Part 4: Everything That Didn't Fit Into the Other Parts

Picking your travel time:

Two friends of ours just retired from teaching. "Now," they note, "gone are the days of taking our spring vacation with the thousands of others who have the same vacation week. We can go anytime!"

Whereas the timing of our business trips is determined by the English antiques fairs schedule and by our own show schedule at home, most vacationers, like our friends, are not so constrained. The smart traveler schedules trips during relatively quiet times. Our decision to go to Europe in April and October fits nicely between Winter and the busy Summer tourist season and meshes well with our antiques shows at home.

If your schedule permits, be sure to consult the English holiday calendar. Since English school breaks are two weeks long and that many families travel during these vacation periods, destinations are likely to be more crowded than usual and that flights may be more difficult to book.

Check American school vacation times, too. Avoiding these peak travel times will not only make travel more relaxing, it may also save you some money, as air fares are likely to be somewhat lower in slow periods.

Planning your intinerary:

If you enjoy the energy of a large city, London is one of the best destinations in the world, with outstanding (and reasonably priced) theater, great museums, fine restaurants, and convenient and efficient public transportation. Walking in London is delightful; parks, monuments, buildings, shops, and people offer a never-ending feast for the eye. For those whose idea of a large urban center is New York or Boston, the cleanliness of London's streets and the civility of its residents will come as a very pleasant surprise.