I've been readying an itinerary for my traditional fall trek to the UK and made a rather startling discovery. For those of you who've made the hop to Heathrow in the last few years, you've doubtless winced at the Heathrow Security Tax, which at last notice was an extra $175 added to your ticket price. I recall from past (i.e., pre-security tax) trips that the fare to Paris was only about $100 more expensive than the fare to London. So, just for the heck of it, I checked airfares to Paris (CDG). As it turns out, nowadays it is actually cheaper to fly to Paris and get a RT fare to London on the Eurostar (the Chunnel train), than it is to fly directly to Heathrow!

Look at it this way: I'll get my London business in as planned, but before and after, I get a little vacation in Paris - all for the same price as what would have been the London ticket alone. Paris hotels are a little less expensive than those in London - or at least one gets more bang for the buck in Paris - so that factor is a wash.

I haven't done the numbers yet, but AA (my usual carrier) flys from the West Coast to Dublin as well - and it might be worth checking for those of you who need to drop in on London but want an inexpensive Ireland vacation too. From Dublin to London City Airport is as little as about £30 (Ryan Air, Aer Lingus), if memory serves. In any case, one avoids the Heathrow Security Tax via Paris or Dublin - and reduces the cost of air fare significantly.

Bon voyage!!!

Intl Doc

PS Nearly forgot, the ticket to/from CDG to Gare Nord (the North Train Station) is an extra €15, but that's the cost of having fun, don't you agree? Capttuttle, it is cheaper to fly to Paris than to London! You've run out of excuses ...

Intl_doc: I've been reading about BA's financial difficulties and now I understand why. Heathrow has to be one of the worst airports in the world to fly into or through and now it seems one of the most expensive.

Thanks for the tip since I love Paris and plan to blatantly steal your idea on my next trip if I have the extra time.

Intl Doc, I almost forgot how to get here as, regettably, there's been so little to say on this forum of late. But since you called me, I found my way through all the cobwebs and burned out lightbulbs to talk for a bit.

I just got back from England a couple of weeks ago, and had the cheapest flight to London (from Dulles) I've had in years and years. And that was buying directly through United's website (and picking my window seat, thus getting stunning views of the southern tip of Greenland on the return - and I assure you, it is not green, but you could see individual icebergs from 38,000 feet). And this was in August, surprisingly a few bucks cheaper than their September fares. True, the airline got less than half the money, and no doubt Heathrow got their sizeable chunk from the amazing amount of fees included therein. But my fare was extremely low, and for a safe and incident-free arrival and departure, I'm not really complaining about any fees. I found Heathrow (now five terminals in all) to be in better shape than normal, too.

In fact I had a spectacular time, a nicer cozy little (and I mean 16 rooms total little) London hotel in Cartwright Gardens with wonderful cooked breakfasts. I had gorgeous weather for my hikes to houses and gardens in the Cotswolds, the Chilterns, the Sussex Downs, Wiltshire and Dorset, Oxfordshire and deeply rural Northamptonshire, some of these places sound asleep since the 16 and 1700s even with sun streaming through their ancient windows, landscape gardens with lakes shimmering under thunderhead clouds piled above, nostalgic train rides with Strongbow cider in hand... Always sneak a peek in Oxford, which I love. Got a quick look at Weymouth on the coast and a Punch and Judy show right on the beach where the puppets were gleefully insulting passing adults left and right. Saw the same portraits of George III and Queen Charlotte in I think five different country houses this year (my town is named after her, oddly).

Everything went extremely well - only saw two plays in London: All's Well That Ends Well, which I'd never seen before, a quite lavish production in the National Theatre, and my favorite Tom Stoppard play, Arcadia, in fact I think my favorite play of all time (another Samantha B. starring, Samantha Bond). Finally got to see Brick Lane and the famous Indian restaurants there, but frankly, it was nothing special and I had better in the little place right near my hotel. And Mother O will be pleased to know I met with friends at two different Wagamamas there, always nice places. But perhaps my favorite meal was my "lunch" of an apple up on top of one of the Sussex Downs with a 360 degree windswept view on a hot and blue-skied afternoon where you could almost make out the English Channel off in the haze to the south. Wonderful, wonderful trip. Found a few nice books in my nosings about, too, but left an Admiral Nelson jug behind that I kind of regret not buying now (although it cost about 4 hotel nights, so it's much better that I did).

Paris is still in my future, Intl Doc, perhaps as early as next spring, although that's even hazier than the imagined English Channel. But some day.

Oh, I ran across one of those little green London taxi tea huts, at the bottom of Craven St. along the Embankment where I'd never have expected to see one. I'm not really a hot tea or coffee guy, but thought I'd report the thing at least, to keep this thread nominally Samanthan. And for once I finally saw the beadle in the Burlington Arcade, and a very young one, too. Must have been an apprentice or something. I love going there my first morning in town, as the clerks are just laying out their jewelry and watches in all the posh little shops there. I wonder if they ever actually sell anything? But there is nothing like walking in London when the sun is out on an early summer morning and you know your whole trip is ahead of you. Your heart just soars.

And Samantha? Wherever she and her thoughts may be, and I have no idea where but think they will soon be very far away indeed, I hope all is well, and goes wonderfully for her.

It's wonderful to see some of the old posters on the forum again. It's like old times. Capt., you're right, there's not much to talk about anymore, but it's nice to hear your and IntlDoc's lyrical descriptions of things in London. Hope all is well with you both and maybe someday Samantha will grace the forum again, or , at least, we can get an old fashioned, lively thread going. Ciao !

Swamp Rat -

By all means steal the plan with wild abandon and with my compliments. Frankly, I'm tacking on a few extra days to get in a little more Paris time. And as you doubtless know, that is precious little time to see the City of Lights.

Capttuttle, I am pleased to see that you've considered the possibility of a trip to Paris. We'll chat more when the time approaches, but suffice it to say you'll likely be as charmed there as with anywhere in London. Thanks for the travelogue of your recent journeys. Honestly, you get more bang for the buck of any European traveller than I've ever met before, and I admire you for that.

As for our dear girl, wherever she may be these days (Sam did you ever make it to the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island?), we're with you. Accept the best from all of us --

Intl Doc

Ya know, I was really enjoying reading this particular post when I realized that every writer was a senior member. It's nice to partake in a discussion where everyone (except me) had something positive to contribute. Lately, most of my traveling has been over the Pacific rather than the Atlantic so I don't have much to add that isn't several years old, but there's always tomorrow.

Senior Membership is not hard to achieve here, Swamp Rat, although what you do with it can create a valuable commodity (or not). Like everything else in life, it isn't how much you say, but what, and how, you say it. There have been times in her travel shows, like upon the clearing crest of Macchu Pichu (I never spell that correctly), where Samantha simply steps aside to let us watch with her in silence, or other times she just smiles and gives us a wink in Salzburg or Prague or Paris, where that's all she needed to do to let us share in her thoughts and emotions and the value of the moment.

Sharing interesting travel experiences with readers here, and perhaps Samantha too should she be looking up over her Sunday morning coffee (or whatever's left over from last night), should rate you pretty highly in most of our eyes. Some of us have just been here longer than others, although all of us, certainly me, wish we had met Samantha far sooner than we did. This is I think the third version of her forum in its various previous existences, although by the crickets you can frequently hear on it now, and the tumbleweeds that often roll by, its lifespan may be about over. It has had its moments, though, and I hope it has enlivened and entertained Ms. Brown along its way. She has entertained and enlivened us on it here many times in the past, as of course she does at any time she appears upon the screen.

And as to travelling over the Pacific, it's my understanding you'll see more of that from Sam in coming months. (Woops, I've got to get to "work" now).

@ Capt. Tuttle: You put it very well. I'm looking forward to Sam's adventures across the other "pond" and hopefully have more to add.

In fact, it looks like I might be moving back there again in a few months, (probably Taiwan where my wife is from) which would update my perspective. It's very different living somewhere rather than just spending a holiday there. I'll be more in the China/Taiwan/Singapore/Philippines area for business but hopefully my wife and I can acquaint ourselves with a few other countries in that part of the world.

Mr. Bourdain has piqued my interest in Vietnam, several friends simply love Indonesia and my wife wants to show me Thailand, where she's visited in the past. The question is, do we take the plunge and try India? I've heard it's the most fascinating place to visit yet one of the most disheartening. I'm ready, but I'm not sure if my wife is. I used to live in China and Taiwan (though I met my wife in Phoenix, ha ha) so I know those countries pretty well.

Of course, Sam has introduced me to many places in Asia in the past, so I'm looking forward to more of the same. Though we might have different styles of travel, I always pick up a good tip or two from her in every episode and love her open attitude towards the places she visits. I've learned that the single best way to communicate in any country is simply with a big smile.
(Steve from San Diego)

Well I hope all goes well in Asia, Swamp Rat, and I too have heard that trips to India can be among both the most amazing as well as heartbreaking experiences of a lifetime. But I know someone who was recently helping observe the elections in Afghanistan, and I assure you that you don't really want to be straying over towards Kabul anytime in the near future.

And while I'm here this evening (and apologetic about none of this really pertaining to Europe) I don't think it's too late to plug the mini-series going on about the US National Parks on PBS this week. Sure to send visitation soaring to its stars, Yosemite, Yellowstone and Grand Canyon. Some gorgeous film and photography is included. Presumably Samantha knows Acadia well, and I imagine picked up at least a passing knowledge this past year of the Great Smokies, which I think make their appearance in tonight's installment.

But that is not where Samantha is going next, and I will bid my farewell to her now. I know she'll shine in her new locations, with her extraordinary spirit that Swamp Rat, as well as the rest of us, admires so much. We wish her much success and wonderful adventures ahead, lots of silk, and pearls, and memories for later, and great happiness in any time zone that she might occupy. Bon Voyage, and good luck Sam

Is Samantha no longer with the travel channel? I'm kind of confused with some of the comments such as the one below. I know the channel was recently sold and the economy is bad but I hope she is still with the travel channel.
Thanks
Rich

"But that is not where Samantha is going next, and I will bid my farewell to her now. I know she'll shine in her new locations, with her extraordinary spirit that Swamp Rat, as well as the rest of us, admires so much. We wish her much success and wonderful adventures ahead, lots of silk, and pearls, and memories for later, and great happiness in any time zone that she might occupy. Bon Voyage, and good luck Sam"

Good morning, Richinaz,
I want to assuage your worries if I can, for although I have no idea what Ms. Brown's eventual plans might be, there is no reason to suppose she will be parting ways with the Travel Channel in the near future. For next year there will be Samantha's Passport to Asia. You can even enter a contest right now if you wish, in hopes of meeting her while filming this winter in Singapore. Tuttle isn't going to try his hand in that and isn't in the demographic age group that they're looking for anyway, although he can vaguely picture himself in white linen suit sitting suavely at the bar of the venerable Raffles Hotel there through the haze of another of their signature Singapore Slings, trying to remain upright, trying to say something clever, probably failing in the second one, if not both.

Some longtime readers of this forum have surely figured out that Capt. Tuttle gets a little carried away and full of himself at times on this site. Don't take him too seriously as he doesn't himself and no doubt neither does Samantha. But in the post above he was seriously, if perhaps confusingly, wishing Sam well in her upcoming Asian adventures. I think she's now accomplished some of those, now a couple months later, and I still wish her the above things. And the Travel Channel appreciates her talents at least enough to to be making a tribute to her memorable and quite unique contributions for them (and us). I suppose that could become a going away present, but there's no reason to think that. She may well appreciate even more however the comments from appreciative individuals on the forum here like yours - "I hope she is still with the Travel Channel." I do too, if that is what she wants. That's all.

Hi Capt. Tuttle~

I for one would very much enjoy seeing you on the show, and your demographic age group is just fine for me. If you speak as well as you write, it'd be a very enjoyable outing!

I've stayed at the Stamford Hotel which is right across the street from Raffles, so of course I had to stop in the bar and try a Singapore Sling. Ugh! Not for me.

But surprisingly, the bar was way cool with a great band (at least when I was there), not what I had expected. I thought I'd find that typical touristy plastic setting that usually passes for a famous place but Raffles surprised me. It's worth a visit except for the Sling, which of course you now must try since I've degraded it so much.

No, there is no chance of my ever appearing on the Travel Channel and Samantha I assure you is better off not sharing the camera with me, much as I personally would value the opportunity that somehow I'm pretty sure I would bungle and let slip by. Just a feeling I have. But someone in this contest supposedly gets "a chance" to meet her [although maybe it's like in The Simpsons when the management-type says, "Zero... THAT'S a percentage!"] while in Singapore.

And pretty cool that you've been there to Singapore, SwampRat. Go check out some internet biographies of Sir Stamford Raffles - pretty impressive guy, esp. as he died at 44. Not many people just go out and found a city and a colony, much less end slavery in the area, and get a few plant species named after you as well.. not to mention a Great Hotel or two.

But to veer back towards Europe (this is the Europe section of the forum after all), the other day I ended up watching on DVD a 1990s Trevor Nunn production of Twelfth Night, maybe my (and many other people's) favorite Shakespeare play. This one was shot in Cornwall, I think done before Samantha's Travel Channel adventures there. So there's a good chance she may have seen this before reaching it herself. In that case she would have known that St. Michael's Mount was used as Duke Orsino's residence, where he cries mournfully "If music be the food of love, play on." And I can easily see Samantha, fresh out of college, being a wonderful Viola. I wonder if she thought of herself in that role as she got her tour of that odd St. Michael's Mount high above the tides below. I hope she did, anyway.

Hope everyone has a good Thanksgiving, in Singapore, Cornwall, Brooklyn, or wherever.

Nice to see travel discussed on the SB forum still, and I imagine SB is pleased too. Always a pleasure Capttuttle and Swamp Rat, good to see you both. I did a little math today and discovered that although the numbers have changed a bit (as is always the case with air fares), the outcome remains the same. I'm on the left coast and, calculating fares on American Airlines to London-Heathrow including the whopping $181 security-landing fees, RT aifare is $1030 USD going the cheap-seats-sitting-with-the-chickens-near-the-john fare. Using the same criteria, RT to Paris-Charles DeGaulle, including the $142 security-landing fees (an increase since this thread began), is $919. Approximating a $100 RT Chunnel fare, it is still cheaper to fly to Paris and take the Eurostar train to London. To reprise the earlier theme, it used to be that Paris was always about $100 more expensive a trip than it was to London. Now, this has inverted.

One is in very little danger of seeing Intl Doc on the Travel Channel, although I do local news here from time to time in conjunction with my univeristy obligations. One can hear the snapping of remotes going to MTV whenever I appear on the news. Ah well, a perfect face for radio, as Jim White of KMOX radio used to say.

Cheers, Intl Doc