition to the tube there is a direct bus (no. 211) which runs between Victoria and Waterloo stations every 10 minutes and takes about 15 minutes to do the trip. It runs via Westminster Abbey and the Houses of Parliament. The stop at Victoria is *behind* the bus station in the main station forecourt. When you arrive at Waterloo on the bus you will have to walk the full length of the concourse (about 300 yards) to the International platforms. Remember to leave at least 20 minutes to check in to the Eurostar service. The first train to Paris leaves Waterloo at 0619 weekdays, arriving at 1023 local time (which is one hour in adavnce of ours).  The last train leaves Paris Nord at 2007, arriving at Waterloo at 2213. In between they run more or less hourly. I suggest you book your tickets at Waterloo International as soon as you can once you arrive in London. If you leave it until the day you travel you won’t be able to get the cheap fares. I think the cheapest ticket is UKP 59 return but you have to stay a Saturday night. The cheapest for a day trip may well be nearer UKP 75.

Response:

> My husband and I will be in London the beginning of November and will be > at a hotel near Victoria Station. > What is the best way to go to Stonehenge…train, bus? Which ones > (including connections) would we need to take? > Thanks for any help. > Jan

If I remember correctly, I think trains to Salsbury (closest town to Stonehenge) leave from Waterloo Station.  From Victoria, you could take a taxi or a subway to Waterloo.  Take the train to Salsbury (approx. an hour?).  At the Salsbury station there is an information desk where you can buy tickets to take the bus to Stonehenge (about 20 minutes further).  Stonehenge is great, but don’t ignore Salsbury–it’s a charming town with a gorgeous cathedral.

Response:

> My husband and I will be in London for a week. I’m trying to figure out > how many traveler’s checks to get and had a question about credit card > use. > Do any of the following accept credit cards? >   London pubs >   Tourist attractions (museums, tours, etc.) >   Tickets for trains > Please E-mail me with the answers. Thanks! > Jan

Pubs are mostly cash.  This is changing a little bit — particularly when food sales are involved.  However, most of the time you pay cash as you get each drink.  (i.e. you don’t usually keep a tab running.)  Don’t rely on it though. Museums and tours vary too much to provide a good answer. Trains (British Rail) accept all majors — inlcuding Diners. I rely mostly on ATMs and find them much more useful than Travelers Checks.

Response:

> > What is the best way to go to Stonehenge…train, bus? Which ones > (including connections) would we need to take? >  Stonehenge is great, but don’t ignore Salsbury–it’s a charming town > with a gorgeous cathedral.

Yes, don’t miss Salisbury.  I spent several days there last Thanksgiving.  A delightful old town, with much to see in the town and in the vicinity.  Definitely see Stonehenge, but also see Old Sarum (the original town of Salisbury), and Avebury as well.  As another noted, there is much more to Avebury, including a village with real people still living there. A highlight of Salisbury was going to Evensong in the Cathedral and hearing the service for St. Cecilia’s day sung by a girl’s choir instead of the traditional boys choir.  Apparently, Salisbury is one of the first cathedrals to have a girls choir. Tom

Response:

> Do any of the following accept credit cards? >   London pubs

Highly unlikely.  A few that do enough food to be used by business people as places to take people to lunch might, but it’s very rare. >   Tourist attractions (museums, tours, etc.

Case by case, but you don’t want to rely on it. >   Tickets for trains

Yes. But be slightly careful if using small stations and/or late night trains as you may not be able to use them in automatic ticket machines. ian

Response:

> My husband and I will be in London the beginning of November and will be > at a hotel near Victoria Station. > What is the best way to go to Stonehenge…train, bus? Which ones > (including connections) would we need to take? > Thanks for any help. > Jan

Jan, This summer I took the train to Salisbury and the bus from there to Stonehenge.  I remember clearly that the last bus leaves Salisbury for Stonehenge at 4:30pm (not sure if that is everyday), since we almost missed the last bus not knowing what time they stopped running.  They give you about 90 minutes at Stonehenge before you take the return bus…enough time for me. By the way, don’t miss Salisbury itself.  It is a lovely small city. The cathedral there is stunning because it is in a park, unlike most European cathedrals that are surrounded by other buildings on all sides. Try an English pub there…not as hectic as in London.  Go early and make a whole day of it. Have fun.

Response:

|> We found that Avebury is much more interesting that Stonehenge.  It’s |> larger, its stones encircle an entire village, the stones aren’t fenced |> off or cordoned off, you can touch them, climb on them, photograph them |> up close, etc.  It’s a much better way to ponder the mystery! |> There was a shocking case of vandalism (paint daubing) this June at Avebury and I wouldn’t be surprised if they might be cordoned off like Stonehenge if anything else happens, While I agree that Avebury is at present a far more rewarding experience than Stonehenge this could change if people aren’t careful. e.g. please don’t *climb* on the Avebury stones. philip

Response:

>By the way, don’t miss Salisbury itself.  It is a lovely small city. >The cathedral there is stunning because it is in a park, unlike most >European cathedrals that are surrounded by other buildings on all sides.

Actually, it’s quite usual in Britain for Cathedrals to be set in a space like that, though Salisbury is a particularly good example. If you can time your visit right (and aren’t worried by steps/vertigo) I recommend the tour of the tower, for the sake of the view from the top if nothing else. Tim —- The Knowhere Guide — a user’s guide to Britain    fax +44 (0)171 377 6297 http://www.state51.co.uk/knowhere/

Response:

To maximize time in Paris, you might consider flying at least one way. If you buy your ticket from one of the bucket shops, it’s about the same as surface travel. We went on Cathay Pacific, flying time 23 minutes as I recall, plus another half hour to get to Gatwick of course.

Response:

>To maximize time in Paris, you might consider flying at least one way. >If you buy your ticket from one of the bucket shops, it’s about the >same as surface travel. We went on Cathay Pacific, flying time 23 >minutes as I recall

        Highly wrong, ITYF. Check in time? Time buggering about on the ground before takeoff and after landing? Time to get out of the airport at the other end? Time to get into town from CDG or Orly? Add all this up and you won’t get much change from three hours. HTH. Not necessarily the views of my employers. Do *not* send commercial advertising of any kind by E-mail.

Response:

>>To maximize time in Paris, you might consider flying at least one way. >If you buy your ticket from one of the bucket shops, it’s about the >same as surface travel. We went on Cathay Pacific, flying time 23 >minutes as I recall >    Highly wrong, ITYF. Check in time? Time buggering about on the > ground before takeoff and after landing? Time to get out of the > airport at the other end? Time to get into town from CDG or Orly? Add > all this up and you won’t get much change from three hours. HTH.

So true (although people on this side of the pond don’t "bugger aound" they "f*** around").  Somewhere on the net is a travelogue AI have of getting from just south of London to Paris.  I started out at 4:30am for an 8:00 flight and actually only waited in front of the gate for approximately 10 minutes (and there was absolutely no traffic on the streets at that hour — this was to Heathrow).  To get to Waterloo, I could leave an hour from anywhere any get there in the required 20 minute check-in (leave a bit more if you don’t have a ticket.)  Random security checks, no passport checks (although I wish they would make sure people have passports, so they don’t have ugly incidents with overzealous Belgian officials arresting British old ladies), and boarding is actually faster than an airplane, because you can preposition yourself on the right escelator for your car — get on the next car if you have a high seat number and cross over (there is only one door per car on Eurostar).   In Paris, there is no passport control getting on Eurostart (and often none getting off), as well there is little to worry about taking the RER or the Jetbus to the Metro — you are already on the metro. dave — David Case THE THIRD FORCE

Response:

> My husband, daughter and I were in Stonehenge earlier this month.  We were in Bath and opted for a UKL 12.50 per person daytrip with MadMax

tours.  Fantastic operation; I highly recommend them.  Book as soon as you get to town and know what day you want to do the tour! Because your trip will be in November, you will find that there aren’t nearly as many options as during the summer.  However, should you find a tour that covers both Stonehenge and Averbury, take it. We found that Avebury is much more interesting that Stonehenge.  It’s larger, its stones encircle an entire village, the stones aren’t fenced off or cordoned off, you can touch them, climb on them, photograph them up close, etc.  It’s a much better way to ponder the mystery! – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->My husband and I will be in London for a week. I’m trying to figure out >how many traveler’s checks to get and had a question about credit card >use. >Do any of the following accept credit cards? >  London pubs >  Tourist attractions (museums, tours, etc.) >  Tickets for trains > The trains do accept credit cards some pubs will but I am unsure >about the tourist attractions. The TUBE does not accept credit >cards either. You may always get a cash advance from an ATM or the >bank with your Credit card for quick cash.

Pubs generally only accept Credit cards if they are used in connection with purchasing food – I’m not sure if it still is but it used to be illegal to pay for alcohol in pubs with credit. david

Response:

>My husband and I will be in London for a week. I’m trying to figure out >how many traveler’s checks to get and had a question about credit card >use. >Do any of the following accept credit cards? >  London pubs >  Tourist attractions (museums, tours, etc.) >  Tickets for trains

 The trains do accept credit cards some pubs will but I am unsure about the tourist attractions. The TUBE does not accept credit cards either. You may always get a cash advance from an ATM or the bank with your Credit card for quick cash. For some information on London visit http://www.tntmag.co.uk This is an online travellers guide. —            "A Leader is willing to change" Roger N. Shambaugh                http://www.win.net/~ivycom Business Consultant               http://www.win.net/~ivycom/roger P.O. Box 208                      (502) 722-5725

Response:

> My husband and I will be in London for a week, and we thought it would > be fun to go to Paris for a day. > Could someone tell me what the roundtrip ticket price would be using the > Chunnel?

Can’t help you on prices, but there are some good deals going, as there is a price war on. > We’ll be staying near Victoria Station, so is there a direct > route from there?

Not direct, no.  The trains go from Waterloo Station.  To get there from Victoria, get the underground District Line to Embankment and either get out and walk across the Thames over Hungerford footbridge to Waterloo, or change onto the Northern Line for the short journey. > Also, how much time will this give us in Paris?

I believe the trains run 24 hours, so it depends what time you leave London. You might want to enquire how much a flight from London City Airport is – the District Line underground will take you to West Ham where you can change onto the North London Line two stops away. Alternatively, 45 mins on the train (District Line to Hammersmith, change trains by walking 8 ft across the platform to the Piccadilly Line) will have you at Heathrow for a 45 min flight to Paris.  :)  There are some good deals going (check BA’s website www.british-airways.com for their World Offers). > Thanks for any help!

ANNA Visit my in-flight safety page – http://www.plsys.co.uk/~anna/inflight.htm

Response:

> My husband and I will be in London the beginning of November and will be > at a hotel near Victoria Station. > What is the best way to go to Stonehenge…train, bus? Which ones > (including connections) would we need to take?

Victoria coach station would be very close to you and serves every corner of the UK.  I’m sure you’d find something going to Stonehenge. Also, there is a big Tourist Information Centre outside Victoria train station, and they’ll have leaflets with information on lots of organised tours to places like Stonehenge, Stratford-on-Avon, etc. I’m sure you could find something on the WWW about this too – maybe even book it from there. ANNA Visit my in-flight safety page – http://www.plsys.co.uk/~anna/inflight.htm

Response:

My husband and I will be in London for a week. I’m trying to figure out how many traveler’s checks to get and had a question about credit card use. Do any of the following accept credit cards?   London pubs   Tourist attractions (museums, tours, etc.)   Tickets for trains Please E-mail me with the answers. Thanks! Jan

Response:

> My husband and I will be in London for a week. I’m trying to figure out > how many traveler’s checks to get and had a question about credit card > use. > Do any of the following accept credit cards? >   London pubs >   Tourist attractions (museums, tours, etc.) >   Tickets for trains > Please E-mail me with the answers. Thanks!

To purchase tickets for trains you can use VISA/MasterCard/Amercian Express. I am sure tourist attractions accept major credit cards, but the pubs I am not sure (I think you may find one that does accept credit cards). Hope this helps AxL

Response:

> My husband and I will be in London for a week, and we thought it would > be fun to go to Paris for a day. > Could someone tell me what the roundtrip ticket price would be using the > Chunnel? We’ll be staying near Victoria Station, so is there a direct > route from there? > Also, how much time will this give us in Paris? > Thanks for any help! > Jan

Jan, We recently took the Chunnel train in June and we purchased the tickets here in the States.  The price was about $140.00 roundtrip per person with the following stipulations: 2 wks advanced purchased and we had to make non-refundable reservations.  These tickets were also considered second class, but the seats were very nice. A fully unrestricted second class ticket went for $240.00 roundtrip per person.  The chunnel train actually leaves from London Waterloo station.  The underground is an easy connection between stations.  The chunnel trains leave from both cities every couple of hours.  We strongly recommend taking the Chunnel.  It was a wonderful experience.  We have a brochure from our http://www.eurostar.com/eurostar/ Enjoy!  Julie & Rich in Clearwater, FL

Response:

My husband and I will be in London the beginning of November and will be at a hotel near Victoria Station. What is the best way to go to Stonehenge…train, bus? Which ones (including connections) would we need to take? Thanks for any help. Jan

Response:

My husband and I will be in London for a week, and we thought it would be fun to go to Paris for a day. Could someone tell me what the roundtrip ticket price would be using the Chunnel? We’ll be staying near Victoria Station, so is there a direct route from there? Also, how much time will this give us in Paris? Thanks for any help! Jan

Response:

>Is there any way I could find information on cheap flights between London >and Barcelona around the Chritsmas season? I live in the US and can’t find >any special fares or charter fares for inter-european flights on the web.

EasyJet does it for about 45 pounds each way. Your travel agent may be able to book that; otherwise, just pick up a London Times at your nearest library or bookstore and look for the ads in the travel section. You can buy a ticket by phone and a travel agent will hold it until you arrive. miguel

Response:

Hi: Is there any way I could find information on cheap flights between London and Barcelona around the Chritsmas season? I live in the US and can’t find any special fares or charter fares for inter-european flights on the web. Maybe I could get the phone number of some consolidator agency in England? Could i buy a ticket from them on the phone or on the web? thanks very much         ileana

Response: