I know, I know. I’m really behind in updated the travel blog, since returning from London. I promise, it’s been non-stop since I returned, and it seems like so long ago. It was such an amazing trip though, I can’t even tell you!
I left Wednesday night for an overnight in Chicago, and while the weather looked fine here, it was apparently bad in Chicago. I managed to get standby on an earlier flight, which resulted in me getting to ORD around the same time I would have on the original flight. The original flight didn’t get in until after 11:00 that night. However, I was stuck WAY in the back of the plane, perhaps further back than I’ve sat in YEARS, and it convinced me that I needed to see about an upgrade for the IAD-LHR leg. By 11:00, I was settling into my hotel room after my 2.25 mile run in the fitness center.
While at the airport, I asked about the possibility of an upgrade to business for the Washington-London leg of my flight. The gate agent was able to take care of it for me, so I didn’t have to worry about getting there extra early on Thursday. He was so friendly and helpful – United needs more CSRs like him.
I spent my night in Chicago at the Springhill Suites, and it was perfectly adequate. They had a free shuttle to/from the airport with the nicest shuttle driver! He was so entertaining. My room was fairly large with a separate sitting area. The bathroom was TINY, but what can you expect? The workout room had two treadmills and a couple of weight machines. They had a business center with free internet which was nice, since I don’t like to take my laptop on international trips unless I have to. The staff at this hotel was wonderful though – I cannot say enough good things about them.
Thursday morning, I went for another run in the hotel fitness center and had breakfast at the hotel. It was standard continental fare, but it was good all the same. I had a muffin and orange juice before heading upstairs to shower and get ready for the long day that laid before me.
My flight from Chicago to Washington-Dulles left at 1:10pm, and I was seated in the first row of economy plus. I had more than enough leg room and the seat was fairly comfortable, as far as airline seats go. There was a nice blanket and the standard airline pillow, though I didn’t need either one of them. We were on a 777 that would obviously go on to an international destination later that night. Very comfortable plane. We ended up getting stuck in a holding pattern because of the winds in DC, and it was a fairly turbulent ride, but we touched down only a little bit later than we should have. Good enough.
I had enough time to grab Subway for dinner before boarding the plane to London. I am not crazy about Washington-Dulles as an airport. They still have smoking rooms, so the whole airport has that musty, smoky smell. There also aren’t many dining options in the terminal that I was departing from, so Subway was the best I could do. Seating is very limited around gates, so it can be a bit chaotic. I gladly boarded the plane as soon as they opened up business class and accepted a glass of champagne.
I will say that United’s “old” business product does not even begin to compare with American’s business product. Doesn’t even come close. The menu was extremely limited, the amenity kit was lacking, the seat comfort was terrible (I spent the whole night with the metal lumbar support digging into my back), the blanket and pillow were the same offered in Economy Plus, and the flight attendants attitudes were TERRIBLE. It was not a pleasant experience, and not worth the money, miles, or any combination of the two. Economy Plus would be just as good, if not better. Unlike when I flew American, I was not able to sleep much of the way. They also had very limited entertainment options, especially compared with American’s video on demand service, which was quite extensive and allowed you to watch whatever you chose. United only offered the same couple movies on replay – there was no starting it when you felt inclined. Overall, I was very, very disappointed in United’s business class product.
We ended up in yet another holding pattern outside of London but ended up landing relatively on-time. I cleared customs with only a few questions as to what I was doing in London, and I immediately headed to terminal 4 to meet Todd’s flight.
They were delayed by about an hour, so by the time he got his bags and cleared customs, it was probably after 8:00. I grabbed him and we headed to the Heathrow Express – the best way to get into London, in my opinion. It’s so easy. Buy a ticket, get on the train, and within 20 minutes, you are in the heart of London.
Todd and I each changed $20 at Paddington Station, and I ran outside to grab us a cab to the hotel. We stayed at Marriott’s Grosvenor House again – my favorite hotel in London. They offered us a better room, but it was a smoking room, so I politely declined and we decided to wait until a non-smoking room was available. We checked our luggage and headed out to explore the city.
We ended up walking through Chelsea and Kensingon, originally headed to the Muffin Man, but getting a little turned around along the way. We grabbed some Starbucks to clear our heads and hopped on a double decker bus to Victoria where we wandered around for awhile, and then we headed out towards Westminster on foot. London is such a wonderful walkable city. It’s marked so well, you can get anywhere if you follow the signs.
We spent some time around Westminster Cathedral, Parliament, and Big Ben before deciding that lunch was imperative. We asked a street vendor, and he pointed us down a street behind the Marriott County Hall that had an Italian place, a few fast food places, and Yo Sushi! My friends, the Norvilles, had recommended Yo Sushi on my last visit, and since Todd really seemed to want sushi, I decided to oblige. I had a few of their chicken dishes, and they were decent. They have the sushi rotating around the restaurant, and you pick things off a conveyor belt. They total it up based on the color and number of containers you consume. It’s really a very interesting concept.
After lunch, we decided to head back to the hotel and see if they had a room prepared for us yet. We were both exhausted and in need of a nap. Luckily, a room on the second floor was ready, and after checking our email and letting everyone at home know we were safe, we succumbed to the bed monster and took a much needed nap.
I had tickets to see Avenue Q at 5:30, so I got up around 4 and started getting ready. Todd tried to figure out how to text internationally, so he could meet up with his friends that evening. I really enjoyed Avenue Q, though I definitely recommend seeing it in New York (or anywhere in the US for that matter). They changed a bit of the script to make it relevant in London which I can appreciate. After the show, I walked down to Trafalgar Square for a bit a poetic moment.
When I was in London in December 2004, I had hazy memories of turning a corner and coming upon these beautifully lit fountains. I had made it my mission to find them again, and there they were in Trafalgar Square, just as beautiful as I remembered. I headed back to the hotel to make sure Todd found his friends and to change into my comfortable clothes. From there, I headed back to Westminster to photograph my favorite monuments at night. It was absolutely beautiful. Magical, even.
I headed back to the hotel for a good night’s sleep, though Todd got home around 1:30, waking me to tell me all about his evening. Definitely a good interruption. We planned to sleep until we got up and around on Saturday morning.
The Grosvenor House bed monster wins again.
