7/18/2010 Mickey's Baltic Ballyhoo!! Part 4

[jlawall]

Happy Saturday! I can't book this trip until my cruise is over.......we stayed right where the Eye is located at a Marriott and I wasn't in love with our location. I rather be on the "Tower" side of the Thames........it seemed like all we did was head over there everyday. We were one of the bridges but when it was raining, that wasn't too easy to deal with........where exactly is Victoria?

 

[RJAYL]

Happy Saturday! I can't book this trip until my cruise is over.......we stayed right where the Eye is located at a Marriott and I wasn't in love with our location. I rather be on the "Tower" side of the Thames........it seemed like all we did was head over there everyday. We were one of the bridges but when it was raining, that wasn't too easy to deal with........where exactly is Victoria?

Try this map

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/central_bus_map.pdf

 

[RJAYL]

Happy Saturday! I can't book this trip until my cruise is over.......we stayed right where the Eye is located at a Marriott and I wasn't in love with our location. I rather be on the "Tower" side of the Thames........it seemed like all we did was head over there everyday. We were one of the bridges but when it was raining, that wasn't too easy to deal with........where exactly is Victoria?

This one has an interactive element kinda neat

http://www.somewheretogo.co.uk/central_london_attractions.html

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Being close to Boston we get the same thing wether in Milton or Hull!

Try this map

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/central_bus_map.pdf

Yes VICTORIA is just a little stones throw down from Buckingham house, is just north of the thames has a major rail and coash station, and a few thearters there, two stops on the Victoria line to Oxford st, one stop Buckingham palace if you dont want to walk.

Victoria has a 'gatwick express' service, but also you can get to Gatwick on normal services quite fast for a lower fare on SOUTHERN services from Victoria.

The other place I mention is London bridge as also it has a major terminus, it has a fast link to Gatwick often overlooked, either on Southern againn or Thameslink, which also is one of the few, above ground network rail trains that goes from North London to South London without the use of the tube. Handy for luggage.

Another TFL access link

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/gettingaround/default.aspx

 

[Caropooh]

We can stay at the Royal Garden Hotel using DVC points, so that's what we are thinking of doing. How is the location. The hotel it self looks wonderful!
http://www.royalgardenhotel.co.uk/

 

[Celestine]

Good Morning
Hey Celestine have any ideas for a family of 6 since Andrew will not let me stay at his house & his garden shed is too expensive!

One of the links I posted earlier www.roomfor5.co.uk does 6, 7 & even 8, but I think by then you are in the realms of a dormitory type place or an apartment. I'd suggest trying a family run place as they have a vested interest in trying to accomodate your party. As you are looking at 12 months away, you should find it a bit easier as I'm sure these places a limited to one room meeting those requirements. The other alternative is two rooms with a connecting door. I'll ask DH to chat to the liaison bods in his office who book accomodation for visitors if they know of anything., but won't get much response before middle of next week. Happy hunting!

Celestine

 

[Celestine]

We can stay at the Royal Garden Hotel using DVC points, so that's what we are thinking of doing. How is the location. The hotel it self looks wonderful!
http://www.royalgardenhotel.co.uk/

I walked past it yesterday! Right on Kensington High street (2 min walk to tube). I walked through the park back to Paddington, but I'm guessing there to Oxford street would be about 20mins or so, and if you're Ok with walking you could walk from here to the likes of Buckingham Palace & bus or cab back. It is also on the open top bus tour Hoho (Big bus company)

Celestine

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

We can stay at the Royal Garden Hotel using DVC points, so that's what we are thinking of doing. How is the location. The hotel it self looks wonderful!
http://www.royalgardenhotel.co.uk/

The location is reasonable near high street kensington tube District and Circle lines, near hyde park, safe area, about 15 mins to the west end area. Not central but close.

 

[jlawall]

Try this map

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/central_bus_map.pdf

Ok, I liked this one........I can see where Victoria is, it's one area, we didn't check out.........

 

[jilljill]

Ok, I liked this one........I can see where Victoria is, it's one area, we didn't check out.........

More cruise chat I see.

We stayed in Victoria last year, right down the street from the Apollo Victoria theater which is where Wicked is playing. Loved the area. Took about 15-20 minutes to walk to B'ham Palace, an easy walk.

 

[jilljill]

Not off to a good start. Last night I came to check the boards and they were down. Finally got confirmation yesterday at 4:45 my Mini was done, too late to head up there to pick it up with Friday summer traffic. DD & I head up there this morning to get it, all is well. We make a couple of stops, grab a bite to eat, go to Bed, Bath & Beyond go to back out of the parking space and notice something is not right, go to put it in first gear after I get out of the space and the gear shift is very strange feeling and it stalls out on me, tried again and somehow managed to limp over to the fire lane when I notice the I can move the gear shift freely without pushing in the clutch - major problem there. Call the dealer and he says to call roadside assistance, call them after 45 minutes with them they tell me it's going to be another 1hr 40min - 2½ hours before they can get a tow truck out there, it's already 1:20 at this point. I call AAA and they can send someone out within the hour - good AAA coming, call back roadside asst. and cancel them. Now in the meantime the battery has gone dead and I haven't been running the stupid car and it starts to rain - at least there's enough power to put the windows up. Call DH wake him up to come up and get us and tell him what's going on. In the meantime I notice the battery on my phone is just about dead - oh great, what else can happen?!? Security finally comes over to me after he sees us sitting there for over 1 hour, I tell him and he's fine with that and can't believe how my day is going. Call the dealer back and tell them AAA is towing me in since their roadside assist will take way too long, he's mad over that, and then tells me their computer system is down and when the car gets back there they can't do anything about it today but he will make it a priority for Monday morning and will have the loaner I just dropped off ready for me.
Ok, tow driver gets there and hooks up the charger to battery, it now works. It gets on the rollback and off we all go to the dealer which is just a few minutes down the road. Get up there and the loaner is ready so DH can take it back up there to pick up mine when it's done. I'm told it will be made a priority for first thing Monday morning with needed parts overnighted in if any need to be ordered - I tell him that's all fine and dandy but I'm leaving tomorrow.
So now I have to take my Rover to FL, good thing we have the extra car, and DH gets to worry about the Mini being done by the time he leaves early Sat. morning or possibly Friday night.

So all this ordeal has set me back about 6 hours of doing things that need to be done before I leave in the morning. I'm only on here because I needed to take a few minutes to get this out of my system (sorry all) before I broke down and

Thanks for letting me get this out of my system.

 

[cruisin'Mike]

If you are flying in to Gatwick and using train to London and then to port, i would suggest London bridge and Victoria areas for best connections.

Basically there isnt any no go areas, its just how you 'connect up; and whats your preferences.


For Heathrow, Paddington area most likly will be best for example, but Earls court, Piccadilly area would be fine.


For people who do not want to pay sky high prices in the central part of London, places such as Croydon, might be good, not far from Gatwick, on major train routes to Victoria and London bridge, non stop every 10 mins, takes 17 mins in, and on the Oyster travelcard zones so no extra cost.

Shopping try Regent street Marble arch Oxford street area, posh end Mayfair and Strand,

The Victoria area is good - good public transport connections & walkable to a very large number of major attractions. Numerous (often family run) B&Bs & gueset houses. If you are up for theatre, Wicked is showing at Victoria. I'm fairly sure there are a few others staying in that area & it's easy to pick up from!!! More central around thE London Eye, but you'll pay more because of the location

Celestine

Celestine and Andrew, Thanks for letting us pick your brains and sharing your expertise with us. It's a big help!

This one has an interactive element kinda neat

http://www.somewheretogo.co.uk/central_london_attractions.html

Very cool. Thanks for sharing!

 

[Madisonznana]

Harrod's ships so you don't have to worry about not being able to fit things in your suitcase. Not that I would know anything about that.

I wish I would have shipped When US Air lost our luggage some of the things that were missing were things we bought at Harrods.

 

[Madisonznana]

Thanks for all the input on laundry. I decided I am just going to overpack again!

 

[Madisonznana]

Not off to a good start. Last night I came to check the boards and they were down. Finally got confirmation yesterday at 4:45 my Mini was done, too late to head up there to pick it up with Friday summer traffic. DD & I head up there this morning to get it, all is well. We make a couple of stops, grab a bite to eat, go to Bed, Bath & Beyond go to back out of the parking space and notice something is not right, go to put it in first gear after I get out of the space and the gear shift is very strange feeling and it stalls out on me, tried again and somehow managed to limp over to the fire lane when I notice the I can move the gear shift freely without pushing in the clutch - major problem there. Call the dealer and he says to call roadside assistance, call them after 45 minutes with them they tell me it's going to be another 1hr 40min - 2½ hours before they can get a tow truck out there, it's already 1:20 at this point. I call AAA and they can send someone out within the hour - good AAA coming, call back roadside asst. and cancel them. Now in the meantime the battery has gone dead and I haven't been running the stupid car and it starts to rain - at least there's enough power to put the windows up. Call DH wake him up to come up and get us and tell him what's going on. In the meantime I notice the battery on my phone is just about dead - oh great, what else can happen?!? Security finally comes over to me after he sees us sitting there for over 1 hour, I tell him and he's fine with that and can't believe how my day is going. Call the dealer back and tell them AAA is towing me in since their roadside assist will take way too long, he's mad over that, and then tells me their computer system is down and when the car gets back there they can't do anything about it today but he will make it a priority for Monday morning and will have the loaner I just dropped off ready for me.
Ok, tow driver gets there and hooks up the charger to battery, it now works. It gets on the rollback and off we all go to the dealer which is just a few minutes down the road. Get up there and the loaner is ready so DH can take it back up there to pick up mine when it's done. I'm told it will be made a priority for first thing Monday morning with needed parts overnighted in if any need to be ordered - I tell him that's all fine and dandy but I'm leaving tomorrow.
So now I have to take my Rover to FL, good thing we have the extra car, and DH gets to worry about the Mini being done by the time he leaves early Sat. morning or possibly Friday night.

So all this ordeal has set me back about 6 hours of doing things that need to be done before I leave in the morning. I'm only on here because I needed to take a few minutes to get this out of my system (sorry all) before I broke down and

Thanks for letting me get this out of my system.

Calm down, we here for you to vent and drive carefully!!

 

[jilljill]

Calm down, we here for you to vent and drive carefully!!

Thanks. We will drive carefully, at least we only have to drive to VA tomorrow and will finish the rest of the drive on Monday. But now my gas bill will be double or a little more, that's what upsets me the most.

 

[jlawall]

Thanks for all the input on laundry. I decided I am just going to overpack again!

Me 2

 

[jlawall]

Thanks. We will drive carefully, at least we only have to drive to VA tomorrow and will finish the rest of the drive on Monday. But now my gas bill will be double or a little more, that's what upsets me the most.

Safe travels!!

 

[jilljill]

Thanks JoAnn. Also I've been meaning to tell you, most of the flowers are still living - I can't believe it.

 

[jlawall]

Thanks JoAnn. Also I've been meaning to tell you, most of the flowers are still living - I can't believe it.

Well, maybe that's a blessing and good luck!

I'm a little sad tonight. I just found out that our school secretary has passed away. She left behind 4 daughters and lost her second battle with cancer today..........please keep her husband and children in your prayers today........