I've been back twice in the 20 years I've lived in the US. The last time was last year and it had been 14 years since I was there. This time I went with my new fiancee and we did the whole tourist thing (we were going for my 25 year school reunion). It was a great time and I would love to go more often but it's just way too expensive for me, just can't afford it after my divorce and paying child support etc.
I was just looking at flight prices and they are 25% cheaper than the same time last year........ Oh well, maybe I'll win the lottery

The last time we were back, 2 years ago, my lovely sister organized a family party for both sides of our families. She hired a large room at the back of a pub for a Sunday from noon to 6pm and we told everyone before we left Texas that if they wanted to see us this was their chance. Amazingly just about everyone showed up, plus some friends and most people brought food as well. It made our trip a lot less stressful and meant we could spend more time with our son and enjoying the touristy bit so it felt like a vacation.

Not so bad £9 for pack of 20. Still sounds a lot to me same price as 2 pints.

https://www.expatistan.com/cost-of-living/london

For that £9.00 back when I started smoking I could have got 10 B&H and nearly 5 pints

Pretty certain that was 20 No.6 and 8 pints of Cider for me.

Good deal.

When I started going to the pub a pint of bitter was 1/9d. About 9p in new money. Mind you that was good beer in those days, the like of which we'll not see again.

I'm headed back next week, for 10 days to see family. Last time was 2013, and before that ... 2006 I think. Not looking forward to the cooler weather.

I didn't realize, but my UK passport expired a few months ago, so I'll be doing this one on my US passport for the first time.

I am now coming to the end of my 10 day visit. I'm having a great time, eating good food and spending quality time with family. For the first time ever, I did not rent a car, but instead took up my brother's offer of being ferried around; he's retired now and glad to be of use. Life is great here when you don't have to deal with driving and parking! My elderly mother is in decline, and I suspect this will be the first of many 'family' visits in the next few years.

I came over this time with a very specific agenda - see family - and I feel that 10 days is more than enough time. I may come back in spring of next year for just 7 days.

BTW - as noted above, I let my UK passport expire so entered on my US passport. It was a complete breeze! I did not have to wait at all; it couldn't possibly have been any faster for the UK (well, the EU) guys.

I quit drinking this year, and I noticed a great array of non-alcoholic drinks in all the cafe's and pubs; it's not difficult to find something interesting to drink everywhere I go.

We are thinking of going this year to see family, my dilemma is that I don't want to spend more than a week with family. It's a long way to go just for a week. 3 weeks in the UK seems like a long time. looking at flights , there is not a 2 week option unless I want to pay significant more. It's either 1 week or 3 weeks.

Take a cheap flight to somewhere in Europe for the middle section of the 3 week period.

We've found that a week is too short a time for a visit from East coast USA to London area (or vice versa)... We just get over the initial jet lag, rush to see a few family members, then we're hurrying back on the plane to go home. 10 days minimum seems optimal, or even 2 weeks if there's a lot of events planned. Mrken, unfortunate that the 2-wk return flights cost so much more.


Now that the husband & I are semi-retired, we might even consider 2 1/2 to 3 weeks.

I have never noticed that pattern, and indeed the "flex dates" I was offered while searching recently were $100-$200 cheaper if I returned on the 13th or 14th day compared to tla return on the 16th day that I started out looking for.

A few months ago we travelled from NYC to the UK on the QM2. I recommend it...it's a great way to kick off...or end a trip to the UK. No jet lag either...as the the clock goes forward 1 hour for 5 days...at midday.

The price goes up from $500 a ticket to $1000 a ticket(round trip). When buying 4 tickets, that's an extra $2k. It appears there are one or two days that are very cheap. I have never paid $500 for a direct flight to the west coast. I found the flights almost by accident.