No matter who you are, or whether you are traveling alone as a couple or with your family, one of the single most expensive costs when traveling has to be finding the right place to stay. If you are traveling alone, you may have to pay extra for your room, or end up sharing a guest room with a perfect stranger. If you have a family, then you have to consider that you will have no privacy from your kids, or you will have to purchase and extra room for them, costing you valuable money. There are much cheaper alternatives, but you have to know what you’re looking for.

If you are a single person visiting London or a traveling student, you may want to consider renting a room at one of London’s many hostels. Youth hostels started out in the early part of the 20th century in Germany by a teacher named Richard Schirrminn. After traveling the countryside with his students and finding little or no safe haven for him or his pupils, he decided that what was needed was an affordable, safe, and nurturing environment for youths and other traveling students to stay. What once started from a humble necessity has now become one of the most popular but least known accommodations around Europe.

London not only has a wide selection of hostels to choose from, many university and college campuses open their student halls during the summer to offer affordable accommodations. Now you can stay at one of these famous academies, without having to actually be enrolled. Take lots of pictures so that you can brag to your friends when you get home. These hostels and dorms have limited availability and tend to fill up quickly so it’s a good idea to book early.

If you have a family, you know how expensive it can be to stay at a hotel, no matter what special features they have, like children that stay or eat free. That is often a bunch of hype, because there are many hidden restrictions that may apply. It can be a total disaster at times also, like after the day is done, and most of the family attractions have shut their doors for the evening. You are all stuck in one room or MAYBE, if you’re lucky, a suite. The kids are still all wound up and haven’t been able to wind down. You and your spouse may want your own ‘private’ time as well. There is no way that either of you can get in the mood if you are always wondering when your kids will get back from the pool or some other in hotel activities.

So what do you do? You book a holiday apartment of course! This is just like living at home, and depending on how many days you stay, can average half the cost of renting a hotel for the same amount of time. There are so many more benefits as well. You have your own cooking and eating facilities, saving you tons of money over going out all the time. You can book one, two, and three bedroom units, many with all the modern conveniences, so you will have plenty of private time all around, plus many other extras.

Resources;

http://www.uktourismguide.info/England-Tourism/London/Holiday-Packages.asp

http://www.budgettravel.com/

http://www.visitlondon.com/people/budget/

http://www.smart-travel-germany.com/youth-hostels.html

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Travel in London, and you will find some of the most culturally-enriching sights you will ever see. Centuries of history are embedded in the structures in and around London, all of which are highly symbolic of Britain’s unique relationship with the world.

From medieval times, to the renaissance, to the Victorian era to the modern face of London, it is definitely worth spending some time and effort getting to intimately know the city.

Tourists, however, may find themselves simply overwhelmed by the size and diversity of London. If ever you ever have to travel in London, make sure to prioritize these must-see sights in order for you to truly experience the history that London has to offer:

Big Ben

This iconic clock tower, located in the north-eastern area of the Palace of Westminster is the largest four-faced chiming clock in the world, as well as third highest free-standing clock tower ever in the world. The name Big Ben is actually given to the great bell located inside the tower, and the ringing has become part and parcel of a Londoner’s daily life.

Buckingham Palace

If you have to travel in London, then you definitely have to see Buckingham Palace, where Britain’s monarchy takes their residence in. The impressive greenery and striking fasade of the palace indeed inspires a regal atmosphere in and around the palace, which is a historical icon in its own right. Take a walk around and take the opportunity to see for yourself what the palace has to offer.

The Tower of London

If, however, you want to visit a World Heritage Sight that is almost a millennia old, then you definitely need to see the Tower of London. It holds the Crown Jewels, is over 900 years old, and has survived through pretty much the entire history of Britain. If you are lucky, you may even spot a ghost or two while touring the building.

St. Pauls Cathedral

This magnificent cathedral, with smaller spires accentuating its prominent dome, is yet another cultural landmark of London. It had existed before the 17th century, and has gone through many forms before reaching its current shape today. The cathedral has taken at least four other forms before becoming what it is today, with many other shapes if every single reconstruction was considered a new Cathedral altogether.

Wimbledon

A more modern cultural touch can be found in Wimbledon. This busy suburb becomes a hectic hive of tennis enthusiasts when tennis season comes around, which is where Wimbledon’s global fame originally comes from. Over a hundred years of tennis craze have etched itself into Wimbledon’s own history, making it one of the sports enthusiast’s priorities should he choose to travel in London.

Covent Garden Market

If you are a shopper at heart, then do take the opportunity to visit the Covent Garden Market. The district itself had been in business for almost 300 years, which is even older than some of the other landmarks of Britain. The mix of old and new produces an intriguing array of colors and products, which definitely makes Covent Garden a pretty unique place to shop around in.

If you choose to travel in London, don’t forget to visit these sights in order to fully experience what London has to offer.

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Traveling can be a lot of fun and can be a very memorable experience if your destination happens to be a place that has a brilliant history and a beautiful cityscape like the capital of the United Kingdom, London. London is a famous place for travelers to visit because of the many different places and landmarks to visit along with wonderful sceneries that photographers and travelers alike dream of witnessing.

However, one of the reasons why tourists often change their minds regarding the destination is because traveling to London can be expensive and getting around London can be another huge expense. Therefore, it is best to practice these London travel tours tips you want to go more on the frugal side, yet still enjoy your trip.

Getting around the Frugal Way

Transportation is always one of the traveler’s concerns especially if he or she doesn’t have any clue of the best transit deals and there are actually plenty available. Travelers deserve to have the smoothest trip possible and trying to figure out which is the most affordable can ruin that experience.

This is where the Oyster Card can come in handy because it comes with a generous 3 £ deposit that can be charged with any sum of money required with the excess being refunded.

The best thing about this card is that it does all the calculations for you in determining the best transit deal that fits your budget and ensures satisfaction. It even caps out at day pass rates so you can catch those red double decker buses to explore vast neighborhoods and see some interesting landmarks like the Marble Arch. You can get this Oyster Card in any of the underground stops such as the one in Heathrow to solve your traveling problems.

Witness the Free Stuff

Tourists that want to check out the royal side of London may end up being disappointed if the money doesn’t really make the cut. Fortunately, you can still take a pretty close look for free if you head out early in the morning where the guards stationed at the Buckingham Palace gates change in a daily ceremony.

Take note that you should witness the event before 10:30 because other tourists take advantage of the free opportunity to see how it is like. It only involves the changing of the Bearskins, but it is a priceless sight to see.

If ever the weather isn’t so good for your London travel tours plans, a good idea would be to visit the The National Gallery, which is found within the Trafalgar Square. Art appreciators and ordinary tourists will love the breathtaking display of over 2,300 paintings brought by the talents of the Western European world. This can be experienced free as well and donations are encouraged.

Using these London travel tours tips can save you a lot so you can spend more on souvenirs and other items that you can take back home. Shopping in charity shops can help you save even more money so you can enjoy the remaining days of your trip.

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Are you planning a trip to London? If so, you’ll want to spend some time moving around the city, seeing all the great sights in the area. However, getting around London can be quite expensive. Not only is London an expensive city in general, but the cost of transportation is pretty steep. Here are a few great London travel tips that can help you save money on transport while you are on your holiday in this beautiful city.

One of the most important London travel tips that can save you money on your transport is to purchase a Travelcard. These cards can definitely come in handy when you are spending a few days within the city. These cards can be used on the light rail, trains, busses, the Tube, and you can purchase them for a day or three days. Since one ride on the bus can get expensive, you can really save by purchasing one of these Travelcards if you plan on traveling around the city very much.

If you are going to purchase a Travelcard, it is a good idea to make sure you get them for the right zone. The more zones you want to travel to, the more you will end up paying for the card. Usually the tourist attractions you’ll want to see, such as London Eye, Buckingham Palace, and Westminster Abbey, are going to be located within Zone 1 or Zone 2. Consider just purchasing in these zones to cut back on your travel costs, which can really help you to save.

Another option for saving money on your transport while you are in London is to travel during times that are considered to be off-peak. Usually these times include any time on Sunday and Saturday, and after the morning rush on week days. The prices for tickets are cheaper during these times and you will manage to miss out on the rush hour as well.

You may also want to see if your hotel will provide some transportation. There are some hotels that do provide transportation to common tourist attractions or to the airport for their guests. If your hotel provides this type of a service, you can save quite a bit in transport costs, so check to see if they provide this option.

Traveling around London can definitely be costly when you are on your holiday. However, with these London travel tips, you can find some great ways to save money. With your savings you can purchase a few more souvenirs, enjoy a nice meal, or use it to visit a few more tourist attractions.

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Wondering what kinds of things to do while on a holiday to London? Wonder no more, there is a world of excitement in store for you by booking a travel package to London. With all the discounts and combination deals available, there is a multitude of opportunities that await.

It’s best to plan ahead, compare prices, what is included with the package like air fare, hotel accommodations, tours available and any extras that are included. Because not all services are the same, it’s important that you take the time to do some research. With a little planning, you can not only get the best holiday available, but at a price that won’t break the bank.

One good example; one of the more popular travel websites offer a six night stay in London, with air and hotel accommodations, as well as a tube pass for only $700 per person. Considering that during the summer airfare is typically higher, around $650 round trip, for a little extra you get the hotel included! You stay at the My Place Hotel, which is a stone’s throw from Earl’s Court Exhibition Center, as well as an entrance to the tube.

Other extras include a discount and a nearby fitness center, full lounge and nightclub, as well as 24-hour room service, free breakfast included with the package. There are banquet and conference facilities, and from the hotel limo service and transportation to the airport are available. And of course, each guest room is equipped with refrigerators and televisions.

This is just one of the many discounts you will encounter along the way, with many of them as good if not better than this one. Some reminders when booking a travel package, there are other fees involved that you should be aware of. These prices are per person, and there is a single supplement fee and extra charge for single travelers. You may even find yourself roomed with a perfect stranger is not careful.

There are also car rental charges, airport taxes, as well as fuel surcharges. You still have to figure out and plan your meals, even if a package comes with breakfast you still have to eat the rest of the day. These deals are based air travel from New York City, so if you are beginning your travel begins further away, you will be charged more.

For example, if you will be boarding in Chicago, you will pay around $140 more, and anywhere on the West coast, it runs almost $200 extra.

Another thing you may want to consider is what time of the year you go. Without trying to sound offensive, London’s weather can be dreary, cold, and foggy throughout the year, so you might consider visiting in the off-season instead. Many merchants offer deals that are below what they have during the peak months. You may find hundreds of dollars in discounts over what you would pay if you traveled in the summertime.

Resources;

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Packages-g186338-Vacation-Package-Discount-London_England.html

http://current.newsweek.com/budgettravel/2007/10/london_trip_tips.html

http://www.visitlondon.com/people/budget/

Technorati Tags: london travel packages