While it may not be as exotic, a road trip with friends some where far away (or not) in the UK can be very exciting. It’s one of those things that is really good if you have a group of mates that you haven’t seen in a while so it’s a great opportunity to catch up too. Petrol costs can be split between the group, and the hire of a cottage or a house for a week can be quite cheap. Alternatively you may know someone who has a place in the family that is going spare for a few days, so ask next time you’re home or talking to the parents.
I was dragged along to the cinema the other day as part of a group social and as a compromise had to see a film I didn’t really mind waiting to see when it came out on DVD. Grrrrr indeed but at least I got to see my friends.
Still, going to see a film, a popular pursuit, like this one which was in 3D, can add up. First you have trans to get there and back; then ticket prices which if you are not a student, are about £8, or more for 3D. Then there is food which if you’re a bit of a fatty like me, you won’t be able to resist. A hotdog at my local is about £3, and then you need a drink to wash it down with too. Overall, this experience can be quite the trip indeed, so you’d better hope the film is a good one.
Here are a few tips to save on the film-viewing experience:
- Sneak your own snacks in a handbag/ shoulder bag/backpack. They will check but you can always be thorough and hide a bag of something in a side pocket. If a busy film, then the staff will be very quick and probably quite lax.
- Eat before you go to the cinema to ave craving something later.
- Alternatively, think about all the salt content in that popcorn and what the hotdogs are really made off to put you off completely.
- Always keep your 3D glasses for future visits to prevent having to pay again and again for such a silly purchase.
- If the film does not demand the 3D add-on, see it in traditional 2D; you probably won’t notice the 3D after about 20 mins anyway.
- Orange Wednesdays where you can take a friend for free if you’re on that network.
- A Cineworld monthly card, where for £15 you can see as many films as you wish in a month. A good investment for the Summer blockbuster season.
- Stay at home and watch a film on television. An obvious choice given the amount of digital channels available. Maybe try something you wouldn’t usually watch, like an hilariously bad film on an obscure film channel.
- Similar to above, buy a cheap DVD for £2 from the supermarket which is horrifically bad, and laugh yourself silly.
- Netflix and LoveFilm are increasingly popular over here in the UK and are giving a number of free trials to hook us in to subscribing. There is a wide selection of current films and TV to choose from as well, and with some nifty code-alterations you can access the library for the US as well, through an X-Box set-up (technically, this is still legal).
- Look on YouTube to see if someone has been “kind” enough to upload a full film. It won’t be there for long, so watch it soon and don’t opt to ‘Watch Later’.
- If you’re a student, your campus may have special screenings of films each week, especially if there is some sort of film society. Usually it is free to join or at the most a pound or two. This would be a good way to meet new people as well.
