Maui vendor frustration

[lizconemac]

Thanks "Mrs. Howard" That's great to hear. I've only heard great things about weddings and receptions at the Seawatch, but was a little worried when they changed to Gannons and didn't really communicate the changes with me! I'm really glad you posted this! It really helps! I mean, really!

[jean-marcus]

oh that is just frustrating to hear that. I am sorry.

 

I hate when vendors give me a bad name by luring you in with a cheap price and then try and stick you with hidden charges and stuff. They are pretty much worse than used car salesmen.. UGH...

 

 

ON A SIDE NOOOOTE.... I am shooting a wedding 45 mins out side of london. PLEASE tell me where I need to go in London to really experience London. Not just the tourist traps.

[amandadburns]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jean-marcus oh that is just frustrating to hear that. I am sorry. I hate when vendors give me a bad name by luring you in with a cheap price and then try and stick you with hidden charges and stuff. They are pretty much worse than used car salesmen.. UGH... ON A SIDE NOOOOTE.... I am shooting a wedding 45 mins out side of london. PLEASE tell me where I need to go in London to really experience London. Not just the tourist traps.

I'm no expert (have only lived here a few years myself) but I'm also not keen on the usual tourist traps so here's a quick braindump...

Markets: avoid Camden (can't stand it, I guess you need to like incense and overpriced black and white prints of old actors but you might bump into Amy Winehouse staggering about in the early hours). Instead check out Borough Market on a Thurs or Friday (avoid Sat/Sun like the plague - not open rest of week) or Spitalfields on Friday well known for upcoming designer fashion (it's in Jack the Ripper's territory too)

Interesting streets/areas: Avoid Oxford St, Leicester Square, even Convent Garden - full of dull chain stores and restaurants (and tourists) although Neal Street just off Convent Garden is probably the exception. In central London try Marylebone High Street (Mar-lee-bone) or Carnaby Street for very good independent boutiques/shops. A bit further out of London try Richmond in south west London (about 30 mins on the tube from the westend). Enjoy a pint at a pub on the Thames in Richmond or one of the several that surround Richmond Green - infact visit on a sunny summer Saturday and you can drink a pint while watching a game of cricket on the green (they've been playing cricket on the green every summer since the days of Queen Elizabeth I).

Watering Holes: Windsor Castle in Nottinghill is a very cosy olde English pub (dark wood panelled, open fires) and has a good beer garden. Cheshire Cheese Pub on Fleet Street (where all the British national newspapers used to be based until Murdoch moved them all out!) is supposedly the oldest pub in London and worth a look. Soho is always reliable for a lively night out, head towards Wardour Street.

Shopping: Carnaby Street is great; Liberty (tudor department store) on Regent Street is a visual feast; or for a more modern mall experience the new Westfields shopping centre in Wood Lane is a good bet if you want to attack a lot of shops in one session (very pleasant as far as malls go, good restaurants and a mix of high street labels and designer). It's also right across the road from the good old BBC TV Centre. Kings Road is also worth wandering down and the Bluebird Cafe on the Kings Road is definitely worth stopping at for a bite to eat or drink.

Entertainment/Arts: if you're here during summer and enjoy a bit of classical theatre definitely worth your time is catching a show at Shakespeare's Globe Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, Bankside, Southwark, London. If you're into art and design you must visit the V&A (Victoria & Albert) Museum Victoria and Albert Museum . They often have fantastic exhibits on.

Restaurants: One of our favourite places is the Skylon Cafe in the Southbank Centre just across the Thames from Embankment. Get a seat by the window and watch the world go by. It's near the London Eye, and it's a tourist drawcard so yep queues, but does provide the best views and orientation.

Phew that's about it for now. Hope some of that helps guide you towards a very enjoyable visit!

[jean-marcus]

Quote:

Originally Posted by amandadburns I'm no expert (have only lived here a few years myself) but I'm also not keen on the usual tourist traps so here's a quick braindump... Phew that's about it for now. Hope some of that helps guide you towards a very enjoyable visit!

thanks. ill look into all those places..

[roo66]

You say your forty five mins from London are you going to be in Kent?

[orionandmari072510]

Hang in there! any destination wedding will have these issues, I am getting married in cancun and sometimes Im afraid the information I am relating to the coordinator is not being understood and handled correctly...everything will come out right at the wedding in the end!