US-UK Questons

[DjdBrit]

As an ex-pat living in the US and I looking for advice on visiting England. I already book my WDW trip for the end of August 2012 so I expect to see plenty of you then!

I REALLY want to visit England next year and am looking for advice on flights. We are a family of 5 and I cannot find flights out of Boston for under $5,500 for next summer which just seems insane! I know the Olympics is going on which isn't helping but I that just seems like silly money to fly and then add the extra cost of living its CRAZY!!!!!


I will be travelling with my 11 year old son who has asthma, last time he went to England I brought his nebulizer with me which he needed. However the first time I plugged it in it died due to the voltage being higher. Any ideas on a solution for this? I tried to get my Old Doctors in England to allow me to borrow or use an nebulizer there but they wouldn't have it. I don't need the medicine just a machine..... any ideas?

 

[wayneg]

Unfortunately £700($1100) is the norm now for summer flights. Not sure how it is for getting to the UK but for us getting to the US indirect are around £700 and direct £800-900pp.
There has been offers on from around £400 indirect but they have ended now.
I know nothing about Boston to UK but all I can suggest is keep trying as many times a day and as many sites as you can, hopefully you will spot a deal or misprice.

 

[flortlebap]

Can you buy a spare from your us doctor? Not sure how the health service works there

As for flights, could you postpone to september when it's cheaper? Although I'm not sure why you want to come back

 

[irisheyes123]

Can you get a travel nebulizer I needed one a few years ago and got a travel one as it was compact and came with a few different plugs also came with a cigarette thing for the car When it was charged it lasted a few days

 

[DjdBrit]

Can you buy a spare from your us doctor? Not sure how the health service works there

As for flights, could you postpone to september when it's cheaper? Although I'm not sure why you want to come back

I have a nebulizer right now but I think the same thing will happen it cannot cope with the UK power, even though an adapter its too much.

Due to school I cannot wait until september, my kids should be out of school the 3rd week in June for aound 12 weeks so I have plenty of dates to play with just cannot get the $$$$$ to work

 

[DjdBrit]

Can you get a travel nebulizer I needed one a few years ago and got a travel one as it was compact and came with a few different plugs also came with a cigarette thing for the car When it was charged it lasted a few days

I will have to ask if I can get a travel one though our insurance. Where did you get it from?

My only other option is see if I can find a relative or friend who has one in England that I could borrow, but from what I understand the British Doctors don't give them out too much.

 

[chmurf]

for the nebulizer you'll need a step down power converter/transformer

it will step the 220v down to 110v and allow the device to run properly

check the power requirements to choose the correct adapter (watts) and check that the nebulizer can run off 50Hz instead of US' 60Hz

a step down converter can be acquired from amazon (for example) for under 15 bucks
http://www.amazon.com/Simran-SMF-200-Converter-International-Blackberry/dp/B000W9DJ1Q
the one above is an example for a 200W converter, make sure your nebulizer does not use more power, and if so, go for a bigger adapter
this one seems correct too http://www.amazon.com/Simran-International-Converter-Countries-SM-1875/dp/B000W91XBO/ref=pd_cp_e_4

you'll also need to make sure the plugs can fit UK sockets which are different from US ones, but I guess you knew that already

 

[WiganTony]

Have you tried this site ? It may be worth using the search nearby airports option to look for cobbecting flights into Manchester and Birmingham rather than Heathrow.

Just had a quick look and found Icelandair from Boston to Manchester via Keflavik at $4,900 for 2A and 3 youths out on June 7th, returning June 20th, although note that Icelandair only operate certain days to/from Manchester.