Things to Remember When Traveling to the UK (& Paris)

I recently got back from a trip to London (and Paris) and LOVED IT! UK was easi(er) because of the common language (so you think, keep reading) but enough French people spoke enough (broken) English for my spoiled American self to get by. Merci. Here are a few helpful hints I wish someone would have told me before I went.

If you are embarking on a European vacation to two of the most visited cities in the world, there are a few things you should know. Toto, you are not in Kansas anymore.

Know the lingo regarding your hotel room. A 'double room' usually is 1 queen bed, not 2 queen bed which is what we Americans are used to.
A 'twin roon' is usually two twin sized beds, something practically unheard of in America. It is best to call the hotel (if it is a multi-national company they should have a toll-free US line) ahead of time to book, or if you're booking online, make sure your terms are very flexible if you need to upgrade or need to change rooms. Also a washcloth in America is a face cloth in the UK. A washcloth in the UK is a hand towel in America.
It's the little things.

The ground floor and the first floor are not the same. This seems trivial but my sister and I were waiting for our train on the ground floor when the marquee said the first floor. When I asked an agent, they motioned upward. We made it to our train by 5 minutes.

When you take the train into Paris, Rome, Brussels, via the many trains available you are crossing country borders. This is not like in the US where its several states in the same country. Therefore, when in doubt, keep your passport on your person at all times. But trust me, your 'accent' will give you away every time.

Take bus directions only from a bus/tube agent or someone with a map. This woman sent us on a bus in the wrong direction in the MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT which cost us 65lbs. ($100) to get back to our Hounslow hotel by taxi. God must have liked her because if we would have saw her on the street again, we would have hit her with a sack of nickels.

Ladies, the Tube (Underground) ends at 1am. #thatisall. See point above. When you're out clubbing, keep your eye on the time and know how you're getting home.

A pearl of the Oyster. Save money by buying an Oyster card and go all around London on the extensive public transit systems.

Convert, Convert, Convert the cost of everything or else you will get a rude awakening from your credit card statement when you get back.

Plug it in. Plug It In. Be sure to buy a UK (plug) converter when you get there or use/rent the hotel's one.

Celsius not Fahrenheit. Nonetheless, take a jacket.

Keep your ears open and hear the English symphony. You will hear (where white people are concerned) Australian accents, South African accents, as well as other European accents, all jumbled in with the general UK accent.

The Coca-Cola products taste different.

The people at the airport are not asking you questions because they want to take you out to lunch. This is especially key of solo people of color travelers. They smile and ask you very simple questions that someone who is not up to something should have no problem answering. Politely smile back, answer the question, and give them the finger in your mind go about your day.

Prepare yourself for the 'anti-terrorism' landscape. Traveling can be a very fun and traumatic experience now a days. Getting the boarding pass, going through security, walking between terminals that seem like several blocks a part, going in and out of customs, it takes a lot out of you. Have your cosmetics in small containers in a small, clear case. We were in Paris Du Nord and there were armed men with AK-47s walking around. Yeah fellas, that made me feel really safe. If I didn't know any better I would have thought Osama won. With all the Big Brotherism of security, he won. He changed EVERYTHING. He gave a once comfortable and beautiful experience (traveling) a mist of abuse in the name of security. In this 'anti-terrorism' landscape, you are guilty until proven innocent. If this is what the future looks like, go, visit, and start staking out a place in Eastern Europe, Africa, Central, Asia, or South America where people roam free.