h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I am sure there are several of us counting and thinking about attending the meet. The airfare from the US is about a thousand pounds, and 12 hours each way.

Meeting fellow researchers is certainly worth the price and time, however it would be even better to take the opportunity to see a few sights for the following week. There are several simple questions that come to mind;

Cell phones - are there cheep 'Go-Phones' that allow local service without a contract. Will my home AT&T phone work?

Do 'Rail Passes' include connecting buses?

What great sights should be pressed into a single week (the Portsmouth Naval Yard and Tower of London are high on my list.

Are there other accommodations other than hotels, and with what restrictions?

What do you find convenient that a visitor from, say Betelgeuse, might not be aware of?

Even if we don't make this meet it will help next time (but I haven't given up yet)

F S

When I attended the 2012 meet in Manchester, I purchased an add-on to my AT&T plan for about $65.00 that gave me a number of talk minutes and texts for use in the UK. I suggest you check their website for the current offerings. I know I will. I was there for but a long weekend, so that worked out well for me.

I wouldn't mind extending my visit a bit this time, but cost will be a huge consideration.

I checked about my Virgin Mobile phone but it won't work in Britain. What I was mostly wanting it for was for accessing Google maps.

Florida Sailor asked about other accommodation other than hotels.

You may be interested in the Bed and Breakfast type places, which can vary from private houses, with one or two rooms offered per evening, with a British breakfast in the morning. Some B&Bs tend to resemble small family run hotels though, but with far less amenities. You have to study to photos and information carefully.

I'm pretty sure if people specify when they're arriving and what help and advice they need, the local h2g2 community will respond with suggestions. Let us know the duration of your stay and places you have in mind.

A very tentative schedule is;

Leave US Thursday (Thing) arrive Heathrow about 7:00AM (Local) Friday
Tube & Train to Manchester, Picadilly.
Rest
Pre Meet
Sleep
Seminars or Moor trip
Rest
Big Meet
Sleep
Breakfast with a few new friends

Maybe;

Train to Edinburgh (For some reason I would really like to see Scotland)

Monday
Visit Castle and maybe Holyrood, unless Liz is visiting at the same time

Tuesday
Train to London

Wednesday
Visit Tower with Beefeaters
Ride on the Eye
maybe the cabaret on the Cutty Sark

Thursday (Thing again)
Train to Portsmouth

Friday
Visit Shipyard
Try to avoid getting sucked onto Wight

Saturday
Fly Home from Heathrow

Sunday
Try to recoup before being sucked back into the office on Monday

Some of you might know that I am interested in history and ships any and all suggestions most welcome.

F S

One thing to check out is the pay as you go monthly plans from 3: http://store.three.co.uk/view/searchSimOnly?tariff=112

You get a sim with unlimited data and a load of text/minutes for £15 for the month. Not sure if it's possible to get one of these if you're not a UK resident but I know I got a similar thing when I was in the States.

I notice Baron Grim intends to arrive at June 5th and leave June 17th and Florida Sailor may do something similar. 12 days is maybe stretching it, but I might consider staying for a few more than the actual meet myself. Have been thinking of arriving Th*rsday and maybe leave a handful of days/nights later.
Anybody else having ideas like these? And maybe in need/want of company?

I'll only be in Manchester thru the weekend. Then I'm off to Edinburgh.

I'll stay a couple days, maybe a week or so.
... That is, *if* I can come.

Duly noted

Cell phones - are there cheep 'Go-Phones' that allow local service without a contract. Will my home AT&T phone work?

>> Get a pay-as-you-go SIM card like these: http://www.carphonewarehouse.com/sims/pay-as-you-go (other places are available)

Do 'Rail Passes' include connecting buses?

>> Not to my knowledge. They do cover rail replacement buses though.

What great sights should be pressed into a single week (the Portsmouth Naval Yard and Tower of London are high on my list.

>> Won't speak for the rest of the country, but in Manchester I recommend MOSI and Manchester Museum. You're also close to Liverpool and Leeds (both ~40m on the train) for things like Leeds Armouries and whatever passes for culture on Merseyside.

Are there other accommodations other than hotels, and with what restrictions?

>> B&Bs are pretty cheap.

What do you find convenient that a visitor from, say Betelgeuse, might not be aware of?

>> Don't go in pubs with flat roofs. Or eat anywhere with an American state (or pun related to) in the name (Kansas Fried Chicken and King Tucky Chicken are the worst offenders).

Edinburgh you say... We live in Edinburgh. Mrs zen abd the researcher known currently as Woolley mammoth.

Air b and b is a great Web site...