Odd one this, but does anyone have thoughts on what I can do here? Am sure many of you must run into this often enough!
I need to attend a few fairly formal meetings in London (3 degrees celsius), from where I'll go straight to Heathrow and fly to Hong Kong (19 degrees celsius). On my return I'll be picked up by a taxi and taken home.
As such, my wool overcoat is going to be somewhat surplus to requirements.
So, do I just 'grow a pair' and shiver in London that first day, do I drag an overcoat round the tropics, or do I try to find someone to look after my coat?
I guess I could always drop it in for dry cleaning? Going home then back to the airport isn't really going to be an option.
I need to attend a few fairly formal meetings in London (3 degrees celsius), from where I'll go straight to Heathrow and fly to Hong Kong (19 degrees celsius). On my return I'll be picked up by a taxi and taken home.
So, do I just 'grow a pair' and shiver in London that first day, do I drag an overcoat round the tropics, or do I try to find someone to look after my coat?
TIA
I'd say to put on a thin merino/cashmere jumper under your jacket, coupled with a hat, gloves and scarf. If the meetings are "very formal" then you can always take the jumper off in the lobby before going up to the meetings. These should all fit into your case and the jumper might even come in handy during the flight.
Failing that, the 'find someone to look after your coat' option is a good one.
Just save CreativeBill's response. Looks like good advice!
We're doing the same thing soon, leaving LHR, going via MIA to MBJ where there will be huge temperature differences. We're going to LHR by car, so I can at least leave a coat in the boot whilst we're away but I have been to hotter climes and just shivered in the UK rather than take a winter coat.
Will you have a suitcase you could put your coat into? I guess not otherwise you wouldn't be asking your questions. How are you getting from London to LHR?
Whoops, posted at the same time CreativeBill, his suggestion might be better
I hate lugging coats etc round. I'd shiver in London.
But a lot depends on your schedule in London. How much time will you spend outside as opposed to hotels/taxis/offices etc? You don't need a coat if you're just darting between all three...
Or - take a coat and leave it at your last meeting. Phone in as a concerned owner from Heathrow and apologise that due to your schedule, you won't be back to collect it for a couple of weeks or so.
It's definitely going to be cheaper to get it dry cleaned that leaving it in left luggage as that'll be 4 days, and no I don't have a checked case. It would take up most of my carry-on, but I may explore this as I won't need that much else in there. I'll tube and HEX it from London to the airport.
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Just think about how often you will be outside, exposed to the elements?
The majority of times, I tend not to use my thick coat unless I'm going to be waiting outside for a long period. So I just have a thin jacket for most trips, eg, in Korea when it was -10c - I was only outside for seconds between the taxi and the hotel, etc.
Edit: I am a cold fish, so I prefer cold to hot anyway, so quite happy to be walking around in a t-shirt in the current weather.
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You must have read my mind, Swiss Tony. I am currently staring at a roll-aboard trying to work out how I pack for LHR, BOS and HNL in the same case. I think a merino jumper and lightweight jacket will get me through London and Boston, as I'll be used to the temperatures anyway, the big concern is on the way back, when I'm nicely adjusted to 26 degrees.
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I recently flew back from JNB (33ºC) to LHR (3ºC)... I packed my winter coat in my checked-bag (I realise some readers of this forum don't know what this means, so for their benefit: a checked-bag is a bag that the airline takes from you at your departure point, and returns to you, amongst other peoples bags, on a conveyor belt, at your destination). I then removed it rather unceremoniously from the bag at LHR near the conveyor belt, while a few Curious Georges looked on, and went on my merry way...
Just think about how often you will be outside, exposed to the elements?
Well, it's 10 mins from my place to the station, and it'll likely be below zero at that time of day. Then 75mins on the train to London where the heating may or may not be on. Then a walk to the tube and probably about 30 mins of walking between various venues before heading to the airport/
The coat is now quite old so I guess I could always drop it in at a charity shop over by Paddington!
Well, it's 10 mins from my place to the station, and it'll likely be below zero at that time of day. Then 75mins on the train to London where the heating may or may not be on. Then a walk to the tube and probably about 30 mins of walking between various venues before heading to the airport/
The coat is now quite old so I guess I could always drop it in at a charity shop over by Paddington!
I was just about to suggest giving it to a homeless person on the way to the airport with such freezing temps ahead.
Or buy a thermal t-shirt (you can use it as a PJ top for the rest of the trip)
It takes a lot to make me wrap up warm.
