How to get ready for your British vacation? Part 3

Welcome to Part 3 of our mini-guides on “How to get ready for British vacation”!

In previous post, you could learn a bit more about customs and finance – money, tipping, electricity or contacting home when in the UK. You can read it by clicking here. In today’s post however, we’ll move to a bit more fun topic to gain an insight on accommodation and food & drink in the UK.

BRITISH HOTELS – WHAT TO EXPECT?

Arrival and Departure

Check-in and check-out times will vary at each accommodation, but are generally from 2pm or 3pm for check-in and between 10am and midday for check-out. If you are arriving in on an early morning flight, an early check-in can be requested but generally not guaranteed without a fee (or indeed booking the room from the night before if it is essential). Most accommodations have luggage storage facilities for guests to use on days of arrival and departure so you can make the most of your time and go sightseeing without having to carry your luggage! Most larger hotels have a 24hr reception but we would recommend that you call ahead if you are going to be arriving particularly late.

Room and Bed Size

Due to the historic nature and character of many of the hotels that we recommend here at adeo Travel, a room’s size and shape can vary considerably not only between accommodations but also within a hotel! In London especially, where space is at a premium, bedroom size in hotels is smaller than you’ll find elsewhere across the country. Likewise, bed-sizes are generally smaller here in Britain, than those in other countries (particularly than those in the US and Canada). Our standard double beds for two people, found in most hotels, are 54 inches by 75 inches. Larger King-size beds may only be available in selected or upgraded room-types.

Porterage

Whilst staff will generally be willing to help with luggage, many smaller hotels, inns and guest-house accommodations will not have a dedicated porter service and therefore you should be able to carry their own luggage where required. Also, many historic hotels and inns may not be elevators (or “lifts” as we call them) so this should be taken in to consideration when planning your trip if mobility is a problem. Low-floor, disabled access or rooms close to elevators can, of course, be requested.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT – BRITISH DINING CUSTOMS

Most cities, towns and villages across Britain offer restaurants serving all types of cuisine from all over the world and providing everything from fast food to haute-cuisine. Here’s what to expect from your daily meals on your British vacation:

Breakfast

When you book a trip through adeo Travel, we tend to include your breakfast at your hotel as standard (unless otherwise specified). Most properties will generally offer both continental and cooked breakfast options. Specifics of what’s available will vary by accommodation, but a continental breakfast will typically offer a selection of breads for toast, cheeses, cereals, yoghurts and fruit. A perfect start for a busy day of sightseeing however will be a traditional, hearty cooked British breakfast. Again specific contents will vary between region and establishment, and the breakfast will be either cooked to order or selected from a hot buffet but will generally consist of some or more of the following:  pork sausage, bacon, black-pudding, eggs, baked beans (a British favourite), fried mushrooms, cooked tomatoes, and toasts or fried bread (amongst other items). Many hotels will have regional specialities such as locally sourced sausage, laver-bread in Wales or Haggis in Scotland! Increasingly, hotels will also offer healthy breakfast options such as avocado and eggs, vegetarian cooked breakfasts and a selection of non-dairy milks for cereals. Fruit juices, hot coffee and a good English tea with milk are also all classics for breakfast. A British breakfast is so iconic, it made it to adeo’s Bucket List number #4!

Lunch

Traditionally, Brits will eat a small lunch of sandwiches, crisps (potato-chips to our American friends) and light snacks. In our cities, towns and villages you will find an abundance of coffee shops, sandwich bars and small cafes serving this type of food. If it’s a quick pit-stop and recharge you’re looking for then keep in mind, that our supermarkets and smaller bakeries also serve pre-made sandwiches and “meal deals” containing a sandwich, side-snack and soft-drink; these typically cost only a few pounds each and are ideal for taking on improvised picnics. If you fancy a hot meal, then a pub-lunch is the best option and will offer everything from light snacks to full meals in the comfort of a lounge bar and with the option of soft or alcoholic drinks.

Evening Meal

Here at adeo Travel, most of the hotels we recommend have excellent in-house restaurants or dining options and therefore many of our guests choose to eat in their hotels of an evening.

A hotel restaurant will normally offer more formal dining with a three-course menu and a smart-casual dress code. If you fancy a more relaxed style of dining then most hotels will also have a separate bar or lounge bar where you can also dine. This type of space will generally offer a more informal atmosphere and a simpler menu. Some smaller hotels may not offer food or a property’s kitchen may not be open seven-days but don’t worry, there’s generally always plenty of local restaurants around for you to enjoy. Some tips on leaving tips in restaurants, bars and pubs can be found here.

I hope this post gave you an even better insight on our customs. As always, please do not hesitate to contact us for any questions regarding your trip to the UK – we are looking forward to welcome you for our self-drive, rail or small group tours!