Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
locals say, “There's no bad weather, only inappropriate clothing.” Bring a jacket, and dress
in layers. Temperatures below 32°F cause headlines, and days that break 80°F—while
more common in recent years—are still infrequent in London. (For more information, see
the climate chart in the appendix.) Weather-wise, July and August are not much better than
shoulder months. May and June can be lovely. While sunshine may be rare, summer days
are very long. The midsummer sun is up from 6:30 to 22:30. It's not uncommon to have a
gray day, eat dinner, and enjoy hours of sunshine afterward.
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
Your trip is more likely to go smoothly if you plan ahead. Check this list of things to ar-
range while you're still at home.
You need a passport —but no visa or shots—to travel in Great Britain. You may
be denied entry into certain European countries if your passport is due to expire within
three months of your ticketed date of return. Get it renewed if you'll be cutting it close.
It can take up to six weeks to get or renew a passport. (For more on passports, see
www.travel.state.gov . ) Pack a photocopy of your passport in your luggage in case the ori-
ginal is lost or stolen.
Book rooms well in advance if you'll be traveling during peak season or any major
holidays or festivals (see here ).
To book a London play, you can call from the US as easily as from London, using
your credit-card number to pay for your tickets. For the current schedule and phone num-
bers, visit www.officiallondontheatre.co.uk . For simplicity, I book plays while in London
(but if you have your heart set on a hot show, prebooking is safer). For more information,
see the Entertainment in London chapter.
To visit Stonehenge, it's best to reserve your ticket at least 24 hours in advance (see
here ); if you want to go inside the stone circle, book your visit as soon as you know the
date you'll be there.
Call your debit- and credit-card companies to let them know the countries you'll be
visiting, to ask about fees, request your PIN code (it will be mailed to you), and more. See
here for details.
Do your homework if you want to buy travel insurance. Compare the cost of the in-
surance to the likelihood of your using it and your potential loss if something goes wrong.
Also, check whether your existing insurance (health, homeowners, or renters) covers you
and your possessions overseas. For more information, see www.ricksteves.com/insurance .
If you plan to hire a local guide, reserve ahead by email. Popular guides can get
booked up.
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