ENGLAND COUCH STRUT? (stupid american related)
edith head
5,106 Posts
so here's the thing, i bought a ticket to travel europe for 3 weeks in april. i didn't really think things through. i saw a ridiculously cheap fare and impulsively bought it. However, even though my fare i cheap, i forgot that it's f*cking spring break time. most budget hotels i am looking at have sold out and I think I am too old and paranoid to do a shared room hostel situation this time around.so i am going to be in paris, london and barcelona in that order, about 5 days each. i'm covered for BCN and Paris, but London I will be traveling alone and it will be first visit for me. I don't know ANYONE in London or anything about the districts for that matter. Reality is starting to set in and I'm afraid the british pound is going to kill my weak ass US dollar.So...Would any London strutters be willing to let me crash on their couch? i have a huge collection of Rough Trade albums and I think Ricky Gervais and Simon Pegg are the funniest people ever. I also eat crumpets on occasion and Earl Grey is my favorite tea. All joking aside, I would rather buy drinks/dinner for a strutter those nights then spend 3times that amount on board. and i would of course return the favor should any english strutters need a place to stay in san francisco. i've accepted that i am part of an internet fraternity as strutters have crashed on my air mattress before and you get you'll get your own room and key! if no Londoners can swing it, plaese to tell me at least what would be an ideal district to book my place. i'm terrified. i have had this nightmare before where i arrive in a new country broke, missing my cards walking around blindfolded.sincerely, audreyms_damnawww damnedith head
Comments
I've got some friends living over there at the moment also (studying/working etc) but i'll put out the call as they may have some space since it's only a lil time, or at the very least they may know of some good cheap places.....just in case as a back up!!
two words. Buddy Peace. Nicest guy ever. London resident. I bet he'd be very helpful. Get in touch with me if you need contact info.
Good to hear you're hitting the UK shores Ms_Damn!
We actually live just an hour by train outside London in the wonderful world of the commuter belt so probably a bit too far out of the action to be really useful. However if you get stuck and need a place to stay the couch will always be available and you're more than welcome to use it as a back up plan if more central accommodation falls through.
Regardless of all this I'm in London most days for work so be more than happy to show you the inside of some very decent pubs at the very least.
there are some hostels where you can get a private room for cheap. i travelled in europe and stayed in hostels recently and found that people of all ages travel this way to save cash. you can find some reputable places that are clean and even friendly and i don;t think you will feel old, out of place or worried for your safety. on the contrary, it can be a great way to meet random folks to do stuff with and so forth although i guess spring break means they might be over run with uni students looking to blow off steam.
another option could be to look into couchsurfers.com. i have not used this site but have heard good things.
if you get stuck and you simply need a commercial hotel room on very short notice i would suggest using www.hotwire.com.
Tommy, I thought about Buddy Peace. I sent him an email yesterday and am waiting to hear back. Couch or no couch I am glad I'll get a chance to meet him in person now. I agree he is one of the nicest people ever.
You can always try finding him on the ninjatune forum. He's on there a fair amount.
I think he'd either give you a place to stay or give you some good info.
Also, you may be pleased to hear the ?? has taken a battering recently, and is now worth roughly the same as the Euro, about $1.50. (Should make your trip a bit cheaper.)
^^ Lives in a real life manor.
they don't tell you what the hotel is until after you book, but i found a 4 star hotel at a rate of $84 USD/night in Kensington - Chelsea - Knightsbridge[/b] area and one in Bloomsbury - Marble Arch[/b] for $75/night. It's probably too good to be true, but i don't care as it is within my budget. Can anyone tell me if these districts are alright and which one is preferred?
There were also reasonable results for
Ealing - Hammersmith - Brentford
Notting Hill
South Bank
thanks!! as usual any input is highly appreciated
i think you'll be happy in chelsea or notting hill (make sure to hit up music exchange and the shops on portebello).
i've done hotwire a bunch of times and have yet to be really disappointed. sometimes you can luck into an incredible room at a really good price.
have a great trip...
Kensington / Chelsea / Knightsbridge are the balleur end of town
Bloomsbury/Marble Arch is similar and close to the shopping areas
Avoid Ealing, Hammersmith and Brentford - they are reasonably gentile but too far from any action
Notting Hill is trustafarian land, probably best for a hipster experience but has good nightlife, and Portobello is fun.
Southbank - could be really skanky or right in the middle of good action. Depends on the address - please post it up.
If you are keen to conserve your funds, please PM me your London stay dates and I may be able to secure a free studio apartment in the financial district. It's a couple of tube stops from the West End which is what most non-locals think of as 'London'.
(Friend who lives in the Barbican-related)
audrey