Hi everyone,

I’m getting a little anxious, I have a trip planned (European Break) leaving Sydney on Friday the 5th of September, with the 21 day tour starting on the 7th of September in London.

It’s a guaranteed departure but I haven’t received any replies on this forum if anyone is going on the same tour. It worries me that even though it’s a guaranteed departure, I get the impression that no one has booked on those dates meaning I will have to postpone or cancel my holiday

So, if anyone has plans to do the same tour that’s the 21 day European Break tour from the 7th September 2008 in London, can you please drop me a line?

Can someone who has been on this trip let me know if it’s a good tour or not.

Thanks, I hope and look forward to hear from you.

Dave

Hi Dave5150

Welcome to the board.

I wouldn't worry if you don't hear back from other passengers that are going on the same tour because not everyone uses the Message Boards. The tour could be completely full and you would still be the only one on here.

The board is very useful for asking questions about travelling though. There is plenty of experience on this board. If you have any questions, let me know.

Kind Regards
TTWeb

TTWeb.

Thankyou for getting back to me. I am looking forward to my holiday (my first in Europe) so its a bit of a nerve racking time for me, it being a new place i have never been to.

Only 4 months to go (not that I am counting down the days, yet)

Hi Dave

Looks like we'll be in London at the same time but I'm doing the Ultimate starting on the 9th!! I get into London on the 5th and travelling by myself as well. It is pretty nerve racking, I agree (first time overseas by myself)but exciting as well. Will you be staying at the Ibis? It seems that most of us doing the tours are.

Elise

Hi Elise, hey wow another first timer to Europe. Yes I will be staying at the Ibis on the day before my tour starts on the 7th.

It was suggested to me that I should do something in London on the day I land. Though I might have to stock up on Red Bull or something similar to stay awake after such a long flight

I was originally going to go to Europe with my sister. For months she kept changing her mind on what we should go and do, eventually she said she couldn’t go. So its me, by myself.

What is the one thing that you are looking forward to seeing?

I think for me it is London itself. I have two days in London before I fly back to Sydney.

Maybe we could get together when we arrive in London and get lost in London somewhere for the day?

Hi Dave

Looks like I got in the same boat as you - I kept trying to talk one of my parents into going with me and eventually I got fed up waiting for them to say yes. It was either now or wait in five years time!! I start a new job soon and even the boss has said fine, I can take the time off.

It would be great to explore London together. What time does your flight get in? I get in the afternoon on the Friday so I'll probably be recovered (hopefully) by Saturday. Red Bulls are a great idea!!

Four months to go!

Elise

Hi Elise,

Well according to my details off my flight centre information, I leave Sydney international airport on Friday the 5th of September and arrive in Heathrow London at around 5.25am on the 6th of September, but I am not certain whether the arrive time is based on the Australian time zone or the UK time zone.

Dave

Hi Dave

Im pretty sure that is their time zone. Most flights seemed to arrive that time in London from Australia from the looks of it. I may have to go to work on the Thursday, which is a bit of a bummer, so I don't fly out till 11 that night and reach Heathrow at 1.30 in the afternoon. I won't have to wait for check in though at the hotel.

Elise

Dave5150 - aircraft departure and arrival times are always given in the local time of the arrival and departure points. Therefore it will be 5:25 am in the UK when you arrive at Heathrow.

Hi Elise and RR2. Thank you for the clarification on times in Australia and the United Kingdom.

I am according to their website, Virgin Atlantic flight VS201, leaving at14:25 Sydney
(Kingsford-Smith) Fri 05 SEP and arriving at 05:25 London (Heathrow) Sat 06 SEP

Duration: 24hrs, 0mins


Elise, may I ask you what your flight detail’s are?

Elise, hmm reaching Heathrow at 1.30pm is a bummer which will probably mean best case scenario that you won’t get to the Ibis until 3.00pm at the earliest; I’ll have to have Red Bull on stand-by. When will you if you have to work on the Thursday or not, I would be (if it was me) asking for the day off. Not quite sure what that'll mean us getting together for the day, but my tour doesn’t start till the 7th so there may still be the opportunity to meet up.

At least to see the face of a fellow countryman.

Dave

I will have to get out the world map; I have to find where Antipodes is situated

24 hours !! That's because it's all uphill to the UK. You should see how fast it is returning to the antipodes !
November 2006, the journey from NZ to Bristol UK took me 44 hours. But that was because of connections to flights, and because I wanted to arrive in Bristol, and avoid Heathrow.
Doubtless I could have worked it better had I had the time. But I was trying to get to Mum before she passed away.

Hi Dave

My flight leaves at 11.00pm from Tullamarine on the 4th (Thursday) and gets in to Heathrow at 1.30pm on the Friday 5th. That means (I think) I will be there before you. You will just be leaving Sydney when I arrive at Heathrow!!

So it will still be possible to catch up.....

Elise

Hi Elise,

I wish I could write off last week, things are so hectic here where i am at the moment, birthday's, family functions and where i work the end of the financially year will soon be upon me , I need a holiday.

One seriously question though. How much money should I bring, and whats a good budget for a 3 weeks in Europe?

Hi Dave

Im not sure how much exactly. Im paying for all the optionals by credit card so that should be a fair whack of the costs and most of them do include dinner/lunch. I was planning on taking $2000 ($1,200 Euros) but people are telling me that's not enough for 5 weeks. I have no intention of going over and buying loads of clothes etc so their prioritis are probably different I know that I went on a three and half week tour of Central Australia last year and people were buying loads of stuff and I brought nothing. So I guess its what you want.

Elise

With just on two months now before I fly out. I have paid off my tour, the spending money saving is well under way, and a few needed traveling items needed have been purchased ie a decent set of boots.

Hey Elise (SoloT) are you still interested in getting together when i land in London on the 6th of September, I wanted to contact you by email, but I didnt think you would want to share out your email address on the forum. Is there a way i can contact you without the whole world knowing your email address??

Dave.