10/27/2026
⚠️Can I just issue you a warning about Facebook travel groups about London? I have now been kicked off another one, not because I advertise, but because I dared to protect someone who asked an innocent and valid question and got a mob of people attacking them for it.
Not all groups are this way, but the most active and public groups often are if there is not good moderation.
Yesterday, an American on the group I just got kicked off of asked about Thanksgiving in London. That caused a bunch of the usuals to show up and berate her for asking about an American holiday being celebrated in London. I answered her question with a restaurant that has been offering Thanksgiving dinner for over 30 years and then pointed out to the mob that lots of non-British holidays are celebrated in London. Diwali and Eid are just 2 of them.
Somehow, that opened the gates of Hell. I got called a racist more times than I can count. 🤷♀️ Someone also attempted to tag my agency and suggested that they fire or cancel me. Others told me to shut up because I'm American and was a horrible travel agent who knew nothing about London. It raged for hours and then last night, I suspect someone flagged my comment, called it racism and the Admin, without actually adminning, just kicked me off leaving those awful people to wait to attack someone else and then pretend like they are victims. Most of them were anonymous and that is what makes a group really bad.
This group has 47,000 people on it. About 10 are actually helpful (well, 9, now). There are hundreds who just show up to berate and correct people for daring to ask questions they don't like or traveling in a manner they can't afford.
Most London groups should be renamed "Meal Deal and Budget Hotel London". Anyone who asks a different question outside of that level of travel gets attacked. There is little tolerance for asking about private transfers, decent hotels or nice meals. And, heaven help you if you ask about tipping or call Afternoon Tea "High Tea" (which is what North America and Australia call Afternoon Tea). Those things - especially tipping, result in days and days of verbal abuse and fights. Admin just ignores it.
Aside from that, because I'm not asking for any sympathy - this isn't a "Poor Me" post, I would just say that so very much of the information on these groups is poor or inaccurate largely because people suggest what THEY want and like without any real info about what YOU want and like.
I view London much differently than people who live there and haven't actually been to tourist sites in many years. That's my job. I'm always looking at it from the eyes of an American traveler. And, I have the awareness that Americans often travel differently and have different perspectives than people in other countries. What some in a group would call rude and loud is often just Americans being ourselves - we are more extroverted and that's okay as long as we are also respectful.
So, beware of travel groups. They are often just a waste of time. I'm actually glad I got kicked off. I no longer have to worry about the madness. But, thoughts and prayers for people who wander on to that group.
And, if you're wanting to escape a horrible group and come to one that is much quieter but will provide quality answers (and not 179 answers that you have to wade through), comment GROUP and I'll send you the link. It's not my group, but a group I admin and the kind of garbage that goes on in many groups will not be tolerated there. You can stay at Premier Inn or the Ritz and no one is allowed to question your choice and berate you for it.
If you want professional planning help, reach out to me. I have been told by London friends that I know how to visit the city better than they do. www.sendmetolondon.com
