Does anyone know a website where I can get a package deal to go to wales?
I'm looking for Airfare/Lodging/CarRental all in one. When I say Lodging,
B&B's are fine.

I'm not looking for an escorted tour either.

Since the dollar is so weak, I was hoping someone would take pity on us
Americans and offer a great travel package.

Thanks,
Frank
[email protected]

On Fri, 11 Feb 2005 18:08:12 GMT, "FL" <[email protected]>
wrote:

    >Does anyone know a website where I can get a package deal to go to wales?
    >I'm looking for Airfare/Lodging/CarRental all in one. When I say Lodging,
    >B&B's are fine.
    >I'm not looking for an escorted tour either.
    >Since the dollar is so weak, I was hoping someone would take pity on us
    >Americans and offer a great travel package.
    >Thanks,
    >Frank

As I'm English, I really don't know of any US companies offering
packages as described.

It might be worth your while contacting the Wales Tourist Board to see
if they know of any inbound operators offering what you want.

http://www.visitwales.com/

Otherwise, one idea which occurs to me is investigating Continental's
new route direct to Bristol, which starts operation in May this year.
If they do a flight plus car-hire arrangement, you only need to book
accommodation. As Wales is a relatively small country, you could
probably get away with booking one or two hotels/B & Bs and explore
from these "bases." It all depends on what areas you want to see.

I should add that from the centre of Bristol, you could be in Chepstow
in 20 minutes - maybe 40 from the airport.

Anyway, try these ideas, and if you have no luck do come back to the
group!

Good luck,

Keith in Bristol UK

(off to Wales next week to chill out after a hectic teaching
schedule!)

Good advice from the previous poster.

Remember the UK compared to the USA is a tiny place! If you can get a
flight/car rental deal I should leave it at that. For instance London is
only 160 miles down the motorway from Cardiff - a few hours by car. As for
accommodation I would leave it to chance. Depending on the time of year you
should have no trouble finding a B&B (many farms are doing B&B in rural
areas now to supplement their incomes). Many Public Houses do B&B.

London, Bristol, Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool all are within striking
distance of Wales.

Good luck - Cymru am byth.

http://www.stayinwales.co.uk/

http://www.walesdirectory.co.uk/links.htm

On Sat, 12 Feb 2005 09:14:32 +0000, Keith Anderson
<[email protected]> wrote:


    >Otherwise, one idea which occurs to me is investigating Continental's
    >new route direct to Bristol, which starts operation in May this year.
    >If they do a flight plus car-hire arrangement, you only need to book
    >accommodation. As Wales is a relatively small country, you could
    >probably get away with booking one or two hotels/B & Bs and explore
    >from these "bases." It all depends on what areas you want to see.
    >I should add that from the centre of Bristol, you could be in Chepstow
    >in 20 minutes - maybe 40 from the airport.

Sound advice, especially as Chepstow, together with the Wye Valley to
the north, is a delightful and scenic area right on the English/Welsh
border.

If you do fly to London, don't underestimate the distance; I
personally wouldn't get straight off a transatlantic flight in London
and drive along the M4 to the Welsh border. If you want a fly-drive
option and are flying to London I would recommend getting a train to
(say) Cardiff and perhaps renting a car on your second day

Martin

On Sun, 13 Feb 2005 10:36:44 +0000, Martin Rich <[email protected]>
wrote:

    >On Sat, 12 Feb 2005 09:14:32 +0000, Keith Anderson
    ><[email protected]> wrote:
    >>Otherwise, one idea which occurs to me is investigating Continental's
    >>new route direct to Bristol, which starts operation in May this year.
    >>If they do a flight plus car-hire arrangement, you only need to book
    >>accommodation. As Wales is a relatively small country, you could
    >>probably get away with booking one or two hotels/B & Bs and explore
    >>from these "bases." It all depends on what areas you want to see.
    >>I should add that from the centre of Bristol, you could be in Chepstow
    >>in 20 minutes - maybe 40 from the airport.
    >Sound advice, especially as Chepstow, together with the Wye Valley to
    >the north, is a delightful and scenic area right on the English/Welsh
    >border.
    >If you do fly to London, don't underestimate the distance; I
    >personally wouldn't get straight off a transatlantic flight in London
    >and drive along the M4 to the Welsh border. If you want a fly-drive
    >option and are flying to London I would recommend getting a train to
    >(say) Cardiff and perhaps renting a car on your second day
    >Martin

This makes sense as well - driving with jetlag isn't good.

If you take the Bristol option, there's a bus every 20 minutes to
central Bristol, and from there, every day except Sundays, there's a
bus every hour to Chepstow - more scenic than the train which goes
under the Severn Tunnel whereas the bus goes over a bridge with great
views of the Severn Estuary.

Chepstow has an impressive castle - the original keep is the oldest
Norman stone building in Britain, begun in 1067 only a year after the
Norman invasion. In addition, much of the mediaeval walls of Chepstow
are still in place.

http://www.chepstow.co.uk/

There's a reasonable bus service along the Wye Valley from Chepstow to
Monmouth - you could stop off at Tintern Abbey,

http://www.castlewales.com/tintern.html


You could go on to Monmouth and return to Chepstow on a parallel route
via Trellech - terrific views over the Vale of Usk and towards the
hills beyond. You can get a "go anywhere" ticket on these local
services for a few pounds.

http://www.traveline-cymru.org.uk/fares.htm

Scroll down to "South Wales Network Rider"

The same ticket will get you to Cardiff via Newport

On Sun, 13 Feb 2005 10:36:44 +0000, Martin Rich <[email protected]>
wrote:


    >If you do fly to London, don't underestimate the distance; I
    >personally wouldn't get straight off a transatlantic flight in London
    >and drive along the M4 to the Welsh border. If you want a fly-drive
    >option and are flying to London I would recommend getting a train to
    >(say) Cardiff and perhaps renting a car on your second day

That does all depend on the individual, though -- I've done it several
times (Heathrow to Swansea), and I can't sleep on airplanes at all.
I don't start to crash (sleep-wise 8;) until at least 3 pm.

-- Larry

On Sun, 13 Feb 2005 10:24:29 -0500, pltrgyst <[email protected]>
wrote:

    >On Sun, 13 Feb 2005 10:36:44 +0000, Martin Rich <[email protected]>
    >wrote:
    >>If you do fly to London, don't underestimate the distance; I
    >>personally wouldn't get straight off a transatlantic flight in London
    >>and drive along the M4 to the Welsh border. If you want a fly-drive
    >>option and are flying to London I would recommend getting a train to
    >>(say) Cardiff and perhaps renting a car on your second day
    >That does all depend on the individual, though -- I've done it several
    >times (Heathrow to Swansea), and I can't sleep on airplanes at all.
    >I don't start to crash (sleep-wise 8;) until at least 3 pm.

Maybe but I would be very suspicious of anybody who was over-confident
of their ability to drive that distance on no sleep.

Martin

    > Does anyone know a website where I can get a package deal
    > to go to Wales? I'm looking for Airfare/Lodging/CarRental
    > all in one. When I say Lodging, B&B's are fine.

    > I'm not looking for an escorted tour either.

    > Since the dollar is so weak, I was hoping someone would
    > take pity on us Americans and offer a great travel package.

Put together your own trip. Rent the smallest car which will fit the
people and luggage. (Which means: do not allow yourself to be talked
into a larger vehicle than you require). If you are looking for basic
lodging; that is, clean comfortable and no frills, stay at Hostels. An
American can acquire an HI (Hostling International) card which is valid
at YHA establishments in the UK. Granted, there are many private
hostles in operation, but my preference has always been to pay a few
additional £s and stay at a YHA one. Which I believe are better
managed and better maintained. And located all over the UK, including
quite a few in Wales. (Check the UK YHA web site for the specifics).
When there were four of us traveling we almost always stayed in one of
the family rooms at the Hostel, which was made to sleep either four or
six people.

On your first or second day, stop by a market and purchase the foods
you prefer. While you are there also purchase an inexpensive styro
cooler. And, along with some ice, haul your perishable foods in that.
When you get to the Hostel, use their refrigerator. And their kitchen
facilities to cook your meals. After eating breakfast we would then
fix our lunch for the day and then be off and on our way.

Follow these suggestions and even with the weak dollar you can still
enjoy an affordable vacation.

In article <[email protected]>, Martin Rich
<[email protected]> wrote:

    >
    > If you do fly to London, don't underestimate the distance; I
    > personally wouldn't get straight off a transatlantic flight in London
    > and drive along the M4 to the Welsh border. If you want a fly-drive
    > option and are flying to London I would recommend getting a train to
    > (say) Cardiff and perhaps renting a car on your second day
    >
    > Martin

On the other hand, a motorway is easy driving, the best place to get
accustomed to right-side-drive cars, and is the stimulation a person
needs to stay up during the day to speed recovery versus jet lag.

--
Dan Stephenson
Photos and movies from US Parks and all over Europe:
http://homepage.mac.com/stepheda

    > a motorway is easy driving, the best place to get accustomed to
    > right-side-drive cars, and is the stimulation a person needs to
    > stay up during the day to speed recovery versus jet lag.

If you drive while jet-lagged you are putting everybody else on
the road at risk. And I would hope that your insurance company
would leave your family as paupers rather than pay out - they'd
have every right to.

============== j-c ====== @ ====== purr . demon . co . uk ==============
Jack Campin: 11 Third St, Newtongrange EH22 4PU, Scotland | tel 0131 660 4760
<http://www.purr.demon.co.uk/jack/> for CD-ROMs and free | fax 0870 0554 975
stuff: Scottish music, food intolerance, & Mac logic fonts | mob 07800 739 557

On Wed, 16 Feb 2005 16:45:41 +0000, Jack Campin - bogus address
<[email protected]> wrote:

    >> a motorway is easy driving, the best place to get accustomed to
    >> right-side-drive cars, and is the stimulation a person needs to
    >> stay up during the day to speed recovery versus jet lag.
    >If you drive while jet-lagged you are putting everybody else on
    >the road at risk. And I would hope that your insurance company
    >would leave your family as paupers rather than pay out - they'd
    >have every right to.

The disorientation felt from jet lag is sometimes compared with the
come down effects from taking LSD. Inattentiveness is the big one of
course.

I barely even trust myself walking with a good dose of jetlag. Driving
on the opposite side of the road with it would rank as one of the
stupidest things you could do as far as I am concerned.
--
---
DFM - http://www.deepfriedmars.com
---
--

In article <[email protected]>, Jack
Campin - bogus address <[email protected]> wrote:

    > > a motorway is easy driving, the best place to get accustomed to
    > > right-side-drive cars, and is the stimulation a person needs to
    > > stay up during the day to speed recovery versus jet lag.
    >
    > If you drive while jet-lagged you are putting everybody else on
    > the road at risk. And I would hope that your insurance company
    > would leave your family as paupers rather than pay out - they'd
    > have every right to.

Being a lousy driver also puts people at risk, but I'd rather oncoming
pass a new driver who learned on the motorway than a B road. You're
just a little tired is all. If you feel up to it, go for it.

    > ============== j-c ====== @ ====== purr . demon . co . uk ==============
    > Jack Campin: 11 Third St, Newtongrange EH22 4PU, Scotland | tel 0131 660 4760
    > <http://www.purr.demon.co.uk/jack/> for CD-ROMs and free | fax 0870 0554 975
    > stuff: Scottish music, food intolerance, & Mac logic fonts | mob 07800 739 557

--
Dan Stephenson
Photos and movies from US Parks and all over Europe:
http://homepage.mac.com/stepheda

    >> If you do fly to London, don't underestimate the distance; I
    >> personally wouldn't get straight off a transatlantic flight in
    >> London and drive along the M4 to the Welsh border. If you want
    >> a fly-drive option and are flying to London I would recommend
    >> getting a train to (say) Cardiff and perhaps renting a car on your
    >> second day

    > On the other hand, a motorway is easy driving, the best place to get
    > accustomed to right-side-drive cars, and is the stimulation a person
    > needs to stay up during the day to speed recovery versus jet lag.


The train is not a bad idea, although there is no reason you cannot get
a rental car at the airport. But don't plan to make a marathon trip
immediatly after your arrival. You can generally do several hours,
particularly after the early morning traffic and before the evening
traffic begins, and then call it quits.
The majority of US flights into London arrive during the morning hours,
making the timing good with respect to a vehicle rental. And remember
to never drive in London. Trust public transportation -- it will get
you there.

    >> If you drive while jet-lagged you are putting everybody else on
    >> the road at risk.

When we land from our flights from the US east coast, it's only 1 am home time.
Just a typical late night drive home, made even easier by the fact that it's
daylight. It's not even pushing the envelope, and I'm 58.

-- Larry