Tips for European capitals & UCS headphones

My first post. Hi all! We live in San Francisco. My wife and son (9 years-old) and I are gettign ready for our first trip to Europe as a family and we're going Virgin UC! A few questions for the forum:

I'm trying to decide if I should take my normal headphones, or buy a pair of the comfy Bose noise-canceling headphones.

Then I discovered that upper class has noise canceling headphones. How well do they work? I only need them for the flights (VS19/20), so I really don't want to bring mine.

Anyone know what brand they are?

I'm leaving Wednesday, June 28th from SFO->LHR. Can't wait! It appears we have a ~88% chance of getting the *good* v: series of entertainment.

I'll try to do a trip report. I'll let you know how the new amenity kits work for us.

Oh, and my wife wants to know what kind of Champagne we should expect? I think that's her primary reason for flying UC.

If we want to request a service from the Revivals lounge, should we do it in advance? Is it possible to book it while on the plane?

Lastly, we have several options for getting to our hotel at Covent Garden: tube, taxi or hire a car (we're Z class, so no Virgin limo). Any suggestions? We're thinking a classic London cab at this point since we've never been in one. And we wouldn't feel rushed at Revivals. But if it's a really long drive in, perhaps hiring a car service would be better?

I can't vouch for the headphone question, but car hire for London I would never do. The hotel won't have any parking, you'll have to pay congestion charges for driving in the city centre and you'll have to negotiate London traffic, and it's your first time in Europe - new signs and driving on the other side of the road etc...

Personally I would take the Heathrow Express into Central London and then get a cab - as you want to go in a Black London Taxi.

[Nottingham Nick]

A warm welcome to V-Flyer.

For details about your headphones, please see this recent thread.

I think you would be better off with the Bose.

I am not a Londoner, but I totally agree with G-VFAB - forget the car.
Take the Heathrow Express into London and then get a cab - especially if you have luggage.

If you don't have much luggage - the tube is the best way to get around.

Nick

Your wife is Nine!

The UC headphones are better than ordinary ones, but the Bose ones are way ahead of them. To be fair, given the cost of a pair of bose's I do not think it unreasonable that VS do not hand out a similar quality. You may also want to consider the sennheiser (Spelling incorrect). I have both and struggle to tell the difference, apart from the bose's being twice the price!

Welcome to the site.

Nick, I live much furthur North than yourself, but driving in London is a no-no, everyone uses Public Transport in London!

If you have luggage take the express and then a cab - will take you to your door. But if you don't it'll be cheaper to get the tube, you can get a tube map from the London Transport website. I would think that whilst your on your stay in London you may want to use a cab because you see alot more than on the tube - however you could always do a bus tour!

[mitchja]

Welcome to V-Flyer

As for getting V:Port on the VS20/19 - 100% guaranteed now that the 1 remaining Odyssey B744 is moving to LGW.

On board champagne is now Mumm

No need to request anything for Revivals, just head up there after collecting your bags at Heathrow. You dont even need an invite now as they have a list on the door. By the time the VS20 arrives Revivals is usually pretty busy though so there might be a wait for a shower etc.

Regards

Hi there

OK by turn:

The UC headphones are bad compared to the best NC Bose/Sennheiser/Philips so it's your choice as to what you do. The UC headphones are only slightly better than the ordinary in my opinion.

You should get VPort and I hope you enjoy, it's ace.

Please do a TR, we'll appreciate it.

I did think that Champagne in UC is now LP, but others say Mumm?

On revivals you should be OK with your ticket stub but best to tell the check in people then the folks in London are aware you are coming.

On getting to CG in London, a black cab will be £50-60 whereas the train will be £14 each plus £20 from Paddington, so if as there are three of you, simply head for the taxi queue and go door to door. It's so much easier if you have the dosh.

I really hope you enjoy your trip over to London. What are your plans when here?

[preiffer]

You don't need your ticket stub for revivals - they have a copy of the passenger manifest (along with their relevant eligibility such as J/D/Z or Au Passenger).

Just turn up, give them your name and flight no. and you're in [y]

Ah I meant just in case, I've been asked before even though there is a list

Champagne was LP on my last trip in UC the other week, however it seems to be Mumm in the LHR CH... if that helps any

[mcmbenjamin]

Originally posted by preiffer
You don't need your ticket stub for revivals - they have a copy of the passenger manifest (along with their relevant eligibility such as J/D/Z or Au Passenger).

Just turn up, give them your name and flight no. and you're in [y]

I do remember being crossed off the sheet. Wonder if there is a plan to move to a more of a LHR CH computer based system. Also funny that (well last time I was there) the JFK CH had computers at the CH host desk but used the sheets.

[ChuckC]

Welcome to V-Flyer, Seesharp. We're delighted to have you with us.

SF is my old hometown (er, or it was about 30 years ago -- my, how time flies!). What a great place to live.

I second the motion to have you enjoy the Heathrow Express train. The entry is just downstairs from the reception hall at Terminal 3 where VS arrives. Service is quick and you arrive "in style" at the historic Paddington Station. From there you will take a traditional London cab to your hotel. Once settled at your hotel, by all means enjoy the Tube (London Underground). It is the best way I know to get around to seeing nearly all of London.

I've used the Bose QC2 on all long trips for two years now and they are my personal favorite.

We look forward to your first TR (Trip Report!).

Regards,
Chuck-

If you're flying UC won't you be given limo service to your hotel?

rapariga

Sorry!

It's early in the morning and I missed the sentence about Z Class.

r.

[preiffer]

Originally posted by rapariga
If you're flying UC won't you be given limo service to your hotel?

If you read seesharp's first post (the topic itself), you'll see why not

Originally posted by seesharp60
Lastly, we have several options for getting to our hotel at Covent Garden: tube, taxi or hire a car (we're Z class, so no Virgin limo). Any suggestions?

I think Rapariga managed to beat you in spotting the "Z" by 7 seconds Paul [y]. What interests me is since when is 12:41:15 early in the morning?[:0];) Unless Rapariga is in, say, the US in which case 1241 BST is damn early of course.

[Scrooge]

or late

Early I think. With say a 5 hour difference (depending of course on US time zone) when it is 1241 here, it would be just before 8am in that part of the US. On a Sunday I think 8am could be classed as early.

Thank you all so much for your replies. I see you've already caught my first American English gaff: when I said "hire" a car, I meant, "arrange transportation in a limo". It wasn't until after I posted that I realized that "hire" has the same meaning as "rent" to us. "...two countires separated by a common language"

And believe me, I wouldn't consider driving my own car *anywhere* in England! Left vs. right...we'll stick to trains, the Tube and the classic Black Cab.

As an aside, we drew a tie yesterday with Italy. So we have a slight chance to move on to the knockout round. It'll all happen while we're in the air on Thursday next week. Regardless, we are pleased to see England managed to eek out a win over TnT. The addition of the Cup frenzy in Europe adds so much more to our 2 week holiday in London and Paris!

(We leave SFO Wed. June 21st, not June 28th. My bad.)

Someone asked our itinerary:
* 6 nights in London at Covent Garden Hotel
* Train to Bath for 4 nights at a B&B
* Eurostar to Paris for 5 nights
* Back to London for 2 then VS19 home

Any suggestions much appreciated, but that might be more appropriate for a different thread.

Cheers!

Looks like a really great trip - I hope you all enjoy it.

As for the suggestions for tips, I would suggest they keep here with your orginal question. I have one for you. You are staying in a great part of London - very central, close to the theatres, shops and a short hop from many of the attractions. But in between all that sight seeing and activity make sure you save some time to chill in Covent Garden - the street entertainment is usually great fun and the only cost is a pound or two thrown in the hat at the end.

PS - SeeSharp's ambition is to watch England playing in the world cup in an English Pub. Now I know nobody can ensure England are still in the play, but I am sure SeeSharp would appreciate a good soccer pub recomendation in the West End or Bath.

At the moment it looks like the England second round game will be on either Saturday - if we finsish second in our group - or on Sunday if we finish top - which seems likely.

Dont know of anywhere specifically great to watch the game but any pub in the Covent Garden area with a large screen TV is going to have a great atmosphere! Same with Bath to be fair -but thats only going to happen if England win the 2nd round match!

And fingers crossed for the US in the next game

Seesharp - I'll guess that with that itinerary it's not your first trip to Europe, albeit your first on VS - of course that will be the highlight!

For further tips, you'll need to be more precise as to likes and dislikes.

PS - SeeSharp's ambition is to watch England playing in the world cup in an English Pub. Now I know nobody can ensure England are still in the play, but I am sure SeeSharp would appreciate a good soccer pub recomendation in the West End or Bath.

Jeremy is totally correct (! which is very bad English but a friend of mind in Chicago likes the term) - watching England, with a pint in hand, in a pub is the way to do it. There's an excellent one on St Martin's Lane, v close to Cov Gdn that I'll recall and post anon.

As to the chances of the USA at the World Cup, well the tie v. Italy was not an elegant one, but you have a chance!

Originally posted by seesharp60



And believe me, I wouldn't consider driving my own car *anywhere* in England! Left vs. right...we'll stick to trains, the Tube and the classic Black Cab.



* 6 nights in London at Covent Garden Hotel
* Train to Bath for 4 nights at a B&B
* Eurostar to Paris for 5 nights
* Back to London for 2 then VS19 home

If you're going to use the tube a lot, definitely investigate
getting a TravelCard (unlimited use of tube/bus for a period
from one day up to a week or more). Good value.

You'll love Covent Garden. As others have said, make time to
wander round the market and enjoy the street entertainment.

I'm sure you have your own list of must-see London sights
drawn up but I would personally include:

- Westminster Abbey
- St Pauls
- Tower of London
- Museum of London
- Natural History Museum and/or Science Museum
- British Museum
- Victoria and Albert Museum
- National Maritime Museum, Royal Observatory and Greenwich Park

Go see a show if you can get tickets (worth booking in advance
if you want to make sure). We most recently went to see "We Will
Rock You". 2 hours of very loud mindless fun, unmissable if you
like Queen's music.

Mme Tussauds seems to be on all the tourist itineraries but I
don't like it. YMMV.

Don't head for American eateries (like Friday's) as you'll find
them far more expensive than you're used to at home. If you like
oriental, Wagamama is hard to beat and there are branches all over
London.

Likewise, you can get KrispyKreme doughnuts in Harrods but you'll
most likely faint when you see how expensive they are!

Chris

Originally posted by cshore
National Maritime Museum, Royal Observatory and Greenwich Park

Quite right, but I would say that wouldn't I. The exhibition of Harrison's clocks is facinating, but if you are going to see them read "Logitude" first (which is a facinating insight into 18th Century thinking aside from its main thrust).

I would also add the tate modern to the list as well as Vinopolis (glug glug!)

cshore: KrispyKreme? We are fortunate enough to have one just 10 miles from my house. Perhaps I should bring a box for the flight crew. And thanks for the tip on the sights: you've pretty much nailed our list of must-sees.

My wife and I tend to shun the American chain restaurants (with the exception of In-and-Out Burgers). We can't wait for a good curry and shepard's pie (probably not from the same place).

sailor99: I have read "Longitude". As my Dad was a navigator for C-130s in the USAF, I felt obliged. Great book, and we do plan on heading to Greenwich (via the Thames?)