LCY to ? Birthday Surprise
Jun 11, 2019, 10:21 am
#16
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: NYC
Posts: 9,113
Consider Rotterdam. Airport is easy to navigate and 15 minutes from town by Taxi. Compact city with several great museums, architecture, and some very good food. Highly underrated. Taxi to Delft is also a short 15 minute hop from the airport.
Jun 11, 2019, 10:37 am
#17
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: In the sticks
Programs: VS FC Gold, BA EC Gold, Amex Centurion, EK Gold, ex-G-ATVK driver
Posts: 1,816
Rotterdam definitely not a bad idea as the airport is a comparable size to LCY, so you don’t lose precious time getting in and out.
When I commute to Noordwijk, I generally prefer RTM to AMS for precisely this reason, even though AMS is about 10 km closer.
In fact if the weather is good, you could consider going to Noordwijk, it’s a toned down Dutch version of Brighton, with plenty of mid range independent bars and restaurants.
When I commute to Noordwijk, I generally prefer RTM to AMS for precisely this reason, even though AMS is about 10 km closer.
In fact if the weather is good, you could consider going to Noordwijk, it’s a toned down Dutch version of Brighton, with plenty of mid range independent bars and restaurants.
Jun 11, 2019, 11:07 am
#18
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,246
IFirst flight tomorrow is 6.45 to DUB, then 6.50 to LIN, there’s also 7.00 to ZRH, 7.10 to GVA, 7.30 to DUS, 7.35 to RTM. That’s at least six destinations before 8am.
Last edited by FlyerTalker39574; Jun 11, 2019 at 11:38 am
Jun 11, 2019, 11:09 am
#19
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: UK. BAEC AAdvantage
Programs: Mucci Des Oeufs Brouilles et des Canards
Posts: 3,671
I've done a day trip to Amsterdam for leisure from LCY before, but not with a 70 year old in tow. How mobile are they and the rest of the crowd?
If they are, then Amsterdam has several flights a day. You can leave at 7.55 (arr 10) or 8.35 (arr 10.45) and come back 18.25 or 19.55. That gives you plenty of time to get around.
Once exiting the airport baggage hall, the station is in the terminal. Buy return tickets to Centraal Station. IT only takes about 15 minutes if you get one of the express trains or 25 if you don't.
I would walk down Dam Rak from the station, towards the Royal Palace / Dam. Cross the road and you'll see the start of Kalverstraat. It's a shopping street, but work your way to the top until you see a little shopping centre with a HEMA department store. Go into the centre (not the HEMA, although they do good sausage rolls!) and you'll see an glass elevator to the top of the building. There is a restaurant called Blue up there that does moderately priced food and a mix of western and Dutch meals, like bitterballen. Apart from the food, there is a view across Amsterdam central.
Once refreshed, come down and keep going up the Kalverstraat a very short distance and you will find the Flower Market nearby.
If you buy a travelcard, you can avoid walking up Dam Rak (admittedly so touristy, the city council is cracking down on tourist tat shops) and take a tram to the flower market and then go to Blue. You can then use it to travel around the centre on the trams and busses which have audio and visual signs in English announcing next stops.
I would avoid doing Anne Frank's house unless you pre-book an allocated slot. I can't recall the stair content in it, but it's been a couple of decades since I've been and I think it's been redone a bit since then. The Rijksmuseum may be a better way to spend some time/money (particularly if wet) so you can break up for an hour or two and then meet up again after.
There are several nice gardens in area, and walking in the Jordan and area of 6/7 streets off the Singel (can't recall the official name for the area) is a good way to see some of the sights, depending on group mobility.
Trains back to Schipol are fairly regular, but do check times beforehand and don't leave it to the last train to allow for any delays. I've been going for 27 years and I've only had a couple of incidents of delayed trains. Invariably it will happen when you least can afford the delay!
If they are, then Amsterdam has several flights a day. You can leave at 7.55 (arr 10) or 8.35 (arr 10.45) and come back 18.25 or 19.55. That gives you plenty of time to get around.
Once exiting the airport baggage hall, the station is in the terminal. Buy return tickets to Centraal Station. IT only takes about 15 minutes if you get one of the express trains or 25 if you don't.
I would walk down Dam Rak from the station, towards the Royal Palace / Dam. Cross the road and you'll see the start of Kalverstraat. It's a shopping street, but work your way to the top until you see a little shopping centre with a HEMA department store. Go into the centre (not the HEMA, although they do good sausage rolls!) and you'll see an glass elevator to the top of the building. There is a restaurant called Blue up there that does moderately priced food and a mix of western and Dutch meals, like bitterballen. Apart from the food, there is a view across Amsterdam central.
Once refreshed, come down and keep going up the Kalverstraat a very short distance and you will find the Flower Market nearby.
If you buy a travelcard, you can avoid walking up Dam Rak (admittedly so touristy, the city council is cracking down on tourist tat shops) and take a tram to the flower market and then go to Blue. You can then use it to travel around the centre on the trams and busses which have audio and visual signs in English announcing next stops.
I would avoid doing Anne Frank's house unless you pre-book an allocated slot. I can't recall the stair content in it, but it's been a couple of decades since I've been and I think it's been redone a bit since then. The Rijksmuseum may be a better way to spend some time/money (particularly if wet) so you can break up for an hour or two and then meet up again after.
There are several nice gardens in area, and walking in the Jordan and area of 6/7 streets off the Singel (can't recall the official name for the area) is a good way to see some of the sights, depending on group mobility.
Trains back to Schipol are fairly regular, but do check times beforehand and don't leave it to the last train to allow for any delays. I've been going for 27 years and I've only had a couple of incidents of delayed trains. Invariably it will happen when you least can afford the delay!
Jun 11, 2019, 11:31 am
#20
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: BMA
Programs: SAS Eurobonus Gold Card
Posts: 324
I hope you're not planning this for a weekend, as the airport is closed from 13.00 on Saturday to 12.30 on Sunday, although if you live locally i assume you know this.
I think you'll be quite limited by flight timings - there aren't many destinations with more than one flight from LCY a day that fit your criteria so flight times will be key as you'll need a return flight back that's late enough to allow you to have a decent lunch. If there's a particular day you are planning, sharing that will help people with narrowing down your options.
Have you also considered Eurostar to Brussels or Paris? Longer journey time but you'll end up in the centre of each city.
I think you'll be quite limited by flight timings - there aren't many destinations with more than one flight from LCY a day that fit your criteria so flight times will be key as you'll need a return flight back that's late enough to allow you to have a decent lunch. If there's a particular day you are planning, sharing that will help people with narrowing down your options.
Have you also considered Eurostar to Brussels or Paris? Longer journey time but you'll end up in the centre of each city.
Jun 11, 2019, 1:58 pm
#23
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Bridport, Dorset
Programs: Mucci, BA Bronze, Hilton Gold
Posts: 2,121
OH 70th birthday next March and I am planning on a day trip from London City (LCY) for a total of 10 people. Has to be LCY as its very local to all 5 couples and its just a day trip. Flight ideally under 90 mins. Would prefer BA (but would consider other airlines).
Any suggestions and if possible a great restaurant recommendation with the destination for lunch. Was thinking of Dublin. I have Avios and Amex Reward if needed) but happy to pay cash.
Also, if I book BA my wife will see the booking on her BA account. Is there any way to avoid this?
Thanks
Howard
Any suggestions and if possible a great restaurant recommendation with the destination for lunch. Was thinking of Dublin. I have Avios and Amex Reward if needed) but happy to pay cash.
Also, if I book BA my wife will see the booking on her BA account. Is there any way to avoid this?
Thanks
Howard
Edinburgh is amazing and I would also recommend Amsterdam/Rotterdam getting from both airports to the city is easy.
I take it Flybe is out of the question? Belfast is fantastic for a day trip.
Jun 11, 2019, 2:01 pm
#24
Join Date: May 2009
Location: SIN (with a bit of ZRH sprinkled in)
Posts: 9,445
Personally I'd second those which said one of the Swiss cities. Sure, March might be a bit chilly (but possibly also decent weather at 15-20C if lucky) but there are not much (if any) cities within 90min of flight time that give a good chance of fine weather in March. Nice might be slightly nicer, but ground transport there into the city will have to be taxis, while in ZRH and GVA, the excellent public transport might be a better choice - especially if you'd like to do a bit of sightseeing and possibly not spending the whole day completely together. In terms of languages spoken, probably all bigger cities will be fine (since I doubt you'll head for very local places) with the Netherlands and Switzerland probably being the best choices (besides Ireland, obviously - and Sweden. But Sweden in March? Maybe not..)
Food wise, Switzerland obviously will be more expensive, but assuming money isn't really of much importance, it will hardly make a difference and both GVA as well as ZRH have excellent restaurants. GVA probably being more high class (French style), while ZRH has a wide area of international offers. Berlin, while I enjoy it, can have very grumpy restaurant staff (so called "Berliner Schnauze") and I'd say on average in March has worse weather than GVA/ZRH. And BER really tries hard to please a younger crowd - in my opinion their offer is slightly less for your kind of age group. Even I feel too old for BER sometimes
Now, AMS might be a good choice too. Short'ish flight (maybe even too short?), and you could take the train into the city. But the Dutch food isn't really known to be world famous, so I'm not so sure you can feed yourself on Bitterballen, patat speciaal and broodje haring
There is always the FEBO store, though
All in all, it really comes down to what your exact program will be, besides food.
Best chance for reasonable weather? NCE, GVA, ZRH, in that order (or maybe Northern Italy, if that's not too far for you)
Interesting city to do some sightseeing besides the food? CDG, BER, AMS, ZRH, GVA..
Food as the main decider? France > Italy > Switzerland >> Germany >>> Netherlands
A decent airport even for Y pax? ZRH, TXL (at least it's fast/tiny), NCE (small and efficent usually)
Food wise, Switzerland obviously will be more expensive, but assuming money isn't really of much importance, it will hardly make a difference and both GVA as well as ZRH have excellent restaurants. GVA probably being more high class (French style), while ZRH has a wide area of international offers. Berlin, while I enjoy it, can have very grumpy restaurant staff (so called "Berliner Schnauze") and I'd say on average in March has worse weather than GVA/ZRH. And BER really tries hard to please a younger crowd - in my opinion their offer is slightly less for your kind of age group. Even I feel too old for BER sometimes
Now, AMS might be a good choice too. Short'ish flight (maybe even too short?), and you could take the train into the city. But the Dutch food isn't really known to be world famous, so I'm not so sure you can feed yourself on Bitterballen, patat speciaal and broodje haring
There is always the FEBO store, though All in all, it really comes down to what your exact program will be, besides food.
Best chance for reasonable weather? NCE, GVA, ZRH, in that order (or maybe Northern Italy, if that's not too far for you)
Interesting city to do some sightseeing besides the food? CDG, BER, AMS, ZRH, GVA..
Food as the main decider? France > Italy > Switzerland >> Germany >>> Netherlands
A decent airport even for Y pax? ZRH, TXL (at least it's fast/tiny), NCE (small and efficent usually)
Jun 11, 2019, 2:08 pm
#25
FlyerTalk Evangelist, Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Somewhere between 0 and 13,000 metres high
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NCE now has direct tramways every 3-4 minutes from the airport all the way to place Massena and from the start of September all the way to the harbour literally getting you to every possible part of the city centre seamlessly. Grand cost of €1/person each way as long as you buy 10 trip cards (which can be used by multiple users simultaneously).
Jun 11, 2019, 2:14 pm
#26
Join Date: May 2009
Location: SIN (with a bit of ZRH sprinkled in)
Posts: 9,445
Why? NCE now has direct tramways every 3-4 minutes from the airport all the way to place Massena and from the start of September all the way to the harbour literally getting you to every possible part of the city centre seamlessly. Grand cost of €1/person each way as long as you buy 10 trip cards (which can be used by multiple users simultaneously).
NCE now has direct tramways every 3-4 minutes from the airport all the way to place Massena and from the start of September all the way to the harbour literally getting you to every possible part of the city centre seamlessly. Grand cost of €1/person each way as long as you buy 10 trip cards (which can be used by multiple users simultaneously).NCE for the win then (honestly, unless you want a very interesting city), NCE will probably be the best option for tasty food, reasonable weather, a not too bad airport and apparently now easy transportation to and from the city
Jun 11, 2019, 2:18 pm
#27
FlyerTalk Evangelist, Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Somewhere between 0 and 13,000 metres high
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Posts: 30,499
And yes it is much more convenient than the buses.
Last edited by orbitmic; Jun 11, 2019 at 2:28 pm
Jun 11, 2019, 3:02 pm
#28
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Flatland
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold 1MM, BA Gold, UA Peon
Posts: 6,105
is all that needs to be said.
It's an empty, intensely depressing house and unless you want spend all day with the Holocaust in the forefront of your mind, best avoided.
Done it once with the then-girlfriend, never going back.
I can't think of a worse place to go for a 70th birthday that is on a flight from LCY. Go somewhere else, anywhere else.
It's an empty, intensely depressing house and unless you want spend all day with the Holocaust in the forefront of your mind, best avoided.
Done it once with the then-girlfriend, never going back.
I can't think of a worse place to go for a 70th birthday that is on a flight from LCY. Go somewhere else, anywhere else.
Jun 11, 2019, 3:06 pm
#29
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 82
NCE does not allow day returns from LCY, so its pro and cons are a somewhat moot point.
I find the food discussion a little bit clichéd. There are excellent food options in Germany and the Netherlands. Düsseldorf alone has 10 restaurants with a Michelin star rating, including excellent Japanese food as the city is the Japanese foothold on the continent.
I find the food discussion a little bit clichéd. There are excellent food options in Germany and the Netherlands. Düsseldorf alone has 10 restaurants with a Michelin star rating, including excellent Japanese food as the city is the Japanese foothold on the continent.
Jun 11, 2019, 3:06 pm
#30
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Bridport, Dorset
Programs: Mucci, BA Bronze, Hilton Gold
Posts: 2,121
is all that needs to be said.
It's an empty, intensely depressing house and unless you want spend all day with the Holocaust in the forefront of your mind, best avoided.
Done it once with the then-girlfriend, never going back.
I can't think of a worse place to go for a 70th birthday that is on a flight from LCY. Go somewhere else, anywhere else.
It's an empty, intensely depressing house and unless you want spend all day with the Holocaust in the forefront of your mind, best avoided.
Done it once with the then-girlfriend, never going back.
I can't think of a worse place to go for a 70th birthday that is on a flight from LCY. Go somewhere else, anywhere else.
