PRACTICALITIES - London 2015 - page 841

The London Pass, which covers many big sights and lets you skip some lines, is ex-
pensive but potentially worth the investment for extremely busy sightseers ( £ 47/1 day,
£ 65/2 days, £ 78/3 days, £ 104/6 days; days are calendar days rather than 24-hour peri-
ods; comes with 160-page guidebook, also sold at major train stations and airports, tel.
0870-242-9988, www.londonpass.com ). Among the many sights it includes are the Tower
of London, Westminster Abbey, Churchill War Rooms, and Windsor Castle, as well as
many temporary exhibits and audioguides at otherwise “free” biggies. Think through your
sightseeing plans, study their website to see what's covered, and do the math before you
buy.
The English Heritage society sells passes and memberships that include free entry
to its 400 sights (which are exclusive to England); they're worth it only if you'll be thor-
oughly exploring England, not just London. You can buy passes or memberships at any
participating sight. For most travelers, the Overseas Visitor Pass is a better choice than
the pricier one-year membership (Visitor Pass: £ 25/9 days, £ 30/16 days, discounts for
couples and families, www.english-heritage.org.uk/ovp ; membership: £ 48 for one person,
£ 84 for two, discounts for seniors and students, children under 19 free, www.english-her-
itage.org.uk/membership ; tel. [phone]).
Communicating
“How can I stay connected in Europe?”—by phone and Internet—may be the most com-
mon question I hear from travelers. You have three basic options:
1. “Roam” with your US smartphone. This is the easiest option, but likely the most
expensive. It works best for people who won't be making very many calls or using the
Internet much, and who value the convenience of sticking with what's familiar (and their
own phone number). In recent years, as data roaming fees have dropped and free Wi-Fi
has become easier to find, the majority of travelers are finding this to be the best all-
around option.
2. Use an unlocked mobile phone with European SIM cards. This is a much more
affordable option if you'll be making lots of calls, since it gives you 24/7 access to cheap
European rates. Although remarkably cheap, this option does require a willingness to
grapple with the technology and do a bit of shopping around for the right phone and card.
Savvy travelers who routinely use SIM cards swear by them.
3. Use public phones and get online at your hotel or at Internet cafés. These op-
tions can work in a pinch, particularly for travelers who simply don't want to hassle with
the technology, or want to be (mostly) untethered from their home life while on the road.