TTTT: Packing Tip - Admit You're Going to Buy Things and Be Prepared

When we travel, I like to shop for people. I recently picked up an adorable baby outfit in Paris for a baby shower I had been invited to. I like to buy German chocolate and other candy to share when we get home. I pick up small trinkets like Christmas ornaments or accessories for myself. My sons like neckties for church so I will try to find one that has regional meaning to it. And, of course, t-shirts - we're always buying t-shirts. Sometimes I get a special request from someone because stuff from the Harry Potter shop in Kings Cross station is WAY COOLER than your run-of-the-mill HP stuff you can find in the US.

That being said, I can never guess what kind of extra space I'll need because I don't know what I'll find. Early on, we tried the "Just Don't Stuff Your Suitcase Full" method. Well, I have found that if there is space in the case, I will fill it with one more thing (Regina K is guilty of over-packing.....).

Despite our best efforts, we usually found that there just wasn't room to put much in at the end. Besides, I swear my clothes "fluff" in a suitcase. Maybe it's that when you come home, it's all dirty so you practice the "who cares" packing method of pretty much just wadding it all in. And, Mr. Cockfosters is always convinced that he's "not taking much" and will pick his normal sized carry-on but then keep saying things like, "Do you have room for my....."

So, during one trip, we realized that it just wasn't going to all fit. So, we ran to a mall and bought a canvas bag we could check. It changed our life (okay, we lead simple lives where we get excited about simple things). We now have this lovely (it's ugly, but lovely in concept) 18 inch sturdy canvas duffel bag that we take on every trip as our extra stuff bag. Before every trip, I get that thing out and flatten it down and place it in the bottom of my suitcase and then pack all my things on top of it. It takes up almost no space and weighs very little. When we arrive and I start buying things to be brought home, I toss them in the open mouth of the duffel bag. It's a good visual of what I've done so far. I know that if that bag starts to get full, I need to shift the shopping down. If I still have specific things to get, I need to keep space for those. If we have extra space in the end, we take a trip to Marks and Spencer or Waitrose and stock up on candy or other fun things we can share with others when we get home. The bag comes home full every time. However, because it's also canvas and I know what airport luggage handlers do to luggage, it is sometimes stuffed with shoes, dirty underwear and socks (don't worry, we keep the food separated) while we put the Christmas ornaments or more delicate things I might have found into my suitcase in a manner that protects them better.

Now, here is the only word of caution where you just might run afoul of this glorious TTTT; the dreaded flight from London to another European destination.....

We got trapped in that ONCE. I had gloriously shopped my heart out in London at Christmas time. We were flying to Germany and then driving on to France for Christmas markets. I was feeling so smug about my shopping finds and had left room for the treasures I was going to find at the Christmas markets. We were going to come back and check back in to our hotel near Paddington for 2 more days before flying home. As were getting ready to leave with all our luggage, we suddenly had a horrible realization that the duffel bag was going to be stupidly expensive to check-in at the airport and that we already had carry-ons. European Airlines do NOT mess around with carry-on luggage. They don't turn the other way when you try to roll your giant suitcase down the ramp or carry-on 4 bags. And, they pretty much charge you for every bag you check and it adds up fast. We had a similar situation the following year with Regina P and her Mr. Cockfosters - although we were ready for it that time.

So, here were our solutions in both cases. The first year, we had our hotel keep our luggage. We were literally coming back in 4 days. They put up a tremendous fight, though. Their "policy" was to only keep luggage for 2 days. But, come on.... we had a reservation for 4 days later. It's not like we said, "We MIGHT be back". We ended up winning that fight and actually left both the duffel AND Mr. Cockfosters' suitcase there. We pared down our wardrobe and made extra space in the case for purchases. We ended up stuffing our carry-ons with our German and French Christmas Market finds, but it was mostly small trinkets and ornaments - which I had anticipated would be the bulk of our purchases. It worked.

The next year after spending several days in London, we went on to Munich. We knew we would be coming back from Munich with the other Cockfosters and spending the night at a hotel by Heathrow before flying home the next morning. So, we ended up leaving luggage at a service in Heathrow:LINK here. It's cheaper than checking bags on airlines and you don't have to drag EVERYTHING around with you which was handy when we found out our cute little inn in Munich had no lift and we had to carry everything up the stairs.

So, my TTTT (Tried and True Travel Tip) is: Plan for purchases! Don't pretend you won't buy anything. You may not spend much but what you do buy will need space to come home.

Getting Around London: Part 2 - Buses and the Tube

I have a love/hate relationship with the Tube.  It's kind of amazing to me that you can crawl down into a hole at one station and pop up across the city at another.  However, you missed a lot of good bits in between.  It's a way go get around London traffic, but it's also just a way to get around.  

If you are there for a good number of days, think about getting a proper Oyster Card.  They are the plastic cards everyone taps on the yellow pads going in and out of the stations.  They cost £5 to get one, but you can get your money back before you leave (just remember to do it before you head to the airport, there is no way to do it once you get there).  If you are mathy, you can load just the right amount of money on to it for your stay.  However, it probably won't work out completely and you'll have to get back some money when you leave along with your card price.  

Don't get scammed by the on-line "Order a visitor Oyster Card before you leave" game.  It's legit, but you might as well wait until you get there. You can purchase your Oyster Card at any of the Tube stations at Heathrow and load money onto it right there and use it immediately.  You can take the tube into Paddington station, but we prefer the Heathrow Express (doesn't accept Oyster Cards). More on that, later.  

You can pick up an Oyster Card at any Tube Station with a ticket kiosk once you get into London.  Londoners may not be patient behind you so try to find a ticket machine that is less busy.  Regina P and her husband were loading money on to both their Oyster cards on our trip and the man behind them started complaining about it not being rocket science and telling them to hurry up.  He was put in his place when they turned around and said, "We are putting money on TWO cards".  Kindness is a virtue often lost.....

Now, how much do you load on your card?  Good question.  You can actually get a rough idea knowing that there are caps on the daily cost.  But, it's not entirely possible to just go with that simple math because you don't know what mix of transport you'll take each day.  Not to worry, you can get your refund at the end, but as part of your travel budget, you don't want to load too much on your card and tie it up.

First - it doesn't cost you a fee to load money on your card.  Although, you will incur any foreign transaction fee your credit or debit card might impose.  But, TFL (Transport for London) doesn't charge you to add money so you can top it up all the time.  USE THE SAME CREDIT OR DEBIT CARD each time.  Otherwise, the system may not be able to refund your money and will have to mail you a check in British Pounds that you'll have to figure out how to deposit.  

Second, the most you will pay to travel on the Tube each day is £6.80.  That's JUST for the tube and it's JUST for Zone 1 and 2 which is pretty much anywhere you'll go in London.  The single fare is £2.40 or £2.90 so after 3 trips, you are no longer charged for the day.   For the buses and trams, the daily cap in London is £4.50.  That means you will  only "pay" for the first 3 trips.  After that, your card will cease to have money taken off.  Also, you can use the buses for an hour on ONE touch in for free.  You can jump on and off any bus for a whole hour before you are charged again.  

So, math it up!  If you intend to take the tube all day, you'll need about £7 per day you're staying.  However, the bus and tube caps are independent of each other so reaching one doesn't mean you have reached the other.  So, if you intend to mix it up, you'll need more.  If you get on the Thames Clipper boats, your fare will be £6.50 per trip.  So, the safest bet is to put about £20 on at a time and check it occasionally.  

At some stations, when you tap in, you will quickly see your balance displayed on the screen on the turnstile.  Not all stations have it and sometimes you are moving so fast you barely see if.  But, you can always check your balance at the ticket machines.  Just tap the card on the yellow pad and follow the instructions. 

Stuff to Know:  Your Oyster Card WILL get you to Hampton Court Palace (but at a greater cost and caps don't apply so make sure you have money on it).  But, your Oyster Card will NOT get you to Windsor Castle.   Those are common questions people have.  You'll have to buy a train ticket at Waterloo Station to get to Windsor.  

One of my scariest parts of travel is not looking silly on public transport because I don't know how to do it.  Believe me, you are not going to find many people with patience as you clog up the queues.  It's not hard, but you want to fit into the flow and go!  








So, stay with me - I'm going to make you a pro:

1. Approach the turnstile WITH YOUR CARD ALREADY IN YOUR HAND (I promise if you stop and try to dig it out at the point that you risk a public execution).  
2. Tap it on the round yellow pad.
3. Wait for the gate to open and slip through without dawdling because I guarantee you that someone is about to touch the pad again with their own card.  
4. Keep that card handy - like in your pocket because you'll need it at the end.  
5. Take the escalator down to your platform, but FOR THE LOVE OF HER MAJESTY AND ALL THAT IS STILL IN TACT ON YOUR BODY, STAND TO THE RIGHT unless you intend to walk quickly down the stairs.  Never, ever get on with your people and clog up with escalators by standing side by side talking about what time you're going to get on the London Eye.  
6. Get on your train - if you don't know which direction to get on, stop and look at the map but keep yourself close to the wall while you read the stations. The maps are usually located at the junctions between this platform going THAT direction and the other platform going the OTHER direction.  
7. Get off your train and run with the salmon upstream to the exit.  Dig your card out of your pocket on the endless escalator because you will need it to get out of the station.  Tap out and go through the turnstile.                          

I love this guy's video on using Oyster Cards and transportation!  

I love riding the bus in London.  I mean, who doesn't want to get on a red double-decker bus???  So iconic!  

Riding the bus is quite easy AND you literally get your own sightseeing tour because you're above ground.  But, you are also subject to London traffic so sometimes it's not the quickest option.

Bus riding is EASY!  

1. Find your stop and, if necessary and if no one else has, wave your hand when you see your bus approaching so they know to stop.  
2. Get on and tap your Oyster card on the yellow pad (often you'll get a chance to see your balance right there)
3. Find a seat - upstairs is the best view.  But, once that bus starts moving, you will be tossed about so HANG ON.
4. When you approach your stop (as seen on the screens in front or announced), press the button ONCE (unless you've already heard it go off, then you're fine - it's not a poll to see how many need to get off).
5. Exit through the SIDE DOORS ONLY.  No need to tap out.  Don't dawdle down the stairs, people are getting on and trying to get UP them.

Remember, you can hop back on and off as many times as you can in an hour for the same price as your first tap (but, you still must tap in each time).  It's great if you just want to pop into a shop and then go someplace else.  It's also great if you want to just see the sights.  Route 15 is the most scenic route in London.  It hits a lot of the highlights.  

Now, here's my BEST TIP for London Transportation.  However, you will need a working cell phone.  T-Mobile offers you free data and texting in London without an extra charge.  It works PRETTY GOOD, although I feel like I'm not prioritized when it comes to tower access because it's not a UK carrier so it can be clogged and slow at times.  But, get yourself the City Mapper app.  It's literally the best thing I've ever used.  It shows you buses and tubes in real time.  It tells you where to catch them, where to get off and how long it will take you.  There is even a rain option on the driest way to get to your destination.  I even use it to navigate when I'm walking because it shows me the way I'm walking and doesn't have the same confusing arrow that turns in circles like Google Maps does.  It also has GETT and Uber capabilities as well as their own new Smart Ride.  Fun Fact: It's for many other world-wide cities so it's a win no matter where you are.  SERIOUSLY, GET THIS APP!  

When you are leaving London, you can get a refund for your Oyster card deposit and any money left over on the card.  CLICK HERE for instructions and tips.