Deals and discounts
VisitBritain
Americans interested in traveling to Britain on vacation should sign up for VisitBritain's monthly newsletter 'Britain Calling USA' for the best deals and discounts to destinations throughout Britain.
VisitBritain's online shop is every travelers' one-stop shop for travel needs before even leaving the country! Rail and subway tickets, attractions passes, maps and even Tower of London and London Eye tickets can be purchased in advance, online in dollars, avoiding the hassle of waiting in line on arrival. www.visitbritainshop.us
VisitBritain offers "The Essential London Kit" at just $103, which contains a three-day London Travel Card (Peak, Zones 1-2), one London Eye ticket, one Tower of London ticket and one Original London Sightseeing bus tour ticket, which also includes a Thames river cruise and two walking tours. In addition, each kit comes complete with a London Planner guidebook. "The Essential London Kit" can be purchased online at www.visitbritainshop.us
VisitBritain offers the Great British Heritage Pass providing American visitors with unlimited entry to around 600 stately homes, castles and properties in England, Scotland and Wales. A four-day pass costs $53; seven-day $75; 15-day $99; and 30-day $132. They can be purchased through VisitBritain. www.visitbritainshop.us
Visitor Oyster Cards are the new money-saving answer for travelers using London's buses and subway. The smart card guarantees that travelers will never pay more than the equivalent day TravelCard price. They can be purchased through VisitBritain. www.visitbritainshop.us
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ACCOMMODATION
The Athenaeum -The Athenaeum, an award-winning luxury property located in tony Mayfair is offering guaranteed US dollar rates until June 13th providing affordable luxury with prices beginning at $450 plus tax for a deluxe room, $520 plus tax for a Parkview room and $799 plus tax for a one-bedroom apartment (which can comfortably accommodate a family of four). The same $799 rate applies to the property’s Green Park Suites. The current pound sterling rate for these popular room categories are £270, £315 and £520, respectively. To make a booking at The Athenaeum, contact your travel professional (GDS Code YX); or The Athenaeum directly at 800-335-3300 or fax: 800-335-3200; or book on-line at www.athenaeumhotel.com
The Langham - 5 star hotel located on London's Regent Street - is offering a 'Sleep in Beauty' package. Stay in The Langham's Club rooms from $392 (includes tax and is based on two guests sharing). The package includes all exclusive Langham Club benefits (access to Club lounges with complimentary breakfast, afternoon tea, drinks, evening cocktails and canapes), personal express check-in and check-out and late check-out until 3pm. For more information, log on to http://london.langhamhotels.co.uk/
Eleven Cadogan Gardens – a luxury townhouse hotel in London – is offering a 20% fixed dollar rate saving on room rates. The package starts at $405 a night and includes full English breakfast and tax, valid for stays from Friday – Sunday, subject to availability. www.number-eleven.co.uk
Premier Inn is one of Britain’s leading budget hotel brands, with room prices starting from £48 a night. With 480 hotels across the country, Premier Travel Inn also has some of the best locations in London including London County Hall beside the River Thames with rooms from £99 a night. The hotel brand now offers a ‘Good Night Guarantee’ whereby they guarantee guests a clean, comfortable room and friendly and efficient service – if they don’t live up to their promise, they will refund your money. www.premierinn.com
Travelodge – a budget hotel chain in Britain – claims to have 1,000,000 rooms priced at £26 or less (around $50). These ‘Saver’ rooms can be booked online at www.travelodge.co.uk. With 320 hotels across Britain, Travelodge offers good quality, good value, modern accommodation. Ideal for families, the rooms include TV, tea and coffee-making facilities, comfortable beds and private bathrooms. www.travelodge.co.uk
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AIR / PACKAGES
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TRANSPORT IN BRITAIN
The Original Tour’s famous open-top bus tours of London include a River Thames cruise and walking tours with a ticket valid for 24 hours. A 20% discount is available by using the promo code “bestbets8” when booking online at www.theoriginaltour.com.
Big Bus hop on hop off tours in London offer outstanding live-guided open top tours of London. A 24 hour ticket costs £20 and allows unlimited use on a wide variety of routes and entitles the ticket holder to take part in all five guided Big Bus Walks, a 30 minute river cruise on the Thames and includes a Big Bus bonus card for discounts at London bars and restaurants. Receive a £2 discount if ticket is purchased online. www.bigbustours.com
Big Bus also offers a Walking Pass which entitles visitors to five guided walking tours of the capital for £10. Valid for two days, pass holders are led on themes including The Beatles, James Bond, movie locations and ‘ghosts by gaslight’. www.bigbustours.com
Britrail passes are an excellent way to save money on the trains in Britain, and the Heathrow and Gatwick Express service can be included in the price of a pass making entry into the center of London a lot cheaper. www.visitbritainshop.us
The UK's low-cost motor bus service, with bookings made online, offers travel between many of Britain's cities from just £1.50. Megabus.com operates routes including: Birmingham - London; Bristol - London; Cardiff - London; Portsmouth - London; Glasgow - Edinburgh; Manchester - Leeds. More information online at www.megabus.com
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