Greetings from Suffolk VA! Need travel advice.

[tammyroo]

Hello UK friends,
I am sorry to be intruding to your community board but I was hoping to glean some advice for sending my DS age 16 to the UK this summer. I thought the DIS community would be the best since we share that common love of everything Disney. I don't post often so I hope this is okay.
DS will be traveling to UK, specifically England, with a combined high school chorus (and band). I know they will spend a couple of days in London but most of their time will be in Suffolk Co, England because our two "cities" have a partnership to send youth back and forth each year or so to experience a different culture. City is in quotes because Suffolk Virginia is far from what I or anyone else would call a city.
I have never been overseas (I don't count Jamaica or Panama) and am at a disadvantage for travel tips for teens. Specifically, I would greatly appreciate anyone's input/advice/suggestions for weather/what to pack (...is it really that rainy all the time?...what about the temps?) and what's the best way to ensure he has enough money and won't lose it? I am trying to decide if I should send a pre-loaded card and let him do an exchange in country...should I send some cash (if so Euros, pounds, or dollars) with him and how much would be enough for spending in country for about 10 days? Most of his meals will be included and probably much of the entertainment.
Okay, well I've rambled long enough and hope that you can help.
And, if anyone plans to come to Virginia any time soon, please don't hesitate to ask me some questions.

 

[~Piglet~]

...is it really that rainy all the time?...QUOTE]



Hi, what month is your Son visiting the UK? I've never been to Suffolk but I have been to Norfolk (the next County) lots of times and the weather has always been lovely around that area (through the Spring & Summer months). I am sure there must be some Suffolk Dis'er's who will have more info

I would definitely give your Son some money (pounds) to travel over with, then at least he has currency available straight away, as to how much - how much can a Teenager spend in 10 days?

 

[Mrs Dazzle]

Just wanted to say Hi from the UK.

What a wonderful opportunity for your DS - hope he has a wonderful trip over to here. Suffolk is indeed a lovely county of England, lots of countryside, waterways and wildlife.

You will find that things are expensive over here compared to the US, although with the $ rate as it is it's in your favour! If all his food is taken care of, then really it's just spending money, souvenirs etc. Don't really know how to suggest he looks after his money - or how much he will need - my 16yo DD has only been away on her own on a school trip once, last year to Florence in Italy, and she kept her euros with her and managed to keep hold of them!

With regards temperatures, average temps for England in Augus could range anywhere between 20 and 28 degrees (on a real good day). Rain does feature (we live in hope of a nice summer this year!) so perhaps a lightweight waterproof jacket.

I hope he has a wonderful trip and enjoys our lovely county of Suffolk

 

[tammyroo]

Hi Piglet and Mrs Dazzle
Thanks so much for the input! I'm so glad I thought of this and really appreciate you taking time to post. He's traveling in mid-July....I'm so jealous and he seems so unfazed by it all. So much is wasted on the youth I'm sure he's going to have a wonderful time. I've been looking at photos and it seems absolutely lovely and soooo much history compared to the US. Maybe one day in my golden years I will actually be able to travel to Europe. My DD went to Italy as well (Naples) about 5 years ago when she was 14 and absolutely loved it.

 

[wicket2005]

I would just give him pounds to bring over here and work out a budget for him especially if food is already mostly included. Opportunities to go to a bank to change dollars to pounds may not be frequent which is why I suggest bringing the pounds with him.

It did make me smile when you said 'does it rain all the time over here', it doesn't. The BBC weather website will give you an idea of the weather prior to him leaving. In the summer it can be warm and sunny though it can rain too much the same as it many countries.

I would suggest having some sort of cell phone with him just in case he has an emergency (not that he will just as a precaution) so he can contact his group leaders and you know you can contact him if you need to.

Packing stuff like jeans, teeshirts, shorts, light jacket and a fleece or long sleeved top would be ideal. Plus swimshorts if they are planning to go to any swimming baths. Footwear just trainers.

You could also find a list of words for objects that mean different things over here, eg like french fries are chips, pants are trousers whilst pants are ladies underwear.

 

[Goofyish]

Put together some useful links for you that might help:

http://www.visit-suffolk.org.uk/index.cfm

http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/uk/ee/ee_forecast_weather.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suffolk

http://www.geocities.com/ben_jennie/words.html