Hello!
I live in Dallas and my family is going to London in december. How can we make the trip and hotel as cheap as possible?
Not looking for free. Just cheap.
Can you fix the formatting on this and add more I plan the 3rd to the 7th of Dec.
Dallas β London in December β the price floor, and the levers that actually move it 
December is one of the cheapest months on this exact route, and your Dec 3β7 window lands in the sweet spot β before the mid-month crowd surge, right as the Christmas lights go up. 
- Flights β DAL (Love Field) $611β781 beats DFW $812β846, and December is the cheapest month on this route.
Lock the flights first β 2β6 months ahead, Tue/Wed departures, and price alerts running now.
Hotels β Β£50β120 a night, booked 3β4 weeks out. The 5-minute-Tube rule beats every booking site.
Kids ride free β under 5 always, and 5β10 free on Tube, bus, DLR and Overground, four per adult.
The big museums cost nothing β British Museum, Science Museum, V&A, both Tates, National Gallery.
Skip the airport exchange counter β a no-foreign-fee card and a UK eSIM sorted before you fly.
Free museums and free kidsβ transit do the heavy lifting on cost β the flights are the only number that really moves.
πΈ The money half β flights, hotels, and the order to book in
The flight price floor
| Airport | Round-Trip Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| DFW (Dallas-Fort Worth) | $812β846 | Mostly direct or one-stop routes |
| DAL (Love Field) | $611β781 | Often cheaper, usually connects through a hub |
December is the cheapest month for LHR and LGW fares on this route.
The levers that move the price
| Lever | What Moves the Needle |
|---|---|
| Booking window |
2β6 months ahead beats last-minute spikes on long-haul |
 Day of week |
Tue/Wed departures cheapest β your Thu-out and Mon-back already beats a Sunday return by up to 16% |
 Airport choice |
Compare LHR, LGW and LCY, and DFW and DAL separately β Gatwick and City often undercut Heathrow |
 Price alerts |
Set them weeks before committing, instead of checking manually |
Compare fares on Skyscanner or Kayak, and set alerts on Going.com.
The hotel trade-off that matters most
It is the neighborhood, not the booking site.
| Option | Best For | Typical Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Budget chain (Premier Inn, Point A, Z Hotels, Yotel) | 2β3 people, simplicity | Β£50β120 a night |
| Serviced apartment or Airbnb | 4+ people | Often cheaper per person, plus a kitchen |
Best budget zones: Earlβs Court, Kingβs Cross and Bloomsbury β strong Tube access, real budget inventory. The rule that beats everything else: stay within a 5-minute walk of a Tube or Elizabeth Line stop, ideally a multi-line hub like Kingβs Cross St Pancras or Liverpool Street.
Hotel timing
| Tactic | Detail |
|---|---|
| Book | 3β4 weeks ahead, not months out |
| Check-in day | Thursday check-in already beats the pricier Saturday pattern |
| Extra savings | Pick stays with free breakfast included |
| Also watch | Holiday inventory sells out sooner than flights do |
Compare on Hotels.com or Expedia.
Open-source planners, for tracking it yourself
| Tool | Best For |
|---|---|
| TREK | Self-hosted collaborative planner with built-in budgets, packing lists and maps |
| AdventureLog | Self-hosted travel tracker with itineraries and shared family planning |
| TRIP | Minimalist self-hosted map tracker and planner |
These need a little technical setup β a plain spreadsheet does the same job for a four-day trip.
The sequence
- Compare DFW against DAL fares, then lock flights first β fare volatility is higher than hotel volatility
- Set flight price alerts now for your December dates
- Decide hotel against apartment by group size, then book 3β4 weeks before departure
- Get a no-foreign-transaction-fee card and an eSIM sorted
- Pre-book any ticketed attraction online
- Plan two or three free museum visits into the four days
π Once you land β kids' fares, the airport run, food, free days and money
Local transport, including kids
| Age | Fare |
|---|---|
| Under 5 | Free, always, with an adult |
| 5β10 | Free on Tube, bus, DLR and Overground, up to four kids per adult |
| 11β15 | A quick Oyster Photocard unlocks free bus and discounted Tube |
Use contactless or a Visitor Oyster card rather than paper tickets β both auto-cap your daily spend. The official fare rules sit on TfLβs fares page.
The airport run, compared
| Method | Cost | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Piccadilly Line | Β£5.60 | ~75 min |
| Elizabeth Line | Β£13.90+ | ~45 min |
| Heathrow Express | Priciest | ~15 min |
| Pre-booked taxi | Β£70β100 | 45 minβ2 hr |
Currency and connectivity
Skip the airport exchange counters β the worst rates around. Use a no-foreign-transaction-fee card for purchases and ATM withdrawals, and grab a UK eSIM through Airalo before flying instead of paying carrier roaming rates.
Attraction passes
The London Pass earns its keep at three or more paid attractions a day. For one or two, pay at the door β most of the big museums are free either way.
The free days
- British Museum, Natural History Museum, Science Museum, V&A, National Gallery, Tate Modern, Tate Britain
- Free evensong at Westminster Abbey and St Paulβs
- Sky Garden for free panoramic views
- Borough Market and Camden for free wandering
The full list lives in Visit Londonβs free attractions guide.
Budget dining
| Type | Example | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Fast casual | Pret A Manger, Itsu | Β£6β9 |
| Sit-down, family-friendly | Wagamama, Franco Manca | Β£10β15 a person |
| Supermarket meal deal | Tesco, Sainsburyβs, Boots | Β£3.50β5 |
| Street food | Borough Market stalls | Β£6β10 |
Your exact dates
Dec 3β7 hits the best stretch of December, and the Trafalgar Square tree lighting falls on the 3rd itself. Expect highs near 8Β°C (47Β°F) and lows near 3Β°C (37Β°F) β pack real waterproof layers.
The Core-Community AI-reworked the answer above.
It is 3 people. One 13 year old. One 50 year old. and one 25 year old (me).
We also like west end theatre.
We also have an apple card.
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Personalized for 3 Travelers (13, 25, 50) + West End Lovers
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Group of three, one teen, one theatre habit, and an Apple Card in your pocket. That actually simplifies a few decisions below.
Flights
| Airport | Round-Trip Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| DFW | $812-846 | Mostly direct or one-stop |
| DAL (Love Field) | $611-781 | Often cheaper, usually one connection |
For 3 travelers, price out both airports for the same dates, the DAL savings multiply across three tickets. December remains the cheapest month on this route .
Hotels: Room Configuration Matters Now
With a 13-year-old, most budget hotel rooms cap at 2-3 people, so check βfamily roomβ or βtripleβ availability specifically rather than standard doubles, this is where a serviced apartment or Airbnb often wins outright, one bedroom for the adults, a sofa bed or second room for your teen, plus a kitchen to cut food costs. Same target zones apply: Earlβs Court, Kingβs Cross, Bloomsbury, all near multi-line Tube hubs .
Transport, Now That the Teen Isnβt Free
Your 13-year-old no longer qualifies for free travel, that cutoff is age 11. Hereβs what actually applies:
| Age | Card Needed | Fare | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13-year-old | 11-15 Zip Oyster photocard | Free bus/tram, child-rate PAYG on Tube (Β£1.05 peak / 95p off-peak), 50% off National Rail | |
| 13-year-old (no photocard) | Young Visitor Oyster Discount | Still gets free buses + child-rate Tube fares, easier for a short visit since the Zip card normally needs UK residency paperwork | |
| 25 and 50-year-old | Standard adult Oyster/contactless | Full adult PAYG fares |
For a 4-day visit, the Young Visitor Discount route is simpler than applying for a full Zip photocard, ask at any Tube station ticket office or apply via the TfL site.
West End Theatre, Built for Your Budget
This is where real money gets saved. Four legitimate paths, ranked by reliability:
| Method | Price Range | How It Works | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day seats | Β£20-30 | Released at box office when it opens (~10am), first-come first-served, sometimes excellent seats | |
| Digital lottery | Β£10-25 | Enter via the showβs app or website, winners notified same day or day before, free to enter, nothing lost if you donβt win | |
| Rush tickets | Β£5-30 | Released same-day via apps like TodayTix, usually around 10am | |
| TKTS booth (Leicester Square) | 20-50% off face value | Opens 10am Mon-Sat, 11am Sunday, same-day and next-day stock |
With 3 people, the lottery route is worth entering for every show youβre interested in since it costs nothing to try, and check the TodayTix app daily leading into your trip. Hamilton in particular runs a well-known lottery through a dedicated app.
Apple Card: Youβre Already Set Up Right
Good news, this eliminates one whole line item. Apple Card has zero foreign transaction fees, it runs on the Mastercard network internationally, and currency conversion happens at the standard network rate with no markup added on top. Use it for hotels, restaurants, theatre tickets, and Tube contactless taps directly, no need for a separate travel card. The only thing to flag: pay the statement in full when itβs due, since interest still accrues on carried balances even though thereβs no foreign fee.
Currency & Connectivity
Skip airport exchange counters. Tap the Apple Card directly for contactless Tube fares, it works the same as a UK contactless card at the gate. Grab a UK eSIM via Airalo before flying.
Free Things to Do (Good Filler Around Theatre Nights)
- British Museum, Natural History Museum, Science Museum, V&A, National Gallery, Tate Modern, Tate Britain
- Sky Garden for free panoramic views
- Borough Market and Camden for wandering
- Leicester Square itself doubles as your TKTS stop and a pre-theatre wander
Budget Dining Around Theatre Nights
| Type | Example | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-theatre set menus | Many West End-adjacent restaurants | Fixed 2-3 course, often Β£15-25 |
| Fast casual | Pret A Manger, Itsu | Β£6-9 |
| Sit-down, family-friendly | Wagamama, Franco Manca | Β£10-15/person |
| Supermarket meal deal | Tesco, Sainsburyβs, Boots | Β£3.50-5 |
Covent Garden and Soho, right by most theatres, have strong pre-theatre fixed-menu deals, worth booking the same day you lock a show.
Updated Sequence for Your Group
- Compare DFW vs. DAL fares for 3 tickets, then lock flights
- Search hotel triples/family rooms vs. a one-bedroom apartment with a sofa bed
- Pick 1-2 target West End shows, start checking their lottery/rush ticket policy now
- Get the Young Visitor Oyster Discount sorted for your 13-year-old on arrival
- Use the Apple Card for everything, no backup travel card needed
- Book pre-theatre dinner same-day once a show is confirmed
Three travelers, one teen fare to sort, a theatre habit thatβs actually cheap if you play the lottery/rush game, and a card that removes the currency-fee headache entirely. This trip is more dialed in than most.
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Do you have 1-2 specific West End shows in mind already, or want me to check which shows currently run the best lottery odds for your December dates?
We also plan to go to the North Londom derby, the 13 yr old wants to use his chase debit and the 50 year old has a aa card (credit premium select) and chase credit card.
We also want lounges for cheap or free.
We have AA gold status too.
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Final Cut: Derby Day, Theatre, Lounges, and Card Strategy
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Your Dec 3-7 window happens to contain one of footballβs biggest fixtures. Thatβs not a coincidence you want to waste.
North London Derby: Youβre Already In Luck
Tottenham Hotspur host Arsenal at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday, December 5, 2026, kickoff 15:00, right in the middle of your trip.
| Source | Starting Price | Average Price |
|---|---|---|
| SeatPick | $192 | $501 |
| FanSeats | $225 | β |
| LiveFootballTickets | Β£145 | β |
Buy through a verified resale platform like SeatPick or FanSeats now, derby fixtures sell out fast and prices climb closer to matchday. This is a high-demand, high-tension fixture, so budget for the higher end of that range rather than the floor price.
Lounge Access: Your Cards Already Cover This
Between the three of you, hereβs what actually works, ranked by usefulness:
| Card/Status | Lounge Access | Coverage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chase Sapphire Reserve (50-year-old) | Priority Pass Select, 1,600+ lounges worldwide | Covers cardholder + 2 guests free, meaning all 3 of you on one card | |
| Citi/AAdvantage Executive card (if thatβs the βAA cardβ) | Full Admirals Club membership | Covers cardholder + immediate family including a child under 18, so your 13-year-old rides free on this one too | |
| AA Gold (AAdvantage) status alone |  No complimentary lounge access |
Gold is the entry-level oneworld Ruby tier, it does not unlock Admirals Club or partner lounges on its own, that requires Platinum Pro/Executive Platinum or a paid membership | |
| Chase debit card (13-year-old) | No lounge access | Debit cards donβt carry lounge perks, this is purely a spending card for the trip |
Bottom line: you have two separate free paths into a lounge, the Chase Sapphire Reserve gets all three of you into 1,600+ Priority Pass lounges, and if the βAA premium selectβ card is genuinely the Citi/AAdvantage Executive product, that adds full Admirals Club access at Heathrow too, including the child, since immediate family under 18 rides free with either card. You likely wonβt need to pay for lounge access at all.
At Heathrow specifically, the Admirals Club is on the departure level beyond passport control in Lounge Area H, open 5am-5:30pm.
Card Strategy by Person
| Traveler | Card | Foreign Fee | Best Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| You (25) | Apple Card | None | Everything, tap-to-pay everywhere |
| 50-year-old | Chase credit card + AA card | Check both, most premium travel cards waive this, but confirm on the AA card specifically | Lounge access, big purchases, match tickets |
| 13-year-old | Chase debit (likely Chase First Banking) | Yes, 3% foreign exchange rate adjustment applies on non-USD purchases | Small personal spending only, souvenirs, snacks, not the main payment method |
Since the Chase debit card does carry a 3% international fee, route bigger purchases through the Apple Card or the 50-year-oldβs cards instead, and let the 13-year-old use the debit card only for their own discretionary spending.
Updated Full Sequence
- Lock North London Derby tickets first, this fixture will sell out and prices only rise
- Compare DFW vs. DAL fares for 3 tickets, then book flights
- Search hotel triples or a one-bedroom apartment with a sofa bed for the teen
- Confirm which lounge network the AA card actually belongs to (Citi Executive vs. a different AA co-brand), this changes whether you get full Admirals Club or need to rely on Priority Pass only
- Enter West End lotteries for 1-2 target shows, book the same day you win or grab rush tickets
- Get the Young Visitor Oyster Discount sorted for the 13-year-old
- Default to the Apple Card or premium Chase card for major spend, save the debit card for the kidβs own pocket money
Derby tickets locked, two lounge paths covered for free, and a clear hierarchy on which card pays for what. This trip just got significantly smoother.
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Can you confirm the exact name on the 50-year-oldβs AA card, is it the Citi/AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard specifically? That determines whether you get full Admirals Club family access or just standard AAdvantage benefits.
The AA card is premium select and the chase is a Southwest rapid rewards
And the 13βs debit is high school checking
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Hereβs What Your Actual Cards Get You
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I need to walk back my earlier claim. The 4 Admirals Club Globe Passes belong only to the newer Citi/AAdvantage Globe Mastercard and Citi Strata Elite card, not the Platinum Select. Your Platinum Select card doesnβt include those passes.
The Real Lounge Situation
| Card/Status | Lounge Access | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| Citi/AAdvantage Platinum Select | Free checked bag, preferred boarding, no lounge access included | No complimentary lounge entry |
| Chase Southwest Rapid Rewards | No lounge access at all | Not useful here |
| AA Gold status | No complimentary access, that requires Platinum/Platinum Pro/Executive Platinum on a qualifying international AA or oneworld flight | Not useful here |
| Chase High School Checking debit | No lounge access, debit accounts donβt carry this perk | Not applicable |
Straightforward conclusion: none of your current cards or your AA Gold status unlock a free lounge at Heathrow. Every path forward from here is paid.
Your Paid Options at Heathrow, Ranked by Value
| Option | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| No1 Lounge (Terminal 2 or 3) | Β£34-48 per adult, Β£25 per child | Best value, includes hot food, Wi-Fi, showers, up to 3-hour stay |
| Plaza Premium | Β£40-84 depending on terminal/duration | Widely available across terminals, walk-up or pre-booked |
| Admirals Club one-day pass | $79 or 7,900 AAdvantage miles per adult | Includes up to 3 children free with a paying adult, only relevant if youβre flying AA/oneworld [9][10] |
| Priority Pass single-visit purchase | ~Β£20-24 per person if pre-booked through the app | Cheapest per-head rate if youβre not a member |
Best move for your group of three: pre-book No1 Lounge at whichever terminal youβre departing from, three adults would run roughly Β£102-144 total, cheaper than three individual Admirals Club day passes at $79 each (~Β£190+ total), and your 13-year-old gets the discounted Β£25 child rate rather than a full adult price.
Updated Bottom Line
Skip the idea of βfreeβ lounge access entirely for this trip, none of your cards support it. Book a No1 Lounge slot in advance for your departure terminal once flights are confirmed, prices are lower pre-booked than walk-up, and it comfortably fits all three of you with kid pricing included.
Sometimes the honest answer is βyouβll need to pay for this one,β and pre-booking gets you the best rate when you do.
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The 50 year old is traveling from Denver on united because he lives there. But we are flying on American.
The 50 year old has a United Credit Card but I dont know which one
Hello? Anything to add?
Nothing to add here buddy.
!