Ani

Okay guys, I haven't been in the travel market for 2 years, but am checking out flights for England in the spring-woohoo!!!
Here are my questions:

Are there any great travel (read airline ticket purchase) sites around now that weren't a year or 2 ago? I'm familiar with the basics-travelocity, expedia, orbitz, sidestep...

Also, we've visited in early March before, but the cheapest (and they are pretty good prices) tix I've seen so far were leaving Feb. 23rd. Any hints on what our weather experience would be in mid-north England at that time?
Thanks!

nevcharlie

You may get lucky,but generally cold, wet and dark, plan for plenty of pubs and museums!

kaudrey

Hi Ani,

First, for the flights. In addition to checking the ones you mentioned, check the European airlines, especially British Airways and Virgin Atlantic. If you are daring, consider priceline.com.

Also, I wouldn't be purchasing tickets now, unless you get a great rate. It's too early for next February. Wait a few months or even into November or December. It's off season.

Try www.worldclimate.com for average weather. I was in London in February 2 years ago, and it was wintery - mid 30s most days, some rain but not too bad. North of London would be a little colder.

Karen

Ani

Well, we are traveling with our daughter, who will be almost 1 by then...so priceline is out. Besides, the rates I got are about 425 pp all taxes included for a DIRECT flight from Den to Heathrow. This is better than any price I've gotten at priceline the last 2 years. That said, maybe its a better idea, traveling with a child, to go when the climate is warmer...

yipper

hi,
BA has a sale that is good through today. I don't know if you will make it. I was in London at the end of Feb. one year and the sun was shinning and the dafodiles in bloom. Who knows?

FromAtlanta

2 yrs. ago I went in late March and it was VERY cold, windy and wet.

Still had a good time though

PatrickLondon

http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/features/review/

offers you summaries of what the weather was like, month by month.

Days will still be quite short at that time of year (getting dark about 5pm).

Kate

I must add that I find February to be the most depressing month of the year. Dark, wet. cold, it feels like spring will never come.

caroline_edinburgh

In mid/north England February is usually the worst month, weatherwise. It will be cold, probably grey, may snow and the days are still quite short.

mclaurie

2 websites for airline tickets that I've taken note of (but have not used) from other Fodors posters are

http://www.itasoftware.com/
http://airtravelcenter.com/onetrav.htm

I'm unclear why you think Priceline won't work with a 1 year old. That said, I wouldn't buy airline tickets on PL anyway.

Ani

Thanks for the replies...we've decided to go about 2 months later...hopefully will get good prices at some point.
McLaurie-we used Priceline the last 2 times we went overseas, had a horrible plane change in Toronto both times. Point being, with a 1 year old we want a DIRECT flight. Something that I don't think you can do with Priceline.

mclaurie

Thanks for the clarification. I agree and have heard enough horror stories about PL plane tickets to convince me never to use them for that. I think they're great for hotels though.