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.