UK TRAVEL TIPS
#1: (and my personal favorite!) If you enter a roundabout (and it appears that they abound) and you don’t know where to get out, observe as you continue going around and around, then exit when you are ready.
#2: Driving in the UK can be a true test of a relationship. Newbies to driving on THE OTHER SIDE of the road shouldn’t start out in London. It was also advised that the driver and navigator have a solid relationship that will survive this test.
#3: Nearly everything in Scotland requires booking ahead. Even if you have the NTfS and Explorer Pass that will get into whatever castle, cathedral, etc. for free, you still have to book the time that you will enter. Which leads to tip #4:
#4: Book early. Everything that I’ve seen online says to book 6-8 months in advance. Even restaurants need to be booked well in advance! For our June trip, we booked airplane tickets in September and the prices started going up the 1st of October. By January, 6 months before our trip, seats were still available, but at double the price. Right after we got our plane tickets, we booked our stays which all ended up being AirBnBs. By the middle of October there was NOTHING (and out of curiosity, I searched on every app and on Google maps) to book for the dates we will be there.
#5: For the long flight, wear compression socks. I wear Back on Track shirt and pants with BoT compression socks. It helps with stiffness and circulation for my whole body.
#6: Use Tylenol PM to help you sleep on a long flight. You will arrive refreshed and not feeling drugged like you would if you took sleeping pills. Since I can’t take regular over-the-counter pills, I’ll be taking Kava, Valerian, and Devil’s Claw. Kava to slow my mind down, Valerian to relax my body, and Devil’s Claw for stiffness and aches from sitting for so long, and cayenne pills for circulation!
#7: Someone just told me that she takes 5mg of melatonin to help with jet-lag. Online recommendations say 1-10mg, 30 minutes to 2 hours before bed. My recommendation is to figure out what your body needs before you leave home!
#8: Make sure that you have the proper cash (example: Bank of Scotland for Scotland) before you go. Everything costs more at the airport. Avoid getting money exchanged in the airport. It is best to be prepared for ‘Cash Only’ or ‘Card Only’ situations. That can be for shopping, restaurants, or public toilets.
#9: Bring at least two credit cards and use a RFID blocking card holder. Identity theft or a stolen card will not enhance vacation experience!
Does anyone have any other UK travel tips? Please share! For more tips, see Sarah’s Savvy Travel Tips.
