2013 IHD "Let's get together in The UK!"

[cassandra]

OK hubby would like to come, and stay one night as he's working Fr, Sat, Sun but must be able to have at least 1 day.

[Sugarlump]

Looking good. 
I am sure we can accommodate your boys cariad and the programme will be very flexible so they can join in (or go off) as they please.
There's a fair amount to do and see in Cambridge.
Fingers crossed re the meningitis ... sending you good vibes. 

[RichardMEL]

OMG OMG OMG OMG !!

you want to take this stud to Newmarket?!!!! 

hell YEAH!!

I better get looking into flights!

And Camb colleges sure.. was there in 1988 (Wolfson alum of sorts - I have a tie hehe) so would bring back lots of memories for me...

bring it!

[Sugarlump]

Hotels in central Cambridge are pricey. Here's a few suggestions:
University Arms Hotel (very central) is good but £140 a night. (includes breakfast) but very little onsite parking that you have to pay for.
Holiday Inn Express (about 2 miles out) good facilities inc rooms that sleep up to 4, bar and restaurant, free parking and an ice machine!!!! about £80-90 a night (includes free breakfast)
Travelodge Newmarket Road Cambs, or Central Camb travelodge (about 1m from city centre and fairly close to station) basic accomodation, expensive parking, but £54 a night. (breakfast not included)

I will probably plump for The Holiday Inn Express, because of parking.And good get together facilities, leather sofas, bar etc.
Cambridge does have a really good bus system and lots of taxis.

Just a guide for the minute (Can't really enquire about discounts til I know definite numbers and what people want) 

[Sugarlump]

And...
For anyone who wants to do a full tour of the Cambridge Colleges (rather than just wander around and looking at them) there is an official tour at about 11am (lasting 2 hours) @£17.50 every day.

[Poppylicious]

University Arms Hotel (very central) is good but £140 a night. (includes breakfast) but very little onsite parking that you have to pay for.

I thought that burnt down last year!

There's a Travelodge and a Premier Travel Inn which are on the Guided Busway (the longest in the world, don't you know) and so very easy for getting in and out of Cambridge on the bus. They have the added bonus of being right next to the A14 - and not far from the Holiday Inn - if you have a car and want to drive elsewhere. And you can get a weekly ticket which is brilliant value for money if you're going to use a bus a lot whilst here.  St. Ives is a nice little town to visit, if you're inclined, and you can get to that on the Guided Busway (the longest in the world, don't you know) ... really, you have to at least go on the Guided Busway (the longest in the world, don't you know) at least once.  It's terribly exciting.

 

[Sugarlump]

University Arms Hotel (very central) is good but £140 a night. (includes breakfast) but very little onsite parking that you have to pay for.

I thought that burnt down last year!

There's a Travelodge and a Premier Travel Inn which are on the Guided Busway (the longest in the world, don't you know) and so very easy for getting in and out of Cambridge on the bus. They have the added bonus of being right next to the A14 - and not far from the Holiday Inn - if you have a car and want to drive elsewhere. And you can get a weekly ticket which is brilliant value for money if you're going to use a bus a lot whilst here.  St. Ives is a nice little town to visit, if you're inclined, and you can get to that on the Guided Busway (the longest in the world, don't you know) ... really, you have to at least go on the Guided Busway (the longest in the world, don't you know) at least once.  It's terribly exciting.

 

I think they must have repaired it because they are offering rooms???
I have never been on the guided busway, where does it finish?(in Cambridge?)
And most maps inc google don't show the route!
I am not that fond of Travelodges (some of them are very tired) but Premier Inn's are usually ok.

[Poppylicious]

I have never been on the guided busway, where does it finish?(in Cambridge?)

Officially it goes from Huntingdon to Trumpington Park & Ride (dependent on whether you get Route A or Route B (or C or D!) but the actual Guided Busway (the offroad bit) goes from St Ives to the Science Park and then from the railway station to Addenbrooke's. If you have an appointment at Addenbrooke's it's very convenient to park at Trumpington and use it.  It has leather seats ... very swish (but if you're wearing the wrong sort of clothing it makes it a bit slippy-slidey.)

And I know what you mean about Travelodge.  We always pick the Travel Inn ... we did most of our courting courtesy of the Travel Inn; I think we managed to visit most of them in the Eastern region!   

 

[Sugarlump]

I have never been on the guided busway, where does it finish?(in Cambridge?)

Officially it goes from Huntingdon to Trumpington Park & Ride (dependent on whether you get Route A or Route B (or C or D!) but the actual Guided Busway (the offroad bit) goes from St Ives to the Science Park and then from the railway station to Addenbrooke's. If you have an appointment at Addenbrooke's it's very convenient to park at Trumpington and use it.  It has leather seats ... very swish (but if you're wearing the wrong sort of clothing it makes it a bit slippy-slidey.)

And I know what you mean about Travelodge.  We always pick the Travel Inn ... we did most of our courting courtesy of the Travel Inn; I think we managed to visit most of them in the Eastern region!   

 

I am a bit of a hotel snob and tend to pick places like The Rutland Arms at Newmarket or The Hilton Hotels and probably pay through the nose!!! I am addicted to room service, bathroom robes and breakfast in bed!!! Living beyond my means for a day or two 

[Poppylicious]

I am a bit of a hotel snob and tend to pick places like The Rutland Arms at Newmarket or The Hilton Hotels and probably pay through the nose!!! I am addicted to room service, bathroom robes and breakfast in bed!!! Living beyond my means for a day or two 

Ha ha, these days (as a married couple with no real reason to use cheap hotels) we tend to go for The Marriott (using Tesco Clubcard Tokens).  We're on our way to having visited most of those in England too!

 

[RichardMEL]

Umm so just what *IS* a guided busway (the longest in the world, I know! I know! ) ? is this like a dedicated bus lane operation thing or something? but I digress...

re hotels.. not a fan of travellodge either - a little too cheap and basic for me. I am happy with a holiday inn express - clean rooms (usually) and the continental breakfasts are usually good for a cuppa and a danish or something but a clean room/bathroom at a decent price works.

Sure I've stayed at the Hiltons (the Paddington Hilton is horribly expensive, but also very nice ) - the Hilton at Thiefrow T4 which was OK but could have gone for less cost., but very convenient location for early flights.. but I digress.

For special occasions, and with the right company I do enjoy the room service thing, though tbh as a tx patient I do think re how hot some food would be by the time it arrives. but that's because I'm a worrier lol

but for the camb thing, I'm totally cool with the HI or whatever. My biggest concerns are really clean comfy room and eae of transport options or at least inexpensive. Other than that, I'm easy (but all the girls know that anyway :p )

[cariad]

Well, look at you all, world travelers!

We are probably going to go self-catering. I can manage the Premier Inn or similar if it's only for a night, but as the kids get older, four of us in a room just doesn't work for long. With our own kitchen we save a fortune in restaurant costs and any extra price for accommodation evens out. Or if it doesn't, it's still worth it to be more comfortable.

This will probably mean staying outside Cambridge (15-20 mins), but we will have a car, and we are lucky to get fuel costs paid by Gwyn's employer.

So anyhow, please don't factor us into which hotel you pick if you want to all try to stay in the same place. Hopefully we can exchange mobile numbers and keep in touch that way.
 

[Sugarlump]

That works for me. 
I reckon the Holiday Inn express Rich is the best deal ... buffet breakfast inc hot stuff (insert giggle!!!) and good hanging about lounge with sofas and bar.
Transport shouldn't be too much of a problem with a small group.I have a blue badge so we can park nearly anywhere and the buses in Camb are great.

I will let Poppy explain the guided busway to you (its a bit like a tram) 

[RichardMEL]

I get points n stuff to stay at HI so that works for me too, but I am not wedded to that.

Main thing for me is that we can all get together and enjoy a good time!!!! That's what is important n'est pas?

ah guided busway like a tram so is this like the busses that connect to power via a pole? They have similar in Seattle I know.. so they can't go too far from the electric line lol.

Anyway this all sounds great!! Now, I just need to find me an airfare that works. Though I had one, but it turns out it wasn't exactly what I wanted so I still look.

I am so set to come over there though!!! I'll buy transplantees n folks a pint!!!

[RichardMEL]

btw is this the HI Express you mean?
15-17 Coldhams Business Park Norman Way Cambridge,    CB1 3LH England
http://www.ihg.com/holidayinnexpress/hotels/gb/en/cambridge/cbgcc/hoteldetail

- it's only 2 miles from the train station

cuz there's a regular HI there as well:

[Sugarlump]

Yep that's the right one Rich.
Be a good place to hang out in the lobby/bar area
Mine's a quarter of a pint please!!!!! 

[Poppylicious]

Ah, I thought you meant this one, Sugar ...

http://www.ihg.com/holidayinn/hotels/gb/en/cambridge/cbgim/hoteldetail

... because it's just minutes walk from the Guided Busway (the longest in the world, don't you know.)

ah guided busway like a tram so is this like the busses that connect to power via a pole? They have similar in Seattle I know.. so they can't go too far from the electric line lol.

Um, no.

It's a guideway-on-concrete-kerb method. It's designed to go on the roads too and just has something attached to its underside for the guided bit.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cambridgeshire_Guided_Busway

 

[Sugarlump]

We'll end up having to go on the damm thing with the IHD's just to see what it really is like!
I thought it was driverless 

[RichardMEL]

We'll end up having to go on the damm thing with the IHD's just to see what it really is like!
I thought it was driverless 

Before or after Newmarket?!

sounds like an awesome activity. Pints (or quarter!) all round first though !!!

 

I'm really excited to get there now... I've been investigating airfares and have a few options. I wonder what Doha is like that time of year for a stopover.

[Sugarlump]

Doha??? It will be hot at least before you hit bracing England!!!
SO stud, colleges, guided busway ride and DON't forget the punting (Found a company that provides a guided punt!!!!)
Dinner at Bills and some good gossip time over your pints!!!!

Sounds good to me. 

[Poppylicious]

Are we getting the punt from Magdalene College?  There's some lovely independent shops down there.  And a cake shop!

Really, scrap the Guided Busway excursion. It's not fun and you'll need quite a few alcoholic beverages inside you before it IS fun. Unless you want to tootle on down to St Ives, which is quaint and has a big statue of Cromwell.

I have never been on the sightseeing bus.  Can we go on the sightseeing bus?! PLEASE?!

 

[RichardMEL]

But but but the guided busway is the biggest in the world don't I know?!!!

I noted some of that hotel packages included a pass for a punt or something which I thought was hilarious. :

Sure, the punt, the tourist bus.. pints in between (very renal friendly... LOL well for those that CAN/SHOULD indulge anyway...) it all sounds like great fun

and fun to play thr tourist  in your own back yard.. you can hide behind me cuz I've got the funny accent and I live kinda near where they film Neighbours (barf!) so that's enough to get anyone out of trouble. In other cases one of you ladies can assist, I'm sure .... (*hide*)

as for Doha, just one of the airfare options I saw that could work for me was on Qatar. I'd not stop there ugh. Had a mate who was working there but he left last year so.... just a transit

Anyway we'll see.

[Sugarlump]

I'll find out about the sightseeing bus!!! Have to sit upstairs though so I might need a hand or two to get up and down 
Now I just need to order some nice spring weather for us ....

[RichardMEL]

Just tell 'em Mitchell Johnson is coming over and the weather gods of England will be scared into submission!! 

[RichardMEL]

Well boys and girls I am ready to book some flights, including a hopefully  very nice and comfy way to get home.

So where are we at with this? Still stuck on the guided busway (it's the biggest in the world - I know!)