My family is planning for Thanksgiving and asked me “when do you leave and/or when does your flight land?” as I have spent many years away for Thanksgiving (great award flight availability) as an add on to my birthday trips.  I’ve landed in Perth (Australia) on Thanksgiving, celebrated with friends for a Thanksgiving in Paris and have spent more than one Thanksgiving in London. This year, however, I’m in a job search so there is no birthday trip, no flights landing or taking off on Thanksgiving and I’m pretty sad about it.  But my sadness begets this Thanksgiving in London post so there’s something positive right?

My First Thanksgiving in London

My first trip to London in 1988 (eons ago) was over the Thanksgiving college break. I sat in the airport eating leftover birthday cake waiting for my first TWA flight to London from JFK.  It would ignite my travel bug and introduce me to a city that would become like a second home given the number of visits since that first one.  My friend Christine and I spent Thanksgiving in a popular (at the time) Soho restaurant called The Long Island Ice Tea Bar.  Yes, we definitely had a few of those signature drinks with our dinner (not turkey).  The restaurant is long gone and replaced by a few others over the years, I often walk by to revisit those first Thanksgiving in London memories as well as memories of Christine who passed too young.

First of all, Thanksgiving is not a holiday in the UK for obvious reasons so everything is open as normal on Thursday. The bonus is that the normal American business crowds are gone as are most of the American tourists, except folks like me keen to take advantage of the day off and award flights. You can however enjoy a proper Turkey dinner in London at a few restaurants (reservations are required) and if flying home on Thanksgiving (which I have done a few times) enjoy a turkey dinner on the British Airways flight.  I’ve flown the early flight from London and have been home in time for Thanksgiving dinner – a win/win in my book – turkey in two of my favorite places – up in the air at 30,000 feet and on the ground with my family.

Hotels in London for Thanksgiving

While hotels in London are expensive normally, you can find deals during the week of Thanksgiving as business folks are not traveling to the city and many meetings are canceled as US staff are not available so that’s good for you.  I would suggest booking direct with the hotel (they may have specials like upgrades or breakfast included) or use Hotel Tonight  to see what is available. Also, if you have miles and points to use, now is the time to find open award space.

This might be a great time to upgrade neighborhood, hotel type or splurge out on a flat rental and cook your own version of Thanksgiving in London.

Thanksgiving Dinner in London Restaurants

When I was last in London for Thanksgiving, staying at the Park Lane Hotel, I had a few options for a traditional Thanksgiving dinner in London – some had a British spin to the traditional turkey dinner and trimmings.  I ended up canceling my reservation to Blue’s Kitchen when my friend wasn’t quite into my US tradition of Thanksgiving and preferred his local pub.

Here are a few restaurants in London for thanksgiving dinner (everything is open unlike at home) that I considered – note that most are set menus, require tickets/reservations in advance (far in advance), are subject to change and aren’t quite cheap (think 30 GBP+). There’s always a Subway or other takeaway sandwich shop to do the more affordable “I had my turkey today”.

1. Blue’s Kitchen in Camden Town was my first choice as they have live Blues music –sadly I canceled my reservation on Open Table.  You can take the tube or an Uber from central London.
2. Boondocks London on Old Street has a set menu
3. Bodean’s BBQ Smokehouse (Soho) and Big Easy (Covent Garden) – it’s already an American BBQ place so adding turkey dinner is what they both do. You might be able to catch an American football game too!
4. The Breakfast Club – this American breakfast staple also has American styled lunch and dinner and for Thanksgiving requires tickets for diners (their restaurants are small so limited seating).  With a few locations, you can indulge in Thanksgiving Turkey dinner.  The Mondrian Hotel London is in walking distance of the Borough Market location and Z Hotel Soho is near the Soho location.
5. Bumpkin in South Kensington – not far from The Ampersand Hotel. OneFineStay South Kensington or my luxury Airbnb in South Kensington
6. Riding House Café in Fitzrovia near my one of my favorite hotels – The Charlotte Street Hotel

Luxury Thanksgiving Dinner in London

For those wanting to spend A LOT of money for luxury American options consider these three chef driven restaurants in London for Thanksgiving dinner.

1. Balthazar in London is a famous NYC restaurant located in Covent Garden (walking from The Rosewood Hotel is quick and easy).
2. Bread Street Kitchen in Mansion House where UK chef Gordon Ramsey puts a bit of a British twist on the American Turkey dinner (think bacon popcorn and a few other “I’ve never had that on my Thanksgiving table” additions)
3. Cut at 45 Park Lane is by Wolfgang Puck is uber expensive (think over 100 GBP) in Mayfair as is JW Steakhouse.  But frankly, if you are staying at a 5* luxury hotel in Mayfair you can easily afford this meal and probably wouldn’t venture too far to the other options above.

Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park

Winter Wonderland London is a celebration of the Christmas holidays with amusement park rides, games, food stalls and live music.  Let’s not forget the appearance of Father Christmas (Santa Claus to us Americans).  Winter Wonderland is held yearly in Hyde Park and is very popular.  I enjoy walking around to get in the Christmas spirit and also to see the UK versions of amusement park foods and games. There is a small ice skating rink (there are so many throughout London during the holiday season).  Winter Wonderland is free to enter but there of course are fees for food/drink, rides, shopping and ice skating.

Note: The underground lines will be crowded so plan to be sardines for a few stops until Hyde Park Corner when the Piccadilly line spills out people.   If you are keen to walk from Soho along Piccadilly, it’s about ½ hour or longer if you stop to see the Christmas lights at Bond Street and Jermyn Street as well as the many arcades and Ritz Carlton on your walk.

Christmas Lights London

If you love Christmas lights like I do then you might catch them (depending on Thanksgiving date) along Oxford Street, Bond Street, Regent Street, Jermyn Street as well as other places around the city.  Christmas Trees are not normally up yet (but that continues to change as we decorate after Halloween now) but stores are decorated as are shopping arcades along Piccadilly Street.

Ice skating rinks are quintessential holiday must dos throughout the city and those open at different times (check Time Out London app).  Along the Thames, Southbank Winter Festival has Christmas Market stalls (at least on weekend at first) and you will see the Instagram famous igloos along the water (reserve the igloos and enjoy drinks with a view). Christmas lights in London are fabulous especially at night when the streets are empty and you feel like you had the city to yourself.

Heathrow Airport on Thanksgiving Day

The Heathrow airport on Thanksgiving tends to be normal crowded for a weekday if not a bit lighter without the American business travelers.  You may be able to buy the Christmas Harrods’s Bear as he arrives in mid-November along with the Christmas tins of biscuits (cookies), candy and teas. Time to stock up for Christmas at home.  Arriving in Philadelphia the airport was quiet for a holiday.

British Airways Thanksgiving Dinner

One surprise I had flying home on Thanksgiving a few years ago in business class (Club World) was a thanksgiving turkey dinner special.  I had flown a few times on Thanksgiving (award flights tend to be plentiful especially to Asia and Australia) but this was the first time that this American dinner was served.  It was honestly a good meal and nice treat.  I know that business class likes to serve fancy steak, fish, etc. but a good turkey dinner with gravy and mashed potatoes was comfort food that made me happy along with dessert on the ground and in the air.

I lucked out on that flight because while they catered my “special meal”, they had enough turkey dinners for me to swap out.  So when I arrived home in time for another Thanksgiving dinner, I was pretty happy.  Where else can you have two Thanksgiving dinners in one day? (yeah time difference)

Christmas Shopping in London at Thanksgiving

So the shops are open, don’t worry so you can begin your Christmas shopping on your vacation if you want to be that person who says “I bought that in London” (c’mon we all know that person or might be that person).  If you are keen to shop here are a few of my favorite Made in the UK gifts  Of course, my favorite London gift is chocolate and biscuits and I bring those home for Thanksgiving dinner dessert table.

Shopping Tip: Bring your own bag to the shops (I like my recyclable Lululemon bags) as some stores will charge you for bags. Have a copy of your passport in your phone photos or email draft in case you buy so much that you need VAT reclaim receipts (no need to bring passport out shopping with you – leave it in the hotel safe or other secure location). At Heathrow, go to the VAT reclaim before you check in for your flight (located behind the check in area desks)

Celebrate Thanksgiving in London

So if you are lucky to find yourself celebrating Thanksgiving in London or planning to visit in the future, know that you can enjoy the best of both worlds and not miss out on your yen for turkey tradition. It does feel a bit weird to be honest to have a day exploring the city (like when I toured the Paris Christmas Markets at Thanksgiving in Paris) and then go have turkey dinner without the cooking time, cleanup and stress of family drama.  So while I’m grounded this year, hopefully next year, I can explore a new destination for my Thanksgiving memories (I wonder if they have turkey in the Maldives? or Antarctica?).

If you don’t celebrate the American holiday, you can still participate by taking a few minutes to be thankful for someone or something in your life. Then you can go about planning your Black Friday shopping, Small Business Saturday shopping, Cyber Monday and Giving Tuesday adventures.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

[updated May 2019]

Whenever I’m asked for London Travel Tips, I tend to talk really fast, excited that folks are going to the city that I’ve been enamored with for more than twenty years. They look at me and say “can you send those to me?” as they back away from the crazy lady.  I could probably list 100 London Travel Tips (or more) but off the top of my head these 25 travel tips come to mind when planning a London visit. Mom’s first visit to London & Paris was an adventure so my tips are for first time visitors.  With the low fx rate for the U.K., now is a great time for you to plan a hop across the pond for your visit to London. You can even use the Icelandair stopover program for a long weekend in Reykjavik like I did to get two vacations in one!

6 London Travel Tips for Planning

1. Tickets to the Tower of London Keys Ceremony book a year or more out and are almost always sold out months in advance! Advanced planning is needed here – tickets are free, limited and the service charge is minimal.  I had a ticket last year and the universe prevented me from attending (read all about it in my Nightmare Travel Day).
2. Decide on your London airport transit and book ahead if required.
   • Do you have carry-on only luggage/bags that you can easily lift/carry up and down stairs without issue? Look at using the London Underground to save money (but not time)
   • Want to ride the Heathrow Express or tube without your luggage?  Send your luggage to the hotel using Airportr, my favorite London luggage delivery option.
   • Know 30-90 days in advance you will be in London? Look at the Heathrow Express discounted fares for the 15 minute journey from Heathrow to Paddington train station.  From there, decide to journey onward with the London underground (if you can handle your bags) or opt for a London black cab.
   • More than one person? Choose to hire a car pickup or use a cab.  Note that the London Black cab can easily seat five but not your luggage so easily as it sacrifices boot (trunk) space to be more spacious seating.  You generally put the luggage in sideways at your feet. Be prepared to pay 70GBP+ for the trip from the airport into London in a cab or hire car (drive time at least an hour or more depending on arrival time/day).
3. The English Heritage website and app is a wonderful way to find historical England (think castles and Downton Abbey history) throughout the city and countryside
4. Tell your bank you are going overseas to ensure the ATM will work (best exchange rates for cash). This is a pet peeve of mine given how much I travel and yet my bank has consistently shut down my access so make sure your phone can dial internationally if you need to explain how you can be in two countries in one day because their computer (and many people sadly) don’t realize there’s a train between Paris and London.  My ATM card was denied as I arrived at St. Pancras train station so I had no cash for the cab to the hotel, thankfully I was able to pay by credit card (although I apologized for doing so).
5. Be open to new foods, neighborhood shops and a quick pace
6. Free Wi-Fi is usually offered at the major takeaway shops like EAT and PRET, others may require an access code with a purchase (annoying but if I need to eat a chocolate croissant to use the Wi-Fi, it seems a small sacrifice).

5 London Travel Tips for Getting Around London

1.  Black cabs are uniquely British and generally owned by small business owners (the driver) who have endured years upon years of training to take The Knowledge.  Read the NY Times article to see how they learn every nook and cranny in London and can navigate the maze of streets with their eyes closed.  This is my personal preference and based on experience, I can get into a London black cab and give partial information and arrive safely at my destination while having an interesting conversation.  They don’t need a GPS or instructions on where to go – it’s all in their head. They are the best guides to what’s popular and fun to do in the city. (note: have cash available or a credit card that is chip/pin not the american chip/sign card)
2. CityMapper App is awesome because it works offline to help you plan your journey through London (and other cities) with live departure times for transit
3. Stand on the right, pass on the left on escalators in the Tube – it’s a quick pace and you don’t want to stop the flow of people
4. When you enter a tube station be ready with your Oyster card (don’t have one? go to the window to buy one – it’s a reloadable transit card good on busses and river line too! You need to have enough on the card to exit at your stop which is charged by zone) so you don’t cause a backup in the flow of people.
5. Don’t get in a cab during theatre times – it’s generally quicker to walk so plan to eat/drink near the theatre early to avoid the traffic jam (and pricey cab ride).

4 London Travel Tips for Food in London

1. Yes, there are AMERICAN restaurants but don’t spend all your time at Starbucks, Five Guys, Shake Shack or TGI Fridays because they are familiar. Try British restaurant chains like Chicken Shop, Byron Burger, Brandisa, Polpo or Bill’s Café for reasonable prices.  The Ivy Brasserie is a bit more posh (expensive) but still very lovely dining option.
2. At the pub, if you want to order food and/or drink you do so at the bar and then find a seat. No waitress service at the pubs unless they are geared for tourists.  Mushy peas are an interesting vegetable as a side to fish & chips – maybe the only way I’ll eat my peas
3. Sweet Tooth – You can read about my Cupcake & Chocolate tour of Soho or visit the Food Halls of Selfridge’s or Harrods’s. Fancy a posh (expensive) ice cream sundae experience then Harrods’s Ice Cream Parlour is for you (and your kids).
4. In the mood for American breakfast because the full English breakfast with baked beans seems odd? Missing the ridiculous American “stand in line for brunch” ritual then be prepared to queue up at The Breakfast Club in Soho or other locations in the city.  The club is small but the portions are huge. You won’t leave hungry!
5. **Bonus** Borough Market is a feast for your eyes and stomach.  With a mix of food stalls, cafes and restaurants, you won’t go hungry here.  Check out the local vendors with Nut Butters, Breads and Cheeses.  Bring a market bag, your appetite and plan for crowds during the day.

4 London Travel Tips for Entertainment Fun in London

1. Consult Time Out London (download the app or find a magazine at your hotel) to see What’s On during your visit. With a plethora of choice, you are spoiled to pick just one art opening, new restaurant, museum happening, rooftop cinema or browse the top ten lists.
2. Music and Craft Cocktails in a posh hotel more your style? Go to Scarfes Bar in the Rosewood Hotel in Holborn.  With hidden nooks and couches to sink into, don’t be surprised if you spot a celebrity or two (but no selfies folks, this isn’t that kind of place as my friend found out when she tried a stealth selfie with flash and celebrity in background
3. Walks.com – this is the original walking tour of London with a plethora of offerings seven days a week all year long. Feel like walking in Jack the Rippers London, they’ve got a walk for you.  Fancy a pub crawl in Soho – yep, they have that. Want to watch a court session – you can do that too!  I’ve taken many walks in and out of London – they are usually small groups with fantastic knowledgeable guides. Cash only!
4. The Hoxton Hotel Events in Holborn and Shoreditch host live music and other events in the very happening lobby bar and lounge.

3 London Travel Tips – Shopping

1. M&S and Tesco are fantastic supermarkets for quick food (and drink) stock up. I love the individual food options which are great if you are staying in a flat like I did to cook up a variety of dinners each night.
2. Bring your own bag to avoid paying for one in the markets and department stores. Sure it’s only five pence or so but it’s still annoying to have to pay for a bag each time.
3. Take a photo of your passport if you plan on shopping and want a Tax Refund on the VAT paid on purchases. At the store, see if you qualify and ask for the tax refund forms – at M&S you can take all receipts to their VAT reclaim area in customer service.  They will fill out the forms (this is where you need your passport information) for you to submit when you leave the U.K.  In Heathrow, the reclaim office is just after baggage check but BEFORE security.  There is a fee for the service so sometimes it’s worth it, sometimes not.

4 London Travel Tips – Hidden Gems

1. Great views and photos of St. Paul’s Cathedral are free! Go to One New Change Mall on Cheapside (across the street from St. Paul’s tube station) and take the lift (elevator) to the rooftop, There you will get a better view of this famous landmark in the City of London.  While there, have a drink and relax in one of the many seating areas.
2. Want a city escape from London? Hop on the train to the seaside town of Brighton to walk around the laneways (shopping roads) or wander to the beach to dip your toes in the ocean and walk in the sand
3. Viewing the Shoreditch Street Art of London which includes a visit to Brick Lane and stops at the Banksy art. Learn the history of graffiti, street art, yarn bombing, stickers, etc. and see how it’s transformed into the trendy area that it is now.
4. **Bonus** SkyGarden London is a FREE viewing point above the Thames in the Walkie Talkie building.  You must reserve online in advance for the free tickets.  Its a very nice alternative to see the city from above.

Ok, 25 London Travel Tips is a bit more than a few (I talk fast, hence the ask to email those tips!).  I could probably (and will) share a million more especially with all the new tips and sights I’m learning about with Mom’s trip. If you’ve been to London, do you agree, disagree or have any to add?

I was invited to appear on WHYY’s You Oughta Know television program to speak on “How to Travel for Less” (scheduled to air tonight).  I currently teach a  “How to Travel for Less” class at Main Line School Night twice a year (Spring & Fall semesters) to help people learn more to achieve their travel goals. There’s too much “travel for less” information to share in one television segment (I’d need my own show) so in the meantime, a few highlights.  There are so many stories to tell including why I signed up for AARP in my 30’s, Solo Travel Planning Tips and how I met Oprah.  For all of those tidbits, including many travel tips, sign up to follow my blog posts, Twitter or Instagram.

My Back Story

I created PhilaTravelGirl – Flying by the Seat of My Points after two pivotal points dream award trips – solo travel to Easter Island and solo safari in Africa (Botswana, Zimbabwe, South Africa). When I was planning those trips, there was scant information online about solo travel to these destinations.    I wanted to provide travelers information from my nearly 20 years of solo travel, which began in a spectacular way in Paris.  Plus I was tired of the detailed itineraries I was creating and emailing to strangers I’d meet on the road who wanted to know about London, Paris and Sydney – it was easier to create the recommendations in a post for more people to read.  And, more importantly, my friends and family were tired of my repeated stories and plethora of photos….even my little niece at the time was like “where did you go now Aunt Sue? Where is your husband or boyfriend?”.  She didn’t understand that I was dating the world with my passport.

Now, I’m filled with travel information, where to find secret happy hours and how to travel for less.  I say this as a warning because once I start talking travel, I can’t stop….  That said, a few highlights from my “How to Travel for Less” class.

3 First Steps to Travel

1. Set a Destination Goal (be specific)

• “I/we want to visit London in 2019, flying business class and staying in a boutique hotel”
• “We want a Family reunion at Disney World in 2020” (use a travel agent for group discounts)
• “I want to go on my first solo vacation with a women’s yoga group”
• “I/we want to sail on the 80’s music cruise”
• “I want to celebrate my 40th birthday with the guys on a golf & whisky trip to Scotland“
• “Girls trip to a wellness spa to celebrate x”

You get the idea – find a reason, theme and date so you have something to look forward to.

2. Plan a Budget and Savings Plan –

• DO NOT GO INTO DEBT for travel.  Bummer, I know but your memories are supposed to be forever fabulous not forever at a 19%+ interest rate.
• Create a separate online savings account for “Travel” and save regularly in addition to your Rainy Day Fund and Emergency Savings.

If travel is important, you need to make it a priority – one less latte, less frequent manicures, cut back on unnecessary spending, etc.

3. Travel Research –

• Research is key but can be overwhelming and paralyzing as you are afraid to pick the wrong hotel, restaurant, tour group and destination.
  • We spend too many hours online researching, crowdsourcing and seeking answers to craft “the perfect vacation” that it begins to blur and with so much choice, it’s easy to feel defeated.
  • Give yourself a break and find what speaks to you – if it’s the first hotel then book that, no need to spend hours looking at a hundred other options.
• You can search for local and niche bloggers to learn more (google “x” blogger).  Many bloggers will easily answer questions you have via Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, email, etc.

There is no right way to travel but there are many ways to spend more money than necessary.

Balanced Travel Budget

When you start asking “what’s really important to me, to us, on this trip?” you’ll find ways to save money so you can then splurge on a few luxuries.  A balanced approach if you will. Did you book a budget hotel or a hostel so you can eat in a Michelin starred restaurant?  Did you fly coach to stay at the five star luxury hotel?  Book a balcony cruise stateroom but forgo the specialty dining options and fees? Each decision you make helps craft the perfect vacation for you. A few travel luxuries to add on when planning and saving –

• Book Flytographer for a professional photo shoot in the travel destination – my mom loved it! It was a memory worth the extra cost.
• Consider hiring a Private Guide or small group tour for personalized itineraries and special access. Once in a lifetime memories often involve a little extra budgeting. For larger families and groups, a private tour or private guide might actually be better deal.

3 Steps for Travel Organization

1. Set up a separate email address for travel deals and discounts.
2. Use AwardWallet to consolidate all of your loyalty programs in one place. I get notifications when I’ve earned a free cookie at Panera that alone is worth the download!  Seriously, it’s nice to have everything in one place that is updated regularly.
3. TripIt is a free app to consolidate all of your travel plans into one itinerary. I pay for the premium Pro version.

Airfare Tips

I like to start with Google Flights (you may prefer a different mega search option like Skyscanner, Hipmunk or Kayak) to see all of the airline options, alternative airports and prices. Google flights will tell you lowest prices for dates. You can then go to the applicable site to book or call a travel agent.  You can save a bundle leaving early in the morning although 6 a.m. flights are tough even when you are saving $200! Flying on a Tuesday or Wednesday is often lower priced and has many award tickets available.

For more complicated flights (open jaw flights into one city and out of another), I will use a travel agent for the added peace of mind if something goes wrong.  Travel agents often charge $35-50+ per airline ticket and can often find lower prices for complicated itineraries as they can add a stopover, connection or partner airline.

Hotels Savings Tips

Sign up for the hotel loyalty program (i.e. Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott, Accor, Kimpton, IHG, etc.) which often provide direct booking discounts of about 5% and may offer additional perks of value to you (i.e. -upgrades or free wifi access).

Hotel Tonight (book up to 30 days in advance depending on city) offers a nice mix of curated hotels. The prices are non-refundable and are usually for one room for two people in one bed. [Ask me for a discount code]

• My best deal to date – NYC 4* boutique hotel with continental breakfast close to Times Square and Rockefeller Center for $100 on a Sunday night (Expedia and hotel direct rate $200+)

AirBnb Savings Tips

Airbnb – I have a love/hate relationship based on a few stays.  They offer a wonderful opportunity for folks to travel for less (shared rooms for example) but really require research especially to know if legal in the city you are visiting. First time user discount codes (if interested ask me for my discount code or ask a friend).

• Research, Research and Research some more.
• Look for Superhost designation and/or Airbnb Plus collection if you want a level of comfort
• Don’t arrive at night – arrive early to inspect the property – if any issues, contact Airbnb immediately. Avoid my Airbnb Travel Nightmare.

Tour Attractions Savings Tips

• Google “free walking tour in x” and you’ll find many great options (do remember to tip as this is the income source for the guide).
• In London, Walks.com is a fantastic group offering a myriad of daily tours (for small cash fee) – you just show up and join the group which can range from 5 people to 35 people in my experience. I’ve taken many of these walks over the years and highly recommend them.
• Viator – a marketplace of tours sold by small businesses and large vendors (first time discounts for email sign-up)
• Airbnb Experiences (tours and experiences offered by locals) – my recent tour was the Brooklyn Bridge Walking Tour and I’m still trying to learn to make a fascinator (hat) in London (always sold out).
• Context Travel (local Philly company) offers small groups led by historians and experts. My tour in Paris at the Musee D’Orsay with an art historian was quite unique.

Dining Savings Tips

• OpenTable loyalty program rewards you when you dine out at participating restaurants. Earn points to redeem for gift cards to apply to your next meal when traveling (domestic US)
• Avoid pricey room service by ordering local with Caviar, UberEats and other delivery services (each offer discount codes).  Check with the hotel first about food deliveries.
• Airline dining programs can offer savings at participating restaurants when you pay with a registered credit card.  You’ll earn airline miles for the dining as well as your credit card points – a classic and easy double dip.

Car Rental Savings

• Do you need a car rental at the airport? If staying in the city, avoid parking at the hotel (often $40+ per night) and rent the car in the city location to avoid additional airport fees and taxes.
• Look at your credit card to see what car rental insurance coverage is provided. If it covers your rental in the destination you may decide to decline insurance offered by the car rental company.
• It’s very important to check and understand the details of what you home car insurance covers, what your credit card travel/auto insurance covers and what the car rental company is offering.

Travel Package Savings

• Costco offers members travel deals.  Great for double occupancy, families and popular destinations (Las Vegas, Orlando, London, select cruises) not so good for solo travelers or those wanting to stay at specific hotels not offered. Like anything else, you do need to compare rates. Costco often offers after trip rebates, especially on cruises.
• Contact a Travel Agent as they have access to so many deals and packages that you might not find online as their suppliers offer “travel agent only rates”

Cruise Savings Tips

• So much to share about cruises. First Time Cruise Tips, Cruise Budget and Cruises with Solo Cabins.
• Prices vary wildly so contact a cruise travel agent/specialist to learn more. Not all “free offers” are worth it.
• Guaranteed Rooms and Sail Away cabin rates are often the cheapest because you have no control over where the cabin will be (usually forward or aft on any deck).  If you must be mid-ship, that will cost more money.
• Research starting point – Cruise Critic has reviews of everything cruise. The members are passionate about cruising and sharing information. Once booked, register for the cruise roll call to chat with other travelers on your ship. Join welcome parties (often a free drink is included and you meet the ship staff), cabin crawls, private shore excursions (less than cruise tours) and other get together options.
• Repositioning Cruises – a lot of sea days but great deals to be had. It’s cheaper to be on vacation than to be home!

Using Points for Airline Awards

Figuring out how to use those airline and credit card points can be mind numbing as the rules are constantly changing and the best deals might be on partner airlines or involve a few transfers between programs.  For the average traveler, it’s really a bit too much which is what the airlines and credit card vendors are banking on – so unless you have time to deep dive into the points community to learn the ins/outs best to use a travel agent expert. There are a few that specialize in finding award tickets and each have different service and pricing.

Book My Award is a service that can take all of your airline points to find the best redemption and flights for you.  They are experts to get you to that dream trip to Australia, find business and first class seats and make life much sweeter when you redeem points. Their service fees are reasonable in my opinion and I’ve recommended them to a few folks that were thrilled to finally use those points to amazing business and first class international trips.

A Few Travel Apps I Use

There are too many travel apps out there to name them all. While I’ve mentioned many above, here are a few more that I use when traveling.  If you have a favorite travel app to share, please comment below.

• CityMapper – better than google maps for me as it has real time bus, train, etc. information
• XE Currency – how much is that in local currency and home currency?
• YourRights (EU travel) – travel in the EU is governed by actual travelers rights! What compensation or other are you entitled to if your flight is late, canceled or delayed?
  • My canceled flight netted me 600 Euros!  Know your rights in the EU when traveling.
• Google Translate
• TripAdvisor – chock full of information but take with grain of salt as anyone can leave a review whether they stayed at the hotel, ate at the restaurant or joined the tour or not

• Booking.com – offers refundable rates and reviews are only by those who have stayed at the property
• PackPoint – packing tips and lists
• MobilePassport – US Immigration – complete the forms on your app for quicker processing
• Guides by Lonely Planet
• OperaFreeVPN – virtual private network – keep your internet surfing and data private
• Netflix, Xfinity, other streaming video – entertainment to go
• SitOrSquat – where to find bathrooms
• DayPass – day pass access to hotel pools, beach clubs, cabanas
• TravelZoo – travel discounts
• Groupon – general discounts including travel

Final Thoughts – How to Travel for Less

So that’s the quick overview of my How to Travel for Less class.  Hopefully you found something of value to help you go plan, book and experience a dream destination.  Anyone can afford to travel – the key is to research, ask the experts and be open to new ideas to help you discover different ways to experience the world. If you have a question or comment, please share below.

To work with me for business travel consulting, content creation and photo licensing, visit  Arden Road Travel.

“They don’t wear sneakers except to the gym” my friend said she learned the hard way when traveling in Europe recently.  I had to laugh when she told me this – I really thought everyone knew that you DON’T WEAR SNEAKERS in Europe. Tour operators and writers really should mention this to American travelers – especially the white sneakers – NO, NO, NO!  White sneakers scream “American” and in my opinion you don’t need any added attention toward you as a tourist. Sneakers (or trainers as they are called) are strictly for the gym. Prior to my trip with my Mom to Paris & London, I had to issue the missive that no white sneaker was to be worn or packed (my sister confiscated the fanny pack to save me from that conversation).  So what are the best summer travel shoes for women when traveling to Europe this summer?  I made a trip to Philadelphia to Benjamin Lovell Shoes on Chestnut Street to find out.

For my fall trip out to West in November (Zion National Park, Antelope Canyon and Las Vegas), I found a comfortable pair of Waldlaufers, German shoes, at Benjamin Lovell Shoes, that I’ve wore practically every day since then.  The shoes are so comfy and easy to travel in that they are now my go to travel shoes (easy to remove at security if needed).  So this time for my trip to Rotterdam & London where I would be socializing and walking a lot, it was time to upgrade my footwear to cute, stylish and comfortable (with arch support and padded insoles) in size 11 (Europe 42).

I managed to peruse the store racks to tease myself but figured I’d leave it up to the universe as to what shoes would materialize for me.  As you can see, it is a shoe shopping wonderland of style, color and brands.

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Shoe Shopping for the Best Summer Travel Shoes for Women

When I met the assistant manager, Chris, I laughed and said “just bring me out all the size 11’s you have and hopefully there’s a few with color”.  See, for my big feet, the majority of shoes are cute but in black. When I see navy shoes I make a beeline to them as they are the unicorn of colors (in size 11) in the shoe world in my experience.

If your feet are normal size (i.e. under size 11) you have a plethora of cute shoes to choose from at Benjamin Lovell from a variety of brands you’ve likely never heard of but need to know about. Vionic are Australian, FlyLondon are UK, Earth Shoes will plant a tree for each pair of shoes sold, Waldlaufer are comfortable German shoes to name just a few brands.

Taos and Pikolinos had tables of really cute shoes in a variety of styles – sandals, flats, heels and even an oxford.

In Search of…the Best Summer Travel Shoes for Me

Chris returned with arms loaded and boxes piled above his head for the first round.  I was thrilled that there would be a second round of shoes.  Seriously what girl doesn’t love SHOES, SHOES and more SHOES to pick from?  He opened each box and removed all the packaging to present me a shoe to whet my shoe obsessed appetite. He then helped me into the shoe and let me walk around the store.  The personalized service was observed throughout the store as guests were seated with multiple boxes around them having their own bespoke shoe shopping experience.

With each new pair of shoes I tried on, I had to make the hard decision to cull a few from the “yes” pile.  There were actually a few shoes that were too big!  Yes, too big for my already big feet.  That was a surprise.  Chris was very helpful to confirm that the shoe was already a bit big and would only get bigger as the leather stretched with wearing.  There were also a few pairs that I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED but were just a tiny bit too small for my feet.  Sadly, Chris had to break the news to me that in this case with these shoes, there was no give and my foot didn’t fit properly.  It really is about proper fit and feel.

Benjamin Lovell Shoes – Summer Collection

So here’s a peek at a few more of the fabulous Spring/Summer collection that you need to know about.  These are available in store at Benjamin Lovell’s Philadelphia locations (1728 Chestnut Street in Rittenhouse Square and 60 North 3rd Street in Old City Historic District) and at their online shop which offers free priority 2-3 day shipping.    Most of these lovely shoes will require you keep a standing pedicure appointment to ensure that your toes are ready to show off in these wonderful shoes. For additonal tempation, follow the Benjamin Lovell instagram account.

The Winning Travel Shoes for Me

Of the more than ten pair of shoes that I tried on, I managed to narrow the selection down to three contenders.  I then had to consider my travel needs for walking and with that the winner was Earth Shoes!  The black (of course) sandals had arch support that felt weird at first because my shoes I wore into the store did not have the support.  The shoes could be adjusted with the Velcro closure (always good for when your feet might swell in the heat) and had good traction on the soles plus a bit of sparkle in the top band.  As the company plants a tree which each sale, I could feel good about my shoes.

The Best Summer Travel Shoes for Women Have Been Found!

If you want to upgrade your summer styles, definitely pop into one of the two Benjamin Lovell Shoe Stores in Philadelphia (Rittenhouse Square or Old City) to find the best summer shoes for you and toss those sneakers out of your suitcase (unless you are going to the gym in Europe and let’s be honest, we never make it there – good intentions).

Thank you to the staff at Benjamin Lovell for hosting me on my Best Summer Travel Shoes for Women research trip.  I loved trying on all the shoes and will put my Earth Shoes to the test walking around Rotterdam & London soon.

On my first Alaskan cruise, I flew into Seattle and then boarded a bus to Vancouver to meet the ship.  Quite frankly, the last thing I want to do after flying cross country from Philadelphia is to move from one cramped seat on a plane to another cramped seat on a bus.  It’s exhausting and not much of a money saver and my time and level of grumpy gets tested.  So for the next cruise to Alaska, thankfully, the Oprah Live Your Adventure Cruise chose to leave from Seattle on the Holland America Eurodam.  I love Seattle and have been visiting for nearly 20 years as I have family that relocated there so I know the city and always find someone fun to discover each time.

So while my first Alaskan cruise from Vancouver ended in heartache (the ship leaked oil and we skipped the day in Glacier Bay…. on the Glacier cruise), the next cruise to Alaska from Seattle did require a lot of research on my part and a few lessons learned during the journey.  So hoping to save you any surprises, I want to share my 10 Tips for Planning a Cruise to Alaska from Seattle.

As for which cruise line, which itinerary, blah, blah that’s best, I’m sticking to the important features that pretty much affect all cruise lines going to Alaska from Seattle. We can all argue which cruise lines we love, like or hate to Alaska another time.

10 Tips for Planning a Cruise to Alaska from Seattle

1. Alaska ain’t cheap – the cruise price is tempting but the add-ons can quickly multiply to an expensive vacation. Plan your budget accordingly and then add 20%.

2. Seattle is normally a city that has tight hotel space with normal business and leisure travelers but during cruise season be ready to pay even more for the pre/post cruise hotel. Advice is to book lodging in advance or look at the cruise line hotel options (not what I normally recommend but in this case, the pricing might be better). I tend to enjoy the boutique/luxury hotels like the three Kimpton Hotels Seattle (except the Monaco Seattle), newly renovated Hotel 1000 Seattle (Loews) and Four Seasons Seattle.

3. Booking your flight – PLEASE LISTEN TO ME WHEN I SAY “GO THE NIGHT BEFORE”. Do not fly out the same day to Seattle especially from the East Coast.  If you need to know why, read my nightmare flight from PHL-SEA.  We had many people on the July flight leaving for a cruise that day and with our 5+hour delay, the ship sailed without them!  We were scheduled to arrive before noon which should give you enough time to make it to the port for a 4 pm sail away time.  However, our 7 a.m. flight didn’t arrive until after 4 p.m.  The cruise ship representatives met the passengers in baggage claim and had to deliver some bad news.

4. Check your credit card for travel insurance and/or travel interruption insurance. Buy additional insurance if the scenarios required for you, your family and/or group are not covered.

5. If you are buying your flight through the cruise company (not always recommended due to price and connections), in many cases, the cruise company is responsible to get you to the next port at their cost. With enough missing people the ship could wait for you.  This is the cruise company’s call based on port, schedule and a variety of other factors. So if you absolutely must fly on the same day as sailing, you might consider booking air though the cruise line. It’s your gamble.

6. Book shore excursions in advance via the cruise ship (it hurts me to type that! I usually book private guides or tours in advance directly.  I rarely book via the cruise line). Unlike other cruise ports where many of the tours can be had for a lower price and with a variety of tour operators, in Alaska, many of the popular tours are aligned with the cruise ship only.  They don’t offer their tours separately online or in port.  So just when you thought you would save money on that helicopter ride….or hovercraft….or zodiac….think again.

7. If you are flying to a glacier, to a lake or anywhere – expect a per person cost of $300+. Most of the adventure tours are $200+ per person. If flying, understand the risk of weather and cancellation so have a Plan B at the ready.

8. The days start early, really early. Arriving in port by 7 a.m. and expecting to start a tour before 8 a.m. means that you are up by 5 a.m. depending on how many people are sharing a cabin and bathroom.  With early days means early nights if you want to sleep at all.  Many tours are offered multiple times throughout the day so plan accordingly.

9. Leaving port mid-day. Most days started early and then left by 3 p.m. (except in Victoria where we arrived at night for a few hours). To be fair, most of the cruise tours would arrive back to the town with a bit of time to explore (shop, eat, etc.) but not much.  So plan the day in port for what matters most to you.  My Sitka Nature Cruise was all day and started early, however, you could have chosen to explore on your own the Raptor Center and/or Fortress of the Bear.

10. A balcony cabin is really worth it, this from the inside cabin on the lowest deck girl. Despite it being quite cold during the sailing (even in July), the time in Glacier Bay (all day) is wonderful.  The ship goes in and then turns around (a 360 degree turn) so each side of the ship has time to enjoy both sides of the bay and glaciers.  While many choose to be out on the various decks for their viewing points, sitting on your own balcony with a cup of hot chocolate (or mulled wine) is a nice perk.  I normally don’t recommend balcony room upgrades since you are not in the room much, in Alaska, it’s a good choice.

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Bonus: Make sure to enjoy Seattle for a day (or more) as it’s a fun city with a rich history (check out the Underground Tour), the colorful Chihuly Glass & Gardens and great foods, wine and beer. For me, I like to indulge in a great burger at Palace Kitchen, visit the Starbucks Roastery (for desserts) and end the night with chocolate caramels from Fran’s Chocolates.

So that’s my list of 10 Tips for Planning a Cruise to Alaska from Seattle.  Do you have any tips to add to help others with their Alaskan Cruise?  Tips you’ve learned the hard way (like me) or learned from others to avoid heartache and disappointment?

In that split second, the suspect jumped out of the car looked at the officer and ran like the wind.  I really never saw anyone run so fast before, it was if I was watching a movie, albeit one happening in the real life streets of Philadelphia in a good part of town (I will concede there are bad parts of town but I wasn’t near those areas).  It was so very surreal.  The officer attempted to chase the kid but gave up and back to his car to attend to the smashed cars.  The light then turned green and my lanes starting moving forward to the expressway and I think most, like me were relieved that our cars or lives weren’t damaged.  Now this played out in the city – not in another country that I traveled to, right here at home.  Is the city safe? I’d say for the most part it is, that this was a fluke, one that I couldn’t foresee but one that I reacted to just like a car accident – stop, stare, drive by, hope everyone is ok and thankful it wasn’t me.

Traveling as a solo female for this many years, travel safety has always been a priority for me. Whether that means budgeting more for a trip to have a private car, a taxi, a centrally located hotel or other sense of security on the road.  I’m not going to be the girl that takes chances if it feels wrong or saves me money.  Even when I thought I was right, I’ve been wrong – lessons learned and plans adjusted in the future.  Here are just a few areas and examples of travel safety that gave me pause.

Travel Safety Thoughts

Travel Safety – Hotels & Lodging

There are so many hotels that it’s hard to decide what’s best for your travels.  With the introduction of Airbnb in the market, it’s now even more complicated to know neighborhoods and safety issues. While larger hotels undergo safety checks and have safety measures in place (fire alarms, deadbolt locks, security cameras, security guards, etc.) there are often the little things that the internet photos can’t tell you.

• I’ve spent many a night stuck in a weird hotel with nowhere to go feeling safe and eating my emergency cookies and chocolate. I saved money to stay at x only to realize there’s nothing in walking distance and I need a cab everywhere – it would have cost more to be centrally located but in the end a better choice so you need to factor that in when choosing a hotel/AirBnb/etc.
• I’ve checked into a three star hotel – a hotel chain that I’d used before and felt was good and that my travel agent recommended. In this instance, location was key and despite seeming in a good part of town, nothing showed the impromptu bus station across the street.  At night walking back to the hotel, I didn’t feel safe so I checked out the next morning and moved to another hotel. I was able to find a new hotel (treating myself to a five star hotel) that had security guards at the front doors (at the time, in this city, this was the norm at fancier hotels).
• At my Milan Airbnb, I realized that the third floor flat had no instructions on fire safety and building evacuation. I had used the internal stairs but were they the only ones in and out?  I didn’t see fire lights in the stairwell. Hotels usually post the fire notice on the back of the door but Airbnb doesn’t.

• In Toronto, I’ve had three middle of the night fire alarms go off on three separate visits (not sure why they are prevalent in this town). One high rise hotel had an internal loud speaker system to tell you what to do.  The other hotel staff walked the hallways to tell guests procedures.  After the first alarm incident, I learned how to place my clothes out and keep everything important in one area in case I had to evacuate.  The alarm went off, I quickly got dressed, scooped up my contacts/glasses and my handbag/passport.  If absolutely needed, my luggage was at the go with just a zip.  Thankfully, I’ve not had to evacuate a hotel yet. I have evacuated an office building walking down more than twenty flights and it’s no fun.

• And then there was the mosquito! I had left the window open in Venice and woke to hear a buzzing noise near my head.  I hate mosquitos and slept with the sheet over my head until morning.  In some parts of the world, mosquitos can be deadly with the many diseases they carry – in Africa, there is malaria (I’ve taken pills for malaria protection and welcomed the mosquito nets around my bed), and now in parts of South America there is the Zika disease.  Other bugs can be annoying and itchy too so bring antihistamine, bug cream, bug spray and other meds to help if you are bitten on travel or wake up like I did covered in bug bites.

Travel Safety  – Taxis & Uber Ride Sharing

Taxis are a mixed bag depending on what city you are in except the London Black Cab in my opinion (more on my love of the London Black Cab in an upcoming post).  If you don’t speak the local language things can get tricky with pricing, directions, safety. But even when you do speak the language, the driver can still have issues with how to get you where you are going. Even Uber has had incidences of safety violations with its drivers.

I often have the hotel arrange a taxi and help me write down my directions in the local language. I use Google Maps and have a translation app, Trip Lingo at the ready as well.

• I will hail a taxi in many parts of the world without giving it a thought however in Lima, I was told that it wasn’t good for me to do this. After my Sky Kitchen experience, the owner walked me to the main road and stopped cab after cab before deciding it was ok for me to go with the driver.  He had negotiated price, told the driver of my location and felt good to put me in the cab.  It was the first city in my travels where I gave more thought to who was driving me (the city driving is like a real live version of Frogger).
• The airport transfer pre-arranged car is often much more money than the local cab or bus but when the concierge arranges it to bill to the hotel someone is expecting me and knows who I am with. When I arrived at the Westin Lima after midnight and approached the front desk, they had been notified by the driver that I was en-route and had everything ready for a quick check-in.

Travel Safety – Trains

Train stations are easy targets for tourists and thieves.  We are often distracted looking up at the board for our train and track.  We may have bags (and bags) or just the massive kitchen sink bag that we can’t lift and need help with. We need to buy a ticket, wait in line or don’t speak the language. Prior to arrival at the train station, I write down my train number, train name and departure time so I’m not checking my phone or going through my bag for information.

• In Paris at Gard du Nord, I’m driven insane the moment the taxi stops as I’ve had beggars block my door exit asking for money. I’ve had more asks as I walk toward the station “Do you speak English?” and in my fractured French I reply “no”.  Since the Eurostar leaves from here to London and other places, it is truly one place that annoys me as a traveler.  I’m constantly on the look out and try to position myself next to a wall or other place that gives me a sightline all around me.

The world you experience is often so much better than the world the media portrays on television every night.  If you budget for safety, take precautions to be alert as you travel and mitigate the risks, travel is pretty awesome.  All of the issues above are just a fraction of what I’ve encountered on the road, none of which prevents me from boarding a plane, taking a road trip or walking out my front door.  The incident at home in Philly was just a reminder that my everyday normal boring life can be unsafe here on the ground – what travel safety thoughts do you plan for, worry about or always apply on your trips?

Last week I was out at sea when the United incident occurred. When I reached port the next day, it was all over the news and I was surprised by all the mis-steps taken by the airline and local airport security.  I’ve always known that the airlines oversold the seats hoping to maximize the space and revenue for no-shows, missed connections and cancellation.  Over the many years of traveling, I’ve only been on two flights prior to last week where the airline gate staff announced they were looking for volunteers to give up their seats.

In one case, I was on a business trip to New Orleans.  The announcement started at $600 to give up your seat and while I was tempted because it would have been a bonus to me since I hadn’t paid for the ticket, I was flying first class and had checked my TripIt Pro app to see when the next direct flight to Philly was (eight hours later) and how many seat were open (zero first class).  The agent eventually got a volunteer at $600 and we quickly boarded the flight home.  I wondered if they knew how long the wait would be prior to saying “yes”.

AA & Delta Volunteers to Give Up Your Airplane Seat at SJU

Fast forward to this past Sunday in San Juan, Puerto Rico (SJU).  As I was walking to my gate, I heard a Delta agent sheepishly announcing that the flight was oversold and she was looking for volunteers to give up their seats for a voucher.  She sounded nervous and opened at $400.  I mumbled to myself “no way at $400” as I quickly boarded my American Airlines flight to Philadelphia.

This AA flight was a definite bonus as I booked first class, which at the time was about $200 more than coach, and during online check in realized that AA changed equipment so that my seat was on the A330, their international configuration of 1-2-1 flat bed business class seats. I had a flat bed, full entertainment system, aisle access and loved it for my four hour flight!

When boarding was complete, the AA gate agent boarded and announced they needed just one volunteer to give up their seat.  In more than twenty years of travel, I experienced the “at the gate” version of this and now in one day, I had two instances – one onboard.  The gate agent started at $600 and no interest.  He increased the compensation to $800 and the Captain exited the cockpit with his hand raised to show he had a sense of humor and gave us a nice laugh.  At this point, the coach cabin had banned together and chanted $1,000!  Now I was thinking “hmmm, would I take that as my family is on the next flight”.  The young guy who expressed some interest at $800 and for whom the coach cabin chanted “higher” took the deal.  Folks were clapping and as he exited, I heard him say “that’s enough for a few flights” which might not be true.  I’m not sure who the guy was that needed to board but he put his bags in the first class overhead and went back to the open coach seat.

I stretched out and reminded myself that I was not flying to London, just home to Philly on the spacious window seat. I texted my sister who was waiting for the next flight and told her the story of the $1,000 offer just in case they had the same offer on her flight.  Later when she landed, she said her flight was also looking for volunteers but found one at the opening of $600.

The Captain welcomed us and instructed us to introduce ourselves to our neighbors as we would all be in this together as travelers.  His words were kind, funny and appropriate and I wondered if this was his normal speech or if it was modified in light of the United incident.  Either way, it seemed that a new normal had emerged as travelers learned that their seat might not be their seat, passengers worked together to get the best deal and others contemplated what their time (and seat) was really worth.

My 5 Tips to Consider Before You Give Up Your Airplane Seat

So with all of the information flying around social media and the news channel related to travel, what’s your price?  How much would it take to get you to give up your seat on the airplane?  Would you now do due diligence to know if it’s worth it?  Always be ready with information that benefits you, not the airline.

My 5 Tips Before You Say Yes and Give Up Your Airplane Seat:

1. Find alternative (direct) flights home and know what time(s) the flight is scheduled to depart as well as the flight number – you can do this with TripIt Pro (yearly subscription), Google Flights or the airline’s website. You need to have information ready at hand, don’t rely on the airport gate agent.
2. Use TripIt Pro (or ask your travel agent), to see how many seats in each class are available.  F = First, J = Business, C = Coach, so you know what leverage you have.  If giving up a coach seat, I’d request the first/business seat on next flight (they can only say no and stick you in coach). I met a guy on my flight to San Juan who was scheduled to fly from Philly to Chicago but bad weather canceled his flight.  He requested that they fly him PHL-SJU-ORD, basically a free flight to San Juan for the weekend on the long way home.  He had family to visit so it was a free flight for him in Business class.
3. Check to see if the airline has a lounge at the airport (in case the wait is long you can request to wait there, they may say no, but it’s worth the try). I’d rather spend time in a relaxing place than sitting at the gate.
4. Request cash!!!  Vouchers are filled with small print of exclusions, black out dates, minimum spend/fares, etc.  Imagine giving up your seat, waiting hours for the next flight only to find out you can’t use that $600+ voucher!  Say no to vouchers and yes to cash! 
5. Hotel and/or Food vouchers should be provided if the next available flight (with an open seat) is a long wait or the next day. Research what hotels are nearby so you can request a property if needed.  You want a full service hotel with a restaurant on-site at a minimum.

So, while I’m tempted at $1,000, realistically if #1-3 were all good options, I would probably raise my hand at $1,200 if cash, however, given that others buyout rate is lower, I doubt that I’ll get to take this gamble.  In the European Union (EU) they have explicit rules stating what happens if you are denied boarding against your will after the airlines fail to find a volunteer – you may be entitled, according to my Passenger Rights app, to €125 – €600 compensation depending on distance of flight and delays experienced.  During your wait, the airlines must provide care for you such as food, telephone access, hotel and transit between hotel and airport.  The EU has spelled it all out, why is the US so woeful in catching up to passengers rights for travel – air, train, bus and boat?

Have you ever volunteered to give up your airplane seat?  How much did you get and what was the experience like for you? Would you do it again?

There’s a first time for everything and I was doing something I’ve never done before at Heathrow – shower in the British Airways Arrivals lounge in Terminal 5. Usually when I arrive at LHR, I leave as quickly as possible to get to the hotel to shower and sleep in my attempt to deal with (avoid) jet lag. That’s when I land at 6:30 a.m.  For my last trip to London Heathrow, I had a later arrival, near 10 a.m. so I opted to visit the British Airways Arrivals Lounge in Terminal 5 (T5). as I was in need of its services, specifically for a BA Shower at Heathrow, which is separate from the Elemis Spa. If I was on a long layover/connection, I might consider enjoying the Spa (and Shower facilities) at the Sofitel T5, a luxury hotel at the airport connected to Terminal 5 (you need to exit the secure area) but London was my destination and I needed to refresh from the overnight flight before going about my day of travel shows and vendor visits.

British Airways Arrivals Lounge T5

Like the rest of the BA lounges, the setup includes an Elemis Spa (first come, first served treatments), a self-serve café and various areas to dine, relax and work.  The arrivals lounge also has a private Concorde Room for First passengers to enjoy a hot breakfast with private booths and waiter service. The arrivals lounge also had a plethora of showers (I’ve read 94!) plus cabanas for those First passengers wanting a tub only option.

British Airways Shower Suites

Arriving at the shower desk, I checked in and was assigned a numbered shower suite (don’t get too excited it’s small).  I was not shown to the suite, I guess she assumed I had been here before. I quickly surveyed the open  common areas which had lounge chairs, a table set with bottled water and staff wandering with towels.

Inside the BA Shower Suite

When I opened the door to the shower suite and brought my massive suitcase with me (rookie error – I should have stored my luggage in the lounge and bring only my carry on with change of clothes) I still had some space left to move about but it was tight.

The design is similar to the lounge bathrooms which is to say a blah but functional.  It’s not luxury design but then again this isn’t about spending all day, just refresh and move along, although they could try to make it a bit nicer. There is a hairdryer attached to the wall (those odd vacuum looking ones), a wall of mirrors above the small sink and toilet.  On the wall behind were towels, hooks and a bench.  Further in the cabana was a large shower with Elemis shower gel and shampoo/conditioner (can’t be picky that it’s all in one).  Missing were flip-flops for those of us who are a bit OCD about public showers.

If you opened the door up you could hang a suit jacket, pants or blouse for ironing/pressing.  You put the items inside and then pressed a button to notify staff. So while you are showering and getting ready, your clothes can look neatly pressed and allow you to be ready to go to the office or meeting.

The Shower at Heathrow Experience

The water pressure was good the entire time which was surprising given the number of showers in the area.  I luckily missed the rush and it was a Saturday so that also helped. With a good amount of hot water, I steamed up the entire cabana.  If there was a vent, I couldn’t find it so short of opening the door half-naked, I just dealt with the heat. You are supplied with two towels which was enough for me.

The vacuum hair dryers attached to the wall are always a bit tricky to use when you have long hair like I do – it takes longer because they are generally lower speed and heat. But I looked presentable which was fine.

Once I was done, I put the towel on the floor and exited into the cool expanse of the hallway leaving my shower suite (and now sauna) behind.  I found a chair to relax and sort my luggage prior to exiting into the lounge for a quick snack before I went to drop my suitcase with AirPortr, a london luggage delivery service that was also a convenience this trip.

Overall – My Shower at Heathrow

It was interesting to use the British Airways Arrival lounge shower at Heathrow.  The amenity is definitely great for those who usually fly in early and go right to the office bypassing their hotel and those flying in from the really long haul destinations like Sydney and Singapore.  Since I was on my way into the city for the two convention shows while AirPortr transported my luggage, the luxury of a shower was quite welcome since I would not get to the hotel until after 8 p.m. The BA Arrivals lounge shower at Heathrow T5 is only open to British Airways passengers flying First and Club World and those BA Gold elite card holders that have lounge access. Now that I know I can shower at Heathrow upon arrival, I may just use the shower suite again.

So would you shower at Heathrow if you had the chance?

If you are going to Paris, I’m likely to give you the following direction “Go to the Chanel counter of Galleries Lafayette, stop and look up!” Your eyes will be richly rewarded.  As for your wallet, well that’s another story depending on your willpower for luxury clothes, accessories and macarons (there is a Pierre Hermes counter with a plethora of indulgent macarons).  The stunning stained glass domed ceiling is just one surprise in this department store.  The decor hanging from the ceiling changes a few times a year – the Christmas theme is fantastic! There are a few other surprises in store for you – you only need to board the escalators and continue up for one of my favorite views of the city on the Galleries Lafayette Rooftop, La Terrasse. It’s one of my secret spots in Paris and I’m sharing with you!

Galleries Lafayette Rooftop – La Terrasse

The Galleries Lafayette Rooftop, La Terrasse, has free views of Paris. Yes, free views of Paris – this is one of my secrets of the city.  You can access the roof by the escalator (by the café) or find the stairs (if you stuffed yourself, the stairs are good exercise).  The rooftop has lovely views of the Paris Opera across the street as well as the Eiffel Tower in the distance.  There is an ice cream cart, a sit down outdoor bar/café and a coffee kiosk.  As we walked around on the roof, we could see folks enjoying the sun and others eating their takeaway. Generally open from 9:30 a.m. until 7:30 p.m. (weather dependent) you can enjoy a peaceful getaway all day long.

Despite being in the middle of throngs of people shopping on the street and people crossing the busy streets at the Paris Opera, the rooftop seems worlds away from all of the frenzied pace of the area.  Seeing people sit in the sun with friends and families sharing baguettes, macarons and enjoying the day is a great sight that I often think only happens in Paris.   However, you momentarily forget you are in Paris until you hear French being spoken or see the selfies being taken with the Eiffel Tower in the background.

The secret is out as evidenced during a summer lunchtime visit when the rooftop was crowded but there was plenty of space to take a photo along the edges.  During the fall, the tourist crowds were minimal so we felt like we had the rooftop all to ourselves in the late afternoon.  There are guards to ensure it doesn’t get too crowded – during my many visits, there was no need for crowd control which was good.

Galleries Lafayette Rooftop Views

In Paris, you have a few options to see the Eiffel Tower from many parts of the city.  You can see it up close for free or pay to go inside to see the city views.  You can pay to enjoy the views from the Arc de Triomphe or go to Galleries Lafayette for a free view.  Your choice as all are lovely.  Plus you can see the unique Haussman buildings and their uniformity from this view.

Final Thoughts

You may not have thought of visiting the department store, Galleries Lafayette, on your Paris trip because you don’t want to go luxury shopping but you would miss out on the rooftop view of the city and Eiffel Tower.  So go indulge in Hermes macarons, Alain Ducasse chocolates and gorgeous interior and exterior views uniquely Parisian. The Galleries Lafayette Rooftop is my secret spot in Paris so I hope you go experience the free views now that you are in the know.

Philadelphia weather has been all over the place this winter.  I wore flip-flops at Christmas as the temps were near 70F and then I shoveled over 28” of snow in a one day February snowstorm.  The past week, I woke up to snow on the ground which melted by mid-day and then dealt with the sweltering temperatures of 81F yesterday (I did not succumb to moving from the heat to the a/c as some of my Facebook friends did).  In one week from winter to summer, the back of my car looks like a disheveled closet of scarves, gloves, coats (winter and fall) as well as ice scraper and rock salt.  And I live here!  What to do if you are just visiting for a week?  How the heck to pack?  That’s the biggest conundrum when traveling – what to pack for weather whiplash?  So I will share my packing tips and favorite travel brands below.

When I was embarking on my round the world adventure a few years ago, I was super excited to celebrate my birthday in Sydney, Australia.  More excited that I was leaving the East Coast winter to visit Australia in late spring/early summer before making my way back home via Paris in winter.  I had decided to pack two bags (big mistake when I had to pay for extra bags on the domestic flights in Australia but I digress) one with warm clothes and winter sweaters for Paris and one with summer Sydney.  I kept checking the ten-day forecast every day leading up to my departure date and adjusting my suitcase accordingly.  The sun was expected to make a good showing during my visit so light layers and sandals were added to my bag.

And then I landed in Melbourne, Australia, a city known for experiencing four seasons in one day.  Unfortunately, for my summer Sydney suitcase, it stayed closed for most of my visit as I needed to pull out socks and warm layers for the Melbourne cold (and rainy) days. The weather apps got this one wrong as I would experience an unusual cold rainy spell for spring. While I know April showers bring May flowers, it was Australia in November.  I was lucky to have my Paris winter bag to pull from, unlucky that I only had three pair of socks as I needed to wash them frequently during the trip.  With two bags of clothes, I consider myself fortunate, had I only packed the summer Sydney bag, I would have been buying many souvenirs in the form of warm clothes during my trip.  The rains and winds of Melbourne claimed a casualty – my travel umbrella.  My partner in many countries, the little packable umbrella gave out as I crossed the street in Melbourne after my Street Art Walking Tour.  The Sofitel Melbourne, Pullman Sydney, Westin –Sydney and Henry Jones Art Hotel in Tasmania all provided a free massive umbrella to use for the rest of my visit.

When I actually arrived in Sydney, I had one day to chase the sun followed by three days of rain (and cold).  Tasmania had the same ratio as did Paris. It was a lot of rain that trip and reminded me how my packing had evolved over the years and my shift to reliable fashion brands that travel well to accommodate weather whiplash.  Here’s what’s in my bag when I travel and might serve as a reminder or packing tips for you on your next trip:

My Packing Tips and Travel Brands/Clothes for Weather Whiplash

1. Pullover Fleece – I wear this on the plane as it’s always cold but is helpful if your warm destination is cool at night or unusually cold
2. Scarf – I have a tissue cashmere scarf from Nordstrom (now called a wool & cashmere scarf) that I love as it serves as scarf, head covering and blanket when needed. It’s lightweight and easy to pack.
3. Extra Socks – bring easy to wash and dry socks or prepare to buy socks on the road (I’ve done this a few times in London –go to M&S for socks)
4. A Sturdy Umbrella (or two) – I now carry two umbrellas mostly because of my propensity to find the rain when I travel. My checked bag has a small umbrella (my $35 Australian Sydney souvenir) and my carry-on has a mini-umbrella
5. Smartwool base layer– This warm/cool option is great to layer or wear alone. I brought my warmer layer (a NTS Mid250 Crew) and wore as a pajama top in air-conditioned hotels and used as a layer under sweaters. I’m always cold so this is a warm option, they also offer a lightweight 150 Crew.
6. Yoga Pants – I love my Lululemon Studio Pants III (tall) as they do triple duty –  pajama bottoms, workout pants and easy to wear/lounge/travel. They cost a bit more but have served me well over the years.
7. Flip Flops – I love, love, love my Teva Mush Flip Flops – I always pack them to wear in the hotel as I won’t go bare foot in the room (the older I get the more germ-a-phobe I become). Great to have if surprised by warm weather.  My mush flops are super comfy
8. Clothes that Layer well – It’s easy to have a baseline to add or subtract from. A black cardigan and the pullover above are good pieces to start the day cold and go to warm.  Add in t-shirts/cami/tank tops as the base. I love Eileen Fisher for easy to wear, layer and travel in clothes.  The linen options are wonderful and the cuts are flattering for all sizes.
9. Jeans – a good wash and fit makes jeans an easy all-weather option. Dress up with the cardigan and jewelry or dress down with the flip-flops. My go to options jeans from NYDJ (I buy at Nordstrom to earn points), Loft (they have Curvy and Modern fits), Lauren by Ralph Lauren (affordable version and boot cut is my favorite)
10. The Shoes – flip-flops, dressy sandals, a nice heel and the shoes you wear on the plane should cover all types of weather. My go to shoes, size 11, are from Munro American (I buy at Nordstrom to earn points and because the return policy is fabulous) because they are super comfortable and made in the U.S.A.  They have all sizes and widths which make them a great option for hard to fit feet.  They aren’t cheap but will last.  I’ve often bought two pair because I know when they finally die, I will want to replace them with the exact same style (if you have big feet you understand).

So this is my weather whiplash packing list along with my favorite travel brands.  What are your preferred packing tips for weather whiplash? Do you have your favorite item or brand that works best for you? Please share in the comments below.