UK Suggestions needed

[jgirvine Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close jgirvine]

Ok, thinking of a trip to the UK in May of 08. Where would you suggest as a base for seeing the most within driving ease?

We were thinking either London, or a one hour drive of London as a base, or Edinburgh Scotland and the same one hour. Of course we realize that is an either/or. We are trying to make the exchange request broad enough to get an exchange, but in an area where we would have a weeks worth of sightseeing to do.

Any suggestion? Are we on the right idea with what we are thinking?

We see timeshares down on the coast towards France, and in Cumbria (lakes district) but we worry about having enough to do.

Thanks;
Jac

[3kids4me Super Moderator and Super Mom Find all posts View Profile Close 3kids4me]

Some of your planning will depend on whether it is possible to get an exchange in the part of the country you are seeking. If you let us know which exchange company you are working with that will help drive recommendations. I can only recommend RCI properties/areas with some caveats how how easy or impossible in might be (Edinburgh, for instance) to get an exchange.

If you are prepared to rent if an exchange doesn't come through, then let us know that as well. My own recommendations would change if you are thinking of renting as you would have more flexibility and locations open to you.

Sharon

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

jac you have a PM

[jgirvine Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close jgirvine]

Looking at using DAE or SFX. Have a deposit in with SFX and a request, and a request in with DAE and will make the deposit if they find something.

No, won't go if we don't get an exchange.

Does that help any?

Thanks for any and all suggestions.

[Keitht Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Keitht]

Central London and Central Edinburgh are absolute nightmares for driving in. Far better to locate yourself out of town if you want to do some touring. There are good train services into both Edinburgh & London for when you want to get in.

[3kids4me Super Moderator and Super Mom Find all posts View Profile Close 3kids4me]

I agree with Keith about the driving; however, if your goal is to see both the city and the countryside, I would opt for staying in the city (I don't use DAE or SFX but I think you can get into London sometimes with DAE) and take day trips out...possible just by train. There is so much to do in London that you would tire quickly of going in and out by train!

If you want some other areas to look into that might have more than a day's worth of sightseeing involved, I would choose Cornwall next. There are lots of lovely towns there as well as The Eden Project which I'd like to visit myself!

I think you will find it nearly impossible to get an exchange directly into Edinburgh, but it's a great city if you can do it. I've never been in the north, so hopefully someone will come along that can recommend some nice highland areas as an alternative. Edinburgh can keep you busy for two to three days so plan accordingly for other areas. Maybe in Scotland the best thing is to find a good exchange with a decent train ride to Edinburgh, and then you can do both.

Sharon

[falmouth3 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close falmouth3]

Rental car in Edinburgh?

I'm going to be staying at the Duchally about 1 hour from either Edinburgh and Glasgow. Apparently there is decent train service into both cities from there. I got my reservation through SFX.

However, I am probably going to get a car to do some extra trips. I just did a quick search on Expedia for a rental car in Scotland. I'm willing to take an economy car with a stick shift. I am getting a price, including taxes for 176 dollars for a week, pickup at the Edinburgh airport, unlimited UK mileage. This seems like an incredible deal. I expected to pay much more. Should I grab it? This is for a July week.

I do not plan to drive in the cities, however. I live near Boston and I don't drive into the city here either.

[Laurie Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Laurie]

If you want some other areas to look into that might have more than a day's worth of sightseeing involved, I would choose Cornwall next. There are lots of lovely towns there as well as The Eden Project which I'd like to visit myself!

Hi Sharon, thanks for this tip! We have an exchange to Cornwall for spring 2008 and this looks great, I hadn't heard of it before ... Bulb Mania!
http://www.edenproject.com/visiting/1898.html

[rklein01 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close rklein01]

Edinburgh Scotland and the same one hour. Of course we realize that is an either/or.

There's good train service between London and Edinburgh if you want to see both.

But for Scotland I'd suggest the countryside instead of the city. We did a week at Craigendarroch, near Ballater and Balmoral. From there you can do the whisky trail, the castle trail, etc. The nearest major airport is Aberdeen.