Upcoming trip to the UK

That fact that its cheaper to fly from Edinburgh shows how little we understand rail in this country I'm afraid.
It is worth checking the Voyages SNCF and Tren Italia websites as well,as they both have English pages, but SNCF in particular will have deals and promotions.

At first I was surprised by this from Gavin :
Never thought of going across the North Sea to get to Amsterdam, until I'd read his Rail 'n Sea pages.
as we sort of take it for granted that if your on a boat its Hull-Rotterdam or Harwich Hook. However from where Gavin sits, he has to work that bit out. My point is that there is stuff we know and take for granted that will help Dan, so don't hold back mate - keep asking questions.
 
We're still working out the trip details. SWMBOs latest thought brings us back to where we started. During our stay in Oxford, take a two or three day tour to Scotland. There are sites that cater to this idea. Here is but one of them,

http://www.viator.com/tours/Edinburgh/2-Day-Loch-Ness-and-Inverness-Small-Group-Tour-from-Edinburgh/d739-225001

For us it comes down to the dollars and cents.
 
Madman said:
For us it comes down to the dollars and cents.
Click to expand...

??? Hmmm... won't get far with that, them fellows use Pounds and pence. :-X

I found, overall, that Britain is relatively more expensive for both accommodation, and food, when compared to the USA. :-[

Still, it is your trip. Make sure to do get to see what you want to see, and don't get led into daft ideas. The best bit of advice I got from my agent was not to rush things, and try to fit too much in.... transfers, and luggage handling really does become a chore, and if you are rushing to a different hotel each day, that takes time out of your schedule. And don't forget, there are are no baggage cars on the trains, or porters (that I could see), so in that respect, you're on your own. Luggage is carried in racks at the ends of the cars, first in, first served. What we tended to do, was check in in the afternoon, then do the evening meal and nightlife thing. Next day would be wholely for whatever we went to the town for in the first place, then, in the evening go back and apologies for the previous evening. Next day, leisurely check out, then train travel to our next port of call, and start the cycle over again.

Enjoy the planning.



Crew change at Edinburgh Waverley on the 10am from Kings Cross (once famously called the Flying Scotsman).
 
For every pound we spend in the UK, we are spending just overt a dollar and a half. As for trying to fit too much in, we don't usually do that. The tour link I posted has been officially scrapped. SWMBO has decided it would be better to decide while we are staying in Oxford when to take a couple days and travel to Edinburgh by train ;D As for that portion of the trip that we hope to spend in France, it looks like Southern France might win out over Normandy. For that we will need to travel by train from London to Avignon, then go back to Paris, spend some time there and fly home from there. It sounds like alot but we are allowing almost a full month. This may be the last time we get to Europe.
 
Madman said:
For every pound we spend in the UK, we are spending just overt a dollar and a half.
Click to expand...

Ok, now the reality check.... what you would pay a dollar for stateside, will cost you One Great British Pound, or more. At least, that's the way I found it.
 
Madman said:
SWMBO has decided it would be better to decide while we are staying in Oxford when to take a couple days and travel to Edinburgh by train ;D
Click to expand...

In defence of Network Rail, the trains actually do it in hours, not days. :-X :-X :-X
 
Madman said:
For every pound we spend in the UK, we are spending just overt a dollar and a half. As for trying to fit too much in, we don't usually do that. The tour link I posted has been officially scrapped. SWMBO has decided it would be better to decide while we are staying in Oxford when to take a couple days and travel to Edinburgh by train ;D As for that portion of the trip that we hope to spend in France, it looks like Southern France might win out over Normandy. For that we will need to travel by train from London to Avignon, then go back to Paris, spend some time there and fly home from there. It sounds like alot but we are allowing almost a full month. This may be the last time we get to Europe.
Click to expand...
Your French trip may be problem by Train. Eurostar and the Channel Tunnel has been having some problems of late. Due to French Strikes and Swarms of Illegals trying to get into UK by camping out and attacking the Tunnel Security on the French Side. Worth keeping a close eye on this. Webb will be full of info.
JonD
 
Gavin Sowry said:
Ok, now the reality check.... what you would pay a dollar for stateside, will cost you One Great British Pound, or more. At least, that's the way I found it.
Click to expand...
Yep, many things are more expensive in Britain, including V.A.T. (sales tax).
As a tourist you may be able to get V.A.T. exemption on some stuff but it may not be worth the hassle. May be worth looking into though and paying in advance in the U.S. may make a difference, but that's just a guess on my part.
 
Neil Robinson said:
Yep, many things are more expensive in Britain, including V.A.T. (sales tax).
As a tourist you may be able to get V.A.T. exemption on some stuff but it may not be worth the hassle. May be worth looking into though and paying in advance in the U.S. may make a difference, but that's just a guess on my part.
Click to expand...

Hmm?
 
Neil Robinson said:
Yep, many things are more expensive in Britain, including V.A.T. (sales tax).
As a tourist you may be able to get V.A.T. exemption on some stuff but it may not be worth the hassle. May be worth looking into though and paying in advance in the U.S. may make a difference, but that's just a guess on my part.
Click to expand...

US tourists can only reclaim VAT when leaving the UK on purchases they are taking with them back to the USA. So, no refunds on hotels, hire cars, travel, food and all the general expense of a holiday. Same rules as apply to a UK visitor to (for example) Canada. By the way, UK VAT (sales tax) can sometimes be LESS than in the US once all taxes (federal/state/local/service specific) are added up. Last time I stayed in a New York City hotel, the total tax payable was just over 23%! At least in the EU what you see on the price ticket is what you pay, including tax....
 
whatlep said:
US tourists can only reclaim VAT when leaving the UK on purchases they are taking with them back to the USA.
Click to expand...

...and all this is done at the airport as you are departing. GBP30.00 lower limit, big queues. Similar arrangements too on the Continent. If you have opened or used something, tough luck.
 
whatlep said:
At least in the EU what you see on the price ticket is what you pay, including tax....
Click to expand...
Unless it's a predomenently "trade" based sales website or shop and then you find the VAT added to the bottom of the bill and not on the label as they expect customers to be VAT registered and able to re-claim. Have to watch that one. Not something a tourist is likely to come in contact with though. Max.
 
whatlep said:
US tourists can only reclaim VAT when leaving the UK on purchases they are taking with them back to the USA. So, no refunds on hotels, hire cars, travel, food and all the general expense of a holiday. Same rules as apply to a UK visitor to (for example) Canada. By the way, UK VAT (sales tax) can sometimes be LESS than in the US once all taxes (federal/state/local/service specific) are added up. Last time I stayed in a New York City hotel, the total tax payable was just over 23%! At least in the EU what you see on the price ticket is what you pay, including tax....
Click to expand...
Plus not every person that does something for you in UK expect a 20% tip. That can really make the USA an expensive trip.
JonD
 
I generally give a 10% ish tip in restaurants - less or none if the service has been poor. I think this is probably average in the UK.
Visitors to the UK need to note that you often have to go to the counter to order food. A German friend was most put out when nobody came to take his order when he sat down at a table in a country pub. He waited and waited and then walked out in disgust that nobody came to serve him.
 
Yes, as Chris says, around 10% is a normal tip in UK restaurants if you're happy with the service; one thing to note, wherever possible try NOT to add the tip to your credit card payment if you're paying that way - if you do that, it relies on the owner/company to feed the tips back to the actual staff, and some of them take card processing charges out of the amount before handing it over.... I always prefer, if I'm paying the bill by card, to still pay the tip in cash (if you've got the loose change of course) but I do make a point of telling the waiter/waitress that that is what I'm doing, so they don't think I'm being stingy by not adding a tip to the card bill!
Oh, and if you eat in a pub/restaurant where you have to order food at the bar, as Chris mentioned above (as opposed to full table service) then people don't usually tip at all, especially if it's the sort of place where you then have to go back to the bar to collect your own food - if it's one where you order at the bar but they then bring it to your table then it's up to you if you want to put something in their tip plate at the bar afterwards.

Jon.
 
whatlep said:
US tourists can only reclaim VAT when leaving the UK on purchases they are taking with them back to the USA.
Click to expand...
And if the assistant at the check out in one the air side "Duty Free" shops and other retailers in the airport ask for your boarding pass, refuse. Unless of course they are willing to give you an additional discount of around 17% (roughly the reclaim rate on 20 % VAT).

At an air side shop, from its location, it is already assumed that you are taking the goods out of the EC (dependent o departure terminal) and therefore no proof of exit from the UK (boarding pass) for you and the goods bought is required. Turns out a lot of the shops have been pulling this trick and sneakily claiming the VAT back while pricing at a higher rate than the true VAT less price. Big stink right now with UK passengers refusing to hand over details outbound and even the government is getting involved. Some retailers' business models are going to have to be adjusted it would seem.

I remember from my days working at Harrods department store a shopper could buy goods and so long as an "Export Bill(s)" had been filled out and presented at the store "Counting House" VAT could be subsequently be reclaimed. Provided the customer ensured that UK Customs stamped the docket and returned it to the store, proving the goods had left the UK, the customer would get the VAT refunded. If your name was Sheik Yermarni and were in the habit of buying 16 of everything (one for each of your palaces around the world) that could ad up to a lot of moolah. Max.
 
Tipping is expected here, particularly in restaurants. We tend to tip others as well, like delivery drivers, and people who help load your truck, things like that. For restaurant service at the table the going rate is 20%. Anything else is at your discretion.

When we were in Italy ten years ago, I was tipping at restaurants. Apparently I did not have to. While in England, France and Italy four years ago, I limited my tipping to England.

So what is the rule for England ? And for that matter what about France ?
 
Madman said:
Tipping is expected here, particularly in restaurants. We tend to tip others as well, like delivery drivers, and people who help load your truck, things like that. For restaurant service at the table the going rate is 20%. Anything else is at your discretion.

When we were in Italy ten years ago, I was tipping at restaurants. Apparently I did not have to. While in England, France and Italy four years ago, I limited my tipping to England.

So what is the rule for England ? And for that matter what about France ?
Click to expand...

As above: England - about 10% in restaurants and pubs if they are table service. But only if having food - it's not usual to tip bar staff when just buying drinks.
France - absolutely no idea! ;)

Jon.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top