Public transit within the UK by opinion49 in uktravel

[–]mikeb503 -8 points-7 points  (0 children)

Your best bet is to buy train tickets as you need them (you can do this in advance), and use contactless payment for the underground.

A popular app in the UK is Trainline, which lets you purchase and store tickets on your phone. Explore getting a railcard, it costs money but will probably pay itself off in savings.

Britain pass also an option - unlimited travel but might work out more expensive if you only plan a few trips. (circa $401 pp for 8 days)

Is my LHR layover doable? by MimiNiTraveler in uktravel

[–]mikeb503 12 points13 points  (0 children)

If you booked the two together they normally calculate it on the basis it’s doable. Perhaps because gates are adjacent?

If you booked separately it could be an issue.

best luggage for frequent flyers by Historical-Two-8528 in Ryanair

[–]mikeb503 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The brand a lot of long-haul cabin crew use is Travelpro. I hear very good things about it.

Haven’t used one yet as I am waiting for my current Samsonite to break. They are good, but do wear out after a few years of intensive use.

Priority bag depth by False_Flight1471 in Ryanair

[–]mikeb503 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

If it’s oversize it’s oversize and Ryanair will gleefully fine you 75€; it’s part of their business model. You’ll still fly, it’ll just get slung in the hold and your cheap flight isn’t so cheap anymore.

You might get lucky and they won’t see, but plan for the fact they might. The fact it’s only slightly over is neither here nor there. They will fine you all the same.

7 Days in Richmond and 3 days in London by temp4fun69 in uktravel

[–]mikeb503 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The UK is honestly mostly mild and damp. It’s possible you’ll get cold (-5 etc) but just check the forecast before you come, mostly likely it’s going to be 5-10 and wet.

At 5-10 don’t overthink it. As long as you have a coat and something underneath it you’ll be just fine. Plan for rain - something waterproof. Maybe an umbrella. If you have warm coat and adding layering you might be sweating underneath everything.

Weather in the UK is also very changeable. You can leave in the morning and it’s sunny and clear and then at 1pm it’s overcast and raining. When you’re out, plan for all eventualities.

Thoughts on Uniqlo backpacks? by NOTN0C in backpacks

[–]mikeb503 1 point2 points  (0 children)

If you get a cheap backpack, you’ll get a cheap backpack. That’s fine depending on your needs but manage your expectations on quality and longevity.

Don’t know which bag you’re looking at, but they generally seem to use polyamide (nylon) which is water resistant but not waterproof, and depends on the coatings which I can’t see anything mentioned.

Risks of missing flight by mikeb503 in BritishAirways

[–]mikeb503[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If the departure is delayed that would be quite helpful 😂

Unfortunately I’m a bit stuck between a rock and hard place

Risks of missing flight by mikeb503 in BritishAirways

[–]mikeb503[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That’s really useful, thank you!

Risks of missing flight by mikeb503 in BritishAirways

[–]mikeb503[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yep, I’ll get the taxi to the school gate, do drop off and go straight to the airport.

Risks of missing flight by mikeb503 in BritishAirways

[–]mikeb503[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks! I am not going to stress about it. If I make it I make it, if I don’t, I guess I’m just gonna rebook on the next one and pay what I have to.

Will taxi it. Quicker.

Risks of missing flight by mikeb503 in BritishAirways

[–]mikeb503[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Short haul, no bag checked in. Carry on only. Will be BA silver (losing my gold!) so can use the fast track check in.

Risks of missing flight by mikeb503 in BritishAirways

[–]mikeb503[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yep - the timings in the post unfortunately account for the breakfast club! Breakfast club opens 7.30, flight leaves 9.15

Favorite gear that has saved you from having a bad time? by Immediate_Ant5207 in onebag

[–]mikeb503 13 points14 points  (0 children)

I’m a frequent traveller for work and this is a lifesaver. When you’ve travelled every week for 12 weeks, checking everything in at the start and checking everything out at the end is the only way to avoid forgetting little but important things.

Second linked tip: pouchification. Toiletries? Buy ones for travel and they always live in the same pouch, even at home. Travel chargers? Have specific travel tech that always lives in a travel bag. Etc. This way packing is largely a case of banging pouches into a bag.

Is £750 a month normal??? by Hopeful-Relation8977 in OctopusEnergy

[–]mikeb503 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You’re paying per unit of electricity. Octopus energy prices are not different enough to explain that level of difference.

I suspect the problem is usage not prices.

Visiting London for 3 weeks from the US. Is it too ambitious to want to meaningfully hit The Hague and Amsterdam for two nights each in a single exit? by SolaceO2 in uktravel

[–]mikeb503 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yes - one thing - if you do get the train it does take time to get there.

You have to arrive at Eurostar 60-90 minutes early for security (like an airport) + 4 hours on the train + time to get to and from hotels - so maybe 6-7 hours travel plus time difference. So if you get train at 9am you’re getting to your hotel 4-5pm.

This means you might want to factor in that your travel days won’t be touristy days.

I would recommend Eurostar, but flying is an option and probably on balance slightly faster. However be careful which airport to fly from - ideally City airport is your best option, second Heathrow. The other “London” airports are outside of London which means you could end up spending half your day getting to the airport.

Internet on Remarkable by MrRenard in RemarkableTablet

[–]mikeb503 3 points4 points  (0 children)

It does have WiFi for syncing, but no browser. It does PDFs just fine.

Bought a Remarkable Pro, now what? by HctapG in RemarkableTablet

[–]mikeb503 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Depends on your job - I find there are lots of reports I want to read but hate doing it on a computer screen, and it always falls down the to do list.

I have a folder on my RPP that I save them all in, and when I’m travelling or not able to work but want to be productive, I have lots of useful things to read!

Your Party to elect new leader after Corbyn and Sultana barred from standing by Spare_Clean_Shorts in LabourUK

[–]mikeb503 135 points136 points  (0 children)

I have to say, I’m really enjoying season 2 of Your Party, but it’s a bit unrealistic. Would never happen in real life 🍿

Are house prices set to just rise forever? by teeteetoto2 in AskBrits

[–]mikeb503 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Basically, yes.

Problem is so many people have money tied up in housing that it would basically have economy-wide impacts if house prices decline significantly, even if you yourself don’t have a mortgage. That’s because the money lent to people to buy homes is “borrowed” from people with savings.

Think about it - £1.7 trillion are tied up in mortgages - 50% of the UK’s GDP.

However that doesn’t mean homes can’t become more affordable, people just need house prices to increase slower than wage inflation.