Travel Tips

With London Olympic Games 2012 almost upon us, the capital is expected to encounter a lot of excitement, entertainment and people. Over the next few weeks, London will be bustling with athletes, tourists and locals who are expected to flock in large numbers, from July 27th to August 12th, to participate and witness the much awaited London Olympics. If you too plan to be a part of this momentous occasion, then you have to buckle up and plan ahead to make your Olympics experience a snag-free one. Rest assured, your U.K. trip is in no way going to be an inexpensive affair this summer. So be prepared to shell out extra bucks for food, travel and accommodation. Below mentioned are some tips that should help you plan your trip wisely, and may be help you save up on some cash too. Read on to know how to make your London Olympics dream a successful one.

Getting The Tickets
If you decided to be a part of Summer London Olympics, then hold on to your nerves and wallet, for getting the tickets could rob you off of all your savings and sleep. If you haven't bid for a ticket yet, you might need to approach the ticket vendors to bail you out, all and more for a hefty check. If you don't mind stretching your budget, then you might as well shell off hefty bucks and get a ticket from Cosport, which holds the sole ticket distribution rights in U.S. If you are crunched for cash, you might need to look elsewhere. At the same time, be wary of bogus online vendors who might con you with dupe deals.

Getting To London
Summer being the peak holiday season and with the high demand for the games, don't expect any discount on airfares to London. And it would be a folly to wait for any last-minute cheap deals to come through as airfares are unlikely to go down. However, you can save a little by flying at off-peak times and dates. Look for best rates in travel websites.

Where To Stay
Here is a great news! The London Organizing Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games have released 120,000 extra hotel nights in London that was formerly reserved for athletes and other dignitaries. However, the catch here is that the availability is still scarce with rooms costing a whopping $500 per night. The good thing is that with the events spread out across the city and outside, you will still find lodging, house rentals and bed and breakfast at reasonable deals. You can also cut down your expenses by renting local houses or apartments or even staying in commuter hubs. Another great way to curb expenses would be to stay close public transit

Seeing Olympic Events
If you haven't bought your tickets yet, you will have to wait until the time the ticket sale reopens. And the bad news is that, the leftover seats will be bid at various price levels. To save yourself from burning a hole into the pocket, skip the finals unless you are an ardent sport lover and opt for less popular sport events. Alternatively, you can buy package deals from ticket vendors for individual or multievent packages. Plus, there are ticket vendors who are providing hotel stay too along with event packages. So choose your option accordingly.

Don't Miss The Freebies
Never mind if you couldn't buy a ticket for yourself. There are a gamut of events like Olympic marathons, cycling road races, rowing events and equestrian events that are free. Movie screens are also likely to be set up in Trafalgar Square, Hyde Park, and Victoria Park for the spectators.

Finding Local Transportation
If you don't have extra cash to fritter on cabs and trains, opt for an Oyster card instead. Oyster card slashes down the travel cost up to 40%. Plus, the Tube is the cheapest, fastest way to get around. Since the venues are spread across the city, you will have to avail trains, buses, shuttles, taxis and river ferries servicing the venues. The city has easy, fast and cheap public transit, cycling routes and pedestrian trails that connect easily to the Olympic Park. You can also rent a bike for your convenience.

Eating In London
If you are really looking to save up on some cash, go easy on your bingeing spree and opt for good street food. London has quite a number of them! Pubs also offer wholesome and tasty food at reasonable rates. Or, you can opt for local farm fresh food at a local bistro.

Lastly, keep a lot of cash with you lest your card might now work. Use your cash judiciously and make the most of your London summer this 2012.