Trusting a stranger, tips on getting around England

Dear Reader, my December 2006 account of being lost in France and getting directions from a local jogged the memory of Patricia Arcaro of Glen Mills, Pennsylvania. She and a friend had lost their way in France when a motorcyclist stopped to help, going out of his way to take them to their hotel, driving through a series of backstreets, main streets, construction sites and, finally, an alley.

“When I later considered this, I thought about how foolish we could have been and how different the outcome might have been,” she wrote. “It seems that sometimes you just have to trust in the universe, give up common sense and throw caution to the wind. I have always considered the Good Samaritan as a beacon of light in a sometimes-confused world. He had no idea what gratitude I have for this gesture of kindness.”

She also shared a contrasting, less enjoyable encounter, but at the end wrote, “As you say, ‘Vive, le France! Vive, le travel!’” To that I add ‘Vive, le voyage!’

Dear Reader, referring to my March 2007 column, Suzan Algul of Sierra Vista, Arizona, wrote, “. . . you were replying to an older couple who had asked for easy transportation options from London Heathrow to the Hyde Park area. Another option is using the wonderful and less expensive company called Hotelink. I have used this company numerous times in the past 12 years, most recently in March 2007.”

Susan feels that this option is priced much more reasonably than a taxi or private car but adds, “The only drawback is that it may take somewhat longer to get from Heathrow to your hotel, depending upon how many people are on the bus and where your hotel fits into the dropoff schedule. However, I don’t really mind this since I get a free sightseeing tour of central London along the way.”

She concludes with, “Please consider mentioning Hotelink, as I have found many travel agents and individuals who do not know about this service.”

Sure. Be glad to. Readers, to phone Hotelink from the U.S., dial (011) 44 1293 532244 (Gee, is “dial” still the right term? Shouldn’t it be “touch”?), or you can visit the website www.hotelink.co.uk.

John Quin-Harkin of San Francisco, California, wrote about the same March article and suggested that the couple, Mr. and Mrs. Unrath, “. . . wheel their luggage on a trolley to the Heathrow-to-Paddington express train (13 minutes). There are no steps, and the height of both the platform and the trains is the same. From Paddington take a taxi to Hyde Park.”

He also included some personal tips to share with the Unraths. Here are some of them.

• “Stay out of London with a car. Pick it up outside of London.”

In my article I had said to always rent the biggest car you’ll want, and to that John added, “The last thing you want in Cornwall is a large car, and the same applies to Wales. The lanes are very narrow there, and you want to avoid scratching the left side of the car on the hedgerow each time you pull over to avoid an oncoming vehicle.”

• Of the car companies I mentioned as being the least expensive, John felt that, from his experience, he liked Enterprise Rent-a-Car (800/261-7331, www.enterprise.com — international rentals in U.K., Ireland and Germany only) the best because of their rates and, with his age at 73, “They do not have an age limit.”

• He suggests the best place to get good maps is at the Shell petrol stations.

• He also says, “Stay close to the center line of the road. The natural tendency is to move away from oncoming traffic. This often results in a nasty bang on the front left wheel as it hits the curb. The first thing rental car companies check for damage is the left front wheel.”

Thank you, John. I’m sure Mr. Unrath and other readers appreciate your advise.

As an addendum, the express train departs every 15 minutes. The one-way, per-person cost is about £14.50 (£1 = $2) in express class or £23.50, first class. You’ll save a pound per ticket if you purchase them online at www.heathrowexpress.co.uk, but if you wait to buy them on the train you’ll pay a surcharge of £2 per ticket. Family and senior rates are also available.

And, John, I agree with your suggestion to stay out of London with a car. The city introduced a charge on cars entering central London in 2003 to reduce traffic and pollution. The current fee is about £8 per day.

Dear Steve, on page 97 of the April 2007 issue you mention the London Oyster Card for bus/tube discounts. Where would we buy this: on the bus, at the tourist office or at the ticket window of the tube station? — Mineko McClure, Fairmont, WV

Dear Mineko, I’m flattered. That article was actually written by Rick Steves. Nevertheless, I’m happy to answer your question.

According to the Oyster website, www.tfl.gov.uk, you can buy the card right on the website, at most tube station ticket offices, at over 2,200 Oyster Ticket Stops across London, at some National Rail ticket offices, at eight London Travel Information Centres or by phone from the U.S. at (011) 44 845 330 9876.