Hotels in Red Deer, Canada

Oh dear, the typical tourist stuff is spread out all over the city. I'm assuming that it's your first time. Family-friendly is deceptive in London. In most London hotels, family means two adults and a small child. London hotel rooms are miniscule! You have two teens, so plan on the idea of getting two rooms, especially if you expect the rooms to be under $200/night. Budget-freindly also means something different. The average cost of a hotel room in greater London is £210/night. Convenient is another issue, it's just best to find a place close to a tube station. You can get anywhere on the Tube, but it's a little daunting for the beginner. I'd suggest studying a Tube map before you go, or getting a London Undergorund app for a smartphone. The best area for reasonable accomodations is Earl's Court in the Southwest, but it's not in walking distance of anything, though it's on the Picadilly Line. There are two good budget chains that you might want to look at, EasyHotel and Premier Inns. They are under £100/night, but they work like low cost airlines, you pay for "extras" (telephone, tv, etc) http://www.easyhotel.com/ and http://www.premierinn.com/. The rooms are tiny, but clean and secure. I've stayed at the Premier Inn at Southwark (http://www.premierinn.com/en/hotel/LONCOU/london-county-hall), which is in the old London County Hall. It's across Westminster Bridge from the Houses of Parliament and almost under the London Eye. I only stayed one night before taking Eurostar to Paris from Waterloo, so I can't say how comfortable it is for an extended stay. If I spend any time in the city, I usually stay near Paddington Station (it's the terminal for Heathrow Express from the airport). It's relatively close to Hyde Park, Marble Arch and Oxford Street, and Paddington Station is a major Tube and Train station (look for the statue of Paddington Bear). I usually stay at the Arch http://www.thearchlondon.com/, but that might not be family or budget friendly (it's okay on my budget). There are a ton of hotels int the area though (search Paddington, Marble Arch, Bayswater, Marlybone on the internet). Many are small family run places, that will be basic and small. I love London and go every couple of years or so, but a couple of warnings and tips. London is shockingly expensive... expect double the price for about half the food outside of the international fast food places. Get mulitday Oyster cards for the tube or it's £4 every time you take a ride. London is well policed and safe, but be wary of drunks and pickpockets (especially unfortunately in Earls Court). There are drunks on the Tube at night, every night, most are jovial, but very drunk. Tell your son not to bring hoodies. They're used by young troublemakers to hide from CCTV cameras and those are everywhere too. Expect to be under police surveillance all the time. Police in the UK do not need probable cause and they will stop and question young men wearing hoodies, especially if the hood is up. Even if it sounds boring, do not miss the British Museum, the National Portrait Gallery, the Albert and Victoria Museum and the National War Museum. Look up the free days, if they still have them. Also visit Covent Garden, Carnaby Street, Trafalgar Square, Leicester Square and take the trip to Camden Town and Locks. Picadilly Square, the Tower and Harrods are kind of overrated, expensive and touristy, but may be worth visiting on your first time. Feel free to ask any questions, love to talk about a great city.

You have only three days? Here's a couple of more suggestions then... Get a London Pass (http://www.londonpass.com/). It lets you in at a discount and access express lines for admitance to the most popular attractions. You can get a travel pass too, which lets you ride London Transport as much as you like at non-rush hours. I would only sightsee in Central London for two days though and spend most of one day in Camden Town. Camden is absolutely worth the time. It's a funky relaxed area with good food, sites and interesting shops. One of my favorite walks in London is to start at Marble Arch across from Hyde Park's Speaker's corner down Oxford Street, Regent Street (detouring at Carnaby Street) to Picadilly Circus, then take Coventry Street to Leicester Square, back track to Haymarket to Trafalgar Square and then stroll the Mall to Buckingham Palace. You see most of modern and historic London in a day, with stops and pictures. Plan your days out. It's a big city and you won't see all of it, but it's a good excuse to come back. Your son is a soccer player and it's a lot of fun to tour one of the Premier League soccer stadiums and museums. I'm a Gunner fan, so I'd steer you to Emirates Stadium which is the newest in London and convenient to the Tube. Chelsea stadium also has tours and anchors an entertainment district. If you go into any of the shops, ask how much you need to spend to qualify for the VAT refund, then have one person make all purchases as the refund is culmative to the total for the one shopper. Be sure to get them to fill out the form if you qualify. The qualifying shopper needs to show a passport, so that person should carry it and not leave it at the hotel. DO NOT buy anything at Harrods or any luxury goods. Harrods and the designers have outlets at all the Heathrow terminals, and it's duty and tax-free there, and have their most popular items. You get the Harrods bag and everything. Come early enough to the airport to do that shopping and get your VAT refund stamped too. It's 20%, so it's worth it. Don't bother with the hotel breakfast, especially if it's a "Full British" -- those will kill you. Get out on the streets and stop at a Pret a Manger. They are everywhere and you can make healthy choices at those. Have a Tube plan... the train doors close automatically and quickly. They separate families that are hesitant. It's best to board trains decisively, even if it's the wrong way, and then get off at the next station if you made a mistake. Otherwise, agree on what to do if you're separated. Generally, have the left party cross to the other side of the platform and have the travelling group get off at the next station and travel back. London transport staff and police on the street are very helpful and polite. Do not hesitate to ask for help from anyone in a uniform.

I always rent VRBO http://www.vrbo.com/vacation-rentals/europe/england/london

BTW, I stay here in Paris, next to the Louvre and Pont Neuf. Walk to Les Halles, the Pompidou, left bank, le Marais or Notre Dame. Easy access to Louvre Rivoli, Pont Neuf, Chatelet and les Halles metro stations. Clean, comfortable and small enough to get to know all the other guests in the place. Great boulangerie at the corner by Pont Neuf. L'Hôtel de la Place du Louvre: http://www.paris-hotel-place-du-louvre.com/en/discover-the-hotel/

and I can let you know how that is after. We chose not to rent a car and have either walked or taken https://www.twitter.com/uber everywhere

we are at the https://www.twitter.com/padreshyatthr and I recommend it so much! The was a bit, loved https://www.twitter.com/donutbar_sd , https://www.twitter.com/sandiegozoo

if you are travelling with littles there are some amazing parks and the https://www.twitter.com/iheartncm is phenomenal...tomorrow we are going to

https://www.airbnb.ca/disaster/ftmcmurraywildfires Dede Bebe lots on this page also. If you scroll the Alberta strong page you will see the post for pigeon lake

Dede Bebe keep us posted and keep suggestion place please members

Dede Bebe.. please get back

http://fortmacevac.boards.net/

I went to Red Cross and university but on my luck everything is fully booked

I've never been to Red Deer.

Beside Boston Pizza

maybe ask https://www.twitter.com/amanda_huddy