I have posted about this on other threads, but I'll through in my .02 since I'm off today.
I did the conversion about 3 years ago. Costed all in about 18000 sterling
yes lad STERLING. So make sure you are commited.
Unfazed comments hold a good bit of truth. So be prepared to bit your tongue and grin and bare it. I did the BGS ground school, Took 6 months of full on study. You've probably read before how over the top it is, its all true so be ready to load alot of useless information into the brain just to have it all come rushing like a burst damn out of your head when you leave the testing center.
Pick your conversion school then you should be able to knock it out in 4 -5 weeks of steady flying. By the way, by this time you should have relocated. I would suggest not coming over on hoilday then finishing it and returning to the US to apply for operators over here, pointless, you need to be in it to win it as they say. I take it you've done some homework on this but if you need more details PM me for anything else.
One final thought, although you have shed loads of time, the time frame it takes is probably at LEAST a year from starting to finishing, and getting that phone call for interview so plan accordingly.