Hi and Welcome,
My answers:
- Post PPL(H) the options are unlimited: go for a lunch flight to a nice restaurant, visit France, flights to Wales, Scotland etc. Summer flights to Europe, visit different airfields etc.
- It is very easy to rent a helicopter and usually it's who books first has the heli. So go for a company that has a few helicopters. If your company only has 1, then it might be difficult to take away the money machine for a weekend.
- Renting from a company where you didn't train is no problem, you just do a check ride of 30-60 mins and you should be good to go (depending on the level of training you received).
G2's aren't as common as Robinson helicopters so that could also reduce your options where to rent. (G2 or Robbo, it's a personal choice, don't want to start a discussion about that)
- Travel around the UK, as easy as by car, just prior to departure you need to book yourself in at the destination. Also good for safety since they search an rescue will look for you if you don't arrive. It's not like in FAA (USA) land where you just fly around and land when and where you want without calling prior to the departure.
How easy is it to go abroad, at the moment also very easy, just file a flight plan (your instructor can show you in 30-60 mins) and off you go. After Brexit, depends what the bright sparks come up with :-(.
- private helicopter world is very sociable but this also depends on you. At any airfield most aviators chat to each other. Some airfield the plank drivers look down to us sky gods ;-).
- Heli clubs, not many heli clubs, usually the company where you train has a club environment which usually is quite good.
There is one good club in the south, organizing fly outs, summer BBQ, share stories/photos, share flights etc.
- If you want to travel, depends how far you want to travel. Don't know the hourly price of a G2 but for example a flight from south UK to North France would take you 3 hours for a return. Let's say 400 x 3h= 1200GBP. Hiring a plane for 1200 pounds possibly gets you 6 hours flight time. A G2 needs fuel after 2-2,5 hour. A plane will do twice that. So it clearly depends on what you want.
Having said that, nothing beats the fun of flying a heli. No plane comes close to that !. Heli's cruise at about 2000ft, planes fly a lot higher, you might as well just look at google maps :-).
Good luck !!