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

[slg]

I have 3 boys also, which is why its so expensive. There's some really good planning sites that I've found...I don't have the address right now but will hunt it down for you later.

We're going to go for Dover for a few days before, and then London for a week or so afterwards. I've booked my hotel in Dover and B+B in London already.

Train is cheaper and faster, but more of a hassle than the bus. The bus is the cheapest, but still debating on whether we might just take the private van taxi for ease. Transpo from Heathrow to Dover is about 190 pounds for all of us-you too I guess.

Bus is less than half of that.

Found a family room at the Best Western in Dover which is right across from the Pier for 118 pounds a night including a full breakfast. Location is good. Reviews are mixed, but we're going for location, price and ease.

How old are your boys?

 

[Fivepin]

I have 3 boys also, which is why its so expensive. There's some really good planning sites that I've found...I don't have the address right now but will hunt it down for you later.

We're going to go for Dover for a few days before, and then London for a week or so afterwards. I've booked my hotel in Dover and B+B in London already.

Train is cheaper and faster, but more of a hassle than the bus. The bus is the cheapest, but still debating on whether we might just take the private van taxi for ease. Transpo from Heathrow to Dover is about 190 pounds for all of us-you too I guess.

Bus is less than half of that.

Found a family room at the Best Western in Dover which is right across from the Pier for 118 pounds a night including a full breakfast. Location is good. Reviews are mixed, but we're going for location, price and ease.

How old are your boys?

How did you book so fast. I was on Orbitz and found the Best Western in Dover listed, but I couldn't book that far ahead.

We're debating on the transport over. Is it going to be ease over price?

My boys are 5,7,9. My mom think the 2 are too young, but I can't go with one and not the other 2. That's why we have the Double Dip cruise booked. We were just on a cruise last October, and they didn't want to get off at any ports. I don't want to pay all that money, and all they want to do is stay on the ship.

Where are you from?

Are you doing excursions on your own as well?

 

[slg]

I emailed the hotel directly...then I called and spoke with someone. They were super nice! I booked in Feb. Family rooms accomodate 5 I've just emailed places directly and asked prices and things.

Definitely book the airfare on your own, you will save loads!

My boys are 13, 10, 7, but will be a year older next year. We travel a lot, and they have a wonderful time. I don't think they are too young at all! I've been travelling with my boys since they were babies! A disney cruise is the perfect opportunity for them to see Europe!

I don't give the boys the option to stay on the boat, and we have picked excursions with them in mind. We will probably do excursions with DCL, but don't know yet. Right now we're planning for our summer 2009 adventure, so we'll see what DCL offers. For sure we will do Russia with DCL and may do all just for ease.

Since we're planning a long trip, the rest of the trip is a la cheap and London is easy to get around.

Our B+B in London is also a family room and is 70 pounds a night...the Kensington Court Hotel Bayswater. It is only a 2 star, but has had good reviews and is in a good location, and accomodates 5, which saves us a lot of money!

We are from Victoria BC Canada!

I'd recommend you take your kids, you will regret it if you don't I think.

This year we are going to Portugal on our own for and Ireland with Adventures by Disney! Can't wait!

(Might do a trip to Disneyland in December. I'm missing Disney right now. The kids would rather go to Hawaii but we went there last December and it costs a lot more!)

 

[gydell]

For all of you looking for a way from the London area to Dover this might be some help - http://www.silverlinetravel.co.uk/index.htm

They are charging us 175 pounds to pick us up at the airport, take us to London, and then come get us and take to Dover and then after the cruise back to the airport. There are 5 of us so we are getting a mini van.

 

[slg]

Gydell:

How did you get the 175 pound price for 5? Have you contacted them yet? I looked at the prices on their website and I couldn't make it work to 175.

Our family of five is doing the same thing you are but backwards: airport-dover-london-airport. If we could get all that for 175 pounds, we would ditch the bus,train idea and go for that.

Please let me know! I'm crazy about planning!

 

[Fivepin]

For all of you looking for a way from the London area to Dover this might be some help - http://www.silverlinetravel.co.uk/index.htm

They are charging us 175 pounds to pick us up at the airport, take us to London, and then come get us and take to Dover and then after the cruise back to the airport. There are 5 of us so we are getting a mini van.

Thank you so much for the info. I'm really going to start planning this once the kids are out of school. I'll have more time then...so I think. Just hoping the exchange rates get better.

 

[Fivepin]

Gydell:

How did you get the 175 pound price for 5? Have you contacted them yet? I looked at the prices on their website and I couldn't make it work to 175.

Our family of five is doing the same thing you are but backwards: airport-dover-london-airport. If we could get all that for 175 pounds, we would ditch the bus,train idea and go for that.

Please let me know! I'm crazy about planning!

I thought I liked to plan ahead, but you guys have got me beat.

 

[gydell]

Gydell:

How did you get the 175 pound price for 5? Have you contacted them yet? I looked at the prices on their website and I couldn't make it work to 175.

Our family of five is doing the same thing you are but backwards: airport-dover-london-airport. If we could get all that for 175 pounds, we would ditch the bus,train idea and go for that.

Please let me know! I'm crazy about planning!

I e-mailed them and told them what I was doing and when and asked for a quote. They responded with that amount which sounded good so I booked it.

 

[slg]

Do you have your flights yet? I haven't booked airfare yet, so I don't know exact dates or times yet.

175 pounds is the cheapest price I've heard of for taxi service! I've seen 190 from heathrow to dover only, but for all three legs, that is a bargain!

If I can book without the details yet, I'll certainly do it.

Did you have to pay anything yet?

 

[gydell]

Do you have your flights yet? I haven't booked airfare yet, so I don't know exact dates or times yet.

175 pounds is the cheapest price I've heard of for taxi service! I've seen 190 from heathrow to dover only, but for all three legs, that is a bargain!

If I can book without the details yet, I'll certainly do it.

Did you have to pay anything yet?

I told them the flight times that we are hoping to get and that they might change. No money down.

 

[denise]

Back from Disneyland...we had a great time
Now it is time to get down to business and plan the cruise!!!
Here is a pic of my DH and DD in the front row on California Screamin..

It is just taking off.....

 

[scottishwee35]

Do you have your flights yet? I haven't booked airfare yet, so I don't know exact dates or times yet.

175 pounds is the cheapest price I've heard of for taxi service! I've seen 190 from heathrow to dover only, but for all three legs, that is a bargain!

If I can book without the details yet, I'll certainly do it.

Did you have to pay anything yet?

Maybe July is more expensive as June is cheaper month? just a thought...

Same with rail more expensive in July/August because school period...

Scottishwee35

 

[denise]

I called American Airlines yesterday about using my miles for the flight and they explained they have changed things and you can book one way tickets with miles now. Sure changes things...it's exciting. No more open jaw tickets to gateway cities...
Where to go before the cruise??? Out comes the map and let the planning begin!!!!

 

[DW2DH&DS]

I called American Airlines yesterday about using my miles for the flight and they explained they have changed things and you can book one way tickets with miles now. Sure changes things...it's exciting. No more open jaw tickets to gateway cities...
Where to go before the cruise??? Out comes the map and let the planning begin!!!!

That's awesome...too bad American Express doesn't partner with American. We were going to use Virgin Atlantic miles, but they want over $1600 in fees along with the miles. Might as well pay for the tickets at that point. Back to exploring more options.

 

[goingsouth]

I called American Airlines yesterday about using my miles for the flight and they explained they have changed things and you can book one way tickets with miles now. Sure changes things...it's exciting. No more open jaw tickets to gateway cities...
Where to go before the cruise??? Out comes the map and let the planning begin!!!!

this works out well for us. we did not have enough for 4 r/t tickets, so we will fly inexpensively over with aer lingus and back on AA

 

[CarolAnnC]

Hi everyone! Hope all is well, and you are all enjoying the nicer weather now. We have been busy between Kristen's graduation, and planning for our WDW trip that is coming up.

Still reviewing London information. Just when I settled on a hotel, well I am still now looking at them, lol. Can't believe next month we will be counting down to one more year...

 

[denise]

13 months and counting........

 

[nzdisneymom]

We're three days from Disneyland! I'll be posting a Trip Report when we get back (a pre-trip report is started so I'll have a place to post when we get back). We were talking today about the red-eye flight we'll have coming home and how when we go to London next summer, we're glad we'll have a couple of days before boarding the ship to get acclimated to the time / rest from the overnight flight.

 

[denise]

Have a wonderful time. I'm sure there is something I forgot to tell you....
Can't wait to read about your trip....

 

[tinkerbell_29]

Cindy have a wonderful trip to DL and an early happy Birthday to Nathan. Our cruise and WDW trip is not until the middle of July. I'm sooo ready for a vacation that it can not get here soon enough.

Lissa