Tuesday, October 10, 2023

So, I mentioned in my September Spending Diary that there was a reason that I have been tracking expenses and trying to live a more intentional financial life this year.

As my regular readers know, my college senior Mason is currently studying abroad in England.

So, the news I have for you is…

We (Tom, Jack, and I) have purchased our tickets to join Mason and spend Christmas in the UK!

I am still in the planning stages right now and I know that it is a little bit last minute, but we just weren’t ready to commit to the plane ticket prices until last month.

Here’s where you come in (if you are able to come in)…

I need advice and you all have had some of the best advice and recommendations for me in the past.

I believe we will be visiting Liverpool, York, and London in England and Edinburgh and maybe Glasgow in Scotland.

We are going to do carry on only. Mason will have a big suitcase and I haven’t quite figured out how to work that yet.

I am reading Rick Steves’ books! I got them at the library! He is great!

We are planning to use Airbnb’s. After a disastrous one hotel room situation a couple of years ago, I realize we need a bit of space. I also think a kitchen will be nice because we are not a “eat 3 restaurant meals in a day” kind of family. I also love to visit a grocery when I travel.

We will change where we lay our heads 5 times, I think.

We are not fancy travelers. We enjoy history, art, culture, people watching, eating as the locals do, and not rushing around trying to do and see everything.

I am a little bit worried about planning for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day as far as things being open, but a pub meal would be fine. Worst case scenario, we can eat sandwiches in the Airbnb.

We are not planning to rent a car, but rather planning to use trains and public transportation.

Thank you in advance for any good tips you can give me!

Amy

49 thoughts on “WE HAVE…”

  4. How exciting! Christmas in the UK is magical. I highly recommend attending a London pantomime. It is a hilarious. Also, a visit to the Charles Dickens Museum at Christmas time is another fun Christmas Carol thing to do. Even though it’s a chain, I find myself making multiple visits to Pret a Manger. It’s fast food but so darn good! The Thanksgiving sandwich is delicious! Have fun!

    Like

    Reply

    1. Thank you! Great tips – this is what I need! I can’t wait to see their chain stores, to be honest. I have read about so many of them and seen them in movies.

      Like

      Reply

  5. That’s amazing and so, so exciting! I have absolutely zero advice for traveling abroad, but it sounds like you’ve got the right ideas. This will definitely be a Christmas you will always remember! How long will you be gone? I have read so many books about how amazing London is at Christmas….I’m so excited for you!

    Like

    Reply

    1. Thank you! When you made the comment a couple of months ago I wasn’t ready to share because I wasn’t sure it would work out. We are going for 9 days. I am nervous, but very excited. I’ve got lots of work to do, but it’s fun work! Thank you for your excitement for me!

      Like

      Reply

  6. Yay!!! What great lifelong memories you will make together 🙂
    No advice – I like my tour groups where ihave to make zero decisions 😉
    Know many of your readers will be able to help you out – can’t wait to hear about it!!!

    Like

    Reply

    1. Thank you – I hope so. This age can also be a bit difficult and travel sometimes brings out the worst in us.
      Pros and cons to tour groups! Ha! I know – so excited that I can read other blog posts!

      Like

      Reply

  8. Yay, that’s amazing! Good on ya!!! You will have a blast! People are so friendly and the scenery is beautiful! I’m quite familiar with London, but that’s it… Airbnb is a good idea and Christmas at the pub sounds lovely! I’m jealous!

    Like

    Reply

  9. I don’t have any advice for you but that sounds like an amazing trip! My daughter’s boyfriend’s mom is from England. The Airbnb sounds like a great idea. Wherever you go be sure to check for bed bugs. We’ve had experience with those critters in Round Rock, Texas 😜

    Like

    Reply

  10. We spent last Christmas in London and Paris and loved it. I won’t tell you things to do because I am sure you will choose things that appeal to your family but I will tell you that LOTS of restaurants close for the holidays for a 2-week break. Having access to a kitchen will be very helpful and I would make reservations now if there are any places you really want to go. I would say almost half of the restaurants we attempted to visit were closed. Places in very touristy areas were open and lots of chairs but we weren’t looking for that. The tube is fabulous so use it as much as you can. I will say that we travel every year at Christmas and have been to some very large cities but never seen crowds like we saw in London last year. If there is something that is really important to you to see or do, I would buy tickets/make reservations as soon as possible. We started making reservations in August last year and there were some options that were already unavailable when we were trying to go. If you have specific questions, I am happy to try and answer anything based on our experiences.

    Like

    Reply

    1. This is really helpful! I am worried about eve day and Boxing Day!
      I’ve looked at meal reservations and they are too fancy for us. The planning is a lot of work! I think I’m making progress though. My biggie was what place to be in on 24th bc we have to stay until 27th due to train!

      Like

      Reply

  11. How exciting!!!!! I’m so glad that you’ll get to share in Mason’s UK experience, especially during the holidays! Please feel free to bounce any ideas off me as you plan. I have been to London, York and Edinburgh. I agree with the previous comment about making some kind of dining reservations for Christmas. The Brits are very serious about restaurant (even pub) bookings, as well as any activities you may want to do. I also agree about seeing a panto. It is such a fun tradition, and every city has a theater that shows one. You can search “panto” on my blog to see the times we have gone. If you do decide on a hotel, Travelodge and Novotel are inexpensive options. So happy for your family.

    Like

    Reply

  12. This is SO exciting! I wondered if you all would visit him! I can’t wait to follow along. I want to go to England so badly! I forget – is Mason there for the semester or the whole year?

    Like

    Reply

  13. What a fun time I have been to London three times and York, Edinburgh and Glasgow once. I absolutely loved Scotland it is so beautiful. Just be sure to see some of the castles in Scotland. York has some wonderful tea rooms and in London, The Tower Of London. So much history there. There is a T.J Maxx in Edinburgh but it has just a bit of a different name. I will look back through some of my travel journals and see if I can come up with anything else. It will be such a magical time at Christmas.

    Like

    Reply
  15. Pingback: Wednesday Wisdom – Coffee and Cocktails at the Casa

  16. Hi Amy,

    I am a long time reader- I enjoy your blog as I am in a similar stage of life and you keep it real! You have inspired me to join WW and I’ve lost 30 lbs so far. You’ve also motivated me to read more, make fun plans with friends and be more intentional with shopping. Thank you! I would be happy to share my knowledge of Edinburgh with you, we just returned two weeks ago after dropping our daughter off there for the fall semester. We wish we could go back at Christmas time like you are, but we definitely enjoyed our time there. Please email me if I can be of help. What a fabulous trip you have planned; it will be a special memory for your family.

    Like

    Reply

    1. Mary, this comment made my day. Can you inspire me to get back on the bandwagon and lose the weight I’ve gained? Oh wow! So your daughter is there just as my son is and what a blessing you could go to drop her off. What is your email and I will email you?

      Like

      Reply

  17. How exciting! If possible, I’d recommend a walking tour in Edinburgh. I’ve done it twice. It’s a great way to learn about the fabulous buildings you’re walking past and the history of it all. Same with the castle and the palace-the tours are great. The White Hart Pub is a good place to eat (not fancy and very old) along with the Tolbooth Tavern. You’ll have a fabulous time!

    Like

    Reply

      1. There are many tours to choose from. We’ve used Sandemans Tours there and other cities and have always had excellent guides. The tours we’ve done are free walking tours and tip based. We also prefer to stay in Old Town vs New Town but they aren’t far apart.

        Like

  18. What a wonderful holiday you are going to have! I’ve been to London several times but never at Christmas. It’s on my bucket list. The underground is quite easy to navigate in London as are the trains into the countryside. If you have the time, the National Portrait Gallery is amazing. It’s in Trafalgar Square along with another art museum. I think both are free. We easily walked all over London and even to Abbey Road. When we were out in the country, my husband had a car (he was working; I was not) so I’m not sure about getting around though I bet the trains will get you close. You can get to Windsor easily from London also. Pub grub is delicious out in the country though I couldn’t tell you about holiday hours as we were always there in the summer.

    Oh, now, I’m really going to need to get my passport renewed so we can go next summer! I can’t wait to read your posts about your trip!

    Like

    Reply

    1. I hope so! I have never been to anywhere in the UK. Thank you for all the recs. I am saving them! You should go ahead and do the passports and you have the luxury of going anytime of year so start watching those prices! You can even drive to Chicago for a direct flight, I bet?

      Like

      Reply

  19. I just got back from London and saw a lot of restaurants advertising Christmas dinner. You might want to think about booking in advance if you’re in London those days. If you’re looking for things to do. I highly recommend Churchill’s War Room and Borough Market. The Christmas Markets will also be going until January. Have a great trip!

    Like

    Reply
  20. Pingback: Friday Faves – Coffee and Cocktails at the Casa

  21. Hello Amy,
    How exciting that you will be headed to the UK for the holidays. There are lots of exciting things to do in London and there is something for everyone.

    On a practical note:
    – It can get really cold in late December and early January. A drafty, humid cold that gets to you. Hence if you travel with a carry-on only, make sure to pack a warm, preferably long coat and waterproof shoes (maybe wear them on the flight. Best to bring a hat as well.
    – On Christmas Day everything shuts down in London. There is no public transport (including taxis). Hence, if you are planning to be in London during this time, try and opt for an area near the parks or around Picadilly Circus.
    – London gets chock-full around Boxing Day and will stay that way until the first week of Jan. Especially the museums, most of which are free, get very crowded.

    On a culinary note:
    – From following along on your blog, I can tell that you’d like a good food market (I do too, I looove to walk around and try different things. I can recommend Borough Market (albeit a bit touristy), the food stalls at Camden Market (dito), Spitalfields Market, Mercato Metropolitano or the food stalls at coal drops yard (on Sundays around lunchtime I believe).

    On a sightseeing note:
    Where shall I start ;)?
    Some of my favourites:
    – Walk along the Thames River from said Borough Market to Waterloo Station
    – Tate Britain (art gallery), lovely section on art from the 1880s/ 1890s
    – Tate Modern (modern art gallery) where the building itself is a wow factor
    – Imperial War Museum (World War One gallery and Holocaust gallery)
    – The Garden at 120 for stunning and free(!) views over London
    – The jewellery section at the V&A museum
    – Hampton Court Palace (if you fancy travelling out of town for a day trip)

    I am sure you’ll have a blast.

    Best wishes, Stephanie

    Like

    Reply

    1. Thank you for so much information! We only have about 36 hours to be in London, but I still think we will make it work. We opted to be elsewhere for the 24th-26th and then plan to travel on the 27th. I think we will mainly see the big sites from the outside but I would love to see Bourough Market and Portobello Rd. Market. I am planning to wear my long coatigan on the plane and take a packable down jacket that packs really small as well as a hat.

      Like

      Reply

Leave a comment