Skip to main content

Ok i found out last night that my husband is going to have to do a whole lot of international travel between July and Dec. I will be going along for moral support ( Big Grin ) I know that some of you here have traveled a bit out of the country and I am looking for advice on things to do and see while he is working and I am left to my own devices...

First it will be
Shannon Ireland in July (one week)

Wokom England in July (one week)

then to Asia

Beijing in August (2 weeks)
Singapore late September (1 week)

If anyone has been to these places and have any advice or travel tips I would greatly appreciate it. As I said I will have to entertain myself alot of the time so I need some suggestions that will be cool for a very sheltered and all around American gal who has only been to the Caribbean on a few occasions.

Life is short, Forgive quickly, Kiss slowly, Love truly, Laugh uncontrollably, and never regret anything that made you SMILE!

Original Post

Replies sorted oldest to newest

For England and Ireland - assuming that you will have a rental car at your disposal - pick up an AA Travel Guide like this one, but get it there for the areas you will be in.

Link

These are wonderful touring guides.

I was going to see if I had been in the "Wokom" area - are you sure of the spelling? Maybe Woolacombe? - which would probably be pronounced "wokom".
quote:
Originally posted by beth:
I'm sorry your right the spelling is wrong Red Face

He had just said the name and I thought he was saying Wokom. Instead it is Woking, England.

I followed the link and it looks pretty informative. Thanks for the advice.


Okay, that is just outside of London. Wikipedia says 30 minutes by rail. Then there is way too much to see in just a week.

Just to name a few essentials: British Museum, National Gallery, Speakers Corner, Tower of London, Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, Herrod's.

For local sights: Link

Again, if you have access to a car - the AA Touring Guides for the area to see all the local countryside. You won't want to try taking a car into London.

You can get cheap theater tickets at a kiosk in Picadilly Square.

Cool gift idea - an English version of Monopoly.
Beth, you will just love it! When I was in England for work, I took the train to Scotland and saw such beautiful countryside.
I also have flown into Shannon on my way to Dublin.
The people are just fantastic. What I enjoy when traveling is seeing how the real people live and the country. I asked tons of questions and always without fail got any assistance needed.
Happy Trails
got a extra suitcase or trunk that I can fit in?

I have been everyplace except Beijing.
Tips: Get your passports now if you don't have them. Go to TSA.gov and get the travel requirments on carryon and air travel. If you can find a phone that will work overseas and here in the states, buy it, phone systems not as reliable overseas. Don't plan to get everything in that one week...look at all the things you want to do and pick just a few of the most interesting.

England and Ireland: I really injoyed visiting the castles.

Singapore: Very Safe. Don't carry chewing Gum(Illegal). Crime is almost wiped out due to the automatic death penalty for drugs.

I have always liked folklore and culture, when I traveled I used to do things so I can learn the history of the place I was staying and I didn't find that in the tourist attractions, but traveling the off beaten path and talking to the local people.
quote:
Originally posted by OkieDokie:
Beth, you will just love it! When I was in England for work, I took the train to Scotland and saw such beautiful countryside.
I also have flown into Shannon on my way to Dublin.
The people are just fantastic. What I enjoy when traveling is seeing how the real people live and the country. I asked tons of questions and always without fail got any assistance needed.
Happy Trails


I am so excited about seeing castles! Its the girl in me Smiler You have ever heard of a rail ticket that can be purchased ahead of time? Someone said that if you buy them ahead of time it is cheaper.

I having been reading up on the places we are going and the cliffs in Shannon look awesome!
quote:
Originally posted by Elvis Wearing a Bra on Head:
Ireland has great pubs, and it's fun to hang out in them.

Singapore has great food vendors on the street. Go to the Raffles Hotel to get a feel of old Singapore.

And have a wonderful time wherever you go!


Thank you I will!

I am really looking forward to going to the pubs. My husbands co-workers there are already talking about taking us to their favorite one. They are local guys and I am sure they will show us a good time.


I will have to remember Raffles Hotel in Singapore. That is one of the cities I will be on my own the most. He has alot of work related things that will take up much of his time and he says that he will probably working 12 hours or more a day. Thats along time to be wandering around looking for trouble. Smiler
quote:
Originally posted by CrustyMac:


Okay, that is just outside of London. Wikipedia says 30 minutes by rail. Then there is way too much to see in just a week.

Just to name a few essentials: British Museum, National Gallery, Speakers Corner, Tower of London, Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, Herrod's.

For local sights: Link

Again, if you have access to a car - the AA Touring Guides for the area to see all the local countryside. You won't want to try taking a car into London.

You can get cheap theater tickets at a kiosk in Picadilly Square.

Cool gift idea - an English version of Monopoly.


Any idea of the cost of rail tickets? I really wish my daughter could go with me on this leg of our journey she is obsessed with London. She is into theater in school and she loves plays. Sadly she will be in DC that week and will not be able to go. I am not so sure about driving in any of these places. Driving on the interstate here scares the crap out of me Smiler
quote:
Originally posted by Schnauzer1:
got a extra suitcase or trunk that I can fit in?


Come on and go with! I could really use a good travel companion. Smiler

quote:
I have been everyplace except Beijing.
Tips: Get your passports now if you don't have them. Go to TSA.gov and get the travel requirments on carryon and air travel. If you can find a phone that will work overseas and here in the states, buy it, phone systems not as reliable overseas. Don't plan to get everything in that one week...look at all the things you want to do and pick just a few of the most interesting.


I have my passport already. I got it a few years back. I am concerned about the phone situation. I am looking into one right now. I have the iphone and so far have not gotten a straight answer about whether it will work in these places. I have international coverage through my carrier, however when we went to Jamaica last year I had my Verizon work phone and it worked fine, but my husbands AT&T did not. Now that I no longer have the Verizon I worry.

quote:
England and Ireland: I really injoyed visiting the castles.


I am so so excited about the castles!

quote:
Singapore: Very Safe. Don't carry chewing Gum(Illegal). Crime is almost wiped out due to the automatic death penalty for drugs.

I have always liked folklore and culture, when I traveled I used to do things so I can learn the history of the place I was staying and I didn't find that in the tourist attractions, but traveling the off beaten path and talking to the local people.


Whats wrong with chewing gum? I will be alone alot in Singapore so I am most anxious about being there. I am 5'9", blonde and fear that I will stick out like a sore thumb with American tourist written all over me LOL

I agree with getting off the beaten path. I have done that alot in the Caribbean. I really love going into the country and just hanging out with the locals. I have made a lot of friends in a few countries down there that I still stay in touch with. I have learned so much from them all.
quote:
Originally posted by excelman:
If it looks like you will be traveling in Southern England, around the Plymouth area, I would like to ask a HUGE favor.
My family home is still there (circa 1050) and I wouldl LOVE to have some pictures of it. PLEEZE !
Let me know if you will and I'll pm you with name and name of place.


As of right now I don't think we will be going in that direction. However I will contact you before I go and if you want to give me the info I will gladly take some pictures for you if by some chance my travels take me there. Smiler I would love to go to Wales the town of Merrick is where alot of my family is from. Some of my family that has traveled there to see where our grandparents were born say that the people can be a bit stand offish and don't like strangers. Which sounds just like my grandfather Smiler
quote:
Originally posted by beth:
quote:
Originally posted by CrustyMac:

.


Any idea of the cost of rail tickets? I really wish my daughter could go with me on this leg of our journey she is obsessed with London. She is into theater in school and she loves plays. Sadly she will be in DC that week and will not be able to go. I am not so sure about driving in any of these places. Driving on the interstate here scares the crap out of me Smiler


Get a Eurorail pass BEFORE you leave the USA. Link (there may be other places to buy them)
Singapore banned chewing gum because they got tired of stepping in it because someone thew it down on the sidewalks. It is really a nice city/country. The company I worked for during that time had a partner that was from there and he took me around alot of places and then to the country club for golf and later diner overlooking the ocean.

Check the currency rates and it may be better to exchange some money before you go if you think the rates are going to change. I only carried enough cash to get me by and used plastic most of the time but sometimes the exchange rates were expensive when using plastic.

Also check with your bank if you are using a debit..some banks has the visa blocked from overseas transaction due to hackers, it may only be online, but better check then be sorry. I haven't traveled since they done that, but I know Listerhill wont allow any online transactions. (Also First Southern)

Add Reply

Post

Untitled Document
×
×
×
×
Link copied to your clipboard.
×