What are good tips for cheap traveling in london?

College student from California traveling to London by herself needs tips!?

• This trip is very last minute - it is going to be in two weeks and I only have a week to spend there. I am wondering what the best, cheapest, and safest place to stay is. Also, what kind of fun things there are to do in London, all by ones self... that are affordable... and maybe a great way to meet friendly folks? Any sort of advice would be much appreciated! Thank you :) -Hilary

• Answer:

  London is very expensive. even more expensive than the rest of the UK so bring plenty of cash or load the card before you come. The ATMs and card payments for bills are just like home, no problems with Visa Mastercard etc but some don't do American Express. Tell your bank to expect transactions from then UK and then the card won't get swallowed if the bank thinks someone stole it. It probably won't anyway but safety thinking is best. For accommodation there are loads of safe backpacker hostels where you'll meet folks from all over the world and probably a few from Cali but some of the budget hotels can be as cheap though the company will be less interesting.. In a hostel you can find friends, go shoppijng for food together and share the cost, eat a variety of dishes. It depends which of you is cooking, or get together and invent a fusion of your own with some Arabic or African or Bolivian or Italian or French or whatever companions you have... It saves a lot of money compared to eating in cafes and restaurants and you get tips and ideas from round the world. In a hostel in Durban, South Africa we had a fabulous proper lasagne cooked for eight of us who teamed up for a sightseeing and shopping trip, cooked in a huge tray in the oven of a woodburning stove by a tall and very pretty Italian girl who drank half the wine and put half in the lasagne and said in defence "Only when enough wine drink you can turn out properly good the pasta...true from the hills of Italy...haha..is honest. Wait till taste it you see is true.." And it was brilliant ...perfect luxury, rich and creamy, piles of beef that melted in the mouth, veggies all just fine instead of going mushy and with the cheesy top done perfect ...so we were all happy with that one,haha. Hostelbookers is reliable but there are loads of other sites like Hostelworld, Hostelz.com etc. I've used then all over the world without a single problem. Small deposit when you book onl;ine, balance on arrival or by arrangement. Rvery place had my booking and the deposit recorded, in Africa, around Europe, America, Asia etc Never had a problem anywhere. Hostels are more expensive in London than the ones back home as everything in Britain is. http://www.hostelbookers.com/hostels/england/london/ . . . . The hostel at Greenwich is very good and there are plenty of things to see and do around there including the famous tea clipper the "Cutty Sark" and you can go to the Royal Observatory where the Prime Meridian is and stand with one foot in the eastern hemisphere and the other in the western hemisphere. See on here for a lady from Texas...scroll down to ;;;"Greenwich in London" for piccies and other links http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100720180700AAEpgSv . . . . . http://www.st-christophers.co.uk/london-hostels/london/greenwich . . . . . For a trip out from London ya gotta see Windsor...the Queen's favourite weekend home is Windsor castle right beside the Thames. Have a trip to Boulter's Lock on the pleasure boats and treat yourself to strawberries and cream on the lawns of Windsor Castle. Only 20 minutes by train from London. http://image06.webshots.com/6/6/38/60/75063860fKoEbM_fs.jpg . . . . http://www.windsor.gov.uk/ . . . http://www.windsor.gov.uk/site/things-to-do/windsor-castle-p43983 . . . Eton College is just over the bridge...our top ivy-league boy's school for the past 600 years currently costing around $20 000 a year.... The UK doesn't get great weather. Bring some warm clothes or buy cheap in the charity shops like Oxfam where you get good quality clothing or in one of the many markets that London has. With normal street sense you'll be as safe in London as in LA or SF or the top of Palomar Mountain on a good day. There are tens of thousands of girls backpacking round the world alone.....you only hear of the very few who find troubles. Almost everyone gets home safe and well after a great time traveling but it doesn't make the news. Be bold but be sensible and don't go to risky-looking areas alone especially late in the evenan ing. In a hostel you can always find a friend...loads of them...and go out together at night. . All the other girls are in the same situation as you are and any friendship and help you can offer will be welcomed, as I hope you'll welcome it from others. It all helps to keep people safe and happy. Hostel life for beginners....mostly it's nowhere near as bad as the worst on here, but sometimes it can be a bit noisy. here it is laid bare....a hostel dorm...or you can get a private room. Two girls sharing a room cuts the cost.but it still costs more than a bed in the dorm. http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090513190307AAWQR83 . . . . . Have a great time and send some postcards home...keep the folks happy. They all worry when their 'little baby' goes away. They'll still worry when you're 40.....and you'll still be 'little baby' in their heads, .Bless 'em.