So does anyone know Paris?

[Rachael x]

Originally Posted by AllDogBoots

I'm very surprised more Americans don't get hit by cars. You won't believe how difficult it is crossing the streets in London. They have written on the streets how to look and which way to look first. It was very hard for me to get used to as cars were whizzing by me as I'm looking left, then right. Oops.

Yep the traffic in London is terrible, my auntie and uncle moved down there for a while and they sold there car and walked to work because it was quicker lol!

[Reese1]

Originally Posted by AllDogBoots

The fish is battered and deep fried and looks nothing like fish. Mom will love it. I took the Eurostar from London to Paris and I don't think we had any upgrades. It was just booked with the tour. I didn't know there was upgraded seating. It sure is a gorgeous ride through the countryside.

I didn't realize you did a tour, which company did you tour with?
I guess when you upgrade a meal is included and the seats are wider.
My Mom is a little worried about the under water part of the trip, I'm not!

[Reese1]

Originally Posted by margaritaville

In France, the only place I have been was the airport and that was a trip in it's self! My sister and I did go to Ireland for a week. We flew into Dublin and out of Shannon. Rented a car (oh and by the way they drive on the other side of the road. A fact that I would forget every morning when we started out but the blaring car horn would quickly remind me) and drove down the coast from Dublin stopping a million places. The Waterford factory was great. Blarney Castle and then up to Shannon. From Shannon we drove inland to Co. Longford and saw the house where my grand mother was born and lived before coming to the US. The weather (Sept) was a little chilly and damp but we had a great time. Have a Guinness for me.
If you have an iphone look at apps for learning French. When I went to Haiti I brought one for Creole and it really helped me learn a little of the langauge before I went.

We are NOT driving! We will be on a tour in Ireland & Paris we wouldn't even consider it!
Sounds like a fantastic trip you had! My family is from Cork in Ireland, that would be incredible to see where they lived!
I will have a Guinness for you, I want to do the tour while in Dublin!
Our library has a free service that we can do online to learn some French, I was surprised at how good it is! I will make sure to have a French app for the phone though!

[Reese1]

Originally Posted by Rachael x

Correct

Also as another poster mentioned we drive on the left hand side of the road over here, just incase you were thinking of hiring a car.
Also if you were travelling end of October you should check out any Halloween tours.
There are loads of really old castles in England and Scotland which do Halloween ghost tours.
I live in Newcastle and here we have ghost tours all year round, I have never been on one myself but I have heard they are good.
Which part of Scotland are you going to?
Edinburgh has lots of places like that, The most famous is the Edinburgh underground vaults.
Edinburgh Vaults

There are so many things to do and see in England and Scotland (never been to Ireland or Paris sorry).
There should be some leaflets in your hotel

We are going the end of Sept-mid-Oct. but those sound like fun with all the castles there!
We are in Edinburgh & we go into the Highlands in Scotland.
I will check out the vaults, thanks!

[Rachael x]

Theres also a zoo in Edinburgh

[Rachael x]

Here is a site I found where someone tells their experience of the vaults and shows pics if your interested

Ghost at Edinburgh Vaults!

[Rachael x]

You could also visit the Rosslyn Chapel:

Da Vinci Code and Scottish Borders Small Group Day Trip from Edinburgh, Edinburgh Day Trips | Viator.com

Or search for Nessy in Loch Ness!

[AllDogBoots]

Originally Posted by Reese1

I didn't realize you did a tour, which company did you tour with?
I guess when you upgrade a meal is included and the seats are wider.
My Mom is a little worried about the under water part of the trip, I'm not!

I toured with Globus. I didn't get a meal, but the seats were plenty wide. Have you ever been on a subway? You don't even know you are going under water. It's just dark where you can't see outside. My mom and I played cards and when she looked out the window and saw country side she said "how come we didn't go through water?" She didn't even realize it.

We toured with Globus. 3 days London, 3 days Paris (which, again turned into 7 Paris).

[Reese1]

Originally Posted by AllDogBoots

I toured with Globus. I didn't get a meal, but the seats were plenty wide. Have you ever been on a subway? You don't even know you are going under water. It's just dark where you can't see outside. My mom and I played cards and when she looked out the window and saw country side she said "how come we didn't go through water?" She didn't even realize it.

We toured with Globus. 3 days London, 3 days Paris (which, again turned into 7 Paris).

My Mom thought it was under water the whole time, I don't think she believed me when I told her it was a short time!
Were you happy with Globus? I looked at them originally, but I liked that Insight gives more leg room & smaller groups.

I have NEVER been on a subway. I wanted to ride in NY, but we didn't. We walked or took a taxi everywhere.

[AllDogBoots]

Originally Posted by Reese1

My Mom thought it was under water the whole time, I don't think she believed me when I told her it was a short time!
Were you happy with Globus? I looked at them originally, but I liked that Insight gives more leg room & smaller groups.

I have NEVER been on a subway. I wanted to ride in NY, but we didn't. We walked or took a taxi everywhere.

This was my first tour with them, although my parents have done several. The groups actually were quite small, about 20 people each. We didn't do a full service tour, as my parents have been to Europe several times and already knew what to do. We had tons of free time, which was great. The tour gave us hotels, transportation and a couple of good bus tours. But most of the time we were on our own. When are you going?

[Reese1]

Originally Posted by Rachael x

You could also visit the Rosslyn Chapel:

Da Vinci Code and Scottish Borders Small Group Day Trip from Edinburgh, Edinburgh Day Trips | Viator.com

Or search for Nessy in Loch Ness!

That sounds great! I really love seeing old chapels, castles, ruins, etc!!
Maybe I will find Nessy, lol!

Originally Posted by AllDogBoots

This was my first tour with them, although my parents have done several. The groups actually were quite small, about 20 people each. We didn't do a full service tour, as my parents have been to Europe several times and already knew what to do. We had tons of free time, which was great. The tour gave us hotels, transportation and a couple of good bus tours. But most of the time we were on our own. When are you going?

Wow only 20 people, that is small!
We are going the end of September until mid-October. We looked into doing a more independent tour like that for Paris, but I didn't find anything where the hotel was in the area we wanted to stay. I'm hoping we will be ok to do Paris solo!