SF Bay Area Travel Meeting August 9th

Ahem...Excuse me but August 16 is the 3rd Saturday of the month. Don't you have somewhere else to be that day?

Omg Andrea, thank goodness you caught that. My brain was focused on your meeting... You're sharp girl! And yes, I do have somewhere else to be that day... : )

My husband and I will plan to attend. Totally looking forward to this!

Great! See you on the 9th in San Rafael (and the 19th in Sacramento)
Lauri & Ed

Cool -- I will mark my calendar for the 9th and really try to be there.

I am definitely interested. Unfortunately, I have purchased race tickets (Sonoma County Fair) for the 9th. But, I love the idea of a Bay Area Meeting! I have wanted to attend the Sacramento meetings, but it's just so far...

I'm going to try to come. Maybe Eileen can come too. :-)

That would be great, Andrea. I don't think I would ever get to meet you at the Sacramento meeting (and Eileen).

Great meeting you yesterday, Susan, and was fun talking for almost two hours. After we left, we took the dogs on a walk along the trail on the other side of 101 for about an hour. Then on our way home, we decided to head through Napa and stop at Domaine Chandon for a bottle of Bubbly. Great day! Dogs are just beat this morning. Barley went back to bed, and Shafer's sprawled out on the couch napping.

Sharon or Linda, maybe we can car pool on the 9th.

Looking forward to hearing about everyone's future and or past trip plans.

Yes, I think I could be persuaded to attend the Inaugural Event ;-)

I may attend a few more in the future; you're awfully close to some mighty tasty liquid refreshments...

I'll also be collecting the Franchise Fee ;-)

(Don't worry; be assured it will go where it's supposed to...)

Yes, to moi! Thanks for scheduling the meeting at noon. Some people have a hard enough time getting to a 10:00 meeting on time, and she doesn't even have to leave her own county. I'm not naming names. :-)

Great to see so many that want to come! BG, I hope you make it. And Linda, sorry you won't this time, but next time hopefully.

Andrea and Eileen... Yay! It will be so great to have you there! And anyone else that wants to make the trek with you... ; )... Ha, once you're inside our Panera you won't even know you're not in Sac... you'll be right at home.

For sure Eileen, we'll gladly pay you that Franchise Fee... and I know it will go to the right place...

Karen, it was really nice to meet you all for lunch yesterday... glad you had a good walk. Chandon is nice... you were so close to our favorite restaurant in Yountville... next time check out Bistro Jeanty...

See you all on the 9th!

I just happened to think to check the start time; yea! This gives us time to hit pay a respectful visit to Domaine Chandon before the meeting time, too.

Yeah, Andrea, I don't have to leave the county - just drive the entire width, and half the height...and as I said to Kat on the Sacto thread concerning arrival times, 'bite me' ;-) I get there when I get there...

Thanks Susan! Looking forward to it!

I have a friend who lives in Rohnert Park - I met her on the Helpline several years ago, and she's an avid traveler - as consumed by England as I am. She wants to attend the meeting also - so here's another traveler who will be coming.

That's great you'll be there BG!

Sharon, glad you're friend will be there too!

Wonderful! I'll try to make it.
Thanks,

It looks like you are going to have a big turnout for a first meeting. I always try to get to Panera about 20 minutes early to get the big table and add one or two to it.

David, Sounds good to me!

Stacey, Hope you can make it!

Good advice Andrea, will do!

Hi Susan -- this is a great idea and a great time for me.
I should be able to make the meeting ... and at the crack of noon is very civilized!
See you then.
Sharyn

That's great Sharyn!

Sharyn...was just going to notify you (and return the favor) about this meeting, but see you are back on the Helpline again! Susan, hope you will still get back to Sac once in a while so we can catch up!

Since I am frequently in the Bay Area to visit grandbabies, and since I have been unsuccessful at organizing a Seattle meeting, I will monitor and stay in touch. Maybe someday I will show up, since I feel as if I know some of you.

We were in California yesterday, now in Idaho, great road trip except for fires everywhere.

Good luck with your first meeting - I hope it goes really well.

It would be great to have you Lola!

Dave, we'll look forward to seeing you!!

Nigel, start planning a trip to SF and join us and the Sac group!... ; )

Looking forward to meeting everyone Saturday.

44 days and counting... Scotland here we come.

My husband and I will definitely be there on Saturday. So looking forward to it. My friend is unable to attend after all. She hopes to be at the next one.

Karen, 35 days for us!! Sorry I haven't emailed those maps of York. I'll make copies and bring them Saturday.

Yowza! That's an impressive number for your first meeting! Perhaps you should move from Panera to the new 49er stadium! (That's where my erstwhile navigator, Eileen, got us locked in the parking lot at the RS travel meeting....!) Uh.... Time for another bite.

Haha kat!

Looking forward to seeing everyone today!!

Very cool group, and a fun meeting --talked for over 4 hours!
Thanks so much Susan, see you next month!

Betty

I agree BG. Good meeting everyone - thanks Susan for coordinating this.

I had a great time. It was nice to see some familiar faces and meet some new people. Thanks for coordinating everything Susan.

Thank you all... It was fun! What a great turnout... 15!

See you all next month!

Congratulations you guys! Don't forget where the franchise fee has to go...

That was really fun. I enjoyed meeting the new members and seeing some "familiars" from Sacramento.
Thanks, Susan, for making it happen!
Let's keep it going ...
Sharyn

Nice turnout. Three of us were there from the Sacramento group. Several of the people in this new group have visited us in Sacramento so it was most enjoyable to visit them.

Uhm, yeah, Nigel, about that Franchise Fee... I gave it to Eileen who promised she knew where to send it...

Everyone who came made it fun... And special thanks to Eileen, Andrea, Larry and Mary for coming all the way from Sac to join us.

As Sharyn said... Let's keep it going!

It was wonderful meeting everyone last month and I'm looking forward to our meeting this month. Everyone gave me wonderful advice, which I have applied towards my upcoming trip. I'm stuck in a pickle and need some advice from the experts.

I'm headed to London, Normandy and Paris in Nov with my teenage son. This will be our first big trip together and his first time out of the country. I've saved and talked about this trip for over 10 years, so it has a very special place in my heart. I have everything scheduled except our lodging in london...which I'm starting to panic. I've looked at every website, book and hotels in the area and I'm overwhelmed... they all look the same. Originally I wanted a flat but am starting to lean towards a hotel. I don't want to feel isolated and if I need advice/directions I'll have someone to go to.
My Must Have- Safe area, 2 beds, internet access, TV (teenager), mini kitchen (microwave, coffee pot and refrigerator) and within an easy walk to the tube. I really like the Westminister, Victoria, Knightsbridge area. I really don't want to go over $1,500 for 5 days.

Any suggestions, would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Stacey

Stacey,
You should post your question under the England heading for more people to see. Good luck!

Hi Stacey, Andrea's right... you'll get a lot more feedback if you post this question in the Britain section.

There was a thread asking this same question about 3 mos ago and I bookmarked some of the recommendations. I only do that if it really looks good to me. Here's what I've bookmarked:

Number 63... www.number63.co.uk

Holiday Inn Express - Park Royal

Lancaster Hall Hotel

tripadvisor.com/Travel-g186338-c162572/London:United-Kingdom:Budget.Hotels.In.London.html

Look forward to seeing you at this month's meeting on September 13th!