On Preparing for a Trip and Its Various Effects on the Mind

[pymander]

I just got back from Barnes & Noble, where I purchased the Michelin guidebook for Scotland, which has me very excited. I've been researching various ways to get from Amsterdam to Scotland, and it looks like I can get from Amsterdam to London via the Dutch Flyer, and then take some British train system to Edinburgh, which is just four exciting

Comments

[oakmouse]

London is damnably expensive. Spend part of a day in it, sure, but not overnight. A horrible cheap hotel there costs more than a posh hotel in San Francisco.

Pack LIGHT. Take as little as possible, and plan on doing at least one laundromat stop. They're tolerably common in Britain, where they're called "launderettes". You can get your clothes going and then go round the corner for a pint; there's always a pub round the corner. But really, seriously, pack as light as you can. Try to carry one bag only, and that a carry-on. Mail any purchases home instead of carrying them. It makes all the difference.

And HAVE FUN!!!

[pymander]

Packing light sounds essential indeed. Last time I took a very large suitcase, but I had a home base of sorts that I knew I'd be returning to, which made a difference in my planning.

Spending just part of a day in a city the size of London seems like I'd be doing it a massive injustice, but I'll see where the winds blow me. I'm trying not to plan ahead too much, and I shall do my best to have fun!

[pymander]

Well, I plan on spending about a week in Amsterdam, but I really, really want to do some city hopping while I've got the chance.

So are you going to be in Amsterdam for Koninginnedag?