Dec 24-Jan 7, 2019 London, Windsor, Amsterdam, Fort Lauderdale
Arrival on Christmas Day at a London Airport can be a travel budget challenge with most transportation shut down, except National Express Bus service to London Victoria Coach Station. Picking Comfort Inn Buckingham Palace Road meant less than 5 minute walk to our hotel. A quiet evening strolling alongside the Thames and having a beer at the DoubleTree, followed by a Lebanese takeaway dinner on our way back to the hotel.
Our real destination was Clarion Collection Harte & Garter Windsor for the next four nights for the Long Walk, pubs and Windsor Castle Tour.
National Express to Luton and Easyjet to Amsterdam. Both tickets cost more than necessary, National Express bus service from London Heathrow to london Luton nearly doubled in ticket price before I made my purchase during the time we were staying in Windsor. Then Easyjet exposed my failure to read the fine print on carry-on bags limited to one, resulting in a 50 GBP ($65) bag charge at the gate for my $93 ticket to Amsterdam.
Amsterdam is amazing on New Year’s Eve.
15 days in London, Windsor, Amsterdam and South Florida trip report overview (Jan 9, 2019).
AA free bet seat roulette San Jose to London Gatwick $536 round trip for Christmas (Dec 27, 2018).
12,000 Choice Privileges points (1 night) – Review Comfort Inn London Buckingham Palace Road for 12K points (Dec 28, 2018).
Windsor Castle and The Long Walk (Jan 2, 2019).
Windsor Castle 3-hour self-guided tour in photos (Jan 22, 2019).
The King and Castle Windsor, England (Jan 10, 2019).
Wyndham Rewards – 15,000 points (3 nights) Ramada Apollo Amsterdam – Happy New Year 2019 fireworks video from Amsterdam (Jan 1, 2019).
IHG Rewards Club 20,000 points (2 nights) – Review: Holiday Inn Express Amsterdam City Hall (Jan 24, 2019). This hotel changed to 35,000 points late 2018.
Amsterdam Light Festival Nov 29, 2018-Jan 20, 2019 (Jan 30, 2019).
Amsterdam Sweets Hotel with 28 Bridge houses (Feb 6, 2019).
World of Hyatt 8,000 points (2 nights) – Review Hyatt Place Fort Lauderdale Airport & Cruise Port (Feb 14, 2019).