Planning the Self Catering Vacation to England

Planning is the key to a successful self catering vacation in England. The planning is simplified if you know exactly which part(s) of England you wish to visit. It would be wonderful if you could stay in the country for at least three weeks. If not, you can still have the experience of a lifetime. Two main factors are starting early and having patience. FIRST, buy a copy of the AA Road Atlas of Great Britain. It has a map scale such that each building in small towns and villages is indicated by a dot on the map. Order it from a U.S. supplier such as Barnes and Noble for under 20.00 USD. The atlas will enable you to plan daily outings and complement the normal road maps you will have. Take the atlas with you. We used it daily.

SECOND, decide upon time of year for your visit. We prefer the Fall because of the nice weather and you will not be competing with hordes of tourists for properties to rent, choice of dining times, getting into museums other and sites. The guides will be able to spend time with you, and there is less traffic. If staying multiple weeks, try for an orderly progression in your moves from one region to another. This gives you visiting time. For example, for one 4 week visit we started in North Devon, then to the Heartland, then to Yorkshire and to London for the final week. This particular time we arrived in Poole, England via ferry from Cherbourg, France, stayed in Poole two nights, visited a friend in Bournemouth and then picked up a rental car in Poole and went to North Devon. THIRD, start the search early, no later than 90 days before arrival during the Fall and Winter, perhaps over four months if you must travel during Summer. This will enable you to stay closer to your planned site visits and provide more flexibility. FOURTH, you need your atlas and Patience for online searches for accommodations. Decide upon the size facility you need. Even for just two people we prefer two bedrooms. Be precise with your key word searches. For example, if you wish to stay at Chester in Cheshire. Key in "self catering in Chester, England." You will get plenty of action. Then narrow your search by parameters such as number of bedrooms, number of miles you would like to be from the attractions you wish to visit. The property search can provide some excitement as you view the pictures and descriptions of the properties and compare prices versus location and amenities. While price is important, remember, the property will be your home, so look for something attractive. The web sites are will laid out to allow fairly precise searches. Communicate with the owner or agent to learn the precise location of the property if the listing does not provide enough detail.Here, mapquest.com can be of great help if you have an address. Use your atlas. FIFTH, be flexible. While it is good to plan daily activities, you may wish to alter routes, stay longer at one particular site or visit the same site more than once. Relax and enjoy! It is wonderful to take a day and stroll about the village or town and get to know the people.

Getting to and from England is relatively easy. Check for discount fares and then check with the airline. The typical quote from discounters for a round trip coach ticket recently was $870. The airline gave a price of $793. That airfare difference can be used to help pay for food, lodging, car rental, etc.

Now, order your atlas and get started.