London and solo-trip virgin first-timer - tips?? - Page 2 - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

**lauren313** · 05-07-2006, 07:51 AM

But there's not only German food in Germany!!

How about Prague? Also a beautiful place in the winter!

Rincewind's acquaintance · 05-07-2006, 07:56 AM

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Originally posted by lauren313@May 7 2006, 03:51 PM
But there's not only German food in Germany!!

How about Prague? Also a beautiful place in the winter!

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I know but the German foo that IS there scares me off!!!

Prague yes of course, also great tip. Quite cheap as well I hear...

**omisan** · 05-09-2006, 12:58 AM

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if I take your brilliant tips about pub habbits I dunno if the brits will look gladly upon us Danes...but it's worth a shot

I've had nothing but excellent times with Danes while traveling, drunk or otherwise

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By the way - need to look out for some cheaps countries to stay in at Christmas - any ideas anyone? Somewhere cheap, exciting, in europe and where everything isn't all closed down for the holidays...

I think I'll be spending this Xmas/New Years period in Spain. Cheap. Not ridiculously cold. And far, far from here.

Rincewind's acquaintance · 05-09-2006, 06:58 AM

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Originally posted by omisan@May 9 2006, 08:58 AM

I think I'll be spending this Xmas/New Years period in Spain. Cheap. Not ridiculously cold. And far, far from here.

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Um I was trying to play innocent, hehe...We Danes do like having fun. Glad you've stumbled upon a few of us with good results

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Ooh Spain IS one of my dream places to try and visit - didn't know it was cheap? And yes, the warmth is very very appealing at that period. Good idea. Any suggestions on where in Spain?

**bellelass** · 05-09-2006, 12:14 PM

Heh, I lived on Inverness Terrace. Cool. Walk down Inverness for a few blocks (walking in the direction away from hyde park) and you'll come to a nice well stocked cheap grocery store. Cheaper than tesco. There's also a laundromat down there, and several restaurants and shops.

**omisan** · 05-09-2006, 05:03 PM

Hahha.. Inverness is my old hang, too. Both nowadays when I visit and also really old. As in the house I lived in as a kid was a few blocks away

Rincewind's acquaintance · 05-10-2006, 01:42 AM

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Originally posted by bellelass@May 9 2006, 08:14 PM
Heh, I lived on Inverness Terrace.* Cool.* Walk down Inverness for a few blocks (walking in the direction away from hyde park) and you'll come to a nice well stocked cheap grocery store.* Cheaper than tesco.* There's also a laundromat down there, and several restaurants and shops.

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Oooh lovely tip - thanks!!! Need to consider booking another hostel, instead of two different ones though - but in the same area and cheaper - Smart Hyde Park View - anyone got any views on the place??? Thanks for the great tip bellelas, I will definetely go there

Rincewind's acquaintance · 05-10-2006, 01:47 AM

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Originally posted by omisan@May 10 2006, 01:03 AM
Hahha.. Inverness is my old hang, too. Both nowadays when I visit and also really old. As in the house I lived in as a kid was a few blocks away

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Cool... hoping to stay at either Inverness Terrace or Craven Hill - so looking forward to seeing it... Thought I was being real smart booking two different hostels for my 4 day stay, so I could chill out in a private hostel room at Inverness first 2 days and then in a dorm room at Paddington... Need to save money and will probably be glad if I change it to one hostel instead and a dorm room...need to make a quick decision soon

First time at hostel so : how's the reaction if people come wandering home late night and bustling into their beds - a "who cares" - reaction or???

**bellelass** · 05-10-2006, 01:54 AM

I used to work in the bar at Hyde Park View. Its owned by the same bastards I mean people who own the one on Inverness Terrace- Hyde Park Inn. HPV (hahahahahaha) is nicer, the dorm rooms all have bathrooms in each room. whereas at HPI you share a bathroom with about a hundred or so other people. However, HPV doesnt have a kitchen and HPI does. and HPI is a lot more chilled out. And cheaper. They're about a five minutes' walk from each other. There's a net cafe and a little grocery just across from HPV, as well as several pubs. There's also a few decent pizza places around the corner facing the park. Let me know if you have any specific questions about those places, I know them well...

Rincewind's acquaintance · 05-10-2006, 02:30 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by bellelass@May 10 2006, 09:54 AM
I used to work in the bar at Hyde Park View.* Its owned by the same bastards I mean people who own the one on Inverness Terrace- Hyde Park Inn.*

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Yeah I only just surfed hostelz.com and saw peoples reviews on the two I had booked already(Smart Hyde Park Inn and Wake Up! London).....goddamnit, it's a jungle

Need it to be a hostel VERY close by Hyde Park, and preferably staying at either private room or max. 6 bed female dorm. So considering Smart Hyde Park View even though the reviews back-up your nickname for them...Hmm probably will return with many questions about the HPV (

) , brilliant to run into an old employee who knows the place and the things to look out for!!! Anyway - I'm new to hostels abroad, but WHO believes the pictures and the "very clean and service-minded" stuff

??? It's London, it's easy money made for some bastards and well...i'm hoping for an ok stay despite my choice of location...

Do they try and charge extra money for other stuff than your room?
They say "safe in the room" - does that mean no locker or shared safe???
Key card access - does that mean every one of the 6 people staying at a dorm gets a key card or is it shared????

**bellelass** · 05-10-2006, 03:00 AM

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Originally posted by Rincewind's acquaintance@May 10 2006, 03:30 AM
Yeah I only just surfed hostelz.com and saw peoples reviews on the two I had booked already(Smart Hyde Park Inn and Wake Up! London).....goddamnit, it's a jungle

Need it to be a hostel VERY close by Hyde Park, and preferably staying at either private room or max. 6 bed female dorm. So considering Smart Hyde Park View even though the reviews back-up your nickname for them...Hmm probably will return with many questions about the HPV (* * ) , brilliant to run into an old employee who knows the place and the things to look out for!!! Anyway - I'm new to hostels abroad, but WHO believes the pictures and the "very clean and service-minded" stuff ??? It's London, it's easy money made for some bastards and well...i'm hoping for an ok stay despite my choice of location...
Do they try and charge extra money for other stuff than your room?
They say "safe in the room" - does that mean no locker or shared safe???
Key card access - does that mean every one of the 6 people staying at a dorm gets a key card or is it shared????

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alright, firstly london hostels are on the whole notoriously shit.

second, honestly, staying in an all girl dorm as opposed to a coed dorm isnt that big a deal.
Unless you've lived in a convent for most of your life. Guys are on the whole very respectful.

I know the HPI and HPV people charge for the lockers, a year ago when I worked there it was 1.5 pounds/day. Thats if you want to lock it. If you just want to put your shit in there to chill, theres no charge. Individual lockers. This safe business is a line of bullshit.

Key card is per person. No need to share. You will have to pay a ten pound deposit, which you will get back when you check out on time and hand back in the card. Though that is kind of flexible. It depends. If you're cool and nice and so forth the receptionist might let it slide if you lose it. But dont be cheesy and try to hard to make friends with the receptionists so you can have an easier time. That used to piss me off so much. But I would make exceptions and discounts for cool people.

There are laundry facilities in both places. They're insanely overpriced. As are most things in Londres.

We used to use Wake Up! as a sort of overflow place. I went there a few times, didnt really like the place. Its too.... packaged I guess. Slick. I like dirty weird smelly hostels. God knows why..

Any other questions at all, Im here for ya.

**bellelass** · 05-10-2006, 03:05 AM

By the way, HPV is pretty clean. The upper floors are an ok hotel sort of place, the lower floor is the bar and the hostel. The decor is a bit out of date but that adds to the kitschy charm for me.

Also both places have free toast/tea/coffee/corn flakes breakfast from 7-10 if memory serves right. I believe so. God knows I said it enough times....

Rincewind's acquaintance · 05-12-2006, 05:03 AM

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Originally posted by bellelass@May 10 2006, 11:05 AM
By the way, HPV is pretty clean.* The upper floors are an ok hotel sort of place, the lower floor is the bar and the hostel.* The decor is a bit out of date but that adds to the kitschy charm for me.

Also both places have free toast/tea/coffee/corn flakes breakfast from 7-10 if memory serves right.* I believe so.* God knows I said it enough times....

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Awesome, appreciate all your helpful info - need to check the $ situation and hope to change it to HPV instead.

Rincewind's acquaintance · 05-15-2006, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bellelass@May 10 2006, 11:05 AM
By the way, HPV is pretty clean.* The upper floors are an ok hotel sort of place, the lower floor is the bar and the hostel.*

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And soooo the 4 days are booked instead at HPV now....

by the way - they state "towels in bathrooms".....what are they - small cloth like items to dry your hands in or proper towels used by everyone???

And do they charge you for letting your luggage stand in the luggage room after check out???

Rincewind's acquaintance · 06-01-2006, 08:40 AM

By the way -

any foo/qotsa-lovers on t-punk attending the great gig in Hyde Park???

Rincewind's acquaintance · 06-07-2006, 01:09 PM

No one??? Not a single happy-go-drunk-foo-and-music-lover-Tpunk going there??? Hmmmm....

**omisan** · 06-07-2006, 02:35 PM

I would be if I were, oh, anywhere near London!

Rincewind's acquaintance · 06-08-2006, 11:54 AM

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Originally posted by omisan@Jun 7 2006, 10:35 PM
I would be if I were, oh, anywhere near London!

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Aaaah well thanks for the thought - and too bad you're not there... Sigh, 7 days to go....

Rincewind's acquaintance · 06-29-2006, 06:21 AM

Hmmmmm.....the trip went a bit awol, only had 2 days in London. Missed my dream concert with Foo Fighters etc due to a fuck-up, had chosen a way too cramped dorm room

and saw about none of the city, just the Hyde Park area and Portobello.....Hyde Park is beautiful by the way. But the little I saw I kinda liked....must go back there someday with more time and some fellow travellers.

Does anyone here plan on going to London in the days before/around Christmas 2006???? (the flights from Denmark are so cheap for London in December right now...)
Thanks for all the fantastic tips, everyone! I hope to find the money to travel more soon....

Oh , and yeah - Tesco's ROCK

Rincewind's acquaintance · 06-29-2006, 06:32 AM

Or anyone got a tip about where (except London) to spend Christmas in a cheap, exciting and possibly pub-crawling manner, let me know - you people are just full of good ideas