TIPS FOR TOURING BRITAIN

Entry into Britain
Getting a tourist visa into Britain is not a problem for Australians, so long as they don’t intend to stay longer than 6 months, the maximum time allowed for tourists.


Vaccinations
Vaccinations are not required unless you travel to Britain through countries like that insist on them such as Kampuchea. If you are planning a stop over in South East Asia along the way, it is advisable to have cholera and typhoid vaccinations.


Finances
Australians going to Britain in 2003 will need to budget carefully. If you wish to cut costs, then one simple rule should be followed: pay for as many things as possible before you go. The prices in Australia, whether they be for travel, accommodation or hire cars are nearly always much lower.

Credit Cards
If you intend to rely on credit cards abroad you should never only take one kind - this gives you double the chance of having a card accepted. If you use traveler’s cheques, always change them in banks rather that at hotels where you will receive much less for them.


Travel Insurance
Australians are covered for doctor’s fees and public hospital charges in Britain under an agreement by the two countries. However, if you prefer not to risk having to use a public ward, private travel insurance is available.

The Flight
The flight from Australia to Britain is one of the longest in the world, over 23 hours depending on which route you take. British Airways’ one stop flight takes 23 hours and 5 minutes - the flight leaves Sydney in the early evening and stops only once on the way to London. Bangkok has become the popular stop over spot. Because of its European network, British airways offers the added advantage that if you fly British airways to London, you can for no extra charge, make a return trip to places such places as: Dublin, Paris, Rome, Munich and many more.

Jet Lag
Jet lag is a problem when traveling to Britain. It takes about 2 days to adjust to the new pattern. Try to get as much sleep as possible on the flight.

Touring by Car
The most popular form of traveling through Britain by Australian tourists is by hire car. Driving in Britain comes easy to most Australians because they drive on the same side of the road and the traffic rules are much the same. Also you only need your Australian license to drive there. The British motorways offer a quick way of getting to places of interest allowing more time for sightseeing.

How to Hire a Car
You can easily rent a car when you get to Britain. However, it is cheaper to hire the car in advance in Australia before you leave. There are many fly-drive packages available. To avoid the stress of driving out of London, you can arrange to collect the car at a town outside the city using the train to get out of London. Some hire companies charge extra if cars are not returned to the place you collected it from so it is a good ides to check this before you hire.