Credit card companies generally let you set up alerts for things like large purchases, so you can monitor for fraud. One I have set up on my Chase card is to notify me of any international charges. (This is not a promotion for Chase credit cards, but I did choose it for many traveler-friendly features including no foreign transaction fees, and no need to inform them to my travel plans which saves the hassle of having a purchase declined. Hence my interest in setting up this specific alert, so that I would catch purchases outside the US not made by me.)
When I made my first purchase in London, within seconds I received an email saying “An international charge has been posted to this account” with the details. At first I was annoyed, and thought “I need to disable that alert so I won’t get these emails all week.” But I looked at the email more closely, and realized it showed the amount of the purchase in US dollars, not in British pounds.
Hogwarts souvenir pin from Warner Brothers Studios
Now I may be a bit OCD, but with every purchase in international currency, I immediately start doing the math in my head to figure out what I paid in USD. Yes, there are apps for that, but the exchange rate the app uses is not necessarily the one the bank uses.
I immediately realized how this was a huge perk for me. I started checking for the email immediately after handing over my card, and telling the family “This wasn’t so bad, it was only $—- considering we all had appetizers and bought 2 bottles of wine!” Disclaimer: London is expensive, but being from California, it was pretty much in line with what I would have expected to pay at home. Which confirms how expensive California is!
No viist to England is complete without scones..
And a meal in a pub!
The staff at Rubens at the Palace loves celebrating all holidays, even the Fourth of July!
6. Crystal Cruises’ Family Memories program provides special amenities with a minimum of only 3 cabins booked together, including prepaid gratuities, shipboard credits, and a family photo. And children under 17 are free when sharing a cabin with two adults.
The Goring – A family run boutique hotel in London right next to Buckingham Palace, which offers connecting rooms for families, and special amenities and activities for kids.
For more information, contact 
I work closely with Jonathan and his staff to create a memorable and fun trips for all ages, whether it’s a short weekend getaway to a themed Harry Potter tour to a custom journey exploring your family history. 
I am confident that my clients are in good hands when I book their accommodations through Small and Elegant Hotels. They not only have some of the best rates, but their expertise and personal connections are priceless. In fact, they can still guarantee 2009 rates for next year, but soon that option will go away, as 2010 is predicted to be a busier travel season.
Families can also enjoy The Nare’s outdoor swimming pool (heated from May to mid September), indoor pool, tennis court, billiards room, sauna, spa, and croquet lawn. The hotel also has its own yacht, a Cornish Crabber called the Maggie O’Nare, which can be chartered for sailing or fishing.
