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Post by kmsmith8 on Jan 17, 2007 14:28:53 GMT
Just so everyone knows booking the £25 on line doesn't work. I wasn't sure whether I was going to try and book other tickets. After reading Peter's post I am going for the £20 tickets. Hopefully these aren't sold out as well.
Katie
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Post by kmsmith8 on Jan 17, 2007 14:43:24 GMT
Good news. Booking the £20 tickets worked. They let me know instantly, whereas with the £25 tickets they made me wait for confirmation. Since there is a festival I am assuming that accommodations will book up quickly. Does anyone have suggestions on where to make reservations? I would like to stay as close to the concert as possible, as I will be using public transportation (I don't feel brave enough to drive on the opposite side of the road). And also safety would be an issue as well (obviously, I am not familiar with the area at all).
Katie
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Dave
Administrator
HWI Admin
Posts: 7,699
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Post by Dave on Jan 17, 2007 15:16:49 GMT
Hello Katie,
You can get a train from London to Ruabon which is less than 10 miles from Llangollen. You may have to change trains in Birmingham. Then, you can get a bus to Llangollen.
Good luck,
Dave
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Post by kmsmith8 on Jan 17, 2007 15:21:46 GMT
Thanks for the information Dave.
Katie
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Post by postscript on Jan 17, 2007 15:51:14 GMT
Good news. Booking the £20 tickets worked. They let me know instantly, whereas with the £25 tickets they made me wait for confirmation. Since there is a festival I am assuming that accommodations will book up quickly. Does anyone have suggestions on where to make reservations? I would like to stay as close to the concert as possible, as I will be using public transportation (I don't feel brave enough to drive on the opposite side of the road). And also safety would be an issue as well (obviously, I am not familiar with the area at all). Katie I can only assume rates will be at their highest for that week. I never looked for hotels at that time as I was travelling through. Most hotels near the centre are fairly basic, the 'luxury' type are on the outskirts and would need a car, but the centre jams easily. Those using cars even with booked parking spaces will need to allow plenty of time as the roads will gridlock. Having said that, for that week they may well draft in extra police to keep traffic flowing and I would think many road-side parking options that are usually available would be coned off as unavailable to keep the traffic flowing. Long and straggling, it is a small town. However, I suspect there are many B&Bs but finding them is probably best done through the tourist centre contacts as they are unlikely to be on the web. How far ahead they would be prepared to book, I have no idea and many 'amateurs' I am sure will open up for that week. It is quite feasible a special 'round town bus service would cover the area on a 'hop on hop off' basis and might well be funded or subsidised by the local council. Peter S. |
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Post by postscript on Jan 17, 2007 17:10:57 GMT
Hello Katie, You can get a train from London to Ruabon which is less than 10 miles from Llangollen. You may have to change trains in Birmingham. Then, you can get a bus to Llangollen. Good luck, Dave .provides two sequences of small but interesting views that show the beauty of the countryside. It is also a link site for accommmodation.Other options are only by telephone. Peter S. |
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Post by kmsmith8 on Jan 17, 2007 17:53:02 GMT
Peter thanks for all of the information. I won't be able to book until I can confirm I can get time off from work (shouldn't be a problem, but I haven't started my job yet so I can't be certain). I am starting to research now; I am thinking about staying at a hostel to keep the cost of the trip down. I should be able to start making firm plans in a month or so. I am looking forward to this trip. I haven't been to Great Britain yet so this would be a great first trip.
Katie
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Post by postscript on Jan 17, 2007 19:48:31 GMT
Peter thanks for all of the information. I won't be able to book until I can confirm I can get time off from work (shouldn't be a problem, but I haven't started my job yet so I can't be certain). I am starting to research now; I am thinking about staying at a hostel to keep the cost of the trip down. I should be able to start making firm plans in a month or so. I am looking forward to this trip. I haven't been to Great Britain yet so this would be a great first trip. Katie Well, I appreciate your situation and of course you need to check your cancellation fee charges and when but I have just checked the Legacy Wild Pheasant Hotel where I stayed last summer and 'Sorry fully booked' and that was for both the full period plus a day either side to which one would have expected them to give preferential treatment and for the weekend, the day before and the Sunday following Hayley's Friday! It might be worth booking, being prepared to cancel. ideally you need a car but it probably has an hospitality car or you can ring/book taxis but might have to wait. By the time one's driven, messed with queuing and parking one might as well walk.... depending how athletic you are! However, while I appreciate your not liking driving on the 'wrong side of the road', if you hire a car, the driving seat is in the 'correct' position as regards the road! Unlike when I drive across to the Continent, then I am driving in the passenger seat, effectively and overtaking is a pain. I accept I probably have many more miles of experience than yourself and I have driven in the States many times, but having driven on the Continent, I imagine yourself thinking of driving the car in the passenger seat, but having the seat position correct to the road does help your instinctive driving reactions. It certainly is a very beautifjul part of the UK but also, the train will show you much and you should spend a minimum of 3 days in London. Peter S. |
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Post by kmsmith8 on Jan 17, 2007 23:29:23 GMT
Thanks for the comments Peter. At your suggestion I will go ahead and book a hotel or hostel for the time I will be in the area of Llangollen. As for transportation, it is funny you suggested walking. I was actually thinking about that, as I often go on long hikes. Depending on where my accommodations were I might have to find another way back as I'm not sure about walking in the dark.
I will consider renting a car. I did realize that the steering wheel is on the other side of the car. Driving on the opposite side of the road didn't seem to be that big of a deal in Jamaica (I didn't actually drive--I observed, but there was less traffic) so I could probably handle it. Heck if I can drive in Chicago during rush hour I can probably drive on the opposite side of the road without a problem.
Katie
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Post by kmsmith8 on Jan 18, 2007 0:45:26 GMT
Peter thanks for advice to book now! I found a hostel in Conwy (I confirmed that there is a bus that runs between this and Llangollen). I had to book a double, but really this is an advantage for me because most likely I will be able to find a friend to go with me between now and then. For a dollar I can cancel for free. So at most I will lose a dollar if I have to cancel. At your suggestion I also booked four nights in London. When would you suggest booking train tickets? Do these usually sell out quickly?
If anyone is thinking about booking accommodations in the area I would suggest looking into it now rather than later. There were still openings when I was looking, but things seemed to be booking up fast. I didn't look at hotels too much, but there were only a few openings left in hostels.
Katie
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Post by postscript on Jan 18, 2007 12:20:36 GMT
Peter thanks for advice to book now! I found a hostel in Conway (I confirmed that there is a bus that runs between this and Llangollen). I had to book a double, but really this is an advantage for me because most likely I will be able to find a friend to go with me between now and then. For a dollar I can cancel for free. So at most I will lose a dollar if I have to cancel. At your suggestion I also booked four nights in London. When would you suggest booking train tickets? Do these usually sell out quickly? If anyone is thinking about booking accommodations in the area I would suggest looking into it now rather than later. There were still openings when I was looking, but things seemed to be booking up fast. I didn't look at hotels too much, but there were only a few openings left in hostels. Katie Hi Katie. Glad you made some decisions and there won't be a great cost if you have to cancel. Glad I made the suggestion, you are now prompting me to make mine fast. Did they tell you the bus journey time? If its a coach service it may not be too bad but that's quite a distance away and the A5 is NOT a fast road at the best of times.Did they giver you the bus route number so you can do a check on their time tables? The winter time table won't be as late as the summer one and hopefully that week they'll run later ones. The show doesn't start until 7:45pm but I've no idea how long it runs and you won't want to rush off. However, don't panic. Let me get my thoughts together. Regarding trains, booking on the internet well ahead is best especially for Virgin (I think they cover that line) for cheap seats and I would have thought three months ahead would be okay You need to work out whether you want to go straight to Conway from London to get your bearings and then look at getting from there on the day by bus. I think Richard posted regarding the need to go via Birmingham I suggest you don't do anything further until I coma back (unless other members have an input to offer, please do) I have yet to make my own decisions and properly concentrate on this. What dates are you planning to be in Wales? I suggest a minimal arrival on the day before, allowing you the morning of Hayley's day to travel to Llangollen, enjoy the place, meet up with those of us going to be there and catch what will probably the last bus home. Have you checked how far your hostel is from the bus stop? Peter S. |
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Post by postscript on Jan 18, 2007 13:07:03 GMT
...I will go ahead and book a hotel or hostel for the time I will be in the area of Llangollen. ... I will consider renting a car. I did realize that the steering wheel is on the other side of the car. Driving on the opposite side of the road didn't seem to be that big of a deal in Jamaica (I didn't actually drive--I observed, but there was less traffic) so I could probably handle it. Heck if I can drive in Chicago during rush hour I can probably drive on the opposite side of the road without a problem. Katie If it all happens, if you wish (don't let me come over as pushy), when are those dates, or your general schedule? Just in case you are in an area at a time when some advice or even practical help can be offered. I did realize that the steering wheel is on the other side of the car. I don't think you misunderstood me, but just in case, to clarify, I wasn't implying you weren't aware of that, simply that in imagining what it must be like one can lose sight of the fact that the correct relationship of things to one another does help the process of familiarisation. None the less, one does need to be alert at all times ESPECIALLY AS A PEDESTRIAN IN LONDON. The last but one time I was in the States, about a week in to my trip, i forgot when crossing the road and almost got run down by a thirty ton truck. One time when driving in France, because it was a long, one-way drive out of the hotel grounds, i forgot which side of the road I was supposed to be driving on when I emerged on to the public road! Peter S. |
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Post by kmsmith8 on Jan 18, 2007 14:15:19 GMT
Peter thanks for all of the advice. What was said in my earlier posts wasn't meant to be not accepting; as I have not visited Great Britain before I want all the advice I can get. I am seriously considering renting a car when I visit based on your advice. I am going to wait until I verify the dates with my job until I start making definitive plans on that.
Looking forward to this concert.
Katie
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Post by kmsmith8 on Jan 18, 2007 14:26:03 GMT
Peter--I missed your earlier post. I haven't looked into the details yet. (The hostel that I chose was about all that was left that was affordable and nice. I may rent a car for this leg of the trip and then return it before I go to London). As for my arrival, I planned on getting there the morning before. If I can get a decent price on a multi city airline ticket I plan to fly into Manchester and fly out of London. I won't know for sure on that until closer to the time.
I will look to this thread to make definitive plans as the time gets nearer.
Katie
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Post by postscript on Jan 20, 2007 13:00:15 GMT
Hi everyone.
As a result of glancing through the thread it dawns on me that somewhere in a post, probably in a reply to Katie, I attributed train advice from London to Richard. I now realise it was Dave, sorry for that misalignment of credit.
I can now say (as from forty-eight hours ago) that £25 and £20 tickets are no longer available and I am stuck with £15! Hopefully, all those intending to go now have tickets, if not go now or for ever hide your misery!
I have taken a basic (but by no means cheap route) of a travelodge at Wrexham, having to use a Little Chef (if not by then bankrupt) or a burger bar for breakfast et al. Actually Little Chef's provide a good breakfast, often using them as lunch when travelling. But I am somewhat slumming it for ease and speed of messing around. There are other reasons.
I may leave early, but otherwise I am booked through Thursday night to leaving Monday morning. Wrexham is not a bad base from which to tour. What I have done is make arrangements for the future. Dependent upon what is on and my speed of response, I shall consider spending a week there at some time in the future, especially if it is Hayley's second visit, but I guess this would have been the year to do that with the chance of her taking time off and 'bumping into her'; in the refreshment tent.
With thoughts (not yet engaged) with September and CH CH NZ, I am lying low from financial commitments at the moment until I can properly get my head round things--here Grant is ahead of me! That side-track is ON topic because it strikes me we are now in a position to 'do a Grant on Llangollen' (see Grant's thread 'HWI in NZ'). Who is going to be in Llangollen? By what means of transport and with what intentions over time?
I don't want to pre-commit myself--I'm a great one for spontaneous responses--but for those who are arriving by public transport, I don't mind touting the idea in principle that I might act as a taxi for anyone who would like to visit the Dee valley over which the Pontcysyllte aqueduct flows. A country pub for lunch might be less crowded than in town and use the after-noon for wandering the town, seeing other sites, leading into the evening and the performance.
For rail enthusiasts there is a steam trip up the valley and a simple walk along the tow path gives lovely views over the town and the entertainment site.
Just thinking aloud. On the other hand, there might be so many that individual wandering and a meet up in town or pre-evening meal would be preferred--or all options run simultaneously!
Peter S.
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