So, the boyfriend will be attending a work-related conference very soon. He’s flying into Southampton on a Sunday afternoon (around 1PM-ish) and will be staying near Winterbourne Gunner. Since Uncle Sam is a bit tight-fisted these days, he has not been allowed a rental car (okay, okay, it might also have to do with a lack of an international driving license, and honestly it’s probably for the best, as I’ve seen/experienced his driving).
It seems, from all the research he’s been able to accomplish, that it will take public transport nearly 3 hours to deliver him from Southampton to Winterbourne Gunner. Of course, I have much better research methods. So, what say you? How can he quickly, easily, cheaply get from point A to point B? And from point B to point A on the following Friday (his flight is ridiculously early in the morning)?
Should he anticipate power conversion issues with things like his computer/iPad? What about his cell phone? He has a regular plan with AT&T that I know we couldn’t use while he was in Canada earlier this year- should he just leave it here at home?
Thanks in advance for any help… I’ll be hitting up the KiwiDopers for similar info in the spring, as I’ll actually be able to accompany him to that trip (stupid expensive international flights!).
One point: you don’t need “an international driving license” to drive in Britain. I’ve rented a car and driven there using an Ohio license, just as I previously drove in the U.S. using a New South Wales license. (I took my Ohio driver’s test using a car that I’d rented using that NSW license.)
Interesting… that was the excuse that his boss and the travel… approving… person… (what the heck are they called?? it’s right on the tip of my tongue…) gave him when they cancelled his rental car and told him to find his own way from the airport.
I thought it sounded strange (after all, LOTS of tourists pop over the pond all the time, and they can’t all be using public transport!), but again, this IS the military we’re talking about. It’s more than possible that they’re confused.
Southampton airport has its own train station (called Southampton Airport Parkway). Winterborne Gunner is just north of Salisbury - that train journey can be done in as little as 45 minutes and will cost £8.40.
From Salisbury to Winterborne Gunner is only about 5 or 6 miles - so a taxi is probably easiest - Salisbury station is quite large, so there will most likely either be taxis waiting there, or an easy way to call one.
It’s worth noting that there are roughly two train services each hour between Southampton Airport and Salisbury, alternating between those that go direct, and those that require a change of trains at Southampton Central - I’d recommend catching one that goes direct, just because the change is something that could go wrong (Southampton Central is a horrible place to change anyway).
This is all awesome info… I’ll certainly direct him to the links and give him the tip about taking a direct train. kferr, I think the flight is around 7AM… would that first train be pushing it?
Travel plug is all he should need. I used my iPhone charger in the US with just a plug adapter recently, the transformer takes both 110v and 240v input. Should be the same for the laptop transformer.
As for the mobile phone, if he has a triband GSM phone then it should work when he gets here. What phone has he got? iPhones from AT&T will work.
He will need a power adapter - UK is 230v, not 110v, and the sockets are different.
If his phone is GSM it will work, but I would suggest that the costs to generally use will be high. Tell him not to use mobile data services, they will be extortionate. Only use WiFi provided by a hotel or cafe. He could get a pay-as-you-go SIM card £3 or so, for while he is here, it might save money.
If that’s 7AM check-in, the train arriving at 6:16 will be just fine, even in the unlikely event it’s a bit delayed - the station is right next to the airport terminal.
If it’s a 7AM take-off, 6:16 arrival at the airport could be a bit too tight.
The ticket should state the check-in time. If the early train isn’t workable, it might be better to travel up late the previous night - trains from Salisbury to the airport depart as late as 22:30 and there’s a hotelright at the airport.
So, what say you? How can he quickly, easily, cheaply get from point A to point B? And from point B to point A on the following Friday (his flight is ridiculously early in the morning)?