July 6, 2010 - 7/6/2010 ~ Pounds to Rubles ~ Mickey invades the Baltic Sea

[slg]

I was quoted on a one night pre/post for Disney and it is $1398 for a family of 5! We are just not in that income bracket!

The Ramada Dover will give me a family room with two queens and they will let us all stay there for 109 pounds a night and that will include breakfast!

If we book private van that will pick us up at the airport and take us straight to Dover hotel, I can find it for about 170 pounds. Seems convenient and cheap and not much hassle.

The other plus on booking my own hotel is that I don't need to add insurance as I don't need to prepay, they have a 24 hours cancellation policy.

So two nights prestay plus private transfer will cost me 388 pounds for 5 people, around $600 US. A great savings and that will allow us to spend time in London afterwards. Living on the West coast of Canada is an 8 hour time difference, I don't think we will be able to do anything in London before the cruise. Relaxing and puttering around Dover suits me just fine.

Haven't found anything in London for a family of 5 yet, but if someone has some economical ideas let me know.

 

[DadofLostBoys]

We ended up using Priceline to get rooms in London and Barcelona pre-Med Cruise. With 5 of us we had to get 2 rooms/night.

We spent 2 nights in London at the Hilton Metropole which is a few blocks from Paddington Station. I was hoping to get this place when I was bidding and got it for around $80/room/night! The rooms were definately large enough and the 5 of us could have stayed in 1, but one never knows what you get since Priceline only guarantees space for 2.

We really like this hotel and it is huge. Took the train from Heathrow to Paddington and walked. Took about 10 min. to walk with bags (pretty funny sight) Tube entrance was right across the street for easy access to city center and all attractions.

May possibly stay there again for this trip, but might make reservations directly. Using dummy dates (July 09) AAA prices for a Queen Hilton Deluxe Plus (sleeps 4 adults) was US$220/night. Then again, might try Priceline again depending on how prices are as we get closer. If any others stay there at the same time, maybe we can arrange one of those 14-16 pass. van hires?

I was quoted on a one night pre/post for Disney and it is $1398 for a family of 5! We are just not in that income bracket!

The Ramada Dover will give me a family room with two queens and they will let us all stay there for 109 pounds a night and that will include breakfast!

If we book private van that will pick us up at the airport and take us straight to Dover hotel, I can find it for about 170 pounds. Seems convenient and cheap and not much hassle.

The other plus on booking my own hotel is that I don't need to add insurance as I don't need to prepay, they have a 24 hours cancellation policy.

So two nights prestay plus private transfer will cost me 388 pounds for 5 people, around $600 US. A great savings and that will allow us to spend time in London afterwards. Living on the West coast of Canada is an 8 hour time difference, I don't think we will be able to do anything in London before the cruise. Relaxing and puttering around Dover suits me just fine.

Haven't found anything in London for a family of 5 yet, but if someone has some economical ideas let me know.

 

[scottishwee35]

Hello

I am reading cruisecritic about Russia...

I shock that Russia Moscow is very expensive than Paris and Tokyo which I never knew...

I see visa rules for Russia and thought show you ...

Visa rules for St Petersburg cruises

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Russian regulations on visa-free tourism have just been relaxed but unfortunately we still won’t be able to stroll through the town alone. The new law applies to passenger ferries only.

The rules for visa-free travel are set out at www.discoverthebaltic.com/spb/index.htm#visas



I am searching what to do in St Petersburg for us and the kids.. don't sure if book dlc exercusion or private...we wait and see what their plan first...

Scottishwee35

 

[scottishwee35]

I have been in Lenigrad before changing names to St Petersburg...

I must saying that place some beautiful and other not...

People were very gloomy faces and lots of army there that was in 1975...

I know next visit in 2010 woud be different..

I am not sure if we go out on our own... I rather with dlc excursions or private hire with people...

I am not sure if we bring two interpreters with us when we will be in Russia...

I think it best way to be safe side....

Scottishwee35

 

[tinkerbell_29]

I was looking at cruise critic for info about the ports of call and from the sounds of it except for St Petersburg and Berlin they are doable on your own with most having a hop on hop off bus. I think those will be the only two places we will do DCL shore excursions for the rest of them we are going to do on our own and use the money we saved for shopping.

Lissa

 

[OurDogCisco]

Found it...check out this link.http://www.londontoolkit.com/travel/heathrow_dover.htm

What an odd law!

Well... that's weird..

Anyways.. thanks for the link because we wouldn't take the bus because of the travel time involved 4 to 5 hours. That's way too long for our return because I'm hoping to catch the 2 pm flight home. So, if we got off the ship at 8 am and made it to the airport by noon or 1 pm that might be cutting it too close. Also, we'd have to get to the bus terminal from our hotel as well. I think, we'll go with a private car at least for the way back.

 

[DW2DH&DS]

I was looking at cruise critic for info about the ports of call and from the sounds of it except for St Petersburg and Berlin they are doable on your own with most having a hop on hop off bus. I think those will be the only two places we will do DCL shore excursions for the rest of them we are going to do on our own and use the money we saved for shopping.

Lissa

We are lookiing to do the same. Use the HO-HO buses in ports and savr the cash for Russia. As i said before, too, we are skipping Berlin.

 

[scottishwee35]

OK I was thinking about what we wanted to do and see during our pre and post cruise stay. Not knowing exact flight details and when we will get there and when we will have to be back at the airport this is what I have come up with. Let me know what you think.
July 4th: Arrive London. Head to hotel via DCL transfer check in. Depending on time Head to London eye tickets bought ahead of time.
July 5th: Up early see; Changing of the guard, tower bridge, Harrods, and some other places that I marked in the tour book.
July 6th-17th: Cruise
July 18th: Back to hotel hit some of the sites we missed before hand
July 19th Paris tickets on Eurotrain leaving very early and coming back very late. Must See Eifle tour, Notre Dame Cathedral.
July 20th: Afternoon tea at the Ritz reservations already made. Get ready to fly home.
July 21st Fly home

I know were trying to pack a lot in but this is more than likely the only time we will ever be here and want to see as much as we can. Besides what I've mentioned are there any other must sees that I've left out?

Lissa

wow, well organised...

Ritz reservations wow .. lovely...

I had been in Paris only for Disneyland twice and I am still awaiting for my husband to take me to Paris for weekend.....

I think online for booking London eye (I am not sure)...

I would like to see London eye too...

My husband and I often in London but our kids not much so thought take the kids and show things in London... before cruise..

Scottishwee35

 

[scottishwee35]

Well... that's weird..

Anyways.. thanks for the link because we wouldn't take the bus because of the travel time involved 4 to 5 hours. That's way too long for our return because I'm hoping to catch the 2 pm flight home. So, if we got off the ship at 8 am and made it to the airport by noon or 1 pm that might be cutting it too close. Also, we'd have to get to the bus terminal from our hotel as well. I think, we'll go with a private car at least for the way back.

I didn't think that 4 to 5 hours from London to Dover until I read it, I realised but bus might take up to 2 hours 45 mins...

Now we have to think about bus or train from London to Dover....

As we will book return tickets from Scotland to London so have to think about times for coming back...

Scottishwee35

 

[scottishwee35]

We are lookiing to do the same. Use the HO-HO buses in ports and savr the cash for Russia. As i said before, too, we are skipping Berlin.

Hi

Which ports? sorry for asking...

Scottishwee35

 

[tfc3rid]

I purchased transfers to the Port. What airport are the transfers from? I plan on arriving a few days prior to the sailing... Probably leave NY on July 4.

 

[DW2DH&DS]

Hi

Which ports? sorry for asking...

Scottishwee35

Any port that has them. for the 3 of us it would cost under $100 US to use the bus to tour the city!!!Look for a PM from me inthe next day or so!!

 

[OurDogCisco]

I didn't think that 4 to 5 hours from London to Dover until I read it, I realised but bus might take up to 2 hours 45 mins...

Now we have to think about bus or train from London to Dover....

As we will book return tickets from Scotland to London so have to think about times for coming back...

Scottishwee35

I was thinking that was a long time. But the site says 4 to 5 hours travel time. Do you think it is true? I'm wondering if the bus makes stops along the way and that's why it takes longer to travel by bus. Any tips would be great. Thanks. Tina

 

[OurDogCisco]

I purchased transfers to the Port. What airport are the transfers from? I plan on arriving a few days prior to the sailing... Probably leave NY on July 4.

If you don't mind me asking how much did Disney charge for the transfers?

 

[slg]

I'm looking into hotels in Dover now. Its hard to find places that will accommodate 5. I got a good price at the Ramada (109 pounds inc. breakfast) but its kind of far from town to walk so I'm researching further. Waiting on some responses from emails that I sent.

Booked 8 nights in Bayswater London at the Kensington Court Hotel. Its just a B + B really but its in a good location and for a budget hotel has had good reviews. For 70 pounds a night I can't beat it!

Since the Canadian dollar is in the toilet right now, I have to economize wherever I can so I can spend the big bucks on the cruise. The cost is over $15,000 for all 5 of us in a cat.4!

 

[scottishwee35]

I was thinking that was a long time. But the site says 4 to 5 hours travel time. Do you think it is true? I'm wondering if the bus makes stops along the way and that's why it takes longer to travel by bus. Any tips would be great. Thanks. Tina

Tina

I emailed my two friends who lives in London and I will let you know when I hear from them...

Scottishwee35

 

[scottishwee35]

I'm looking into hotels in Dover now. Its hard to find places that will accommodate 5. I got a good price at the Ramada (109 pounds inc. breakfast) but its kind of far from town to walk so I'm researching further. Waiting on some responses from emails that I sent.

Booked 8 nights in Bayswater London at the Kensington Court Hotel. Its just a B + B really but its in a good location and for a budget hotel has had good reviews. For 70 pounds a night I can't beat it!

Since the Canadian dollar is in the toilet right now, I have to economize wherever I can so I can spend the big bucks on the cruise. The cost is over $15,000 for all 5 of us in a cat.4!

I have been searching for hotel for 3 nights and also searching how to get there in Dover too.. Didn't realise that it is hard that I though... I thought travel to Dover from London about 1 hour Didn't realise more than 1 hours opps.

Scottishwee35

 

[kmaclou]

Hi Disers!

Asking for you to keep me in your thoughts tonight. I work at the Circuit City headquarters here in Richmond - CC declared chapter 11 in November and despite our efforts, the economy is making a turnaround difficult. We were put to auction on Tuesday and we find out tomorrow as to whether or not we were bought as a whole entity (which is what we want) or whether or not we will commence liquidating the company. Nearly 33K people will be affected by the court's decision tomorrow, so keep your fingers crossed for us. I know that everything happens for a reason, and eventually it will all work out ok, but life will be a lot easier if I don't have to try to find a new job right now.

Thanks!
Karen

 

[tinkerbell_29]

Karen heres hoping you arent having to find a new job soon. Matt is going through that right now where he worked closed due to little to no business. He has applied for everything but no luck since it seems everyone has frozen hiring . Hopefully the economy will start to turn around soon.

Lissa

 

[scottishwee35]

Karen

I send you the pixie dust and good luck

Scottishwee35