Volunteer travel agent seeks assistance!

General Discussion
1

Hi all,


I have somehow find myself in the role of volunteer travel agent for 4 friends who are going to see U2 in concert in Glasgow this November.


Having helped them buy their tickets online, I now have the dubious pleasure of finding them hotels, flights etc for the trip from Lourdes to London, London to Glasgow and then Glasgow to Edinburgh before flying back to Lourdes.


I am trying to find a hotel in London that would allow them easy access to the centre via the underground for around 80€ per night per room and a nice hotel in Glasgow and one in Edinburgh. if anyone has any ideas, I would be very thankful for your input as I haven't been back to the UK for over three years, much less played tourist in London!!


Thank you in advance for any help, advice or travel tips that I could use.

2

Thank you everyone for your hints and tips. That gives me plenty to be going on with for now!! Great stuff. Thank you all so much :-)

3

Just noticed this also......http://www.amadeusguesthouse.co.uk/

4

Try http://www.ibis.com/gb/booking/hotels-list.shtml

London from 63 euros and Glasgow from 40! We often stay in the one in Leeds and it's great value.

5

We stayed in The Scotsman a fantastic hotel just up from the railway station. Highly recommended.

6

if you are going to Glasgow go via the east coast line from Kings cross a lot quicker than the west coast. trains from Edinburgh to Glasgow depart every 30 mins from 6 am til midnight. you are then in the city centers of the two big Scottish cities. trains to the SECC depart every ten minutes.

train is quicker and easier.

Why not travel by Eurostar to London, then catch the underground to kingsx.

7

Hi, have a look on triviago and tripadvisor for hotel deals, gives lots of good prices especially for London. Also look at train prices from London to Glasgow and then onto Edinburgh, and back to London, saves a lot of hanging around the airports. Also if there is any problems with the weather there is more chance that the trains will not be impacted (as long as there are no leaves on the line, or the wrong type of snow :wink: )

8

I’m thinking about starting planning out next travel trip and I wonder how many people prefer useing travel agencies? I usually use tripadvisor and other similar sources.

10

Depends also, and perhaps crucially, on your intended destination.

A travel company, not a travel agency, will have ground staff in place to assist you and your group. They will also have experience regarding tours in the area and can support you with valid advice. That said, there are good travel companies right the way down to dreadful travel companies with matching group hats and t-shirts and obligatory visits. It is budget related.

Back in the last century (!). I organised and led some (6) historical and educational trips for 10-16 people in a voluntary basis for museum groups. I specified the itineraries, including hotels, pre organised private internal flights and (quite illuminating) train journeys but was always accompanied and supported in country by a travel company local guide. This also provided us with a measure of security.

For independent or a small group historical destination tour I can recommend

For an uncomplicated recreational destination I would say you can use the online booking consolidators but should do plenty of research on your own first. Hotels, their locations, times and places to visit can all vary tremendously. If you want to find yourselves in a tourist gaggle.