TravelGuides

(TGA) - Hello everyone.

The time is soon coming for us to plan visiting family/Greece 2010 courtesy of years of saving my frequent flyer miles. (Greece 2008 made us broke).

I know this doesn't exactly belong in the Greece forum but based on where Aegean flies cheaply from Athens, I can only find FF flights home from London, Rome or Paris.

Any thoughts on which city is best suited for a family of 4, for a brief 2 night affordable stay at the end of Greece? My brain will explode if I start doing research on all 3.
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I also live in Canada. Since you only have a couple of days for the add-on city, I would choose the one from which you can fly directly back to Canada, if possible.
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If this is of any help, I can offer the advice that London is not suitable for a 2-days visit. Unless you've been there before and you wish to just see a few favourites.
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Hey alpenmicho..and quite honestly, none are really suitable for what appears to be an overnighter;-) All are worthy of lengthier stays..but nonetheless, Rome would certainly fit in with the 'theme' so to speak..Loads of anitquity and somewhat 'similar' to Greece in that respect..Paris is Paris..c'est la vie..always love it..and London is London..a bustling City where at least you'll understand the language..maybe..lol?! All utilize the Euro except for London so if cost is a factor, it may work out better! Would see what schedules and layover deals work out best for you..none of these wonderful Capitals will disappoint! I know it's loads of homework..but loads of fun planning it too..yes..lol?! Let us know how it goes..Enjoy!
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A-M, after a Greece stay, I would just pick what would cost you least, and would be the least hassle to get to/from Airport. So, for me, that would be London. It has good trains in/out from Heathrow, and the Pound will be a lot kinder to Can$ or US$ than the Euro is.... PLUS, if you're tired, you won't have to cope with French or Italian. Just a thought.

For a short visit, good idea to stay near Victoria Station for train to/from Heathrow ... and since you are talking budget Stanley House on this list is well-regarded at 65£ per night... stick to Victoria, not Paddington/Earls Ct.

www.venere.com/uk/london/…

The double-deck bus tour (2 hour) that starts @Victoria is WELL done if your kids are new to London; they employ actors as guides ... I took a relative on it a london Newbie & she was thrilled... it's a hop on hop off thing. For a 1-day outing... can't beat the Tower + London Bridge.
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Hi travelerjan, your post has certainly given me some food for thought, but isn't the transfer tr_even by coach rather expensive for travelling from the airport to downtown??

Also, granted that London is such a vast city, a little difficult to navigate tr_but alas it's been so long..

For me no 1. choice would be my favourite, Rome.

Yesterday I saw "grab them deals" for 65 euro taxes included with easyjet - makes me want to jump on the plane just for one cappucino! Rome is also quite compact and easy to navigate. With a good pair of walking shoes, you can walk the whole of the main down area, see the major sites and eat fantastic food, and drink wonderful coffee >> I have a saying that the worst coffee in Rome is the best I've ever drunk elsewhere.

Nevertheless I've done this stint with 2 children in tow, we managed to see the main sites, eat gelato and great pizza all in a short span of time > they grizzeld a little, but it's all part of the plan of travelling with children.
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Hi there

Personally, I'd go with Rome assuming of course that you can get back to Canada directly from there. Of the three, I'm sure that Paris and London would be much more expensive.
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Rome "goes best" with Greece.

Paris is ridiculously expensive.

London uses a different currency.

Personally, I'd go with Rome.
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Ok, Dianabiz, I forgot about the coffee. AND about the awful coffee in London. OK, Rome it is.

Now all you have to do is find her a cheap hotel handy to the bus or train that goes to the plane.
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TJ, I think that you have some informationw wrong there.

Connect and Express trains from Heathrow go to Paddington, not to Victoria. Earl's Court is very convenient if someone wishes to travel with the tube to/from LHR.

You can hop on the HOHO buses at any stop (they do several) and there is no standard duration time of any of the tours (minimum time is 2hrs15mins) but only if you don't hop off and if there is no traffic. There is no point to pay all this money to just do one 2hrs15mins tour. You either take advantage of your 24 hours (or 48, if it's during the Winter) tickett and do all tours, perhaps the river cruise and a walk or just use regular transportation.
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YOu are certainly the London expert on THIS forum, Thalia! :D ... and it's been about 8 years since my last visit; though at that time I remember coming in at Victoria on a train or underground ... was I coming from Gatwick??? (They say that one loses a million brain-cells per day, and I've seen maaaany days).
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