Hey Brits

[Alex+R 0]

I don't know if I'm being stupid here. I need to travel to Greece in the second week of November to visit family.

I'd like to also visit friends in London and Brighton in the week after that, on my way back. (The friends are from Brazil and Luxembourg, and are just moving there now, so they aren't much help.)

If I get a roundtrip ticket to London from Minneapolis and use Easyjet for a round trip from London to Athens is that realistic? Are there hidden costs I'm not thinking of? (i.e. Are the London airports really far away from each other?) Is there a cheaper way to do this?

Also is Brighton a navigable distance from London (I don't even know how you get there)?

I have only been to London once before and I was like 14.

I just don't want to buy a ticket and then have a big d'oh moment later.

Thank you, anyone who can help

[Fandango 1,439]

Easyjet is out of Stanstead, and you'd prolly be flying into Gatwick or Heathrow...which does mean transfers to and from. I know the Gatwick express is like 20 quid one way.

Plus, with easyjet, the luggage allowance is wayyyyy down...and not even close to what an int'l baggage allowance is. Are you traveling light, or do you know of anyone you can leave your luggage with?

Edited August 16, 2006 by LisaD

[Candace 2]

I don't know if I'm being stupid here. I need to travel to Greece in the second week of November to visit family.

I'd like to also visit friends in London and Brighton in the week after that, on my way back. (The friends are from Brazil and Luxembourg, and are just moving there now, so they aren't much help.)

If I get a roundtrip ticket to London from Minneapolis and use Easyjet for a round trip from London to Athens is that realistic? Are there hidden costs I'm not thinking of? (i.e. Are the London airports really far away from each other?) Is there a cheaper way to do this?

Also is Brighton a navigable distance from London (I don't even know how you get there)?

I have only been to London once before and I was like 14.

I just don't want to buy a ticket and then have a big d'oh moment later.

Thank you, anyone who can help

Hello

Well I'm a Brit and a travel agent so hopefully I can help

What are you planning to do? Minneapolis - London - Athens - London - Minneapolis?

In which case what you suggest regarding the flights sounds fine. Which London airport does your flight from the US come into? Which one does your flight to Athens leave from? Heathrow and Gatwick are served by a very regular shuttle service, but if you're talking about Luton or Standted they're a little farther out, but still manageable. Check out train prices online - thetrainline.com or similar will show you train prices and schedules for airport transfers. Cheaper but slower option is nationalexpress.com - also do airport to airport transfers.

Download a tube map if you need from tfl.gov.uk - London transport info

Brighton's not too far from London on the south side - but when you say not too far, do you mean to walk, get a taxi, or get a train? the train takes under an hour, probably your best bet.

Have a good trip!

Edited August 16, 2006 by Candace

[Alex+R 0]

Oo thanks guys! I will probably fly into Gatwick (that's where Northwest goes) and then let's see...OO you CAN fly from Gatwick to Athens on easyjet, roundtrip 87 pounds with everything inc! That's actually not bad! Especially when you consider the 200 dollar difference between flights from Msp to Athens and Msp to London. FABULOUS. Maybe I should try to get a ticket from MSP to Athens to London to MSP. Hey Candace, is that done?

The baggage thing is important to consider... how much stuff can you fit for an easyjet flight? If I remember, the last time I flew Easy I had to pay an overweight fee with a weekend bag because I'd brought schoolbooks! Hmmmm...

I am also excited that Brighton is so close to London! Didn't know.

I feel like this might have been a stream of consciousness post on my travel plans, but I've been at work already for 2 hours and it's not even 8

[Anyta Holland 1]

With Easyjet you have a 20kgs allowance, anything over than that will cost you £5 per kg.

Good luck!

[Fandango 1,439]

Oo thanks guys! I will probably fly into Gatwick (that's where Northwest goes) and then let's see...OO you CAN fly from Gatwick to Athens on easyjet, roundtrip 87 pounds with everything inc! That's actually not bad! Especially when you consider the 200 dollar difference between flights from Msp to Athens and Msp to London. FABULOUS. Maybe I should try to get a ticket from MSP to Athens to London to MSP. Hey Candace, is that done?

The baggage thing is important to consider... how much stuff can you fit for an easyjet flight? If I remember, the last time I flew Easy I had to pay an overweight fee with a weekend bag because I'd brought schoolbooks! Hmmmm...

I am also excited that Brighton is so close to London! Didn't know.

I feel like this might have been a stream of consciousness post on my travel plans, but I've been at work already for 2 hours and it's not even 8

Whoops, I messed up...I was thinking Ryanair when I was typing Easyjet....duh, hahhahahha

Pack light tho! I believe Anya's right - 20kg...Maybe do Greece in the first week, so if you buy anything in London or Brighton, it's not going to add to the weight of your existing luggage.

Have a great time!!!

[rebeccajo 14]

I hate EasyJet. I mean the planes and crew are great, but you better never need to change your travel plans or not be carrying photo id.

They are a ticketless airline and my husband didn't have any photo id with him when we came back from London - the only photo id he owned at the time was his passport and the embassy had taken that. Even though we had birth certs, police report and all sorts of proof he was who he said he was, it took an act of God to get him on the plane.

Plus when we changed our return by ONE DAY (London to Belfast) it cost 150 in sterling!

Even with no-problem check-ins, I have found their desk staff at airports to be anything but customer friendly. Most are downright impolite and act as if they hate their jobs. Odd, as the flight crews are very nice and helpful.

[Alex+R 0]

Oo thanks guys! I will probably fly into Gatwick (that's where Northwest goes) and then let's see...OO you CAN fly from Gatwick to Athens on easyjet, roundtrip 87 pounds with everything inc! That's actually not bad! Especially when you consider the 200 dollar difference between flights from Msp to Athens and Msp to London. FABULOUS. Maybe I should try to get a ticket from MSP to Athens to London to MSP. Hey Candace, is that done?

The baggage thing is important to consider... how much stuff can you fit for an easyjet flight? If I remember, the last time I flew Easy I had to pay an overweight fee with a weekend bag because I'd brought schoolbooks! Hmmmm...

I am also excited that Brighton is so close to London! Didn't know.

I feel like this might have been a stream of consciousness post on my travel plans, but I've been at work already for 2 hours and it's not even 8

Whoops, I messed up...I was thinking Ryanair when I was typing Easyjet....duh, hahhahahha

Pack light tho! I believe Anya's right - 20kg...Maybe do Greece in the first week, so if you buy anything in London or Brighton, it's not going to add to the weight of your existing luggage.

Have a great time!!!

ahaha good idea, If the ones in London are anything like the ones in Ireland, Topshop here I come

[Anyta Holland 1]

Even with no-problem check-ins, I have found their desk staff at airports to be anything but customer friendly. Most are downright impolite and act as if they hate their jobs. Odd, as the flight crews are very nice and helpful.

That is sooooooooooo true!!! We used them twice in a month and had different people at the check in desk... They were absolutely horrible.... So short and out of patience.... Like 'what yu want?' sort of thing.... You would have thought that they'd made a bit of an effort...

Having said that, on our second time coming back to Bristol, my mum who doesn't speak English, was sat behind me, when the flight attendant asks her if she wants anything to drink or eat, I say to her that we would like a mini bottle of wine each, se turned back to me and looked me with evil eyes and said that I had to wait until my turn came because she was busy, I just replied that we were traveling together and there was no need for rudeness.... She apologised lightly, but I thought it was a bit out of order...

[rebeccajo 14]

Having said that, on our second time coming back to Bristol, my mum who doesn't speak English, was sat behind me, when the flight attendant asks her if she wants anything to drink or eat, I say to her that we would like a mini bottle of wine each, se turned back to me and looked me with evil eyes and said that I had to wait until my turn came because she was busy, I just replied that we were traveling together and there was no need for rudeness.... She apologised lightly, but I thought it was a bit out of order...

Ooooo.....a rude flight attendant too?

They'd never stay in business if it weren't for their prices.

[mawilson 2,133]

Easyjet is out of Stanstead, and you'd prolly be flying into Gatwick or Heathrow...which does mean transfers to and from. I know the Gatwick express is like 20 quid one way.

A bus from Victoria Coach Station to Stansted is £10 or thereabouts.

[Fandango 1,439]

I LOVE Ryanair...they are so cheap it's not funny. The only prob is they always fly to some BFE airport.

Once when I wanted to go to Oktoberfest in Munich, D said 'just make the arrangements' So we went to Frankfurt (rent a car and drive to Munich) ...anyways...we fly into Frankfurt Hahn...then find out it's like 2 hours outside of Frankfurt. I was like 'maybe this is the only airport?' only to pass by FF Au Main like 5 mins outside the city centre D started skittin me that 'Hahn' was german for 'Not Quite'

:)

Edited August 16, 2006 by LisaD