London - Dont Go in July

LONDON - DON’T GO IN JULY

I was just in London and avoid July if you can. I had to go for a meeting and it was hot, humid and crowded. Many places don’t have air conditioning. Everywhere you went there were queues of people and large groups following a guide holding a flag. July is also Arab month, when thousands of ladies, all in black, shop the sales. I laughed when I went into Selfridges Department Store . There were hundreds of them around the make up counters and all you could see where their eyes.

I was standing in line in Marks and Spencers behind nine Arab ladies head to toe in black. When I got to the counter to pay, I grinned at the cashier and said “looks like business is good today”. Her reply was “they have spent an average of 10,000 pounds each”. I was told one Saudi prince books the entire floor of a nearby hotel for his 200 wives and family so they can shop in the sales. They all disappear on July 31 in time for Ramadan.

There were such crowds that they were controlling how many people went into an underground train station at one time. Impossible to find a seat in the park, or on the train or bus. Definitely buy an Oyster Pass at a train station. You will save a fortune. I miss the days when you jumped on a London bus and told the conductor where you wanted to go and he told you how much to pay Now you have to buy a ticket from a machine at the bus stop which I cant figure out..

I stayed at the Rubens Hotel on Buckingham Palace Road, a great location. It is a four star hotel, privately owned. It was built to house debutants before they went to be presented to the Queen. Its close to Victoria Station, St. James Park, Big Ben, the London Eye and Westminister. Rubens is right opposite the Royal Mews and you can watch the Royal Cavalry horses being exercised, and a short walk from the Queens Gallery which I go to every time I am in London since the exhibits of the Queens jewels, china, furniture and art are regularly changed. They have a great gift shop.

As with many old historic buildings in London, the room size varies greatly. I would only recommend asking for a King Size room, which has a couch in it that can be made into a bed for a child. I was in the Hampton Court Suite which is lovely. The hotel has two excellent restaurants, and one serves dinner from 5.30 p.m. which is great if you have theatre tickets. The staff are all well trained, and service is of a high standard. Our guests get a free breakfast which is worth 50 pounds. I love staying at a Red Carnation property, you don’t feel like you are in a hotel. They can arrange for you to be picked up from the airport, and can make theatre reservations for you.

Maureen Jones
All Horizons Travel/Frosch
825 Santa Cruz Ave
Menlo Park, CA 94025
650-961-2340 direct
www.AHTInf@Frosch.com
www.Froschvacations.com