December 9, 2025 • 42 mins
Listener Laura Norton returns to share how she turned a dream anniversary trip into reality. From Beatles must-dos in Liverpool and a week based at St Katharine Docks in London to a quick hop to Paris, a powerful D-Day tour in Normandy, and a relaxing voyage home on the Queen Mary 2, Laura breaks down what worked, what she’d tweak, and the tips that saved time and stress. If you are planning a similar UK itinerary with a France add-on, this episode is packed with practical advice you can use straight away.
What you’ll learn
• Beatles highlights in Liverpool and how to stay at George Harrison’s childhood home
• Why reserving seats on busy train days matters and how to use the Tube with contactless
• London base tips near Tower Bridge plus day trips to the Harry Potter Studio Tour and Thorpe Abbotts
• How to structure a Paris stopover and reach Normandy for a full-day D-Day tour
• Caen to Portsmouth by ferry logistics before sailing on the Queen Mary 2
• Packing lessons for rail and cruise combos and managing without guaranteed air conditioning
• A real-world medication hiccup solved in the UK and why travel insurance matters
• The value of an early consult with Tracy and Doug to refine routes and timings
⭐️ Guest - Laura Norton
📝 Show Notes - Episode 179
🎧 Listen to next:
- Episode #100 – Celebrating 100 Episodes: A Special Edition of UK Travel Planning Podcast
- Episode #29: Chat with Ken Lambert – Beatles fan + owner of George Harrison’s childhood home
- Episode #152 – Trip Report: London and Cotswolds Highlights with Kristen Gonzalez
⭐️ Need help planning your UK trip? Choose the option that works best for you:
- Video Reviews (available anytime) — send us your itinerary for detailed feedback.
- 1:1 Consultations - live Zoom session with Doug & Tracy.
🎤 Leave us a voice message via SpeakPipe
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
SPEAKER_02 (00:00):
Dreaming of your own UK adventure, in this episode,
listener Laura Norton shares howshe brought hers to life from
the Beatles in Liverpool to thebest of London and beyond before
finishing with a few memorabledays in France and a voyage home
on the Queen Mary 2.
SPEAKER_00 (00:15):
Welcome to the UK Travel Planning Podcast, your
host and founder of the UKtravel planning website, Tracy
Collins.
Each week, Tracy sharesdestination guides, travel tips,
and itinerary ideas, as well asinterviews with a variety of
guests who share their knowledgeand experience of UK travel to
help you plan your perfect UKvacation.
Join us as we explore the UKfrom cosmopolitan cities to
(00:38):
quaint villages, from historiccastles to beautiful islands,
from picturesque countryside toseaside towns.
SPEAKER_02 (00:48):
Hi and welcome to this week's episode of the UK
travel planning podcast.
In today's episode, I'm catchingup with Laura Norton, who joined
myself and Doug for aconsultation more than a year
ago to plan her UK adventure.
Fast forward 15 months and she'sback to share how it all went
from the Beatles in Liverpooland the excitement of London to
a hop across the channel toParis and Normandy and an
(01:09):
unforgettable voyage home on theQueen Mary 2.
If you're planning a similaritinerary, you'll love hearing
Laura's reflections, traveltips, and standout moments from
her journey.
So let's dive into my chat withLaura and find out how her and
her husband's trip of a lifetimeunfolded.
Hi Laura, it's so good to haveyou back because you are a guest
(01:30):
on our hundredth episode of thepodcast.
Yes.
Uh, which is amazing.
So this is gonna be episode 179,and actually by the end of the
year we'll have hit 181, whichis crazy.
SPEAKER_01 (01:42):
That's amazing.
It's just it's just such awealth of information.
It's so amazing you guys dothis.
SPEAKER_02 (01:47):
Um well, I can't believe it.
So I'm hoping that you're gonnacome on the 200th episode, which
will be sure.
Yeah, which will be sometime in2026, I guess.
What, four or five months in?
Um, and talk about yourfavourite episodes, because
that's what everybody did it didin episode uh 100, which was
fantastic.
And we know that trip reportsare are absolutely a lot of
(02:07):
people.
And if you love trip reports,get in contact with me, I speak
pipe, and let me know because II want to know which is your
favorite and which ones youreally enjoy.
Because I know trip reports justseem to resonate with so many
people.
Now, Laura came on their 100thepisode and she's coming on
today to do the last trip reportof 2025.
Um, so Laura, I'll stop talkingand I will let you introduce
(02:30):
yourself and um tell us a littlebit about um where you're from,
uh where you went on the trip,who you went with, and uh just
to give us a kind of quickoverview of the itinerary.
SPEAKER_01 (02:42):
Sure.
So my name is Laura Norton.
Uh my husband and I live inGrand Rapids, Michigan in the
U.S.
We um don't have any of our uhhuman children, but we have very
four very spoiled uh cats thatare our babies.
Um, and this trip was tocelebrate our 30th wedding
anniversary.
So that was in June, and wetraveled in August.
(03:03):
Um uh after we did our 25thwedding anniversary uh trip,
which was a cruise to Hawaii andbeen delayed a little bit
because of COVID.
We were joking about what do wewant to do for our 30th.
My husband was like, you know,I'd like to go to England
sometime, and that's all ittook.
I latched on and started theplanning.
I know, so excited.
So give us a quick overview.
Where did where did you go?
Because I know obviouslydeciding where to go is a huge,
(03:25):
huge thing.
Yes.
So um we actually flew intoManchester um and uh then stayed
in Liverpool for two nights,then went to London.
We were in London for a week,then took the Eurostar to Paris.
Paris was just kind of astopover um one night just
because we didn't want to travelso much in one day.
Uh, then we took a train to Caenum so that we could do some
(03:47):
things in the Normandy area.
Then we took the a ferry from uhCannes back uh to England to
South Well to Portsmouth, andthen train into Southampton and
spent the night, and then wetook the Queen Mary too from
Southampton, Transatlantic backto New York City before we flew
home.
SPEAKER_02 (04:03):
I know that that's so exciting.
So exciting to do that.
That's one of the I'd love to doone of those cruises from.
I hear so much about them.
Southampton over at New Yorkjust sounds amazing.
Now, Doug and I actually helpedyou with your itinerary, but we
did it a long time in advance.
I think it was well over a year.
We did.
SPEAKER_01 (04:20):
Yeah, I think it was the spring before, yeah, the
spring of 24 is when we did it.
And um, like I had mentionedthere, for me, any trip that we
take, the planning is part thatI really enjoy.
That's part of the excitementfor me, is the planning part.
Um, so um, so that was fine.
And I just um I'm I'm myfather's daughter um as far as
detail planning, and he that'sexactly how he was of making
(04:43):
sure you had things ahead oftime and knew what you were
gonna do.
Um, so I definitely wanted toget your guys' feedback on what
we thought our itinerary wasgonna be.
And Doug's knowledge about traintravel was amazing.
And it was that that was part ofthe biggest part that made me a
little anxious was because youknow, we where we live in
Michigan, the only train we havegoes like from here to Chicago
(05:04):
on Amtrak.
Um so no subway, no tube,anything like that.
So that was the part I thinkthat made me the most anxious
about our travels.
But after talking to him and thelinks that you guys provided,
um, it it was so much easier andwasn't worth worrying about.
SPEAKER_02 (05:18):
Oh, that's where I'm gonna do it a little promotion
here, Laura, because actuallythis episode goes out in
December.
And Doug and I have got um weactually have January and
February open for consult.
So anybody who's listening andyou're thinking, uh, you know, I
want to do a consult and speakto speak to myself and Doug,
seriously, those bookings arethere.
Get get on and book it becauseit's it like you guys booked it
(05:39):
well yeah well in advance and itand it it helped so much with
with your planning.
SPEAKER_01 (05:43):
Yeah, I definitely anybody it's worth it's worth
it, the peace of mind, gettingthe feedback.
It helped me actually tweak afew things um and you know feel
well prepared.
Brilliant.
Thank you.
SPEAKER_02 (05:54):
Now let's start at the beginning.
So you arrived in Manchester andthen you headed to Liverpool.
So um talk us a little aboutabout your kind of first
impressions when you arrived andhow did your journey go into
Liverpool?
And tell us a little bit aboutwhat you did in Liverpool
because I know you were very,very excited about one
particular thing you were doing.
SPEAKER_01 (06:14):
Yes.
So um when we flew into toManchester, the you know, coming
through, getting off the plane,getting through passport control
immigration was very smooth.
I think it took us maybe a totalof 15 minutes.
It took us longer to walk fromthe plane through the airport to
get to that part than toactually go through it.
So we got our luggage, andbecause of the timing of when
our flight landed and when wewere going to be able to get
(06:34):
into our accommodations, weactually stored our luggage um
there at the Manchester Airportfor a brief time and took a um
Uber to um there's a small uhairport uh aviation museum um
just on the other side of theManchester Airport from the
departures.
And so we spent some time therewatching the planes coming in in
and out, which my husband wasthrilled with.
(06:56):
Got to see um uh some of the oneof the largest planes that flies
in the U anywhere in the worldnow land and take off.
So that was pretty cool.
Um, and so then we headed backto the airport when it was
closer to time and took thetrain into Liverpool, um, into
Lime Street Station, and thentook an Uber to our
accommodations, which was inSpeak, so it was a little bit
(07:17):
outside of Liverpool at GeorgeHarrison's childhood home at 25
Upton Green.
Um, so and we never would havefound about that if it wasn't
for one of your podcasts thatyou interviewed, um, the owner
of that uh that house.
So that was um my husband lovesthe Beatles.
Um, and so that was uh one ofthe big highlights for him.
(07:39):
Um so walking in there for thefirst time, knowing standing in
that living room, knowing thatthat's where you know the
Beatles stood, they practiced.
You were in that sameenvironment, it was pretty
surreal.
Um, and we have the entirehouse.
Um, and it's a three-bedroom.
Now we chose to stay in hisparents' house because that's
where the ceiling fan was.
Um, and it was it was prettywarm while we were there, but
(08:00):
tolerable.
Um, so it was wonderful.
Um, we did um take the ummystery tour or the uh magical
mystery bus tour in Liverpool,um, which was also a very
interesting stop at StrawberryFields, Penny Lane, um, seeing
all of those wonderful things.
Before we got on the tour, wehad toured some area at um uh
(08:22):
the dock area there, which waswonderful walking along the
Mercy and then um eating at thefood truck.
There's a food truck place thatwe ate at.
Um so it was really, it wasreally again just knowing seeing
everything online andresearching, and then you're
actually physically there isjust a little overwhelming.
SPEAKER_02 (08:40):
Oh, and Liverpool is amazing.
Honestly, if you're a Beatlesfan, I just think Liverpool
should be in your itinerarybecause it's it's a a fabulous
history as well in Liverpool.
It's an amazing city, it's anorthern city, and of course
it's where the Beatles comefrom.
So I was so excited that you youyou booked and stayed in
Georgia.
And we we've had loads offeedback from from people who've
(09:00):
listened to those that podcastand were like, oh my goodness,
it's amazing.
Um, and as you say, um, yeah,chatting to to the guy who
bought it, it was just like hisstory is fantastic.
I think it's maybe episodethirty, I'm trying to think, 28
or 30 of the podcast.
I should have actually got thatinformation.
But um, yeah, um, we've got awhole podcast where we chat
about actually the story aboutbuying it is great.
(09:21):
So I'm so glad you said how manynights did you did you stay
there?
SPEAKER_01 (09:24):
We were there for two nights.
Yep.
Um, you know, certainly worthit, you know, it at some point
we'd love to go back, have alittle more time.
Um when we were planning thistrip, we started with the
cruise, knowing what which onewe were gonna be on, and then
worked backwards, you know, withour time.
Uh would love to have had alittle more time.
And you know, if we go back,again, the experience was
amazing.
It it is a good 20 to 30 minutesoutside of actual Liverpool.
(09:48):
So I don't think we wouldnecessarily stay there again,
stay more, you know, closer toall of the attractions in the
history.
Um, but definitely would go backand love to spend uh more time
there.
SPEAKER_02 (09:58):
Oh well, another another great place to stay
actually Liverpool if you're aBeatles fan is a hard uh Hard
Days Nice Night Hotel.
Doug and I have stayed there afew times.
Yes.
And that's really cool becausethat's got a load of the
memorabilia as well.
So if you love the Beatles, it'shonestly it's a it's a
no-brainer.
It's so amazing.
Um so then after Liverpool, youyou're headed to Sheffield?
SPEAKER_01 (10:15):
Yeah, so we took a train from Liverpool to
Sheffield.
The original plan was then toagain store our luggage and go
to uh the cemetery out there umwhere the drummer, my husband is
also a big fan of um Def Lapard.
That's where they're from, sothey're from town.
And then we were going to thecemetery where their um drummer
Steve Clark, um, whounfortunately passed away, was
at to visit the grave, paysrespects.
(10:36):
Um, this is part of where welearned to be flexible and that
plans don't always go as youthink they're going to.
Um, another thing we learned iswe way overpacked.
Um, so um part of it, you know,Todd, my husband, Todd, he's
like, you know, yes, I kind ofwant to do this, he's this, but
really it's okay.
Taking luggage on and off thetrains and getting him into an
(10:58):
Uber and back and forth was, hewas just, we were just a little
overwhelmed at that point.
So to be honest, we ended upactually just staying at the
train station and peoplewatching and reading and didn't
end up going to the cemetery,um, which was fine.
And that's part of, you know,the thing we learned.
We wanted to see things, but wedidn't want to push ourselves so
far every day and be exhausted.
We wanted to be able to enjoyit.
(11:19):
So um, that was one thing, oneof the areas where we were like,
okay, we're gonna be flexible.
We're just that's okay.
Yeah, we'll just zoom in.
And then we got on the train anduh into Sheffield into London.
And interesting, at one stop umon our way, all of these young
men, probably late teens, early20s, gets on standing room only.
Apparently, one of another trainum had run into issues, and so
(11:41):
it wasn't running.
And they were all heading toSheffield for a um football.
There was a big football eventgoing on.
So it was it that was kind of athat was kind of a different,
interesting uh experience umjust to see, you know, the the
songs that they sing is just youknow so different for us for
Americans that we don't getthat.
Um but it was so it was reallyactually cool to experience.
They were very well behaved umand very nice, but it was it was
(12:04):
kind of a cool experience.
SPEAKER_02 (12:06):
Yeah, that's good.
I get I guess getting a trainwhen there's a football match on
and just say all the fansgetting on it is always
interesting.
I guess it would have all hadthe scarves on and you would
have like you would have knownwho they were supporting because
it's it's kind of very obvious,depending on what colours
they're wearing and the scarvesand everything.
Um but that's cool.
But actually that's one of thethat is one of the things
actually Douglas says, like I uhand I guess that you guys did it
(12:28):
is to reserve seats because um,for example, on a day like that
where there's a football match,the train's gonna get absolutely
like I say standing room only.
And so at least if you've got aseat reserved, and I'm not
saying that's not that's notinfallible because sometimes the
train like stay can getcancelled, and that's
unfortunately is you kind of canbe stuck.
But I think it's one of thosethings that don't say like
(12:49):
trying to make sure you've got aa a reservation, the free.
Um, and then at least you've gotthe peace of mind that if
there's a football match.
SPEAKER_01 (12:58):
We were very, very thankful we had reserved seats
on that train.
SPEAKER_02 (13:01):
I bet, I bet, because I can just imagine how
full it can get with um andseats don't sell out.
That's another thing, right?
They will keep selling uhtickets for the train, so you
know it can they can get very,very full.
Absolutely full.
Yes.
Okay, so you're to you, so youtook the train from Sheffield
down to London.
So talk to me about London,because you had you had quite a
few days in London, didn't you?
SPEAKER_01 (13:20):
Yep, yeah, we had an entire week in London.
Um, so we came into the trainstation again, took a um taxi to
um our flat that we had rented.
Um, we were in the St.
Catharines Dock area, um, whichwe absolutely loved that area.
Um, I mean right by TowerBridge, um the Tower Tube
Station.
We that's what we used theentire time.
(13:42):
It was, you know, a 10 not lessthan a 10-minute walk.
Um, great restaurants in thearea, but very quiet.
Um, and so that it was just aperfect location for us for
doing our traveling around town.
And then we did a couple of daytrips.
Um, so um, yeah, we loved it.
It was um, you know, again, asAmericans, we're so used to our
air conditioning.
(14:02):
Um, but um, I was gonna say,even though it was warm, I mean,
places were great.
They had two um floor uh standfans, left the windows open.
It was perfectly fine.
We did, it was not a problem.
Um, love to be able to have thewindows open.
We could, as we laid in the bedat night and looked out the
window, we could see the tops ofthe tower bridge and we could
(14:22):
see the shard um off our outerwindows and off the balcony.
So it was a perfect location forus.
SPEAKER_02 (14:28):
Oh, that's that is lovely.
Yeah, I mean, London can get canget really warm in those kind of
summer months.
And um, like AC isn't astandard, it's not a standard in
in a lot of the museums, it'snot a standard.
They're starting to put it nowon the tube, but um it's just
not standard.
And you kind of I guess for forplaces, buildings that are kind
of hundreds and hundreds ofyears old, it's just it's it's
(14:50):
one of those things.
A lot of hotels will, if theyhaven't got AC, we'll give you a
fan, which helps.
And we've stayed in plenty thatI've got a fan.
Um, but if like if AC is reallyimportant, then I you know when
you book in somewhere, you youyou do need to check that it has
got AC.
Don't kind of make thatassumption, like a lot of
countries, um like in Australiawe have AC everywhere, and
obviously in in the States youhave AC.
(15:10):
So um it's just not as common.
Um, even in places, a lot ofplaces in Europe that don't have
it, and you you know, youswelter in August when it's
really hot, and you're like,whoa.
Um but yeah, so I'm glad that itdidn't, it kind of it was fine,
fine for you guys.
So so talk me about through yourkind of highlights of London.
What were the things that youwere just like, wow?
SPEAKER_01 (15:29):
Yeah.
Um, I think, you know, for us,just again, after all the
research and you know, lookingonline and and listening to
different podcasts and differentFacebook groups, and just the
fact of to be standing on thatbalcony and we're actually
there.
Um, I mean, I actually got alittle teary-eyed just because
it was just, you know, so muchhistory.
Um, you know, we don't have anyin the United States, yes, we
(15:51):
have history, but not to theextent and a lot of in Europe
and the old.
And it's just it was, we justlove to walk.
Again, we didn't pack our days.
Um, you know, yes, there's somuch to see, and yes, we will go
back.
Um, but we just wanted to beable to enjoy it.
So just walking along the tensand taking in the scenery um was
just wonderful for us.
Um, you know, we to did take acouple of um day trips um from
(16:15):
London.
One was um to the uh WarnerBrothers studio, uh Harry Potter
Studio tour, because that wasone of two things that was on my
list that we had to do for me.
Um and then the other day tripwe did is we took a train to
Diss um and went to ThorpeAbbott's.
Um my husband is a history majorand World War II is his area of
(16:35):
interest.
Um, so we had watched the bloodyuh watched the Masters of the
Air um series about the bloody100s before we went.
Yeah.
Um and again, just that standingon that hollow ground and so
much was there.
It was, it was, it was verymoving, very, you know, just it
was a great, uh, greatexperience.
Um, the other thing that we didin London that was, you know,
(16:56):
another thing on my checklist Ihad to do is I'm a nurse, been a
nurse for 30 years, and so goingto the Florence Nightingale
Museum.
Oh, yes, almost very yeah, thatwas that was very moving for me.
SPEAKER_02 (17:07):
It it is really good.
And um, it's yeah, it's it'ssomewhere I only just recently
went, actually went last year.
I had um uh I did a London Passthing for three days, and um I
thought I'm gonna go and seesome of the stuff that I haven't
seen before, some of the museumsare included, and the the um
Florence Nightingale museum wasincluded in that.
So I actually went with a friendof mine who who's a retired
midwife, and she also absolutelyloved it.
(17:29):
It was really, reallyinteresting.
Um and there's a bit where youcan actually listen to Florence
Nightingale's voice, which I Iloved that.
I thought because you know, youcan you we look at the photos
and and especially when it's itseems so far away in the past
when you hear about it, butactually being able to, you
know, hear the person's voice,it was like, oh wow, you know,
(17:50):
it brings it brings it, itbrings it back to life and real.
SPEAKER_01 (17:53):
It was great.
Yeah, they had an area too whereyou could make a rubbing of her
signature.
Um, and so I have that, and it'sactually hanging in the my
office at my uh doctor's officethat I'm where I may I'm a
manager, I have it hanging in myoffice.
Oh, that's so cool.
As a momentum, so yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (18:08):
Oh well, so any any nurses listening, if you're
nursing your head in London,seriously, Folk Nightingale
Museum really should be includedin in your itinerary for it.
Definitely worth it.
Um can we did you go to any ofthe the big hitters?
Because obviously Tower ofLondon, Westminster Abbey, did
you did you fit in those?
SPEAKER_01 (18:25):
Yeah, we did.
Uh so we did um, you know, wewalked, we didn't get in to do a
tour of Westminster Abbey, butwe did walk around um, you know,
Big Ben Elizabeth Tower,Parliament.
Um we did do a tour of the um Muh HMS Belfast.
Um we did that.
Uh again, the history things, umuh Buckingham Palace.
(18:46):
Um, so yeah, you know, all theyou know, the kind of the big
highlight touristy type things.
Yeah.
Um just uh, you know, it was uhyeah, it was wonderful.
So we yeah, it was great.
We'll definitely going back, umwould love to just spend
another, you know, week to tendays just in London.
There's so much to see.
And would like to do, you know,some other day trips, Cotswolds,
you know, that was another oneon my list, just not enough time
(19:09):
in one trip.
SPEAKER_02 (19:10):
Yeah, and the thing is that sometimes you can kind
of pack stuff in and you end up,you think, and even you know,
I'm also sometimes guilty ofthis because I'm like I get so
excited and like even last yearI was in London for five or six
weeks, and I was like, I had along list of how I'm gonna do
all these things, and actuallywhat you forget is that you get
a bit tired and fatigued, andthen it's like actually, no, I'm
not gonna manage to do another30,000 steps for another like
(19:31):
every day for another weekbecause it's it's just too much.
So I think I think pacingyourself and kind of picking
those kind of must-do thingsthat you really, really, really
want to do, and then kind ofworking it around that.
Like you managed to do, youknow, you did your day trip and
you did Harry Potter.
Again, you booked Harry Potterwell in advance because that
that Warner Brothers to getbooked up so quickly.
SPEAKER_01 (19:51):
Yes, I actually I think it was someone posted on
um your Facebook page, heyeverybody, they've opened up for
2025 that day, and I was on it.
SPEAKER_02 (20:01):
Yeah, you absolutely need to book because we hear so
often people go, Oh no, it'sbooked up.
I'm like, Yeah, you need to needto book.
We actually have got a a web apage on the London Travel Plan
and website, which just kind ofgives you an idea of when to
book things, how far in advance.
Um, because there's nothingworse than the thing, the one or
two things that you really wantto do when you try, you go on in
the booked up, it's like no.
Um so tell me a little bit aboutdid you the the going to to
(20:24):
Paris was you said it was kindof just a it was a stop off
because you were going to go anddo the the the World War II
tour.
Um so how did you go about kindof planning that trip over um to
Paris from London?
I was I know you took theEurostar, so how how did all
that work?
Yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (20:39):
Yeah, we you know we neither one of us like to get up
early.
Um I do it every day for work,so I don't like to do that on
vacation.
So we did um, I think it was the9:30 um train um out of um St.
Pancras and on the Eurostar.
Um and actually that process,get at least getting through
passport and security wasn'tbad.
Um, it does get very, verycrowded in the waiting area.
(21:02):
That that was interesting.
Um, but um then once we got onthe train, we did um, and I'm
kind of losing track, I can'tremember whatever the middle
roll, the middle of the roadseats are.
So we had a light lunch um thatwas provided.
Um, and you know, verycomfortable.
That was great.
Um, when we got to the station,then we took a um Ubert or a
(21:25):
taxi, um, which then we gotmaybe a block, a block and a
half away from the trainstation, and something was wrong
with his meter.
It wasn't working.
So he actually flagged anothertaxi driver who happened to be
right near, who's our hisfriend, flagged him over.
We grabbed stuff out of thetrunk and put it in the other
taxi.
Um, you know, and of course, youknow, my mind's like, I'm I
think this is legit.
(21:46):
I don't think we're gettingripped off.
I think this is okay, but it wasfine.
Um, we got to the hotel.
Um, we stayed in a very um smalluh hotel um right by the um St.
Lazare train station becausethat's where we knew we were
going out of the next morning togo to Conn.
So we wanted to stay close tothat.
So it wasn't the closest to alot of the attractions, but
(22:06):
again, we weren't there, youknow, less than 24 hours, so
that was okay.
Um, but we could see the EiffelTower from our balcony, um,
which was nice.
So we got to see it light up atnight and see it sparkle.
Um we did we did a little bit ofa walk that afternoon um and
went to see Moulin Rouge andthen we walked past the Paris
Opera House, um, and then justkind of relaxed in the room
(22:28):
because we knew we were gonna beup a little bit early the next
morning to get the train toCaen.
Um, so yeah, and then that, youknow, that the Eurostar was no
problem in the train.
The the train to Caen was alittle trickier.
Um again, thankfully we hadreserved seats, but the first
train, the first section of it,um, didn't realize it was a
double decker train.
(22:50):
Um, and our seats ended up beingin the top.
And by the time we got on, mostof the luggage storage was
already taken.
Um, the air conditioning wasn'tworking very well.
So that was probably the, youknow, out of all of the trains,
there was a little glitchiesthere.
And then when we got to thestation to train, we had to do a
transfer, we had about 10minutes.
No escalators, carrying all ofour luggage, but we made it.
(23:14):
There were other people thatwere in the same boat with us.
Um, and you were talking earlierabout how they just keep selling
tickets, and we got on thattrain, there was nowhere to sit,
and all of you know, several ofus just standing.
And eventually a few stopslater, people just got off and
we could, you know, find a seat.
But, you know, we figure out ofthe whole trip, just having, you
know, one or two small glitcheslike that, we just felt very
(23:34):
fortunate.
SPEAKER_02 (23:35):
Yeah, no, uh, yeah, I guess you it like you said,
you just gotta kind of have abit of flexibility and um and
and I always think anybody whohas the the opportunity to talk
to Doug as well have a has alittle bit more knowledge and
and confidence about when thingsdon't exactly work out that how
to do stuff.
I think he's he's really good atkind of you know sharing that.
(23:56):
And and we've we've even hadpeople when things have gone
wrong that have kind of messagedhim and he's kind of said, look,
you know, this is what you needto do just to help people out.
But um I think that really thatreally helps.
Just a quick question, becausethis is something that I did you
how did you find the differencebetween London and Paris?
Because I find them sodifferent.
SPEAKER_01 (24:17):
They're so different, they're so close
together, capital cities, butthey are so different.
Yeah, they are so different.
And again, like I said, we justyou know, we did a little
walking, and some of the sidestreets, little cafes, whatever
were nice and stuff, but it itjust doesn't have the same.
I know they always say, youknow, well, French were so rude,
but I mean, people were nice tous, you know.
We as long as you greeted with abonjour and at least attempted,
(24:40):
you know, a little bit, thenthey were fine, but not as
outgoing and friendlynecessarily as when we were in
um London.
Um, and my husband and I weretalking, and it's like, yeah,
we'd go back to to London or anyplace in the UK in a heartbeat.
I don't know that we would goback to Paris.
Or, you know, and maybe if wehad been staying a little
closer, maybe had a longer time,maybe we feel a little bit
(25:00):
different, but not so sure thatthat's an area we'd want to go
back to.
SPEAKER_02 (25:03):
No, I have to say, and again, I think I'm gonna get
I'm getting a bit of areputation for this.
I think on the my other podcast,the Global Travel Plan in one,
I've got one about um placesthat I'm I am not so fond of,
and unfortunately Paris kind ofcomes to the top of my list, and
there's many reasons why.
And I did I actually used tolive in France, I speak French
fairly well.
I used to be totally fluent,it's gone now because we're
(25:23):
talking 30 odd years ago.
But um, but I yeah, I I juststruggle a bit with Paris.
I love France.
I just just Paris I I I don'tknow.
I think I I think um yeah, Ialways say to people don't build
Paris up too much in your head,because I think it you may you
may be disappointed, you maynot.
Again, people might I might havepeople listen going, Oh, I loved
it, and which is fine.
We're all different, we all likewe all love different things.
(25:45):
Um so you then you did a WorldWar II tour when you before you
then.
How did that go?
SPEAKER_01 (25:52):
Yeah, we um yeah, that was great.
We um we again chose uh uh ourcommand we did VRBO um close to
the train station in Cannes, um,partly because then we needed to
get to that ferry.
So we didn't want to stay inBayou.
I know a lot of people stay inBayou because that's where all
the tours go out of.
Um but we stayed in Caen andthen it was just a short, um, I
(26:12):
think like 15, 20 minute trainride um from Cannes to Bayou,
where we then met and we wentwith um Overlord Tours was the
group that was the agents thatwe used.
Um, there were, I think, like 14of us in a small minivan with
the guide.
And it was, I mean, it was along day.
Um, it was a full, I think eightand a half hours, but it was it
(26:33):
was wonderful, it was amazing.
Um, you know, I think again, myhusband being the World Lord II,
his area that he loves, just allof it was just taking it all in
and so interesting and goinginto some of the bunkers.
Um, I think for me, standing onOmaha Beach, um, where the
Americans landed.
I mean, now granted you'restanding there as people laying
on the sand, sunbathing, alittle bit different environment
(26:56):
than obviously at that time, butjust again, just that, just that
history overwhelming washingover you of this is where it
happened, this is this is whereit was.
It was um, yeah, it waswonderful.
I'm glad we kind of changed ouritinerary a bit and and expanded
instead of spending as much timein London and taking that extra
side trip.
It was, I feel was really worthit.
SPEAKER_02 (27:16):
Yeah, I think that's really good.
And I think just theopportunity, you know, like you
say for your husband who lovesthat that history, and you have
the opportunity when you'rethere to actually go and you
know, stand in the footsteps ofwhere those people were and have
that experience.
And so, you know, it it justbrings it back to you.
I think it just makes it a bitmore real when you have the
opportunity to do that.
But I know I think we're I'm I'msure when we did the consult,
(27:37):
Doug helped you a bit with thatkind of logistics around that
bit in France as well.
Well, pretty good on Europeantravel, um, because we've done
so much of it.
Yes.
Um and then you got the ferry,which was interesting over to
Portsmouth.
So how did that go?
And then kind of how was thelogistics for the last last few
days?
SPEAKER_01 (27:54):
Yeah, so um again, you know, we we did use um Uber
quite a bit um in with with ourtravels.
So we took, we did, we scheduledan Uber, not a problem, picked
us up.
Um we had actually um and got tothe ferry deck there.
We went through uh BritneyFerries is who runs those.
Um and I do I remembered when Ibooked it, I'd like, I know we
(28:15):
got like at least a room withbed so because you know, left
early in the morning, could restand take some.
I guess I didn't really rememberuntil we got on the ferry and
got into a room that I'm like,oh, I got like a regular room
room.
It was like an actual hotelroom.
And it was on the back of theferry.
We had our own little um kind ofbalcony area at the back of the
uh back of the ferry, a fullqueen-size bed.
(28:36):
I'm like, oh, I can rememberdoing that, but okay, this will
this works great.
So that was really nice just tobe able to relax um and you
know, go to the eater and getsomething to eat.
It was a really smooth, greatweather, smooth uh sailing on
that, not a problem.
Um, got off at Portsmouth and umthey're doing some work at the
docks at the Portsmouth.
(28:56):
So we actually they actuallydrove um buses on to after the
cars got all unloaded off theferry, drove buses on there for
us to take that to um the areawhere we caught our taxi.
We they couldn't get us directlythere.
Um, so yeah, then we we got atax there again.
We took the train um fromPortsmouth to Southampton and
then actually stayed, and inSouthampton, we stayed at the
(29:18):
White Star Hotel.
So a lot of Titanic memorabiliaand stuff in there was just
which was wonderful.
Um, we walked around a littlebit um that afternoon and then
um got up the next morning toget on the cruise.
Uh and how long did it take youto cruise back?
Uh seven nights.
SPEAKER_02 (29:34):
Wow.
Wow.
So yeah.
Yeah.
I bet that was pretty special.
SPEAKER_01 (29:39):
It was.
Um weather wise, we were sofortunate the entire time we
were in England and in France.
We never had rain.
It was beautiful weather.
We were very fortunate.
A little bit of rough seas thefirst couple of days, um, across
a bit it was remnants ofHurricane Aaron coming across um
the Atlantic.
Um, but After that, it just wasfine.
(30:02):
And, you know, after being goneand going, even though we didn't
push ourselves, it was nice,like we're just not doing much
of anything.
unknown (30:08):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (30:08):
We're just gonna relax and leave.
You know, did a few of the, youknow, a couple of shows, went to
some lectures.
Um, you know, one thing I hadmentioned earlier about we did
pack way too much, and part ofit too, and we know this
wouldn't be every trip, but wehad one duffel bag just with our
extra fancy clothes for thecruise.
Um, with Q and Ard, they are alittle bit um more, you know, a
(30:31):
little bit dressier than a lotof cruises and stuff.
And we knew that that was, youknow, kind of the fun of it.
Um, so we obviously wouldn'tpack that way every time we go
on a trip.
Um but we did do one of theformal nights, um, which was
fun.
It's just not not something thatwe typically do.
So it's kind of fun to dress upa little extra and do something
fun and special.
Um, and so yeah, we just took inthe shows.
(30:54):
There was um actually onelecturer, guest lecturer that we
happened to meet in one of thelounges.
He just sat down next to us.
My husband had his Beatlest-shirt on.
And this gentleman had a Beatleshat on, got to talking.
He found out was one of hisguest lecturers.
He was doing things on ummusicians and musical history.
He had done Buddy Holly, he wasdoing um, he did one on Elvis,
(31:15):
and he was going to be doing oneon the Beatles.
So we got to talk a lot.
He was in Liverpool for BeatlesWeek.
We missed that by a week, but hewas there and told him about
staying at 25 Upton, which hethought was very cool.
And when he actually did hislecture um a couple of days
later, um he actually did ashout-out to us when he showed
George Harrison the famouspicture of him holding his
(31:37):
guitar outside of 25 Upton.
And he's like, Yeah, those weremy friends Todd and Laura
stayed.
Lucky them.
So that was kind of an extralittle cool bonus.
SPEAKER_02 (31:44):
Oh, that's really cool.
I love that.
That's just those are the justamazing stories to hear that you
know, you didn't plan it, butjust something like that
happening and being able to likesay it to the guy, guess what?
We've just stayed.
I mean, that's amazing.
That's fantastic.
And I love the fact that she'sjust having that seven days to
just just say chill out on theon the way back as well.
And I know I knew when youmentioned about having too much
(32:04):
luggage on the train that it wasbecause I knew because I know
when people go on cruises,there's a kind of expect you've
got to do the dressy up thing,and um yeah, and having uh I
I've actually got a friend thatthat's just done the same thing.
She was over there, I think shewas eight weeks, and they they
had a few cruises and and thatand she was taking trains all
around Italy and France, and Iwas like, Oh Natalie, the
luggage, and she said, But I'vegot we've done all these
(32:26):
cruises, I have to look nice.
So I know it gave me a bit of akind of a uh yeah, bit of a
stress with the with theluggage.
Um we'll swing back and talk alittle bit about kind of your
accommodation and food and thekind of logistics things,
because I know I know peoplelove to find out about kind of
like the highlights of thingsplaces you stayed and and what
(32:47):
you ate and stuff like that.
So um so I know you've youstayed in quite a few uh VRBOs.
So how did they go?
Were there any particular kindof ones you kind of went, oh,
this is really nice?
Or they're all good.
SPEAKER_01 (32:57):
Yeah, we actually we were very fortunate um that all
um in Liverpool, London, and inCannes, they were all through
VRBO.
Communication is was wonderfulwith everybody.
It was very smooth.
Um, if we had any kind ofglitches, we can message them
and they were great, you know,about getting back to us.
(33:18):
Um in um Paris, obviously, westayed at a hotel.
Um, and again, it was just asmall boutique hotel, um, which
was wonderful.
And they were actually great atuh to work with.
Um, so my husband is a diabetic,so we traveled with insulin.
And um, so I have a little trap,we've got a travel thing that
has something has to be frozenthough, for the inside of it to
(33:39):
keep stuff cold.
And so they were wonderful.
They put it in their own littlefridge, freezer for us off, you
know, when they're at breakfastarea.
So that was not a problem.
Um, so no, they were allwonderful.
I wouldn't recommend any of theplaces we stayed at to for
anybody to stay.
And if we go back when we goback to London, I have no
problem whatsoever staying inthe same place.
SPEAKER_02 (33:59):
Brilliant.
Well, I'll get the we'll get thelinks uh for those places that
you stayed with.
I actually do work with VRBO aswell.
So if anybody's out therethinking about booking, we have
got some affiliate, we have anaffiliate link for VRBO, so take
a look at that.
And I'll put a link to theplaces that you stayed in as
well.
Laura, and obviously to UptonGreen as well.
Um, because that'd be cool.
Yes.
Um now talk me, talk I lovetalking about food.
(34:20):
Food and drinks.
Tell me, was there any kind ofstanding out highlights of
things that you ate that youwent for?
SPEAKER_01 (34:26):
Yeah, my husband is a has totally been now addicted
to sticky toffee pudding.
That was his absolute favoritething that he got in.
And obviously, we cannot findthat since we've gotten home.
Um, but that um we, you know, wedid, you know, traditional fish
and chips um a couple ofdifferent times.
(34:46):
Um, where we stayed in St.
Catharines Dock, there's arestaurant, the Dickens Inn, um,
that was right across the theway there from us.
And we ate there a couple oftimes.
Great atmosphere, wonderfulfood.
Um, so uh yeah, I think thoseare probably the ones that
really um stick out um to us.
And in uh France, it probablywas we just weren't there, I
(35:08):
don't think, enough.
Actually, when we stayed um inCannes, we actually went to a
local small grocery store andbrought stuff and cooked in the
VRBO because by that time Ithink we were kind of done with
eating out.
SPEAKER_02 (35:18):
Oh, but it's always a lot, it's like it's it's
always I'm sorry, just take thatbit out, right?
It's always really good fun justto go and check out the
supermarkets anyway.
And I mean yeah, Frenchsupermarkets are I you you have
to drag me out because I uh wellI used to live in France, so
just looking at the freshproduce and the cheese, the
cheese, oh my goodness, likecheese heaven.
Um so that's good.
And I love the fact that youmentioned a sticky toffee
(35:40):
pudding because that that comesup so often.
It seems to be such a favoritewith everybody, it really does.
Um so that swinging back, Iguess the logistics.
So obviously Doug helped a lotwith the train stuff.
So you found the train stuffpretty smooth, pretty good.
SPEAKER_01 (35:53):
Yeah, it really wasn't that bad.
And if you had questions,everybody was so nice about, you
know, I'm pretty sure, hey, Ithink this is where we need to
go out of.
This is where we're, yep, thisis where you go.
You know, do I scan scan thingswith my phone or you know, do we
wait to get on the train andthey check it?
Um, that was fine.
Um, again, I mentioned, youknow, we didn't have a lot of
exposure to subway.
We've been in New York Cityonce, so you know, use a subway
(36:16):
there.
But the tube system was don't beafraid of it, don't don't get
all anxious about it.
It is so easy to use.
And once again, if you havequestions, um, you know, ask a
couple times.
And one time we were like, nope,this isn't the station you need,
you need the next one, and youknow, was great.
So, and we just used our umsmartphones and did tap um for
(36:37):
paying and it worked great.
SPEAKER_02 (36:39):
It's very easy.
And uh Doug's actually um justbeen over because when I know
where this is, he's actuallythere at the moment when we're
recording this podcast, but bythe time this podcast comes out
just before Christmas, he'llhave been back and he'll be
making lots of YouTube videos toshow to show a lot of this as
well.
And he's doing a lot, he'sactually doing a lot at the
moment of kind of um London toyou know, Canterbury or London,
(36:59):
Oxford, London to Windsor, andhe's doing all that to kind of
show just so you can get that,so you kind of can visualize it,
um, and also kind of how to usethe the tube and stuff like
that.
Because it's it is actuallyreally easy, but we also know
that if you're not used to thatsystem and getting trains, it
can it can feel a bit scarybecause you don't know what you
don't do, and that's that's thescary thing, isn't it?
(37:20):
Um so overall logistically,everything you kind of pasted it
well, you kind of you yeah,there's nothing you would kind
of go back and change.
SPEAKER_01 (37:26):
It would be like never, yeah, didn't miss didn't
miss a train or any yeah, wewere very fortunate in like and
it was great.
SPEAKER_02 (37:33):
All right, you had so it was a really well planned
trip.
I know you planned it a lot uhyou know a long way out.
You really knew what you weredoing, and and you know, you
have the consort and everything.
Um was there a part of the tripthat just exceeded your
expectations of what you had?
And I know you loved it all.
SPEAKER_01 (37:49):
Um Yeah, I mean, actually before we were to
thread, I was going through thequestions with my husband.
I'm like, I'm just I'm kind ofstruggling with this.
And then all of a sudden it kindof dawned on both of us.
Not something that exceeded asfar as what we'd had planned.
However, um, there was oneparticular medication that I
grabbed the partial filledbottle and not a full bottle of
(38:12):
one of my husband's medications.
And so he was gonna be short.
Um, and so I was, I'm Googling,you know, like, you know, what
are our options?
And, you know, it it's a fairlycommon medication.
It's not like it was it wasn't acontrolled substance or, you
know, anything like that.
And, you know, I said, like,yeah, sometimes local, you know,
GPs might be able to help youout.
(38:33):
And the um flat we were stayingat in London, there was a GP
office in that building.
So we actually went down there,I explained the situation.
He's like, Oh yeah, two blocksover, there's this pharmacy.
They have a prescribingpharmacist there.
Went over, explained thesituation, showed the original
prescription bottle.
He said, No problem, have aseat.
And within 15 minutes, we had a28-day supply and paid 35
(38:56):
pounds.
SPEAKER_02 (38:57):
That's amazing.
That's so good.
SPEAKER_01 (38:59):
It was, yeah.
So again, not something thatobviously we planned, but so
exceeded how easy it was and howhelpful everybody was.
And it, you know, it made a bigdifference.
Um, you know, this medic couldhave made the rest of the trip
not nearly as fun.
Yeah, it's good to know that youknow without it.
SPEAKER_02 (39:19):
Yeah, it's good to know like things like that that
you can, you know, that it youmanage to solve it and people
helped you and you and you gotit got it all done and dusted
and and it didn't become a bigbig issue.
So that's really good.
So I'm um I'm uh it's lovely tohear that.
And they are very good.
The the the chemists and thepharmacists in the UK um pop in
and always you can always askthem stuff.
We um yeah, they're really,really helpful.
(39:40):
Um, so I don't know, likethere's just this there's lots
of big um chemists all over theUK, so it's not a problem that
you will find one to go and ifyou've got an issue.
Um same with dentists, I've hadto go and have an emergency
dental care when I was inEdinburgh a few years ago, and
and just luckily where we werestaying, they they gave me a
number and later on that day Iwent in.
Uh look, I almost have travelinsurance, so claimed it put
(40:02):
back on travel insurance, but itwas all sorted.
So because it could have beenpretty big um, you know,
problem.
So antibiotics was all given andit was all sorted.
So again, travel insurance is isreally good when the big things
like that happen.
Yes.
SPEAKER_01 (40:15):
Yes, because they even asked us, you know, do you
want a receipt for travelinsurance?
Which I like I appreciate it,but I'm like, yes, 35.
Yeah, no, it's fine.
Yeah it's it's cheaper than whatwe would have paid for it
actually with our copay in home.
SPEAKER_02 (40:26):
So right.
So I always end the podcast withthe same question.
You'll know what's coming upnow.
But what would be your one pieceof advice for someone planning
their UK adventure?
SPEAKER_01 (40:37):
Do a consultation and just don't overpack your
days.
Just enjoy being there, youknow.
Even just if it's just walkingaround and taking in the
scenery, that's okay.
You don't have to seeeverything.
Yeah, you can always come back.
SPEAKER_02 (40:52):
You can always go back.
Yep.
It's it's it's gonna be there.
So definitely, yeah.
In fact, I would say don't planto just go once because you'll
so much to do and see.
You will want to go back again.
Um but Laura, it's it's beensuch a joy to speak to you
again.
And I'm I know next year we'llwe'll catch up for the 200th
episode, so that's gonna begood.
So you can get your thinking capon to see which are you gonna be
(41:13):
your favorite episodes becauseyou're gonna have 200 to choose
from this time.
That's right.
I'm gonna have to go back and dosome listening.
I know it's gonna be it's gonnabe a lot.
But yeah, thanks so much forcoming on and and and filling us
in.
Oh, thanks for for asking.
This has been great.
Oh brilliant.
Well, thanks so much, Laura.
Thank you.
Thank you for tuning in to thisweek's episode of the UK Travel
(41:36):
Planning Podcast.
As always, show notes can befound at uktravelplanning.com.
If you've enjoyed the show, whynot leave us feedback via text
or a review on your favouritepodcast app?
We love to hear from you, andyou never know, you may receive
a shout out in a future episode.
But as always, that just leavesme to say until next week, happy
(41:57):
UK travel planning.
Dreaming of your own UK adventure, in this episode,
listener Laura Norton shares howshe brought hers to life from
the Beatles in Liverpool to thebest of London and beyond before
finishing with a few memorabledays in France and a voyage home
on the Queen Mary 2.
SPEAKER_00 (00:15):
Welcome to the UK Travel Planning Podcast, your
host and founder of the UKtravel planning website, Tracy
Collins.
Each week, Tracy sharesdestination guides, travel tips,
and itinerary ideas, as well asinterviews with a variety of
guests who share their knowledgeand experience of UK travel to
help you plan your perfect UKvacation.
Join us as we explore the UKfrom cosmopolitan cities to
(00:38):
quaint villages, from historiccastles to beautiful islands,
from picturesque countryside toseaside towns.
SPEAKER_02 (00:48):
Hi and welcome to this week's episode of the UK
travel planning podcast.
In today's episode, I'm catchingup with Laura Norton, who joined
myself and Doug for aconsultation more than a year
ago to plan her UK adventure.
Fast forward 15 months and she'sback to share how it all went
from the Beatles in Liverpooland the excitement of London to
a hop across the channel toParis and Normandy and an
(01:09):
unforgettable voyage home on theQueen Mary 2.
If you're planning a similaritinerary, you'll love hearing
Laura's reflections, traveltips, and standout moments from
her journey.
So let's dive into my chat withLaura and find out how her and
her husband's trip of a lifetimeunfolded.
Hi Laura, it's so good to haveyou back because you are a guest
(01:30):
on our hundredth episode of thepodcast.
Yes.
Uh, which is amazing.
So this is gonna be episode 179,and actually by the end of the
year we'll have hit 181, whichis crazy.
SPEAKER_01 (01:42):
That's amazing.
It's just it's just such awealth of information.
It's so amazing you guys dothis.
SPEAKER_02 (01:47):
Um well, I can't believe it.
So I'm hoping that you're gonnacome on the 200th episode, which
will be sure.
Yeah, which will be sometime in2026, I guess.
What, four or five months in?
Um, and talk about yourfavourite episodes, because
that's what everybody did it didin episode uh 100, which was
fantastic.
And we know that trip reportsare are absolutely a lot of
(02:07):
people.
And if you love trip reports,get in contact with me, I speak
pipe, and let me know because II want to know which is your
favorite and which ones youreally enjoy.
Because I know trip reports justseem to resonate with so many
people.
Now, Laura came on their 100thepisode and she's coming on
today to do the last trip reportof 2025.
Um, so Laura, I'll stop talkingand I will let you introduce
(02:30):
yourself and um tell us a littlebit about um where you're from,
uh where you went on the trip,who you went with, and uh just
to give us a kind of quickoverview of the itinerary.
SPEAKER_01 (02:42):
Sure.
So my name is Laura Norton.
Uh my husband and I live inGrand Rapids, Michigan in the
U.S.
We um don't have any of our uhhuman children, but we have very
four very spoiled uh cats thatare our babies.
Um, and this trip was tocelebrate our 30th wedding
anniversary.
So that was in June, and wetraveled in August.
(03:03):
Um uh after we did our 25thwedding anniversary uh trip,
which was a cruise to Hawaii andbeen delayed a little bit
because of COVID.
We were joking about what do wewant to do for our 30th.
My husband was like, you know,I'd like to go to England
sometime, and that's all ittook.
I latched on and started theplanning.
I know, so excited.
So give us a quick overview.
Where did where did you go?
Because I know obviouslydeciding where to go is a huge,
(03:25):
huge thing.
Yes.
So um we actually flew intoManchester um and uh then stayed
in Liverpool for two nights,then went to London.
We were in London for a week,then took the Eurostar to Paris.
Paris was just kind of astopover um one night just
because we didn't want to travelso much in one day.
Uh, then we took a train to Caenum so that we could do some
(03:47):
things in the Normandy area.
Then we took the a ferry from uhCannes back uh to England to
South Well to Portsmouth, andthen train into Southampton and
spent the night, and then wetook the Queen Mary too from
Southampton, Transatlantic backto New York City before we flew
home.
SPEAKER_02 (04:03):
I know that that's so exciting.
So exciting to do that.
That's one of the I'd love to doone of those cruises from.
I hear so much about them.
Southampton over at New Yorkjust sounds amazing.
Now, Doug and I actually helpedyou with your itinerary, but we
did it a long time in advance.
I think it was well over a year.
We did.
SPEAKER_01 (04:20):
Yeah, I think it was the spring before, yeah, the
spring of 24 is when we did it.
And um, like I had mentionedthere, for me, any trip that we
take, the planning is part thatI really enjoy.
That's part of the excitementfor me, is the planning part.
Um, so um, so that was fine.
And I just um I'm I'm myfather's daughter um as far as
detail planning, and he that'sexactly how he was of making
(04:43):
sure you had things ahead oftime and knew what you were
gonna do.
Um, so I definitely wanted toget your guys' feedback on what
we thought our itinerary wasgonna be.
And Doug's knowledge about traintravel was amazing.
And it was that that was part ofthe biggest part that made me a
little anxious was because youknow, we where we live in
Michigan, the only train we havegoes like from here to Chicago
(05:04):
on Amtrak.
Um so no subway, no tube,anything like that.
So that was the part I thinkthat made me the most anxious
about our travels.
But after talking to him and thelinks that you guys provided,
um, it it was so much easier andwasn't worth worrying about.
SPEAKER_02 (05:18):
Oh, that's where I'm gonna do it a little promotion
here, Laura, because actuallythis episode goes out in
December.
And Doug and I have got um weactually have January and
February open for consult.
So anybody who's listening andyou're thinking, uh, you know, I
want to do a consult and speakto speak to myself and Doug,
seriously, those bookings arethere.
Get get on and book it becauseit's it like you guys booked it
(05:39):
well yeah well in advance and itand it it helped so much with
with your planning.
SPEAKER_01 (05:43):
Yeah, I definitely anybody it's worth it's worth
it, the peace of mind, gettingthe feedback.
It helped me actually tweak afew things um and you know feel
well prepared.
Brilliant.
Thank you.
SPEAKER_02 (05:54):
Now let's start at the beginning.
So you arrived in Manchester andthen you headed to Liverpool.
So um talk us a little aboutabout your kind of first
impressions when you arrived andhow did your journey go into
Liverpool?
And tell us a little bit aboutwhat you did in Liverpool
because I know you were very,very excited about one
particular thing you were doing.
SPEAKER_01 (06:14):
Yes.
So um when we flew into toManchester, the you know, coming
through, getting off the plane,getting through passport control
immigration was very smooth.
I think it took us maybe a totalof 15 minutes.
It took us longer to walk fromthe plane through the airport to
get to that part than toactually go through it.
So we got our luggage, andbecause of the timing of when
our flight landed and when wewere going to be able to get
(06:34):
into our accommodations, weactually stored our luggage um
there at the Manchester Airportfor a brief time and took a um
Uber to um there's a small uhairport uh aviation museum um
just on the other side of theManchester Airport from the
departures.
And so we spent some time therewatching the planes coming in in
and out, which my husband wasthrilled with.
(06:56):
Got to see um uh some of the oneof the largest planes that flies
in the U anywhere in the worldnow land and take off.
So that was pretty cool.
Um, and so then we headed backto the airport when it was
closer to time and took thetrain into Liverpool, um, into
Lime Street Station, and thentook an Uber to our
accommodations, which was inSpeak, so it was a little bit
(07:17):
outside of Liverpool at GeorgeHarrison's childhood home at 25
Upton Green.
Um, so and we never would havefound about that if it wasn't
for one of your podcasts thatyou interviewed, um, the owner
of that uh that house.
So that was um my husband lovesthe Beatles.
Um, and so that was uh one ofthe big highlights for him.
(07:39):
Um so walking in there for thefirst time, knowing standing in
that living room, knowing thatthat's where you know the
Beatles stood, they practiced.
You were in that sameenvironment, it was pretty
surreal.
Um, and we have the entirehouse.
Um, and it's a three-bedroom.
Now we chose to stay in hisparents' house because that's
where the ceiling fan was.
Um, and it was it was prettywarm while we were there, but
(08:00):
tolerable.
Um, so it was wonderful.
Um, we did um take the ummystery tour or the uh magical
mystery bus tour in Liverpool,um, which was also a very
interesting stop at StrawberryFields, Penny Lane, um, seeing
all of those wonderful things.
Before we got on the tour, wehad toured some area at um uh
(08:22):
the dock area there, which waswonderful walking along the
Mercy and then um eating at thefood truck.
There's a food truck place thatwe ate at.
Um so it was really, it wasreally again just knowing seeing
everything online andresearching, and then you're
actually physically there isjust a little overwhelming.
SPEAKER_02 (08:40):
Oh, and Liverpool is amazing.
Honestly, if you're a Beatlesfan, I just think Liverpool
should be in your itinerarybecause it's it's a a fabulous
history as well in Liverpool.
It's an amazing city, it's anorthern city, and of course
it's where the Beatles comefrom.
So I was so excited that you youyou booked and stayed in
Georgia.
And we we've had loads offeedback from from people who've
(09:00):
listened to those that podcastand were like, oh my goodness,
it's amazing.
Um, and as you say, um, yeah,chatting to to the guy who
bought it, it was just like hisstory is fantastic.
I think it's maybe episodethirty, I'm trying to think, 28
or 30 of the podcast.
I should have actually got thatinformation.
But um, yeah, um, we've got awhole podcast where we chat
about actually the story aboutbuying it is great.
(09:21):
So I'm so glad you said how manynights did you did you stay
there?
SPEAKER_01 (09:24):
We were there for two nights.
Yep.
Um, you know, certainly worthit, you know, it at some point
we'd love to go back, have alittle more time.
Um when we were planning thistrip, we started with the
cruise, knowing what which onewe were gonna be on, and then
worked backwards, you know, withour time.
Uh would love to have had alittle more time.
And you know, if we go back,again, the experience was
amazing.
It it is a good 20 to 30 minutesoutside of actual Liverpool.
(09:48):
So I don't think we wouldnecessarily stay there again,
stay more, you know, closer toall of the attractions in the
history.
Um, but definitely would go backand love to spend uh more time
there.
SPEAKER_02 (09:58):
Oh well, another another great place to stay
actually Liverpool if you're aBeatles fan is a hard uh Hard
Days Nice Night Hotel.
Doug and I have stayed there afew times.
Yes.
And that's really cool becausethat's got a load of the
memorabilia as well.
So if you love the Beatles, it'shonestly it's a it's a
no-brainer.
It's so amazing.
Um so then after Liverpool, youyou're headed to Sheffield?
SPEAKER_01 (10:15):
Yeah, so we took a train from Liverpool to
Sheffield.
The original plan was then toagain store our luggage and go
to uh the cemetery out there umwhere the drummer, my husband is
also a big fan of um Def Lapard.
That's where they're from, sothey're from town.
And then we were going to thecemetery where their um drummer
Steve Clark, um, whounfortunately passed away, was
at to visit the grave, paysrespects.
(10:36):
Um, this is part of where welearned to be flexible and that
plans don't always go as youthink they're going to.
Um, another thing we learned iswe way overpacked.
Um, so um part of it, you know,Todd, my husband, Todd, he's
like, you know, yes, I kind ofwant to do this, he's this, but
really it's okay.
Taking luggage on and off thetrains and getting him into an
(10:58):
Uber and back and forth was, hewas just, we were just a little
overwhelmed at that point.
So to be honest, we ended upactually just staying at the
train station and peoplewatching and reading and didn't
end up going to the cemetery,um, which was fine.
And that's part of, you know,the thing we learned.
We wanted to see things, but wedidn't want to push ourselves so
far every day and be exhausted.
We wanted to be able to enjoyit.
(11:19):
So um, that was one thing, oneof the areas where we were like,
okay, we're gonna be flexible.
We're just that's okay.
Yeah, we'll just zoom in.
And then we got on the train anduh into Sheffield into London.
And interesting, at one stop umon our way, all of these young
men, probably late teens, early20s, gets on standing room only.
Apparently, one of another trainum had run into issues, and so
(11:41):
it wasn't running.
And they were all heading toSheffield for a um football.
There was a big football eventgoing on.
So it was it that was kind of athat was kind of a different,
interesting uh experience umjust to see, you know, the the
songs that they sing is just youknow so different for us for
Americans that we don't getthat.
Um but it was so it was reallyactually cool to experience.
They were very well behaved umand very nice, but it was it was
(12:04):
kind of a cool experience.
SPEAKER_02 (12:06):
Yeah, that's good.
I get I guess getting a trainwhen there's a football match on
and just say all the fansgetting on it is always
interesting.
I guess it would have all hadthe scarves on and you would
have like you would have knownwho they were supporting because
it's it's kind of very obvious,depending on what colours
they're wearing and the scarvesand everything.
Um but that's cool.
But actually that's one of thethat is one of the things
actually Douglas says, like I uhand I guess that you guys did it
(12:28):
is to reserve seats because um,for example, on a day like that
where there's a football match,the train's gonna get absolutely
like I say standing room only.
And so at least if you've got aseat reserved, and I'm not
saying that's not that's notinfallible because sometimes the
train like stay can getcancelled, and that's
unfortunately is you kind of canbe stuck.
But I think it's one of thosethings that don't say like
(12:49):
trying to make sure you've got aa a reservation, the free.
Um, and then at least you've gotthe peace of mind that if
there's a football match.
SPEAKER_01 (12:58):
We were very, very thankful we had reserved seats
on that train.
SPEAKER_02 (13:01):
I bet, I bet, because I can just imagine how
full it can get with um andseats don't sell out.
That's another thing, right?
They will keep selling uhtickets for the train, so you
know it can they can get very,very full.
Absolutely full.
Yes.
Okay, so you're to you, so youtook the train from Sheffield
down to London.
So talk to me about London,because you had you had quite a
few days in London, didn't you?
SPEAKER_01 (13:20):
Yep, yeah, we had an entire week in London.
Um, so we came into the trainstation again, took a um taxi to
um our flat that we had rented.
Um, we were in the St.
Catharines Dock area, um, whichwe absolutely loved that area.
Um, I mean right by TowerBridge, um the Tower Tube
Station.
We that's what we used theentire time.
(13:42):
It was, you know, a 10 not lessthan a 10-minute walk.
Um, great restaurants in thearea, but very quiet.
Um, and so that it was just aperfect location for us for
doing our traveling around town.
And then we did a couple of daytrips.
Um, so um, yeah, we loved it.
It was um, you know, again, asAmericans, we're so used to our
air conditioning.
(14:02):
Um, but um, I was gonna say,even though it was warm, I mean,
places were great.
They had two um floor uh standfans, left the windows open.
It was perfectly fine.
We did, it was not a problem.
Um, love to be able to have thewindows open.
We could, as we laid in the bedat night and looked out the
window, we could see the tops ofthe tower bridge and we could
(14:22):
see the shard um off our outerwindows and off the balcony.
So it was a perfect location forus.
SPEAKER_02 (14:28):
Oh, that's that is lovely.
Yeah, I mean, London can get canget really warm in those kind of
summer months.
And um, like AC isn't astandard, it's not a standard in
in a lot of the museums, it'snot a standard.
They're starting to put it nowon the tube, but um it's just
not standard.
And you kind of I guess for forplaces, buildings that are kind
of hundreds and hundreds ofyears old, it's just it's it's
(14:50):
one of those things.
A lot of hotels will, if theyhaven't got AC, we'll give you a
fan, which helps.
And we've stayed in plenty thatI've got a fan.
Um, but if like if AC is reallyimportant, then I you know when
you book in somewhere, you youyou do need to check that it has
got AC.
Don't kind of make thatassumption, like a lot of
countries, um like in Australiawe have AC everywhere, and
obviously in in the States youhave AC.
(15:10):
So um it's just not as common.
Um, even in places, a lot ofplaces in Europe that don't have
it, and you you know, youswelter in August when it's
really hot, and you're like,whoa.
Um but yeah, so I'm glad that itdidn't, it kind of it was fine,
fine for you guys.
So so talk me about through yourkind of highlights of London.
What were the things that youwere just like, wow?
SPEAKER_01 (15:29):
Yeah.
Um, I think, you know, for us,just again, after all the
research and you know, lookingonline and and listening to
different podcasts and differentFacebook groups, and just the
fact of to be standing on thatbalcony and we're actually
there.
Um, I mean, I actually got alittle teary-eyed just because
it was just, you know, so muchhistory.
Um, you know, we don't have anyin the United States, yes, we
(15:51):
have history, but not to theextent and a lot of in Europe
and the old.
And it's just it was, we justlove to walk.
Again, we didn't pack our days.
Um, you know, yes, there's somuch to see, and yes, we will go
back.
Um, but we just wanted to beable to enjoy it.
So just walking along the tensand taking in the scenery um was
just wonderful for us.
Um, you know, we to did take acouple of um day trips um from
(16:15):
London.
One was um to the uh WarnerBrothers studio, uh Harry Potter
Studio tour, because that wasone of two things that was on my
list that we had to do for me.
Um and then the other day tripwe did is we took a train to
Diss um and went to ThorpeAbbott's.
Um my husband is a history majorand World War II is his area of
(16:35):
interest.
Um, so we had watched the bloodyuh watched the Masters of the
Air um series about the bloody100s before we went.
Yeah.
Um and again, just that standingon that hollow ground and so
much was there.
It was, it was, it was verymoving, very, you know, just it
was a great, uh, greatexperience.
Um, the other thing that we didin London that was, you know,
(16:56):
another thing on my checklist Ihad to do is I'm a nurse, been a
nurse for 30 years, and so goingto the Florence Nightingale
Museum.
Oh, yes, almost very yeah, thatwas that was very moving for me.
SPEAKER_02 (17:07):
It it is really good.
And um, it's yeah, it's it'ssomewhere I only just recently
went, actually went last year.
I had um uh I did a London Passthing for three days, and um I
thought I'm gonna go and seesome of the stuff that I haven't
seen before, some of the museumsare included, and the the um
Florence Nightingale museum wasincluded in that.
So I actually went with a friendof mine who who's a retired
midwife, and she also absolutelyloved it.
(17:29):
It was really, reallyinteresting.
Um and there's a bit where youcan actually listen to Florence
Nightingale's voice, which I Iloved that.
I thought because you know, youcan you we look at the photos
and and especially when it's itseems so far away in the past
when you hear about it, butactually being able to, you
know, hear the person's voice,it was like, oh wow, you know,
(17:50):
it brings it brings it, itbrings it back to life and real.
SPEAKER_01 (17:53):
It was great.
Yeah, they had an area too whereyou could make a rubbing of her
signature.
Um, and so I have that, and it'sactually hanging in the my
office at my uh doctor's officethat I'm where I may I'm a
manager, I have it hanging in myoffice.
Oh, that's so cool.
As a momentum, so yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (18:08):
Oh well, so any any nurses listening, if you're
nursing your head in London,seriously, Folk Nightingale
Museum really should be includedin in your itinerary for it.
Definitely worth it.
Um can we did you go to any ofthe the big hitters?
Because obviously Tower ofLondon, Westminster Abbey, did
you did you fit in those?
SPEAKER_01 (18:25):
Yeah, we did.
Uh so we did um, you know, wewalked, we didn't get in to do a
tour of Westminster Abbey, butwe did walk around um, you know,
Big Ben Elizabeth Tower,Parliament.
Um we did do a tour of the um Muh HMS Belfast.
Um we did that.
Uh again, the history things, umuh Buckingham Palace.
(18:46):
Um, so yeah, you know, all theyou know, the kind of the big
highlight touristy type things.
Yeah.
Um just uh, you know, it was uhyeah, it was wonderful.
So we yeah, it was great.
We'll definitely going back, umwould love to just spend
another, you know, week to tendays just in London.
There's so much to see.
And would like to do, you know,some other day trips, Cotswolds,
you know, that was another oneon my list, just not enough time
(19:09):
in one trip.
SPEAKER_02 (19:10):
Yeah, and the thing is that sometimes you can kind
of pack stuff in and you end up,you think, and even you know,
I'm also sometimes guilty ofthis because I'm like I get so
excited and like even last yearI was in London for five or six
weeks, and I was like, I had along list of how I'm gonna do
all these things, and actuallywhat you forget is that you get
a bit tired and fatigued, andthen it's like actually, no, I'm
not gonna manage to do another30,000 steps for another like
(19:31):
every day for another weekbecause it's it's just too much.
So I think I think pacingyourself and kind of picking
those kind of must-do thingsthat you really, really, really
want to do, and then kind ofworking it around that.
Like you managed to do, youknow, you did your day trip and
you did Harry Potter.
Again, you booked Harry Potterwell in advance because that
that Warner Brothers to getbooked up so quickly.
SPEAKER_01 (19:51):
Yes, I actually I think it was someone posted on
um your Facebook page, heyeverybody, they've opened up for
2025 that day, and I was on it.
SPEAKER_02 (20:01):
Yeah, you absolutely need to book because we hear so
often people go, Oh no, it'sbooked up.
I'm like, Yeah, you need to needto book.
We actually have got a a web apage on the London Travel Plan
and website, which just kind ofgives you an idea of when to
book things, how far in advance.
Um, because there's nothingworse than the thing, the one or
two things that you really wantto do when you try, you go on in
the booked up, it's like no.
Um so tell me a little bit aboutdid you the the going to to
(20:24):
Paris was you said it was kindof just a it was a stop off
because you were going to go anddo the the the World War II
tour.
Um so how did you go about kindof planning that trip over um to
Paris from London?
I was I know you took theEurostar, so how how did all
that work?
Yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (20:39):
Yeah, we you know we neither one of us like to get up
early.
Um I do it every day for work,so I don't like to do that on
vacation.
So we did um, I think it was the9:30 um train um out of um St.
Pancras and on the Eurostar.
Um and actually that process,get at least getting through
passport and security wasn'tbad.
Um, it does get very, verycrowded in the waiting area.
(21:02):
That that was interesting.
Um, but um then once we got onthe train, we did um, and I'm
kind of losing track, I can'tremember whatever the middle
roll, the middle of the roadseats are.
So we had a light lunch um thatwas provided.
Um, and you know, verycomfortable.
That was great.
Um, when we got to the station,then we took a um Ubert or a
(21:25):
taxi, um, which then we gotmaybe a block, a block and a
half away from the trainstation, and something was wrong
with his meter.
It wasn't working.
So he actually flagged anothertaxi driver who happened to be
right near, who's our hisfriend, flagged him over.
We grabbed stuff out of thetrunk and put it in the other
taxi.
Um, you know, and of course, youknow, my mind's like, I'm I
think this is legit.
(21:46):
I don't think we're gettingripped off.
I think this is okay, but it wasfine.
Um, we got to the hotel.
Um, we stayed in a very um smalluh hotel um right by the um St.
Lazare train station becausethat's where we knew we were
going out of the next morning togo to Conn.
So we wanted to stay close tothat.
So it wasn't the closest to alot of the attractions, but
(22:06):
again, we weren't there, youknow, less than 24 hours, so
that was okay.
Um, but we could see the EiffelTower from our balcony, um,
which was nice.
So we got to see it light up atnight and see it sparkle.
Um we did we did a little bit ofa walk that afternoon um and
went to see Moulin Rouge andthen we walked past the Paris
Opera House, um, and then justkind of relaxed in the room
(22:28):
because we knew we were gonna beup a little bit early the next
morning to get the train toCaen.
Um, so yeah, and then that, youknow, that the Eurostar was no
problem in the train.
The the train to Caen was alittle trickier.
Um again, thankfully we hadreserved seats, but the first
train, the first section of it,um, didn't realize it was a
double decker train.
(22:50):
Um, and our seats ended up beingin the top.
And by the time we got on, mostof the luggage storage was
already taken.
Um, the air conditioning wasn'tworking very well.
So that was probably the, youknow, out of all of the trains,
there was a little glitchiesthere.
And then when we got to thestation to train, we had to do a
transfer, we had about 10minutes.
No escalators, carrying all ofour luggage, but we made it.
(23:14):
There were other people thatwere in the same boat with us.
Um, and you were talking earlierabout how they just keep selling
tickets, and we got on thattrain, there was nowhere to sit,
and all of you know, several ofus just standing.
And eventually a few stopslater, people just got off and
we could, you know, find a seat.
But, you know, we figure out ofthe whole trip, just having, you
know, one or two small glitcheslike that, we just felt very
(23:34):
fortunate.
SPEAKER_02 (23:35):
Yeah, no, uh, yeah, I guess you it like you said,
you just gotta kind of have abit of flexibility and um and
and I always think anybody whohas the the opportunity to talk
to Doug as well have a has alittle bit more knowledge and
and confidence about when thingsdon't exactly work out that how
to do stuff.
I think he's he's really good atkind of you know sharing that.
(23:56):
And and we've we've even hadpeople when things have gone
wrong that have kind of messagedhim and he's kind of said, look,
you know, this is what you needto do just to help people out.
But um I think that really thatreally helps.
Just a quick question, becausethis is something that I did you
how did you find the differencebetween London and Paris?
Because I find them sodifferent.
SPEAKER_01 (24:17):
They're so different, they're so close
together, capital cities, butthey are so different.
Yeah, they are so different.
And again, like I said, we justyou know, we did a little
walking, and some of the sidestreets, little cafes, whatever
were nice and stuff, but it itjust doesn't have the same.
I know they always say, youknow, well, French were so rude,
but I mean, people were nice tous, you know.
We as long as you greeted with abonjour and at least attempted,
(24:40):
you know, a little bit, thenthey were fine, but not as
outgoing and friendlynecessarily as when we were in
um London.
Um, and my husband and I weretalking, and it's like, yeah,
we'd go back to to London or anyplace in the UK in a heartbeat.
I don't know that we would goback to Paris.
Or, you know, and maybe if wehad been staying a little
closer, maybe had a longer time,maybe we feel a little bit
(25:00):
different, but not so sure thatthat's an area we'd want to go
back to.
SPEAKER_02 (25:03):
No, I have to say, and again, I think I'm gonna get
I'm getting a bit of areputation for this.
I think on the my other podcast,the Global Travel Plan in one,
I've got one about um placesthat I'm I am not so fond of,
and unfortunately Paris kind ofcomes to the top of my list, and
there's many reasons why.
And I did I actually used tolive in France, I speak French
fairly well.
I used to be totally fluent,it's gone now because we're
(25:23):
talking 30 odd years ago.
But um, but I yeah, I I juststruggle a bit with Paris.
I love France.
I just just Paris I I I don'tknow.
I think I I think um yeah, Ialways say to people don't build
Paris up too much in your head,because I think it you may you
may be disappointed, you maynot.
Again, people might I might havepeople listen going, Oh, I loved
it, and which is fine.
We're all different, we all likewe all love different things.
(25:45):
Um so you then you did a WorldWar II tour when you before you
then.
How did that go?
SPEAKER_01 (25:52):
Yeah, we um yeah, that was great.
We um we again chose uh uh ourcommand we did VRBO um close to
the train station in Cannes, um,partly because then we needed to
get to that ferry.
So we didn't want to stay inBayou.
I know a lot of people stay inBayou because that's where all
the tours go out of.
Um but we stayed in Caen andthen it was just a short, um, I
(26:12):
think like 15, 20 minute trainride um from Cannes to Bayou,
where we then met and we wentwith um Overlord Tours was the
group that was the agents thatwe used.
Um, there were, I think, like 14of us in a small minivan with
the guide.
And it was, I mean, it was along day.
Um, it was a full, I think eightand a half hours, but it was it
(26:33):
was wonderful, it was amazing.
Um, you know, I think again, myhusband being the World Lord II,
his area that he loves, just allof it was just taking it all in
and so interesting and goinginto some of the bunkers.
Um, I think for me, standing onOmaha Beach, um, where the
Americans landed.
I mean, now granted you'restanding there as people laying
on the sand, sunbathing, alittle bit different environment
(26:56):
than obviously at that time, butjust again, just that, just that
history overwhelming washingover you of this is where it
happened, this is this is whereit was.
It was um, yeah, it waswonderful.
I'm glad we kind of changed ouritinerary a bit and and expanded
instead of spending as much timein London and taking that extra
side trip.
It was, I feel was really worthit.
SPEAKER_02 (27:16):
Yeah, I think that's really good.
And I think just theopportunity, you know, like you
say for your husband who lovesthat that history, and you have
the opportunity when you'rethere to actually go and you
know, stand in the footsteps ofwhere those people were and have
that experience.
And so, you know, it it justbrings it back to you.
I think it just makes it a bitmore real when you have the
opportunity to do that.
But I know I think we're I'm I'msure when we did the consult,
(27:37):
Doug helped you a bit with thatkind of logistics around that
bit in France as well.
Well, pretty good on Europeantravel, um, because we've done
so much of it.
Yes.
Um and then you got the ferry,which was interesting over to
Portsmouth.
So how did that go?
And then kind of how was thelogistics for the last last few
days?
SPEAKER_01 (27:54):
Yeah, so um again, you know, we we did use um Uber
quite a bit um in with with ourtravels.
So we took, we did, we scheduledan Uber, not a problem, picked
us up.
Um we had actually um and got tothe ferry deck there.
We went through uh BritneyFerries is who runs those.
Um and I do I remembered when Ibooked it, I'd like, I know we
(28:15):
got like at least a room withbed so because you know, left
early in the morning, could restand take some.
I guess I didn't really rememberuntil we got on the ferry and
got into a room that I'm like,oh, I got like a regular room
room.
It was like an actual hotelroom.
And it was on the back of theferry.
We had our own little um kind ofbalcony area at the back of the
uh back of the ferry, a fullqueen-size bed.
(28:36):
I'm like, oh, I can rememberdoing that, but okay, this will
this works great.
So that was really nice just tobe able to relax um and you
know, go to the eater and getsomething to eat.
It was a really smooth, greatweather, smooth uh sailing on
that, not a problem.
Um, got off at Portsmouth and umthey're doing some work at the
docks at the Portsmouth.
(28:56):
So we actually they actuallydrove um buses on to after the
cars got all unloaded off theferry, drove buses on there for
us to take that to um the areawhere we caught our taxi.
We they couldn't get us directlythere.
Um, so yeah, then we we got atax there again.
We took the train um fromPortsmouth to Southampton and
then actually stayed, and inSouthampton, we stayed at the
(29:18):
White Star Hotel.
So a lot of Titanic memorabiliaand stuff in there was just
which was wonderful.
Um, we walked around a littlebit um that afternoon and then
um got up the next morning toget on the cruise.
Uh and how long did it take youto cruise back?
Uh seven nights.
SPEAKER_02 (29:34):
Wow.
Wow.
So yeah.
Yeah.
I bet that was pretty special.
SPEAKER_01 (29:39):
It was.
Um weather wise, we were sofortunate the entire time we
were in England and in France.
We never had rain.
It was beautiful weather.
We were very fortunate.
A little bit of rough seas thefirst couple of days, um, across
a bit it was remnants ofHurricane Aaron coming across um
the Atlantic.
Um, but After that, it just wasfine.
(30:02):
And, you know, after being goneand going, even though we didn't
push ourselves, it was nice,like we're just not doing much
of anything.
unknown (30:08):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (30:08):
We're just gonna relax and leave.
You know, did a few of the, youknow, a couple of shows, went to
some lectures.
Um, you know, one thing I hadmentioned earlier about we did
pack way too much, and part ofit too, and we know this
wouldn't be every trip, but wehad one duffel bag just with our
extra fancy clothes for thecruise.
Um, with Q and Ard, they are alittle bit um more, you know, a
(30:31):
little bit dressier than a lotof cruises and stuff.
And we knew that that was, youknow, kind of the fun of it.
Um, so we obviously wouldn'tpack that way every time we go
on a trip.
Um but we did do one of theformal nights, um, which was
fun.
It's just not not something thatwe typically do.
So it's kind of fun to dress upa little extra and do something
fun and special.
Um, and so yeah, we just took inthe shows.
(30:54):
There was um actually onelecturer, guest lecturer that we
happened to meet in one of thelounges.
He just sat down next to us.
My husband had his Beatlest-shirt on.
And this gentleman had a Beatleshat on, got to talking.
He found out was one of hisguest lecturers.
He was doing things on ummusicians and musical history.
He had done Buddy Holly, he wasdoing um, he did one on Elvis,
(31:15):
and he was going to be doing oneon the Beatles.
So we got to talk a lot.
He was in Liverpool for BeatlesWeek.
We missed that by a week, but hewas there and told him about
staying at 25 Upton, which hethought was very cool.
And when he actually did hislecture um a couple of days
later, um he actually did ashout-out to us when he showed
George Harrison the famouspicture of him holding his
(31:37):
guitar outside of 25 Upton.
And he's like, Yeah, those weremy friends Todd and Laura
stayed.
Lucky them.
So that was kind of an extralittle cool bonus.
SPEAKER_02 (31:44):
Oh, that's really cool.
I love that.
That's just those are the justamazing stories to hear that you
know, you didn't plan it, butjust something like that
happening and being able to likesay it to the guy, guess what?
We've just stayed.
I mean, that's amazing.
That's fantastic.
And I love the fact that she'sjust having that seven days to
just just say chill out on theon the way back as well.
And I know I knew when youmentioned about having too much
(32:04):
luggage on the train that it wasbecause I knew because I know
when people go on cruises,there's a kind of expect you've
got to do the dressy up thing,and um yeah, and having uh I
I've actually got a friend thatthat's just done the same thing.
She was over there, I think shewas eight weeks, and they they
had a few cruises and and thatand she was taking trains all
around Italy and France, and Iwas like, Oh Natalie, the
luggage, and she said, But I'vegot we've done all these
(32:26):
cruises, I have to look nice.
So I know it gave me a bit of akind of a uh yeah, bit of a
stress with the with theluggage.
Um we'll swing back and talk alittle bit about kind of your
accommodation and food and thekind of logistics things,
because I know I know peoplelove to find out about kind of
like the highlights of thingsplaces you stayed and and what
(32:47):
you ate and stuff like that.
So um so I know you've youstayed in quite a few uh VRBOs.
So how did they go?
Were there any particular kindof ones you kind of went, oh,
this is really nice?
Or they're all good.
SPEAKER_01 (32:57):
Yeah, we actually we were very fortunate um that all
um in Liverpool, London, and inCannes, they were all through
VRBO.
Communication is was wonderfulwith everybody.
It was very smooth.
Um, if we had any kind ofglitches, we can message them
and they were great, you know,about getting back to us.
(33:18):
Um in um Paris, obviously, westayed at a hotel.
Um, and again, it was just asmall boutique hotel, um, which
was wonderful.
And they were actually great atuh to work with.
Um, so my husband is a diabetic,so we traveled with insulin.
And um, so I have a little trap,we've got a travel thing that
has something has to be frozenthough, for the inside of it to
(33:39):
keep stuff cold.
And so they were wonderful.
They put it in their own littlefridge, freezer for us off, you
know, when they're at breakfastarea.
So that was not a problem.
Um, so no, they were allwonderful.
I wouldn't recommend any of theplaces we stayed at to for
anybody to stay.
And if we go back when we goback to London, I have no
problem whatsoever staying inthe same place.
SPEAKER_02 (33:59):
Brilliant.
Well, I'll get the we'll get thelinks uh for those places that
you stayed with.
I actually do work with VRBO aswell.
So if anybody's out therethinking about booking, we have
got some affiliate, we have anaffiliate link for VRBO, so take
a look at that.
And I'll put a link to theplaces that you stayed in as
well.
Laura, and obviously to UptonGreen as well.
Um, because that'd be cool.
Yes.
Um now talk me, talk I lovetalking about food.
(34:20):
Food and drinks.
Tell me, was there any kind ofstanding out highlights of
things that you ate that youwent for?
SPEAKER_01 (34:26):
Yeah, my husband is a has totally been now addicted
to sticky toffee pudding.
That was his absolute favoritething that he got in.
And obviously, we cannot findthat since we've gotten home.
Um, but that um we, you know, wedid, you know, traditional fish
and chips um a couple ofdifferent times.
(34:46):
Um, where we stayed in St.
Catharines Dock, there's arestaurant, the Dickens Inn, um,
that was right across the theway there from us.
And we ate there a couple oftimes.
Great atmosphere, wonderfulfood.
Um, so uh yeah, I think thoseare probably the ones that
really um stick out um to us.
And in uh France, it probablywas we just weren't there, I
(35:08):
don't think, enough.
Actually, when we stayed um inCannes, we actually went to a
local small grocery store andbrought stuff and cooked in the
VRBO because by that time Ithink we were kind of done with
eating out.
SPEAKER_02 (35:18):
Oh, but it's always a lot, it's like it's it's
always I'm sorry, just take thatbit out, right?
It's always really good fun justto go and check out the
supermarkets anyway.
And I mean yeah, Frenchsupermarkets are I you you have
to drag me out because I uh wellI used to live in France, so
just looking at the freshproduce and the cheese, the
cheese, oh my goodness, likecheese heaven.
Um so that's good.
And I love the fact that youmentioned a sticky toffee
(35:40):
pudding because that that comesup so often.
It seems to be such a favoritewith everybody, it really does.
Um so that swinging back, Iguess the logistics.
So obviously Doug helped a lotwith the train stuff.
So you found the train stuffpretty smooth, pretty good.
SPEAKER_01 (35:53):
Yeah, it really wasn't that bad.
And if you had questions,everybody was so nice about, you
know, I'm pretty sure, hey, Ithink this is where we need to
go out of.
This is where we're, yep, thisis where you go.
You know, do I scan scan thingswith my phone or you know, do we
wait to get on the train andthey check it?
Um, that was fine.
Um, again, I mentioned, youknow, we didn't have a lot of
exposure to subway.
We've been in New York Cityonce, so you know, use a subway
(36:16):
there.
But the tube system was don't beafraid of it, don't don't get
all anxious about it.
It is so easy to use.
And once again, if you havequestions, um, you know, ask a
couple times.
And one time we were like, nope,this isn't the station you need,
you need the next one, and youknow, was great.
So, and we just used our umsmartphones and did tap um for
(36:37):
paying and it worked great.
SPEAKER_02 (36:39):
It's very easy.
And uh Doug's actually um justbeen over because when I know
where this is, he's actuallythere at the moment when we're
recording this podcast, but bythe time this podcast comes out
just before Christmas, he'llhave been back and he'll be
making lots of YouTube videos toshow to show a lot of this as
well.
And he's doing a lot, he'sactually doing a lot at the
moment of kind of um London toyou know, Canterbury or London,
(36:59):
Oxford, London to Windsor, andhe's doing all that to kind of
show just so you can get that,so you kind of can visualize it,
um, and also kind of how to usethe the tube and stuff like
that.
Because it's it is actuallyreally easy, but we also know
that if you're not used to thatsystem and getting trains, it
can it can feel a bit scarybecause you don't know what you
don't do, and that's that's thescary thing, isn't it?
(37:20):
Um so overall logistically,everything you kind of pasted it
well, you kind of you yeah,there's nothing you would kind
of go back and change.
SPEAKER_01 (37:26):
It would be like never, yeah, didn't miss didn't
miss a train or any yeah, wewere very fortunate in like and
it was great.
SPEAKER_02 (37:33):
All right, you had so it was a really well planned
trip.
I know you planned it a lot uhyou know a long way out.
You really knew what you weredoing, and and you know, you
have the consort and everything.
Um was there a part of the tripthat just exceeded your
expectations of what you had?
And I know you loved it all.
SPEAKER_01 (37:49):
Um Yeah, I mean, actually before we were to
thread, I was going through thequestions with my husband.
I'm like, I'm just I'm kind ofstruggling with this.
And then all of a sudden it kindof dawned on both of us.
Not something that exceeded asfar as what we'd had planned.
However, um, there was oneparticular medication that I
grabbed the partial filledbottle and not a full bottle of
(38:12):
one of my husband's medications.
And so he was gonna be short.
Um, and so I was, I'm Googling,you know, like, you know, what
are our options?
And, you know, it it's a fairlycommon medication.
It's not like it was it wasn't acontrolled substance or, you
know, anything like that.
And, you know, I said, like,yeah, sometimes local, you know,
GPs might be able to help youout.
(38:33):
And the um flat we were stayingat in London, there was a GP
office in that building.
So we actually went down there,I explained the situation.
He's like, Oh yeah, two blocksover, there's this pharmacy.
They have a prescribingpharmacist there.
Went over, explained thesituation, showed the original
prescription bottle.
He said, No problem, have aseat.
And within 15 minutes, we had a28-day supply and paid 35
(38:56):
pounds.
SPEAKER_02 (38:57):
That's amazing.
That's so good.
SPEAKER_01 (38:59):
It was, yeah.
So again, not something thatobviously we planned, but so
exceeded how easy it was and howhelpful everybody was.
And it, you know, it made a bigdifference.
Um, you know, this medic couldhave made the rest of the trip
not nearly as fun.
Yeah, it's good to know that youknow without it.
SPEAKER_02 (39:19):
Yeah, it's good to know like things like that that
you can, you know, that it youmanage to solve it and people
helped you and you and you gotit got it all done and dusted
and and it didn't become a bigbig issue.
So that's really good.
So I'm um I'm uh it's lovely tohear that.
And they are very good.
The the the chemists and thepharmacists in the UK um pop in
and always you can always askthem stuff.
We um yeah, they're really,really helpful.
(39:40):
Um, so I don't know, likethere's just this there's lots
of big um chemists all over theUK, so it's not a problem that
you will find one to go and ifyou've got an issue.
Um same with dentists, I've hadto go and have an emergency
dental care when I was inEdinburgh a few years ago, and
and just luckily where we werestaying, they they gave me a
number and later on that day Iwent in.
Uh look, I almost have travelinsurance, so claimed it put
(40:02):
back on travel insurance, but itwas all sorted.
So because it could have beenpretty big um, you know,
problem.
So antibiotics was all given andit was all sorted.
So again, travel insurance is isreally good when the big things
like that happen.
Yes.
SPEAKER_01 (40:15):
Yes, because they even asked us, you know, do you
want a receipt for travelinsurance?
Which I like I appreciate it,but I'm like, yes, 35.
Yeah, no, it's fine.
Yeah it's it's cheaper than whatwe would have paid for it
actually with our copay in home.
SPEAKER_02 (40:26):
So right.
So I always end the podcast withthe same question.
You'll know what's coming upnow.
But what would be your one pieceof advice for someone planning
their UK adventure?
SPEAKER_01 (40:37):
Do a consultation and just don't overpack your
days.
Just enjoy being there, youknow.
Even just if it's just walkingaround and taking in the
scenery, that's okay.
You don't have to seeeverything.
Yeah, you can always come back.
SPEAKER_02 (40:52):
You can always go back.
Yep.
It's it's it's gonna be there.
So definitely, yeah.
In fact, I would say don't planto just go once because you'll
so much to do and see.
You will want to go back again.
Um but Laura, it's it's beensuch a joy to speak to you
again.
And I'm I know next year we'llwe'll catch up for the 200th
episode, so that's gonna begood.
So you can get your thinking capon to see which are you gonna be
(41:13):
your favorite episodes becauseyou're gonna have 200 to choose
from this time.
That's right.
I'm gonna have to go back and dosome listening.
I know it's gonna be it's gonnabe a lot.
But yeah, thanks so much forcoming on and and and filling us
in.
Oh, thanks for for asking.
This has been great.
Oh brilliant.
Well, thanks so much, Laura.
Thank you.
Thank you for tuning in to thisweek's episode of the UK Travel
(41:36):
Planning Podcast.
As always, show notes can befound at uktravelplanning.com.
If you've enjoyed the show, whynot leave us feedback via text
or a review on your favouritepodcast app?
We love to hear from you, andyou never know, you may receive
a shout out in a future episode.
But as always, that just leavesme to say until next week, happy
(41:57):
UK travel planning.
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