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 GENERAL INFORMATIONON TRAVEL TO BRITAIN

It is our wish at Elsie from England that youhave the most enjoyable, stimulating, yet relaxing and anxiety-free holiday inBritain.  Toward this end, we offerinformation, tips and some advice (in alphabetical order) that we trust you willfind helpful before and during your trip.

BANKS:

Mostbanks are open from 9.30am to 3.30pm, Mon. to Fri. and some are open for a fewhours on Saturday.  Bureaux deChange are found in travel Agencies, larger department stores, some post officesand close to many larger hotels.  Theyare often open evenings (at airports, they are normally open 24 hours), but youshould check the exchange rate as well as commissions and/or less fees inadvance.

BANK HOLIDAYS:

Officialpublic holidays, originally so called because banks closed on such days.  There are eight bank holidays in Englandand Wales (Scotland's vary slightly): New Year's Day, good Friday, EasterMonday, the first and last Mondays of May, the last Monday in August, Christmasand Boxing Day (which is the day after Christmas).

BED & BREAKFASTS: 

Elsiefrom England pioneered the concept in Bed & Breakfast accommodations,although in London, we often suggest accommodations in hotels.  As Bed & Breakfast establishmentshave continued to upgrade their facilities to add ensuite private baths,telephones, TV's etc, their rates have increased, although they are still lessexpensive than hotels.  Regardlessof rates, the opportunity for friendly interchange with the B&B proprietorsand their other guests provides a unique travel opportunity.  Bed & Breakfasts should be booked in advance and prepaidprior to arrival.                                                                                                                                                   

CAR RENTALS:

Ifyou want to rent a car in Britain, do so BEFORE you depart the US.  It is much more expensive to rent a carwhile in Britain, and if you wait until you get there, the model and size youdesire may no longer be available.  Mostcar rental companies will not rent you a car if you are under 21 or 25 and over70.  Unless you are a very tinyperson traveling alone with no luggage, do NOT rent a "small" car or a"mini".  Average travelerswith average luggage will require at least a compact or one category up from the"small" car.  If you'renot used to driving on the left side rent an automatic as it takes enoughconcentration to keep on the left without the added distraction of shifting withthe left hand.  Although CollisionDamage Waiver insurance may add to the rental charges, it is stronglyrecommended.  Some "gold"or "platinum" credit cards offer free CDW coverage overseas for up to15 days, so check this first before you decide to purchase CDW coverage from thecar rental company.

CURRENCY:

Thereare 100 pence to the pound sterling, and notes of 50.00, 20.00, 10.00 and 5.00come in different colors.  You mayfind 1.00 pound notes in Scotland and whilst these are generally acceptedeverywhere, you should change them to 1.00 pound coins before you leaveScotland.  Coins are issued in thefollowing denominations: 1 pound, 50, 20, 10, 5 and 2 pence, and 1 penny.

CUSTOMS INFORMATION:

Youmay take duty-free into Britain, the following: 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars, 2liters of still table wine, plus 1 liter of alcoholic drinks over 22% vol. AndUKL136.00 of other goods (such as gifts, souvenirs, etc.).  You may bring in food that is canned,sealed or packaged, but no fresh produce (meat, fish, fruit, vegetables or dairyproducts).  Sealed meat products arelimited to 1 kilo or 2.2 lbs.  Notpermitted at all, are drugs, weapons, indecent material and threats to healthand the environment.  Any arrivingpassenger into the UK may be asked some questions to protect against thesethings.  Cordoue hôtelsFor questions concerningspecific items or for up to date information, contact HM Customs and Excise, NewKings Beam House, 22 Upper Ground, London SE1 9PJ, Tel: 011 - 44 - 171-620-1313.

DISABLED TRAVELERS:

Britainhas many facilities and accommodations suitable for the disabled.  Complete information may be obtainedfrom: Holiday Care Service, 2 Old Bank Chambers, Station Road, Horley, SurreyRH6 9HW.  Tel: 011 - 44 -293-774-535. Fax: 011 - 44 - 293-784-647.  IfElsie from England is planning an independent itinerary for you and you need toaccommodate a disability, please advise us as soon as possible so that the rightBed & Breakfast or hotel may be booked for you.

DOCUMENTS:

Ifyou are an American citizen, all you'll need is a valid US passport, and a roundtrip ticket, or a ticket for departure from the U.K.  If you are not an American citizen,please call the closest British Consulate to you for entry requirements.  No visas or inoculations are required.  HINT: Visit your doctor prior todeparture, and if you are taking prescription drugs, have a copy of theprescription with its generic name together with a note from your doctor, incase you need a refill enroute.  Visityour dentist - nothing can ruin a holiday faster than a nagging toothache.  Remember that Britain's National HealthService can be used only in emergency cases, and even then, it may not be free.  Check your health insurance policy tosee if it covers you when you're out of the country.  If it does not, Elsie from Englandoffers inexpensive health coverage for the period of your trip.

DRIVING IN BRITAIN:       

Britainis a compact country with a good road and motorway system.  It is therefore easy to get around bycar if you are willing, and remember, to Keep Left.  Because of this added complication, werecommend that you rent a car with automatic transmission, as you do not needyet another distraction of shifting with the left hand.  Road numbers and destinations areclearly signposted and even small country roads are well surfaced.  inn reservation HeraklionWhile it is faster to go on themotorway, you will miss much of the real Britain that is found on small rurallanes leading to charming, hidden-away villages. A valid US driver's license can be used for up to 12 months in Britain.  Seat belts are compulsory for driver andpassengers.  There are severepenalties for driving while intoxicated.  Asin the US, you should not drink and drive. Unless otherwise indicated, speed limits are 30MPH in urban or built-upareas, 60MPH on single carriageways and 70MPH on dual carriageways andmotorways.  Gas (or Petrol) costsapproximately UKL2.58 for leaded, UKL2.34 for unleaded premium and UKL2.50 forsuper unleaded, per British Imperial Gallon, which is equal to the 1.2 USgallons.  Driving on the left meanskeeping the center line of the middle of the road NEXT to the steering wheel.  Alwayslook RIGHT when setting off and overtake on the RIGHT.  Give way to the right on roundabouts(traffic circles).  Traffic comingfrom the right has the right of way and you must yield.  One advantage of roundabouts is that ifyou're not sure of the exit, you can keep going round and round until you AREsure.  In Britain, major roads havepriority over smaller roads.  Awhite line painted across the road means stop and give priority to the majorroad ahead.  Finally, rest stops arenot as common in Britain as in the US, and if you stop at a restaurant or cafto use their toilet facilities, you will be allowed to do so only if youpurchase a meal or coffee, etc.

ELECTRICAL VOLTAGE:

Thestandard voltage throughout the country is 240v AC, 50 HZ.  A three square-pronged adapter, and/orconverter is needed on your appliances for use in Britain.  If you purchase a video tape in Britain,make sure that it is clearly marked NTSC (not PAL), as only NTSC is designed foruse in America.

HOTELS:

Youshould book a hotel in London BEFORE you arrive.  Demand for London hotels always exceeds the supply and youshould reserve at least the first two nights after your arrival.  London hotel rooms are notoriouslysmall, so limit your luggage. In all the years that we have been doing businessin London, we have yet to find a good cheap hotel in London. Inexpensive Londonhotels are generally dreary, so this may not be the area in which to economise.  Elsie from England has access tothousands of hotel rooms in London at every rate category; however, there havebeen many times when we were unable to find one single room anywhere in London.  Plan ahead, and do not tarry.

MONEY:

Youcan take as much money as you want into Britain (in currency or in any form);however, only the pound sterling is accepted for payment.  Credit cards are now widely accepted allover Britain, with the exception of many Bed & Breakfast establishments.  ATM machines are also now more availableall over Britain.  We suggest thatyou purchase pound sterling Travelers Checks prior to departure, for safety andconvenience.  Most large banks inmajor cities have them available. 

POST OFFICES:

Generallyopen 9.00am to 5.30pm, Mon. to Fri. and 9.00am to 12.30pm on Saturdays.

PUBS:

Pubsare convenient places for quick, inexpensive meals; however, their hours can betricky and smoking can be a problem if you want a smoke-free environment.  cheap hotels in WindermereMany pubs have now designed their eatingareas as non-smoking, but you should check before settling in.  Most pubs open at 11am and close at11pm, and many of them close in the afternoon (3pm to 5.30pm), except on Sundayswhere they many be open only in the afternoons!  If you are traveling with children under the age of 18, bestto also check on the pub's policy concerning under-age children before settlingin.

RAIL TRAVEL:

Railtravel in the UK has much to recommend it. Not only will it relieve you of some of the concerns of driving, but itwill get you to your destination faster and in relative comfort.  Clean restrooms and buffet cars are justsome of the conveniences.  Railservice in Britain is frequent, and if you take advantage of the many railpasses offered by BritRail, it can be a real bargain.  It can also be a wonderful opportunityto meet the locals or other fellow travelers. Elsie from England stocks all the rail passes presently offered byBritRail and can advise you on which one would best suit you.  We also have all the rail schedules inour computer and are happy to give you schedule information if you purchase yourrail tickets and passes from us.  Ifyou're traveling by rail, we can book accommodations that are either withinwalking distance of the station or just a short taxi ride.

RESTAURANTS:

Thereare literally thousands of them everywhere, from inexpensive snack shops to themost epicurean and expensive dining palaces. It is not necessary to break your travel budget on meals and still enjoythe dining experience.  Pubs offergood, basic meals as do the Indian, Chinese, and Italian restaurants you willfind everywhere.  An afternoon/English Tea with all the trimmings is a great meal before theatre or after amatinee.  The many beautiful parksin London and all over Britain are perfect for a store-bought picnic of freshlybaked bread, local cheeses, fruit, and local specialties such as sausage rolls.

SHOPPING:

Shoppingin Britain is a delight, due to its renowned high-quality merchandise such ascrystal and china, woolens, antiques, etc. Many shops are now open 7 days a week and close only during majorholidays such as Christmas and Easter (see section on V.A.T. refunds).  Since shoes and clothes come in bothEuropean and British sizes, it is safest to advise the sales clerks of yourAmerican size and they can quickly calculate the British equivalent.

SUBWAYS:

Referredto by the British as the "Tube" or the "Underground", theyare the fastest, most efficient and least expensive way of getting aroundLondon.  The red double-deck bussesare also good, although not as fast.  AskElsie from England about the London "Travelcard" which entitles you tounlimited use of the subway or bus for a set price.  It will save you a bundle and you'll have one less place toqueue!

TAXIS:

Taxistands are easily visible and accessible at railway stations, airports and otherconvenient pick-up points.  Rememberto queue.  In London, Edinburgh andother major cities, you may hail taxis from the street if the "taxi"or "for hire" sing is illuminated. All fares are metered.

TELEPHONES:

Thered British phone booth is familiar to most people although there are now manymore in different colors.  Inaddition to coin-operated pay phones, you may also purchase Phonecards at PostOffices and shops displaying the green Phonecard sign.  These are very convenient and saves onefrom fumbling about for coins for each call. If you plan to call home often, call your Long Distance carrier and getthe number to call to access them from overseas.

THEATRE:

BritishTheatre is simply superb - some say, the best in the world, and the best of itis normally found in London.  Bookahead - before leaving the US if possible. London theatres are small and it does not take much to fill them up.  Because they are small, you don'tnecessarily have to book the most expensive seats (called "stalls")for good view.  The less expensive"lower circle" seats offer great viewing for the money, and if yourbudget is really tight, "upper circle" seats are acceptable.  Elsie from England always has a completeand up-to-date list of London theatre performances and can book tickets for you.  If you don't mind what you see and don'tmind spending time waiting in line, you can line up at the Half Price TicketBooth in Leicester Square for tickets at performances that afternoon or evening.

TIPPING:

Serviceis often included in your hotel or restaurant. If it is not, a tip of 10-15% is customary.  For taxis, tip 10%, bellboys 1.00 pound per bag,hairdressers, 2.00 pounds plus 50 pence to assistants.

V.A.T. REFUND (Value Added Tax):

Asa visitor from a non-EC country, you can reclaim VAT (currently 17.5%) on manygoods purchased for export, providing you take the goods out of the E.C. within3 months of purchase.  Look for shopwindow signs advertising  "tax-freeshopping".  When you finallyleave the E.C., take the goods and tax-free shopping form/voucher to the Customsdesk to be checked and stamped, and the goods must be available for inspection.  Directions on where and how to claim therefund will be provided then.

WEATHER:

Britishweather changes quickly and often and it is wise to be prepared for almostanything.  In the last few years,summer temperatures have been higher than the averages, with London temperatureshitting the 80's (F) for weeks at a time.  Hereare the average temperatures based on 1961 - 1990 averages: