Foreign travel, post Covid

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Travelling down the A1/M11 yesterday, was reminded how scary our truckers are compared to the recent American experience. No speed limits on their trucks, so being passed by a 60 foot monster doing 75mph was a novel experience, but never saw any tail gating.
There is a 40 zone on the A1, covered by average speed cameras. Had a truck three feet from my rear bumper the whole time, while the number of times they were switching lanes to gain who knows what in terms of journey time was ridiculous.
It may be me, but there are an awful lot of lorries doing well over 56mph nowadays. Followed one doing 65 yesterday -surely illegal?

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I'm flying to Glasgow the day before the Gateshead game,then getting a train to Newcastle in the evening, it will be the first time I have flown since 2017! I used to fly around the UK and Europe a lot a decade ago,but due to work, health and lockdown my travels in recent years have been confined to trains and car journeys

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I've never flown outside Europe - unless you count the Canaries as Africa... But we are hoping to go to the States next year (a 70th birthday treat!) This will be my first (and probably only) visit, so I'm hoping to see as much as we can. To that end, the rough plan (currently version 2) is to fly to New York, spend a few days there, then have a look at the Niagra Falls (technically still in NY!), then travel across country to the west coast, checking out the Grand Canyon on the way, and finishing up with a few days in SanFrancisco, before flying home.

Sounds good on paper, but I'm wondering if this is too much for a 2-3 week holiday? Especially as we'd like to travel by train as much as possible (I want to avoid flying and I certainly don't want to drive!). I know the railways are pretty ropey over there, outside the big cities, but I'm hoping you can at least get to Niagra from NY by train, and that there is some sort of sleeper service between the two coasts (or at least some of the way). Apart from anything else, I want to see as much of the country as I can, not just a lot of airports and planes.

Some questions: I assume you need visas - are these easy to get? Is it worth getting US sims for our phones? Any recommendations for airlines to get there/come back? Is 'business class' (or whatever) worth it? (we'd like to avoid cattle class) What's the jet lag like? I notice it with just two hours difference, so I don't like the idea of 5+. Does it take long to wear off? On a related note - flying back from SF seems like a nightmare, so is it worth re-routing our trip, so we end up back on the east coast? (the kids suggest Florida!).

Loads of other questions - so any thoughts are welcome (including "don't go"!).

PS - We were due to go on a mini version of this trip this summer - Italy instead of the US, as a sort of try-out, but I left it too late to organise! So I'm thinking of avoiding another cock-up like this by getting a travel agent to book everything - is it worth doing this, or are we better off doing it ourselves?

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Aug 16, 2022 1:31:39 GMT @johndaubneyslegs said:

I've never flown outside Europe - unless you count the Canaries as Africa... But we are hoping to go to the States next year (a 70th birthday treat!) This will be my first (and probably only) visit, so I'm hoping to see as much as we can. To that end, the rough plan (currently version 2) is to fly to New York, spend a few days there, then have a look at the Niagra Falls (technically still in NY!), then travel across country to the west coast, checking out the Grand Canyon on the way, and finishing up with a few days in SanFrancisco, before flying home.

Sounds good on paper, but I'm wondering if this is too much for a 2-3 week holiday? Especially as we'd like to travel by train as much as possible (I want to avoid flying and I certainly don't want to drive!). I know the railways are pretty ropey over there, outside the big cities, but I'm hoping you can at least get to Niagra from NY by train, and that there is some sort of sleeper service between the two coasts (or at least some of the way). Apart from anything else, I want to see as much of the country as I can, not just a lot of airports and planes.

Some questions: I assume you need visas - are these easy to get? Is it worth getting US sims for our phones? Any recommendations for airlines to get there/come back? Is 'business class' (or whatever) worth it? (we'd like to avoid cattle class) What's the jet lag like? I notice it with just two hours difference, so I don't like the idea of 5+. Does it take long to wear off? On a related note - flying back from SF seems like a nightmare, so is it worth re-routing our trip, so we end up back on the east coast? (the kids suggest Florida!).

Loads of other questions - so any thoughts are welcome (including "don't go"!).

PS - We were due to go on a mini version of this trip this summer - Italy instead of the US, as a sort of try-out, but I left it too late to organise! So I'm thinking of avoiding another cock-up like this by getting a travel agent to book everything - is it worth doing this, or are we better off doing it ourselves?

When you mention Canaries I can't help but think of the magnificent Red Dwarf acronym
Convict Army Nearly All Retarded Inbred Evil Sheepshaggers 🤣🤣🤣

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You need an ESTE entry permit, in lieu of a visa, but this is easy to do, albeit extremely anal.
Jetlag, like air travel, is a necessary evil for long distance travel and you just have to live with it. Allow a couple of days.
Business class is eye wateringly expensive compared to cattle class. BA seats way better than Virgin, who charge £35 for just an inch more legroom and are still claustrophobic
Three weeks nowhere near enough to see even the highlights!
We did four days in New York on one trip, then flew to Phoenix (another five hours!) to do Grand Canyon, Monument Valley and the big parks in Utah, Colorado and New Mexico.
Three weeks also need for a fabulous flydrive to San Francisco taking in Yosemite, Sequoia, Death Valley, Grand Canyon, Vegas (best avoided) and Yellowstone.
Don't discount care hire. Driving is relaxed and easy, apart from major cities, but satnav helps here and fuel is cheap, under £4 a gallon. You see all the wildlife too. Out west, the only traffic queues are because a bear is foraging beside the road and everyone stops to take pictures.
Food seemed much more expensive this time, especially in restaurants, where the expectation of a 20% minimum tip doesn't help. Also, think quantity, not quality!
The best trip in the west is probably from Calgary to Vancouver, or vice versa, via Jasper, Lake Louise etc, as per the Rocky Mountaineer. Wow factor scenery the whole way and Vancouver is regularly voted best city on the planet for good reasons.
New York is great, but the Rockies and west coast are fabulous.
Enjoy!

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Aug 16, 2022 1:31:39 GMT @johndaubneyslegs said:

I've never flown outside Europe - unless you count the Canaries as Africa... But we are hoping to go to the States next year (a 70th birthday treat!) This will be my first (and probably only) visit, so I'm hoping to see as much as we can. To that end, the rough plan (currently version 2) is to fly to New York, spend a few days there, then have a look at the Niagra Falls (technically still in NY!), then travel across country to the west coast, checking out the Grand Canyon on the way, and finishing up with a few days in SanFrancisco, before flying home.

Sounds good on paper, but I'm wondering if this is too much for a 2-3 week holiday? Especially as we'd like to travel by train as much as possible (I want to avoid flying and I certainly don't want to drive!). I know the railways are pretty ropey over there, outside the big cities, but I'm hoping you can at least get to Niagra from NY by train, and that there is some sort of sleeper service between the two coasts (or at least some of the way). Apart from anything else, I want to see as much of the country as I can, not just a lot of airports and planes.

Some questions: I assume you need visas - are these easy to get? Is it worth getting US sims for our phones? Any recommendations for airlines to get there/come back? Is 'business class' (or whatever) worth it? (we'd like to avoid cattle class) What's the jet lag like? I notice it with just two hours difference, so I don't like the idea of 5+. Does it take long to wear off? On a related note - flying back from SF seems like a nightmare, so is it worth re-routing our trip, so we end up back on the east coast? (the kids suggest Florida!).

Loads of other questions - so any thoughts are welcome (including "don't go"!).

PS - We were due to go on a mini version of this trip this summer - Italy instead of the US, as a sort of try-out, but I left it too late to organise! So I'm thinking of avoiding another cock-up like this by getting a travel agent to book everything - is it worth doing this, or are we better off doing it ourselves?

Go go go! Definitely go, it’ll be fantastic.

Only suggestions but…get hold of some old fashioned travel brochures from travel agents, many of them offer ‘road trips’ in the US; check out their suggested routes and itineraries to get some ideas of the routes and modes of travel available, it’ll start to give you a sense of what might be possible.

To get into the US, you’ll need to complete an online ESTA (travel visa) They cost $21 per person, if you’re being asked to pay more, you’re on a copycat website - go to Martin Lewis’ MoneySavingExpert website for a link to the official ESTA website, plus some good reading on when to make your application (the ESTA last 5 years)

Think about how you’re going to pay for stuff once you arrive in the US. Maybe you’ve already got a good credit card for foreign spending (one that doesn’t load up the exchange rate to your detriment, or charge a fee each time you spend abroad) - there are some good ones now, my preference is the Halifax Clarity m/card, near perfect exchange rates, no fees, and only small (around 1.5% per month) interest charge for taking local cash out of ATMs (you’ll always want some cash on you)

Buy an old school map book for the US, it’ll give you hours of fun with your planning, not to mention inspiration.

Checkout websites like Skyscanners for flight options and prices; Trivago for hotel ideas and price indications

For my money, I’d swerve Los Angeles (too big) but San Fran is beautiful, book ahead for the boat trip over to Alcatraz - it’s touristy, sure, but heck, that’s why you’re there. Try and get down the coast a way, Carmel is a delight

Yosemite national park to the east of San Fran was a favourite of mine, not sure how easy it is to access on public transport

Just a thought…have you considered going across Canadia instead of the US…stunning landscapes, blessed with coast to coast rail, the sleepers are tops, plus there’s the Rocky Mountaineer thru the err…Rockies. and Vancouver is just a sublimely great World city

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Excellent advice and if you can find time to visit Vancouver Island, that is fab too.

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Would echo PWE's and 61666's thoughts about Canada by rail. Canadian Rockies are stunning. FYI, New York to Niagara Falls by rail: 3 times daily. Takes 9+ hours, without any delays. If you go this route, give us a wave(or a finger salute) at the Rochester stop. As most tourists have found, the Canadian side of the Falls is nicer. I like the sound of 61666's itinerary, with Monument Valley and the Utah national parks. Spectacular sights.

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I found NYC folk very rude, and after a few days there you need to another holiday to get over it!

Funny thing about Niagara falls is, on the American side it is a national park and a shopp arcade and very relaxed. People there are very friendly. Niagara on the Canadian side is full of shops,fast food joints,bars and wax works. I walked across to the u.s.a side from Canada.

The thing that gets me about both the u.s and Canada is, you never know what you are paying,as they put the tax on your purchase when you get to the till. Both countries are obsessed with tipping!

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Coming into Kent next week. I have a nearly full itinerary already, but am looking for a few suggestions/reviews for pubs. Anyone familiar with the Pepper Box Inn off the Lenham road? Or the Bull Inn in Linton? Have purchased tickets for the Torquay match, sitting with the Main Stand Moaners. Maybe we'll see you in the Spitfire Lounge.

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Aug 18, 2022 16:26:37 GMT @rochstone said:

Coming into Kent next week. I have a nearly full itinerary already, but am looking for a few suggestions/reviews for pubs. Anyone familiar with the Pepper Box Inn off the Lenham road? Or the Bull Inn in Linton? Have purchased tickets for the Torquay match, sitting with the Main Stand Moaners. Maybe we'll see you in the Spitfire Lounge.

Both lovely pubs. I’ve been about a mile from the Pepperbox all day today, my mum lives along the road at Kingswood; classic old world country pub, excellent dining too, friendly, comfortable, great views over the Weald from the outdoor seating area, think it’s been in the same family for over 50 years
The Bull has even better views also over the Weald

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Aug 18, 2022 16:26:37 GMT @rochstone said:

Coming into Kent next week. I have a nearly full itinerary already, but am looking for a few suggestions/reviews for pubs. Anyone familiar with the Pepper Box Inn off the Lenham road? Or the Bull Inn in Linton? Have purchased tickets for the Torquay match, sitting with the Main Stand Moaners. Maybe we'll see you in the Spitfire Lounge.

Not been in the Pepperbox but the Bull is a great pub, I would give the Spitfire Lounge a miss,don't want to ruin your visit. Go to the Flowerpot instead.

[Deleted]

Three years after our last foray across the ditch, finally managed a short break in France again. It was truly splendid to experience the delights of French food - bread, patisseries and the fact that even cheap restaurants do really good food.
Roads are pretty good too. The autoroutes are not only less busy than ours, but the surfaces give much less tyre roar, making long journeys less tiring. However, tolls are expensive, probably adding £120 to a round trip to the Loire. Duty free helps ease the pain though. Used our allowance to buy 24 bottles of cheap fizz and 48 bottles of vin de pay at less than a third of the price here.
However good the trip, foreign travel remains blighted by delays, which it seems impossible to avoid. We used Le Shuttle and going out, arrived in plenty of time, thinking that, being quiet (Wednesday morning), we might get put on an earlier train. No such luck - in fact the next two trains were cancelled 'due to unforeseen circumstances'. The huge queue of lorries might have had something to do with that. Hence turned into a three hour wait and an hour's late departure.
Coming back, admittedly Sunday evening, we arrived early, following a 300 mile drive to find there is a one hour delay. Now looking at a four hour wait, with the terminal rammed full of unhappy travellers, so back to the car for a kip. Credit where it is due, Eurotunnel put on extra trains and soon it looked like we might be back on time, but they love to build you up, then let you down.
Got through immigration, only to then wait over an hour watching signs saying 'boarding imminent', but nothing happening, until we did eventually depart... an hour late.
The moral of the story seems to be that foreign travel is still very enjoyable, but getting there (and back), requires much patience and stoicism. Still, in a year's time only the rich will be able to afford such trips, while the rest of us simply struggle to pay our energy bills...

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I spent my birthday on my own in Belgium,stayed in Brussels for three nights and went to Antwerp on my actual birthday.

I noticed that the prices of spirits in the duty free shop at the Brussels Eurostar terminal were more or less the same as in Tesco

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Duty free can often be disappointing - though alitre of Spanish brandy for nine quid at Palma airport wasn't bad a few weeks ago.
In France supermarkets and local suppliers are the way to go. For example even in the Citie de Europe, they were doing Cafe de Paris white and pink fizz for three euros a bottle - less than half the price of the cheapest Cava in Sainsbury's and actually perfectly nice. Likewise, if you choose carefully, three euro French plonk is also perfectly ok.
Duty is much less over there than here, which is why very cheap wine in the UK is often not great, because once duty, the bottle, profit and so on are taken into account, the wine itself may have cost as little as 50p.
Equally, more expensive wines are not necessarily going to be worth it either. Have done a few wine tasting experiences, including one at Chapeldown where their nine quid white was far better to me than their thirty quid one - and this was before I knew the price.