Transcript London Travel Tips - Bentley University

London Travel Tips
Nescell Williams
Pre-Departure
Passport, Visa
Insurance Coverage
Money, Traveler Checks, Credit Cards
Map
Review Travel Itinerary
Things to do on the Plane
Sleep
Homework
Read a book
Play Cards
Listen to Music
Watch the Movie
Money Conversion
 Current Exchange Rates As of Feb 25, 2003, the
exchange rates are:0.6353 United Kingdom Pounds
per United States Dollars 1.5738 United States Dollars
per United Kingdom Pounds
Money (exchange,
commission)
 Exchange and commission rates vary
considerably so it pays to shop around and
even bargain where necessary.
 Commission is sometimes charged for
cashing travelers' checks in foreign
currencies, but not for sterling travelers'
checks, provided you cash the checks at a
bank affiliated to the issuing bank (get a list
when you buy your checks).
 Commission is charged if you change cash
into another currency. You always need
identification, such as a passport, when
exchanging travelers' checks.
Phone
Public Phone Booths still exist
taking us back the wonderful
British TV series of Dr. Who and
the infamous Daleks.Most operate
on phone cards rather than coins.
The cards can be purchased at
most high street confectionary
stores.
Transportation
 Airports: Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and London
Luton.
 Rail: Paris, Lille and Brussels via the Channel Tunnel.
London is also well served by British road and rail
networks.
 Public:
– Tube trains travel to all parts of the city
– traditional London buses, easy to identify, as they
are painted red.
– Open-top buses provide a way of sightseeing whilst
traveling and boats along the Thames are also a
more unusual way to make a journey.
Taxi’s (Black)
Black Cabs
– The most famous are the black cabs and the
others are minicabs. If you do take a minicab
make sure you get the price to your destination
before you get into the cab. Black cabs run on
a meter but there should be a a clearly visible
fare structure in the cab.
– Black cabs, of course, can roam the city
looking for business.
Taxi’s (Mini)
 Mini Cabs
– Mini cabs are just people with cars that work through
an agency. The attraction of a minicab is that they can
be cheaper. However, they are not required to be
licensed, unlike black cabs, and are not required to
pass 'the knowledge' which proves they know their
way around the city.
– Minicabs are not allowed to solicit business. In other
words, you have to actively call them or go to their
office to order one.
Business Tips
 Dress Code
– For business meetings, both men and women wear
suits. Socially, the British tend to have an informal
yet presentable dress code. It is, however,
advisable for men to bring a jacket and tie for
dining out at exclusive restaurants where more
formal dress may be required.
 Greeting
– As in most countries a brief but friendly handshake
is the customary greeting. It is unusual to address
a new acquaintance by a Christian name. If,
however, first name terms are required, it is likely
to be clearly established. It is advisable to simply
be attentive and relaxed.
Business Tips (cont.)
 Business Hours
– Business hours in the United Kingdom vary from
one industry and sector to another but in general,
most office environments will operate between
09.00 and 17.00, Monday to Friday. The majority of
London banks are open between 09.00 and 16.00,
Monday to Friday with some of the larger banks
probably also be open on Saturday mornings.
 Smoking
– The British have neither a positive or negative
attitude towards smoking. Some restaurants may
have a 'No Smoking' policy but most tend to have
areas catering for both those who want to smoke
and those who do not. As far as social etiquette is
concerned, although the issue is far less important
than it is in the United States, it is still best to
smoke in like-minded company.
Arts and Events
 The Lord Mayor's Parade, the
Promenade concerts and Notting Hill
Carnival are just a few of the great
number of spectacular events that
compliment this most famous capital
city.
 London's West End 'Theatreland' is,
along with Broadway, the world's most
famous theater district and the home
of spectacular musicals and events.
Dining
 It is hardly a revelation to announce that one of the
best loved cities in the world is home to an enormous
variety of excellent restaurants, with the finest global
cuisine offered in a multitude of highly original,
imaginative venues. However, it might be a pleasant
surprise to learn that traditional English cooking is as
popular here as its international counterparts. Today's
English restaurants are run by talented, creative chefs
with flair and enthusiasm. A properly prepared roast
beef or a succulent flaky John Dory are as delicious as
any of the world's 'cordon bleu' cuisine. Organically
produced vegetables are sweet and succulent whilst
warming English 'puddings' are unique, divine
creations that were probably designed centuries ago as
an antidote to the not so 'warming' English weather.
Restaurants and
Shopping
http://www.bigcity2day.com/Archi
ve.aspx?Section=1
http://www.london-touristinformation.com/shopping.htm
Tipping
 Tipping in the United Kingdom is
discretionary.
 Taxi drivers will happily accept a ten
percent gratuity.
 One or two pounds is the standard tip
for hotel service personnel such as
luggage handlers and door attendants.
 Service charges are included in some
restaurants and is clearly stated on
menus. However, in most London
restaurants a gratuity of 15 percent is
the norm.
Weather in London
 http://www.worldexecutive.com/cityguides/londo
n/weather.shtml
 British weather is rarely extreme. Temperatures and
cloud coverage change frequently, often daily,
sometimes even hourly and there are few rules that
dominate the weather system. Summers tend to be
moderately warm with occasional hot days and less
rain than other seasons. Winters are usually gray and
wet with some wonderful cool, crisp clear days in
between. Snow is infrequent. In London there is
sometimes thick fog that rolls up the River Thames
and hangs over the city making it very damp and cold.
Visitors are advised to arm themselves against sudden
downpours.
Attractions
British Museum
National Gallery
Tate Britain
Tate Modern
Museum of London
National Portrait Gallery
London Eye
Buckingham Palace
Things to Pack (Do’s)
Electrical Converter
Plenty of film and batteries
Things to Pack (Don’t)
Over pack
Sources
http://www.worldexecutive.com/cityguides
/london/index.html
http://www.london-travel-tips.com/
http://www.bigcity2day.com/default.aspx
http://www.london-touristinformation.com/
 you could have something on coverting money
(should people do it here, there, use travelers
cheques, etc?). In restaurants, do people tip or is
it included in the bill? Should people buy phone
cards in the U.S. if they want to call home or
should they buy something there? Are there
conversion charts (British shoe sizes are different
from U.S.; they are on the metric system, etc.)
people might find useful? Can you get a sense of
the weather in March in England? Should people
avoid taxis? Is there a fixed fee on taxis or should
people negotiate? Did you find any stores or