Nighthawk117 wrote: ↑Tue Jan 07, 2020 12:53 pm
I'm slowly starting to plan my dream trip, going to RIAT in 2021. I would like to know your experiences to organize this kind of trip. I took a lot of information from the RIAT official website, but I would like to know if you know websites or blogs of people who tell their stories about RIAT and how to organize this type of trip? Thanks!
Hey,
Well done, I chose 2013 as my first Canada -> RIAT adventure. Did a lot of digging thru various forums and sought a lot of advice. Really helped make a successful trip and I have learned much more from my various trips since (It is addictive). A few thoughts building on some of the great advice already given:
1. Budget. Assess up front what you can afford to spend as it impacts a wide range of decisions. Essentially in terms of spending power, 1£ in the UK goes as far as $1 goes in Canada except that in reality 1£ = ~$1.75 . That adds up in a hurry. Make major travel choices well in advance and in keeping with your budget otherwise you will get there and still be agonizing over the potential cost of certain choices - that is a major buzzkill whilst travelling.
Bear budget in mind with all these choices...
2. FRIAT. If this is your dream trip, ie RIAT is the primary goal, not merely 1 day of a larger itinerary, FRIAT is THE way to do it:
(a)It gives you access for the entire duration of the show.
(b)Short of the 'naughty fields, if they still exist, it is the ONLY way to see departures day at the rotation point for many of the aircraft. A good departures day can make up for a 'mediocre' show weekend.
(c) Whilst many of your fellow FRIAT attendees are not perfect, they are better than being stuck with the mob who do not care about your personal spare,crushing you camera gear, or controlling their screaming children. (Yes, I can be an elitist snob)
(d) Shelter from the occasional downpour.
(e) Left luggage facility.
(f) Best view in the house.
(g) Despite my opening comment in (c), in FRIAT I have mostly sat next to some great guys who have really added to the experience. They can watch your gear in a pinch or even lend you a spare memory card.
(h)Still excellent value for money if you compare the cost of paying individual admission for each park/view day and show day.
(i) Dedicated, mostly clean, washrooms - not porta-potties
3. Travel (Assuming you are flying to Heathrow) - A few options:
(a) My current method is to rent a car at Heathrow and drive to Swindon, driving back and forth between Swindon accommodations and the show each day. Whilst driving in the UK (if having only driven in North America) does not require super human efforts it is not for the timid either - Further renting a car in the UK is a hateful experience. All that said i would not do it any other way. (PM me if you want me to expand on the topic).
(b) Bus / Train. Accessing Swindon from Heathrow can be done directly by bus or a combination of bus/train. A cab /uber to back and forth between Swindon accommodations and the show is possible on arrivals and departures days - difficult to improbable on show days. On show days the Shuttlebus from the Swindon bus station is incredibly convenient but get there early and pay really close attention to the return schedules.
Accommodations. In Swindon I have done both the Campanile and the PremierInn M4 Swindon West. Campanile is cheaper, in less immediate demand and clean but it does not have air conditioning (Yes, this can really matter!). The PremierInn is great but if you wait beyond August on the year before you likely will not be able to get a room. Even then it is best to phone to reserve as the website may never show availability. As noted all hotels will gouge you during that week but I have had good luck with those spots. For most locations, if you are doing the shuttle bus you will need a cab to get to the bus station in the morning.
4. Pace yourself. The show grounds are huge. Even on an 'off' year the static display is huge. Even on an 'off' year the aerial display will run from 10am-5pm on Saturday and Sunday. Choose carefully what aerial acts you NEED to see and what static aircraft (patch hunting etc) you NEED to see and juggle your time accordingly. To the uninitiated this is Aviation Disneyworld. You will miss something crucial if you do give it some thought.
5. Food. In FRIAT there are water bowsers for refilling water bottles so no need to hump in much liquid. The on site food ranges from the disgusting/inedible to not bad - it is all fairly expensive however. Seriously consider hitting one of the various Swindon grocery stores for packing lunches. Be warned, I believe the Reeses brand is the only palatable peanut butter I have found in the UK.
That does not scratch the surface. Again feel free to ask further here or PM me. I have really enjoyed my trips over and have managed to work out many of the wrinkles.
Cheers
Mark