Stay Inwards A Academy Dorm Spell Traveling

Flip Flops as well as Pajama Bottoms

Stay inwards a University Dorm during Summer Travel


http://www.halls.london.ac.uk/visitor/international/

I own got been searching for alternatives to staying inwards a hotel when I travel.     As I uncovering novel opportunities I percentage them on my blog.
You may own got read most staying inwards convent (hotels) as well as monasteries inwards Italy  (monastarystays.com)   something I own got done for the by 8+ years.   Each location is a  unique experience.    I own got tried an  roll parked on a beach at KOA on  Cape Hatteras.    Far improve than I expected as well as somewhere I would hold upward happy to provide to.   See the floor at:      http://bit.ly/1a1mCVX

I own got read most Universities' offering dorm rooms for rent during summer  and/or other times the dorms are non inwards use.     The toll is ever reasonable as well as the locations are oftentimes inwards the urban heart as well as somebody as well as close world transportation. 
Planning for a view to London inwards May I started to search for Universities offering ‘rooms for rent’.    There was every bit a surprising set out of schools participating inwards ‘summer rooms for rent’.    Unfortunately  many  of  the programs  did non outset until the destination of the of the
the schoolhouse term. 
           

  The  London University had rooms available as well as I booked a unmarried room amongst total bath.      Sharing a bath amongst 25 to 50 college students would alone brand them uncomfortable non to holler me……so rooms amongst total baths were precisely what I was looking for.
The dorm I was assigned to was a brusque walk from the St Pancreas educate station where I arrived from Dover.   After the amazing renovation of this historic station it was a process to own got a walk through the extensive shopping as well as dinning mall.       Cafes were noted for futurity meals if I needed a ‘solo friendly’ establishment.    After all most travelers at a educate station are solo.
I had Goggled the walking instructions as well as picked upward a map from the really friendly Tourist Office at the westward side of the station.   It was an tardily walk as well as to a greater extent than of import 1 amongst sidewalks as well as ramps for those dragging a slice of luggage.
Arriving earlier ii pm I was told to provide at 2.   At ii the pocket-sized problems started.   Even later on 5+ emails to assure my room was ensite, I was assigned a room amongst communal bath.   I own got to confess to ‘loosing it’.   As I am using the buildings WIFI to uncovering a ‘real room’ my savior Sapina arrived.   Since this was a weekend in that location was no 1 at the University housing component to help. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 senior inwards the edifice was assigned to ‘fix’ the problems as well as Sapina did a GREAT job.   After a tour of the edifice I settled into my ‘dorm’ room.    Since no other ensuite   rooms were available, I was given 1 amongst a kitchen, no pots, non pans, no dishes but a kitchen.



Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 unmarried bed, pocket-sized kitchenette as well as on the other wall a large desk area
The bath was modern as well as had extremely hot water!
Negative:  you lot alone instruct 1 towel as well as therefore convey your ain mo if you lot involve one.
Bed was to a greater extent than of a cot, long term stays powerfulness hold upward uncomfortable.
The edifice has tranquillity rules as well as later on 11pm is really quiet.  



The edifice has endless facilities:       laundry, game room, crush court, courtyard for sunny days, recreation/TV room, motion-picture demo room as well as more. 


An tardily walk from the Russell Square subway scheme station as well as the St Pancreas educate station.
The room comes amongst daily breakfast but if you lot are a tourist or own got an early on engagement don’t excogitation on breakfast on a Sabbatum or Sunday, in that location is brunch as well as it is at 10:30!     Because I wanted to experience the breakfast I returned to the dorm to walk through the describe amongst my other ‘students’.
Apparently many parents view the academy as well as oftentimes remain inwards the dorms as well as therefore I did non aspect likewise out of place.   I intend they set me inwards the grandparents file.     What was really interesting is that NO ONE SPOKE TO ME.    I suppose some of the students had ‘big’ nights as well as were non inwards a chatty mood.   Many were wearing travail pants as well as flip flops as well as some of those pants looked similar PJ’s.
After all these years I idea I would experience memories from the erstwhile days but I but felt foreign, both inwards nationality as well as age.


Food hall on the lower degree of the building            The atrium was brilliant fifty-fifty on the cloudy twenty-four hours

Rental links:
http://www.westminster.ac.uk/business/facilities-and-services/summer-accommodation


http://www.londonmet.ac.uk/accommodation/summer-accommodation/

expert article on alternative housing options:
http://golondon.about.com/od/londonhotels/fr/Imperial-College-Rooms.htm

http://www.arts.ac.uk/housing/summeraccommodation/

http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/summeraccommodation

What Is Your Philosophy On Travel?

    Travel Philosophy, what is yours?  

When move is no longer the 1 or ii weeks your don’t go every twelvemonth but purpose of your life but every bit integral every bit the need that may come upward over you lot to encounter the bounding main or the sentiment from a mountain………one that expands your    viewpoint.                                                                                
                                                                                         
  I didn’t intend I had a philosophy close move until I lastly decided to stimulate got adventures non vacations.

When I move I endeavour to perish on this mantra inwards mind: Be a Traveler non a Tourist Learn Something New find a New Adventure Experience the Local Life  

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

Last black I read on Budget Travel Adventures the following:   To live a ameliorate traveler, you lot can't but see a place.
You stimulate got to sense it amongst your emotions too soul.
Only when nosotros larn beyond what nosotros encounter tin shipping away nosotros country a move storey (through words or photos) that's worth sharing.

I dearest it when a unproblematic judgement or contestation volition arrest my thinking or halt the projection I am working on.  
Too frequently nosotros don’t accept fourth dimension to think.  Until I stopped working a 24/7 chore I had no thought at that spot was such an exciting ‘box of chocolates’ (from Forest Gump) out at that spot too I volition perish on sampling….…..

I asked the writer of Budget Travel Adventue, if I could usage his motto for his blog:
http://www.budgettraveladventures.com/
Travel passionately, budget wisely, too sense to a greater extent than - that's the motto of the novel blog, Budget Travel Adventures.

Budget Travel Adventures wants to assistance you lot sense to a greater extent than when you lot move too inspire you lot to live a ameliorate person.
read to a greater extent than close JereBranham on the higher upward spider web site.                                                                                                                                                      
What is your Philosophy?

Do Solo Travelers Pay Double The Damage On Cruises?

If y'all prefer to go solo, should y'all go charged double?           



         Although cruise lines practise non avidly search for solo travelers, they volition 'allow' solo travelers to bring together the ARK at upwards to 200% to a greater extent than than other passengers are paying.      Cunard has late in addition to inwards the past times few years offered attractive rates for solo travelers in addition to afterwards taking i of their Atlantic crossings, I tin say they are everything y'all imagine an elegant British send to be.
The pricing policy for solo travelers has croak a ‘movement’ inwards the ever growing solo traveler market.
If y'all necessitate to go solo or because of circumstances y'all are traveling solo, why should solo travelers go farther restricted past times price?    There are wonderful trips advertised every twenty-four sixty minutes menses in addition to if they are listed every bit ‘packages  or vacations’ the cost is e'er higher when y'all select your go dates in addition to hotels.  If y'all double the cost of fifty-fifty the discounted cruises they frequently are $300 a twenty-four sixty minutes menses in addition to the dream of an around the basis cruise equals the cost of a high cease automobile!
Air travel, although increasingly  uncomfortable in addition to expensive, even in addition to thence charges passengers past times the seat.  Even the airlines offering promotions for your ‘companion to wing free’ or the dreaded 2 for 1 pricing.      Travel providers should go challenged on their misleading 2 for 1 advertising…..  endeavor to purchase this advertisement for a cruise every bit a solo in addition to y'all are told y'all volition go denied go if y'all croak far solo. 

What other go services accuse solo travelers more:
As far every bit I know rental cars practise non accuse solo travelers whatsoever ‘supplements’.    Hotels inwards the USA accuse past times the room but frequently practise NOT offering unmarried room rates.    Some hotels inwards Europe offering unmarried rooms that are commonly really modest in addition to non e'er the best the hotel has to offer.   At other times I possess got received a criterion double room, at that spot does non appear to go whatsoever standard.   When I go off flavor I tin frequently majority 4 star hotels inwards Italy for the cost of a unmarried room at other times during the year.  

The cruise manufacture continues to accuse solo travelers for enjoying the especial pleasance of traveling solo. 
Alan Fox, the president of Vacations to Go, has i of the few spider web sites that lists cruises alongside depression or no solo supplement. www.vacationstogo.com/    Recently he posted an respond to this inquiry on his spider web page.    With his before permission to percentage solo cruise information, I am posting his reply here.
on delineate question:
Q: When a cruise send has less than a sum capacity of passengers, why practise they non permit someone to go solo in addition to non pay double occupancy? I would intend that since they possess got to maintain a sum crew, fifty-fifty i individual inwards a room makes to a greater extent than feel than having the cabin empty for the cruise.
A: Except for 6-star ships, cruise ships to a greater extent than frequently than non canvass sum year-round because cruise lines drib the charge per unit of measurement to whatever it takes to sell out. They prefer to fill upwards those empty cabins alongside 2 people to maximize their onboard sales in addition to gratuities. However, lines sometimes slash the unmarried supplement for a express time, in addition to nosotros listing every i of these opportunities on our site.
Alan Fox,   Chairman & CEO, Vacations To Go,  5851 San Felipe Street, Suite 500, Houston, TX 77057

Why don’t cruise lines accuse solo clients double the mandatory gratuities fees in addition to allow solo’s to travel?    The staff would non endure financially.   And at that spot are no guarantees 2 passengers inwards a room volition pass to a greater extent than coin on drinks, tours, the casino, option restaurants or shopping, other lucre areas of the ship.  

I troll the cruise spider web sites months before I start to excogitation a trip.   Vacationstogo.com volition listing solo supplement trips but this listing does NOT include every sailing.    I possess got tried 4 cruise ‘agents’ alongside varying results.   I possess got never found whatsoever cruise or go agent who is excited near working alongside solo travelers.   Or peradventure it is simply how I travel.  I was told off past times i specialty agent when I mentioned I would go traveling throughout Italy for a calendar month before the trip in addition to would non go able to convey ‘dress’ clothes alongside me. Her reply was something to “Well y'all can’t croak around the send inwards sloppy pants”.       Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 novel partitioning of an established cruise booking site opened a ‘solo go division’ but found the sales afterwards I did!

So similar a shot I search whatsoever sailing to a place on my ‘bucket list’ alongside a posted cost of $100 a twenty-four sixty minutes menses or less.   This may insure a solo cost of nether $200.00 a day……beyond that cost you  may go able to wing delineate of piece of occupation organisation class!      If y'all run into a non bad cost on a solo cruise allow me know at www.maturesolotravel.com

Near Dover: Tea Room Y'all Must Visit

High Tea as well as CAKE,  my favorite 

    How fortunate to receive got half dozen days hither to sample Tea inward a release of places.  And tea must come upwards alongside cake.

    I receive got to admire a people who receive got the fourth dimension to sit, relax as well as sip their national hot imbibe spell EATING CAKE!  It has been perfected to an fine art of "temperature, root of the tea leaves as well as presentation". 

Coffee inward Italia is a staple but una café is bolted non sipped.   The thought of sitting at a tabular array drinking java for an lx minutes is somewhat unusual to the Italians.

Discovering The Lavender Tea House inward the southward of the UK

          When i asked a greeter at the Dover dock where I was catching a ship,  "Is at that topographic point a famous cake baked inward this area" I had no thought she would propose a novel tea room inward the side past times side town that her missy only opened as well as I would receive got an chance to see the Lavender Tea House the next week.

           I had only been inward Canterbury as well as constitute their 'special cake' (unfortunately they were sold out) as well as thought this would hold upwards an interesting theme.   Tea as well as cake throughout the UK, a perfect theme for my weblog or a keen excuse to consume cake several times a day!

A motto I tin give notice follow

The chance to see the Lavender Tea Room inward Folkestone, United Kingdom of Great Britain as well as Northern Ireland of Britain as well as Northern Republic of Ireland was also expert to pass.     H5N1 telephone telephone from her woman rear as well as a few emails had me taking the prepare the next calendar week to Folkestone, a brusk distance from Dover, UK.     

Natalie Chessman is the possessor of this charming tea room on a pedestrian street non far from the sea.   Visiting on a Saturday, the busiest 24-hour interval of the week, express my fourth dimension alongside Natalie but she was real generous to percentage her ideas near enjoying tea.   See the video interview below 

On a pedestrian street non far from the body of body of water (and the prepare station)  the Lavender Tea Room has an outdoor patio

Your cake choice is served on English linguistic communication china  

How to lead what cake to try?   I selected 3 to receive got alongside me 'so that my story would hold upwards from a personal viewpoint".     What an enjoyable describe of piece of job I had inward front end of me....

Some of the amazing cakes, baked that morning, are on display.  

1.

2

3

The  three cakes that are most popular.    I could receive got sampled whatever of the selection.  The scones were incredible as well as they fifty-fifty had a glutton costless cake!

The LTR was busy when I arrived near xi am only earlier the midday rush.  The pedestrian street was busy alongside Sabbatum shoppers as well as a minor festival inward 1 of the streets.     As before long equally I entered the store I was greeted past times 1 of the staff members who knew I was coming as well as sat me downward alongside a pot of tea!.    A lovely welcome spell I waited for Natale to complete inward the kitchen.

Natalie had arrived real early on to mix as well as bake all the wonderful cakes I saw inward front end of me but yet she gave me some fourth dimension to explicate the philosophy behind opening the Lavender Tea room.   

Some of topics nosotros covered inward our chat:  (If I receive got omitted whatever facts, I shall inquire the possessor to right me as well as right the post)

Q.   How did your involvement inward baking, larn started, did y'all bake equally a child?

A.  I receive got ever enjoyed existence inward the kitchen as well as  have ever cooked.                                                   My virile somebody rear is a very good chef as well as I receive got grown upwards around ‘food’

Q.   How did y'all create upwards one's heed to opened upwards a tea room

a.      A.         There was a gap inward the market, I picked Folkstone because  there are a

lack of tea rooms, lots of java bars.... 

(A tea room) harps dorsum to the days, I mean value nosotros receive got forgotten , what having tea is all about.

near the ritual of having tea, spending the

time,  sharing it alongside friends, having a chat,

I wanted to create an atmosphere

Q.  Did y'all grow upwards alongside the ritual of tea inward the afternoon?

a.       A.   I spent a lot of fourth dimension alongside my grandmother as well as she would ever receive got tea around iv o’clock alongside a piece of cake, buttered toast as well as a prissy pot of tea   

The store attracts many locals for tea, luncheon as well as fifty-fifty parties.  While I was at that topographic point several 'regulars' stopped inward as well as were greeted past times get-go names as well as a cheery hello.

  Q.  Do y'all bake all the cakes past times manus or are they done 'commercially?

   A.  Natalie bakes all the cakes real early on inward the mornings….  home made cakes receive got no preservatives as well as           practice non receive got the same texture equally a 'box mix".   This characteristic makes her cakes similar a process y'all would receive got at a friends home.    

And she bakes alongside a Kitchen aid mixer the same 1 nosotros would purpose inward the USA.

The diversity of cakes volition modify during the calendar week but she told me her most pop treats are: 

Scones

Carrot cake

Lemon drizzle cake

 What powerfulness hold upwards inward the hereafter for The Lavender Tea Room?

  H5N1 signature cake for the area?   Currently they brand Lavender cupcakes but were sold out this morning

  Lessons to learn others how to bake these marvelous cakes?   I would sign upwards for a class

  Shipping cakes equally particular orders?

  H5N1 gear upwards book?

Natalie reminded me they receive got entirely been opened upwards a year, as well as many options are opened upwards for the future. 

 A British tour grouping may receive got some involvement inward adding  a halt at the Lavender Tea Room to a hereafter tour schedule.

Today most of her customers are locals as well as myself the sole tourist.  If I lived inward the expanse I would also larn a regular, trying a dissimilar process on each visit.

                   When y'all see the Lavender Tea House inward Kent, hold upwards certain to say Natalie y'all saw her article on

                                                           MatureSoloTravel



 Click below to encounter their spider web site.
http://www.thelavenderteahouse.com/

The Lavender Tea House

Homemade Cakes, Fine Teas, Freshly Ground Coffee as well as Light Lunches inward the Heart of Folkestone's Old Town.

Now Open inward Church Street, Folkestone . . . 
The Lavender Tea House is the goal inward Kent for fine teas, abode made cakes as well as calorie-free lunches. The perfect identify to relax afterward a shopping trip, during your luncheon interruption or only to process yourself to some calm, indulgent ‘me’ time!
Sit back, relax as well as relish a pot of fine tea served alongside a delicious piece of abode made cake. Perfect!
 
Natalie Cheeseman
The Lavender Tea House
5, Church Street, Folkestone
01303 2545215

Royal Infant Competitor At Krispy Kreme Inward London

London:  



Voting virtually the Royal Baby
At Krispy Kreme

While looking for the Spitsfield marketplace on my May trip to London together with beyond, I was arrested past times the Krispy Kreme store at the larn out from the develop station...

Apparently this is a BIG drive inwards the Great Britain  http://www.krispykreme.co.uk/hot-now/

At abode the Krispy Kreme is the 24 lx minutes   'Hot Donut" sign store.   For those deprived of donuts on demand, the sign goes on when fresh, HOT donuts come upward off the assembly line.

but what stopped me at this store was the competitor they are running to justice if Kate together with Will's infant volition endure a daughter or a boy!

                                                                                                                                                                                                You purchase the pinkish or bluish donut to vote your choice........wow......

Morris Dancing Inwards London

My At Home In London  place inwards Hampstead was alone a few blocks from the river walk.   This pedestrian path went from my Hampstead place due east towards key London in addition to West.     I hiked parts of the path on both days I stayed at belongings #305.   Had I stayed longer at this place I would cause got spent far to a greater extent than fourth dimension on the ‘walk’ fifty-fifty trying to accept the road to Richmond.     There were pubs along the road that were amount of locals every night, spilling onto the lawn.  
As I walked the 1 or two miles from Hammersmith town middle I heard music, non pocketbook pipes simply something I recognized in addition to singing.   Then I saw men dancing……  something similar a skipping  version of the American foursquare dance.  

My host suggested it could move Morris dancing……..have you lot heard most Morris dancing?

From Wikipedia I found the history of Morris dancing:

today, at that topographic point are half dozen predominant styles of Morris dancing, in addition to dissimilar dances or traditions inside each mode named afterwards their share of orign. 

• North West morris: to a greater extent than armed forces inwards mode in addition to oftentimes processional, that developed out of the mills inwards the North-West of England inwards the 19th in addition to early on 20th centuries.
• Border Morris from the English-Welsh border: a simpler, looser, to a greater extent than vigorous style, traditionally danced amongst blackened faces.
• Longsword dancing from Yorkshire in addition to due south Durham, danced amongst long, stiff metallic or wooden swords for, usually, 6 or 8 dancers.
• Rapper from Northumberland in addition to Co. Durham, danced amongst brusque flexible sprung steel swords, unremarkably for v dancers.
• Molly Dancing from Cambridgeshire. Traditionally danced on Plough Monday, they were Feast dances that were danced to collect coin during harsh winters. One of the dancers would move dressed equally a woman, thus the name.
• Cotswold morris: dances from an expanse to a greater extent than oftentimes than non inwards Gloucestershire in addition to Oxfordshire; an established misnomer, since the Cotswolds overlap this share alone partially. Normally danced amongst handkerchiefs or sticks to accompany the manus movements. Dances are unremarkably for 6 or 8 dancers, simply solo in addition to duo dances (known equally unmarried or double jigs) equally good occur

Value Vs Toll Iii Weeks On Holland American

Sea Travel out on the deck

Value vs Price is i means I evaluate which long term trips I volition accept each year.  
Not having the resources of other travelers I consider all my options earlier I select 
where I volition move on thirty hateful solar daytime trip.     My preference is to move for long periods fifty-fifty if it is exclusively i trip a year.  

To live a traveler not a tourist  I approach itineraries as well as locations differently than most other vacationers.       In add-on to the cost of a trip, the provide I have from visiting a novel country, staying inwards a pocket-sized town, learning a science or coming together the locals is business office of the equation. 

In  house of my commons half dozen weeks inwards Italy each twelvemonth I opted to explore Northern Europe, the Baltic, an surface area I had never visited.    Traveling past times ship  to see seven countries inwards three weeks was a expert purpose of fourth dimension if non the most economically means to travel.  
   

Holland America’s Baltic cruise from Dover, United Kingdom of Great Britain as well as Northern Ireland to Norway, Germany, Estonia, Russia, Kingdom of Denmark as well as Sweden gave me a pocket-sized overview of countries I mightiness wishing to provide to.      But did this sailing offering Value for the Price?

Although solo travelers did non appear to live the target marketplace for this company, I did notice some surprises that my other trans Atlantic crossings did non offer.    And inwards futurity posts I shall part the unmarried characteristic HA has that other ships may non live able to compete with:   the incredible crew as well as staff on the Ryndam.

     There was express information, earlier sailing, almost what classes would live offered, hence it was a pleasant surprise to notice Microsoft based programs would live taught.   Each day, fifty-fifty port days,  4 or to a greater extent than classes were taught inwards the Digital Workshop past times Craig Lewes, the ships’ Techspert.

   Computer Classes: 

Craig Louis, Techspert

Meet Craig Louis the Techspert didactics Microsoft on the Ryndam.     With a high flat of  energy.                                                                 
 Craig taught to a greater extent than than seventy classes during the fourth dimension I was aboard.   

For an hour every hateful solar daytime he offered an ‘ask Craig’ number where passengers asked questions on cameras,
Microsoft programs or solutions to some of their reckoner problems.    

Many of his classes were standing room only.   He presented each programme with a clear as well as concise outline.    I especially enjoyed his dry out feel of sense of humor ‘deadpan’ reply to some questions.*  I asked Craig if I could create a curt profile on this spider web log as well as he sent me the following:

“ I  started with HAL dorsum inwards June 2003.  So this twelvemonth is my ten-year anniversary!     I originally  started with Club HAL doing the kids programming as well as then, because that labor was exclusively seasonal dorsum then, I switched to doing administrative operate for the Entertainment Department.

That seat was abolished as well as replaced with novel ones soon after.            I became a Senior Assistant Cruise Director (doing a lot of phase as well as mic work, subject nights, bingo, supervising the Cruise Staff.   

That labor lasted me almost 2 as well as a one-half years earlier I went dorsum to doing administrative operate for the Entertainment Department on Grand Voyages, which I ended upwards doing for 4 years. I as well as hence took a hiatus from the fellowship to complete my academy grade (Bachelor is Sociology as well as Economics) as well as was asked to come upwards dorsum to HAL every bit a Techspert.”                                                                                                  

                                                                                                

“I started inwards August of 2010. I tin honestly tell that I remember it's the best labor on the entire ship!

I only acquire paid to move to a greater extent than or less the earth as well as geek out a flake every day.         I notice the greatest matter almost this labor is that everyone who walks through the Digital Workshop doors is at that topographic point to learn. I remember because of that, as well as because the workshops are complimentary, everyone is only inwards a expert mood.

It's a dissimilar surround than other places on the shipping where people may complain almost i matter or another. On top of that, I actually dear how our older generations are getting into technology as well as actually embracing it.

It's ever peachy to reckon the faces of the guests lite upwards when nosotros create something similar panoramic pictures of photograph fusing. There are no negatives that I lead keep industrial plant life with my actual job. The exclusively negative of the lifestyle is beingness away from my friends as well as solid unit of measurement for extended periods of time.

Oh! My other favorite business office would live all the funny questions guests inquire me; granted, they're only funny to me because they'll purpose awkward terminology or lead keep really irrational fears - does that brand me audio mean?      There are only those funny moments, similar when a invitee starts talking to the reckoner instead of using the mouse or touching the screen... “*

Solo Lunch

All solo travelers on this trip were invited to encounter for tiffin i hateful solar daytime for a encounter as well as greet.   This was a peachy means to notice the other solo travelers alongside the 2000+ passengers.  However, cypher additional was planed during the 21 days.   HA could consider offering designated tables for solo travelers for the entire trip.    It would live optional for travelers. 
Port tours for solo travelers could also live offered.    

Next,  Food on Kingdom of the Netherlands America