Why a Weekend In London Is an Ideal Short Getaway

Why A Weekend in London is an Ideal Short Getaway

Bryce Sanders, President

Perceptive Business Solutions Inc.

My job consumed me when I was a financial advisor.  Once I tapped the bumper of a truck while I was backing up in a supermarket parking lot.  Why?  I was thinking about a client’s IRA distribution that needed to get done by a certain date.  Could I blame the client?  Of course not!  I should have been concentrating on what I was doing.  How can the dedicated person unplug in a guilt free way?

When I was a financial advisor I worked in New York City.  This vacation approach is ideal if you work in cities like Boston or Philadelphia on the East Coast.  If you live elsewhere, you can find an alternative to London.

Here is why taking a weekend break in London is ideal for the New York (or East Coast) financial advisor.  It can work with other professions too.

1.      Airfares can be cheap.  Several airlines have regular JFK to LHR (London Heathrow) flights daily.  In the evening, some airlines do them once an hour.  Because of the competition, you can often find fares in the $500 range, more or less.  Off season is best for those fares.

2.      How many vacation days?  You might plan this trip over a three day weekend.  If not, you plan on taking off the Friday and Monday, which is two vacation days.  You fly out Thursday night and fly home on Monday morning.  Since it is an overnight flight, you land on Friday, spend three nights in London and head home Monday.

Here is why the strategy is guilt free, giving you the opportunity to relax.

·         Thursday.  You worked most of the day.  Your flight is about 7:00 PM.  There are several ways to get to the airport.  You do not feel guilty because you worked almost a full day anyway.

·         Friday.  You land at Heathrow and take the Piccadilly Underground (subway) line into Central London.  Yes, you could take the Heathrow Express, but it costs a lot more.  You do not feel guilty because you rationalize “The office can get along without me for a day.  It is no big deal.”

·         Saturday.  This is your first full day enjoying yourself in London.  More about that later.  You do not feel guilty because the stock market is closed on Saturday.  Besides, no one is in the office to get your call.

·         Sunday.  This is your second full day in London.  Why don’t you feel guilty?  Because it is Sunday.  The stock market is still closed and so is your office.

·         Monday.  This is the day of your return home.  Monday is a workday.  You are really wanting to call the office and see what has been going on.  It is 9:00 AM.  You decide to call your office.  You do not because of the time difference.  9:00 AM in London is 4:00 AM in New York.  No one is in the office to take your call.  Guilt is at least postponed.

·         It’s still Monday.  You think:  9:00 AM in New York is 2:00 PM in London.  I’ll call then!  Spoiler alert!  Your flight has taken off.  You are in the air.  You can’t make the call!  The rest of your flight is guilt free.

Once you are back on the ground, you can call, but most of the business day is gone.  You rationalize you can catch up on Tuesday morning.

Why London?

There are many reasons for choosing London for this getaway.  Multiple flights and competitive airfares are two good reasons.  London is known for West End shows, their equivalent of Broadway theater.  The Eurostar (channel tunnel) train puts Paris or Brussels only a couple of hours away.  You can have lunch in Paris!  There are plenty of activities that make London great and confer bragging rights.

 Bryce Sanders is president of Perceptive Business Solutions Inc.  He provides HNW client acquisition training for the financial services industry.  His book, “Captivating the Wealthy Investor” is available on Amazon.