Also love love love the YHA!

I keep missing this stop! I’ve got it written in a more permanent spot now so I won’t forget next time!! 🙂 XOXO

Hi Judy!! Thanks so much for your questions!! I have been thinking for ages about doing a post just on packing, so you’re giving me a push in the right direction!! YAY! I do pack really lightly. I use a backpack/daypack that I bought for one of my hiking trips.

Here’s the link:http://www.rei.com/product/865638/osprey-sirrus-24-pack-womens

It’s pretty small but I just wear the same thing most of the time and bring undergarments and t-shirts. I’ve found that I can do anywhere from 2-10 days with just this backpack. For this trip to London, I actually left the backpack at home and managed to pack in a medium size purse. I was only there for one night, so I wore the same clothes and just threw a change of underwear in my purse. Kinda crazy but I really love the freedom of traveling without a big bag. And there are shops everywhere so if I spilled something on myself or got soaking wet or needed toiletries, I could always shop for what I need.

YHA stands for Youth Hostel Association, so YHAs are hostels. While hostels typically mean that you are just renting a dorm bed in a room full of bunks, most YHAs have private rooms and family rooms now. The family rooms have been great for us because it’s really hard to find a hotel room in London that can hold four people. Most rooms have either one double bed or two twins, so for our family, we would need 2-3 hotel rooms. But at a YHA, we can get a room with bunk beds for our whole family. There is usually a sink in the room and a bathroom just outside the room. That was the case for my room in St Paul’s. There is also a kitchen/dining area so you can get your meals in the YHA or even prepare them yourself. 🙂 This post has a picture of one that my mom and I stayed in with the boys last spring: http://www.alisonchino.com/2015/05/28/snapshots-of-york/

Speaking of food, I definitely eat more than fruit and tea! 🙂 In fact I eat A LOT. On this trip to London, I was down for some meetings, so I had most of my meals at those. But when I first arrived I went looking for some Mexican food, which is hard to get in the UK. I ended up finding some mediocre tacos. Next time I will just go to Chipotle, which they have in London. (Just one location the last time I checked!) I also tend to pick up sandwiches or soups at chains like Pret-A-Manger or Leon, both of which have healthier “fast food.”

The DLR stands for Docklands Light Railway, which is part of the London Transport Network. I think it’s called that because it’s above ground, but it connects to the London Underground and runs between South London and East London. In London, you can get one card (an Oyster Card) and use it on the DLR, The Tube (Underground) and all the buses. It’s wonderful! Makes getting around so easy!!