Now I can relax.... everything is looking good.
*RS tour booked for England So Village tour in May
*Air tickets booked on points with good flights, seats, price
*Cottage booked in Cotswolds (Chipping Campden) for after tour ending in bath
*Hotel booked in London for four days
* Scored baseball tickets for St Louis cards vs Cub in London Saturday (hospitality room) Sunday regular tickets
Boy..... how have to wait 6 months. Woot Hoot!!
Wow... it will be fantastic!
Yea!!!
Are you going out to Canterbury the night before? I thought there was enough to see there to have a full extra day or 2. Or maybe if it still starts on a Sunday that will interfere with your baseball game so you'll go out Monday AM?
I WISH I had been able to work it out to go see the Battle of Britain museum but the days we were working with our free time didn't coincide with their open days. There is a local bus from Canterbury that stops nearby so it didn't look too difficult to do.
Fun! I am sure you all will enjoy this one.
Yes Pam - yes we are flying in one day early , from airport we will go directly to train station to Canterbury, then take tour ending in bath. Stay over one day in bath. Then take train/cab to our cottage in chipping Campden, then stay there four days, headed back to London via train on June 11. Baseball games are June 13 and 14 . Leave for home on June 15
Oh great! That sounds wonderful!
We also liked walking along the River Stour in Canterbury if you have a need to see some green and outdoors stuff. We (went with brother, SIL and her sis) traveled the end of May and had rain but the flowers were beautiful!
Ahh! This is awesome, so glad for you. I'm sure you are relieved to have all the arrangements made. I think it helps build the level of anticipation.
How many days will you stay in Chipping Campden? That is on my bucket list, to actually spend a few days, I've been to the Cotswolds on a fun day trip.
Enjoy!
Judy - in cotswolds we are there from June 7 to jun 11. We are going to do walking and rely on bus to possibly other villages
You will have a great time I’m sure. I will cross my fingers and send good thoughts that you and hubby stay healthy this time!
Thanks Tammy - me too! I may call my dr before I we go!
Kim-
This was a great tour. Here is a link to my tour report:
Our next RS tour will be best of England in September 2020.
Kim, glad you got that second baseball game arranged. Now you're all ready to go!
Hi everyone! I just booked for England Southern Villages Tour late June early July. It’s my first time to Europe and I’m going solo. I want to add 2-3 days in London to my trip, but I’m not sure if I should do it at the beginning or end of the RS tour. Any advise from seasoned travelers is welcomed. I also just learned that my time in England is during Wimbledon. I’m not sure how that my effect my plans.
Hi Stacie -
For me, it all depends if I am just going the tour only. If so, I like to add 3-1 day before tour and leave when tour is over or add just 1 day after if needed for travel purposes.
This trip is only 1 day before trip starts and leaving next day after my baseball games are done. Plus we try to use points when we have enough so sometimes I have to adjust to the flight schedules
Have fun. We are in the May 25th tour
Kim
Stacie, if you have enough time, add a day or two on each end. You'll need at least a day before the tour to find your feet and get over jet lag. And a day or two after the tour is good, too. We always try to go at least 2 or 3 days before the tour begins, then stay up to a week or more after, but I know not everyone has that kind of time.
In your case, since you want to see London, I'd probably spend a couple of days before the tour in London. You'll find plenty of hotel recommendations in Rick's books and on this Forum.
That's a long-winded way to say either before or after would be good, but do take jet lag into consideration.
Stacie
We add time before and after RS tours. Given that this is your first time to Europe, it might be better to visit London after the tour. London is a big city and might be overwhelming at the start of the trip.
Thanks so much! I really appreciate the advice. It’s all been very helpful.
Kim - I hope you enjoy your trip. I’d love to hear all about it.
Bob- I enjoyed your trip report
Go to London before the tour. It's an easy city to get around.
Going early will help you get over jet lag. It will also allow you to extend your stay in Bath a day or two. My suggestion would be to take a day tour into the Cotswolds. MadMax tours does a great job. (I've taken the S. England tour and stayed a few days after to explore the Cotswolds.) I've been to Bath a few times and suggest extending your stay here.
From Bath it's an easy trip to Heathrow.
As Emma said, get your accomodations early. The last two year's during the time you will be there, London had terrible heat waves. (I was there for both.) You may want to keep that in mind if you are used to a/c in the summer. Not all hotels in London, including most of the RS recommended ones, have it.
