Great british heritage Pass

[vitobn]

I got an email from these people. They claim, "The Great British Heritage Pass gains you free entry into each attraction, you do not have to wait in line to buy a ticket, there will generally be a separate place for a Pass holder to go." Has anyone heard of this or is it a scam?

[dzug]

Not a scam - but are you going to use it enough to make it worth while? And 'waiting in line' is going to be a problem at only a very few of the attractions listed.

Check various sources - some seem to charge a little more than others.

[Buenchico]

You could certainly make some good savings by buying a pass but only if really want to several places on the list. Many of them aren't easily accessible if you're travelling by rail (as I understand you intend to do).

There are some fantastic places to visit on their list but, since you'll only be in the UK for 15 days I doubt that you'll be able to get to many of them.

I suggest that you don't bother with the offer. This is not because it's a scam - it's definitely not - but simply that you wouldn't really benefit from it.

Chris

[vitobn]

Thanks dzug and buenchico. It sounds like I probably shouldn't waste my money on it since I'll only be ther for 15 days. I'm not necessarily going to trave by rail. I'll do whats ever the least expensive. I'd like to stay longer but I have dogs and cats I need to think of. Both you guys have been very helpful. Maybe we could meet for a beer and you could introduce me to some English women..... Thanks

Oh, one more thing. Since everyone is telling me to go to Edinburgh and I'm planning on spending my first week in York, ( thats where a lot of people tell me to go) What would be the best way to get there? Plane, train, bus??? How far is it from York?

[Machecoul]

I had a quick look at www.thetrainline.com website which enables you to type in destination / time of travel etc. Journey to Edinburgh from York is about 2 and a half hours. (The single fare options seem to be cheaper). I think if you order online you can collect your tickets at the station. Morning trains seem to be very frequent - not so the return evening trains.

We have been visiting US and Canada every Easter for last 8 years and Detroit, Cleveland and Pittsburgh seemed like a good idea at the time. (Felt very sad for Detroit - seems to have so many problems) We did catch ballgames in all three cities though. Cleveland and R & R hall of fsme was great. Pittsburgh was a nice place to be - quite different to the other two.

For bus times you might be able to get infoprmation from the National Express website. I'll look it up.

[Machecoul]

www.nationalexpress.com will enable you to look at coach timetables and costs.

There may be other local coach companies you can use but National Express is ..... er National (like Greyhound no doubt)

[vitobn]

Machecoul- Those 3 cities you mentioned at one time were 3 of the wealthiest cities in the USA, especially Detroit. Detroit used to be our 3rd most populous city after New York City and Chicago. Now many cities have surpassed Detroit�s population. Los Angeles California has passed Chicago and is now the 2nd largest and Detroit has slipped to about 9th. The area you mentioned is called the �Rust Belt.� Once great cities that are now struggling. The problem is a lot of businesses have left that area for warmer climate with California reaping the most business. I don�t know where you stay when in America but if it�s near the cities you mentioned, you must go to Chicago. Chicago is 1 city in the �Rust Belt� that avoided the rust. It�s one of our older and more beautiful cities with a lot of history. (History by American standards) If you like baseball games you need to go to Wrigley Field and watch the Chicago Cubs. It is one of the oldest stadiums in America.
Can�t wait to see England and thanks for the advice. Good luck next time you�re in America.

[Machecoul]

Thanks vitobn - we have visited Chicago - combined it with San Francisco - not our best idea - (flights in between). Have also been to New York, Washington, Philadelphia, Buffalo (!), Boston, Seattle, Baltimore,((Vancouver, Toronto, Ottawa, Quebec, Montreal, Niagara)),

Haven't been to Los Angeles yet - on our list for the future. Along with Memphis, New Orleans, Atlanta .... still many to visit. Hopefully when we retire (couple of years) then we will be able to visit more often.

[Machecoul]

Although Chris (Buenchico) will give you very specific and accurate information (I've followed his posts over the months) for an overview of cities have a look at www.tripadvisor.com It does list attractions with bits of information about them / as well as hotels / forums etc.

[vitobn]

Machecoul- Sounds like you�ve visited my great country a lot. San Francisco is my favorite city in the world. (that could change after I visit Great Britain) It�s the most magical city in the US and maybe the world. It just has a certain feel to it when you go there and I get that feel every time I go. It is clean, picturesque, beautiful coastline, cultural, busy, world travelers, great restaurants, excellent seafood especially the crab caught fresh daily etc. It is also the most expensive city in the US. The streets are so steep it�s a wonder why anyone would think of building a city there. The public transportation is the best and safest in the States. Especially fun is the Cable Car or Trolley as some call it. It is one of our older cities and the oldest city in the west not including all the little towns during the gold and silver rush of the 19th century or all the little towns from our �Wild West Cowboy Days.� The people are a �bit unusual� to put it nicely. San Francisco for some reason attracts a lot of strange and unusual people. It�s like a magnet for the eccentric. This isn�t something new either. It�s been this way since the city was founded. Can�t figure out why but I do have a very good theory. Now this isn�t a bad thing. The people aren�t crazy like there�re going to commit a crime, I men eccentric most are very talented. It seems that artistic people in general are a bit eccentric anyway. If I had to recommend one city for people from outside the US to see it would definitely be San Francisco. You really to spend at least a week there if you could afford it. It�s the most politically liberal city in the USA by far. I am considered a conservative but I don�t go there to talk politics. I�m curious what you thought about? How long did you stay?

[vitobn]

All the other cities you want to see are cool. I�ve never been to Atlanta. While in Memphis go visit Elvis at Graceland. There is a lot of country music shows to see there if you�re into that. First I would hold off on New Orleans for at least 5 years. After the Hurricanes and floods that followed there isn�t a whole lot to see yet. Give it about 5-6 years. I would go to Miami Beach instead. While there go to South Beach. Bring your swimsuit and sunscreen. It�s tropical so that means hot and humid days and nights and you could put a saddle on the insects, they get pretty healthy there. One thing you must do is rent a car and drive to Key West. It�s the southernmost city in the US. It is a 159-mile long bridge due south into the Caribbean towards Cuba connected by several island cities and tiny islands. It�s a 3-hour trip one way. Make sure you have Hotel reservations in advance so you don�t get stuck out there with no place to stay. And make sure you get a weather report before you go. Hurricane season is about August to November but I wouldn�t stay away during those months just because of the possibility of a Hurricane. You�ll have plenty of time to leave if one is spotted.
Hurricanes are spotted and followed sometimes for 2 weeks before they hit land and most don�t hit land. And most that do hit land and peter-out become a tropical storm and a tropical storm is pretty cool if you never experienced one. Key West is the last Island but the one�s on the way like Key Largo are a must see also. There are Hotels on all the Island Cities. While in Florida you might want to see the Everglades and the alligators that live there. And Disney World. Disney World will take 3 days to see but you don�t have to see it all if you don�t want to. Most of the other coastal cities in South Florida are cool also. As you get into the north it becomes redneck hillbilly country.

[Machecoul]

First part - we spent a week in Chicago (sampling ribs and pizza) and then a week in San Francisco. You have put into words our own feelings - a different type of city - but fantastic. (We walk everywhere - well almost - actually walked back up from the front having taken the cable car down! Yes I know!!!)

We try and do a city bus tour to get our bearings and then walk if we can to where we want to go.

Alcatraz was fascinating - did the tour - despite what you said about your history (and several US friends we've met have said the same thing - almost apologised for a relative lack of it - nonsense - it is still very fascinating and so different from ours in so many ways.

P.S. Wait till you see a British Robin! (Not like your monsters!)

Second part - We have had same thoughts about new Orleans. (It was almost going to be this year and we book a year in advance April 2005 for April 2006)

Florida is on our list for when we finally retire and can go (not during school holidays) and can thus avoid the British kids!! (we are both teachers). What you have said has convinced us - and maybe this time we'll hire a car - sounds like the only way to see Florida.

I seem to have taken over your question - but thanks for the time you've put in and the information you've passed on.