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Married to Night Train
- Location
- Salford, UK
Jay, I've taken the liberty of deleting the duplicates with my modly powers, hope that's ok....
How do I get further a field
- Thread starter old donald
- Start date
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- Location
- The TerrorVortex
I hope I didn't sound too negative - I'd hate to think I put anyone off.
FWIW, I reckon the train is a lot less painful than flying.
But if you can tour on a folder it'd be easier. And the Bike-on-a-coach thing sounds even easier.
FWIW, I reckon the train is a lot less painful than flying.
But if you can tour on a folder it'd be easier. And the Bike-on-a-coach thing sounds even easier.
hubbike
Senior Member
- Location
- Edinburgh, Scotland
give flying a go. it might not be as much hassle as you expect.. or buy a cheap local mtb and hope for the best could be fun for a few weeks!
jay clock
Massive member
- Location
- Hampshire UK
sorry....It sounds like I posted the same thing a few times. I am away and have very poor connection....
I think from many UK destinations it would be really easy and comfortable to take the trains through Germany. For example, get the cheap ferry from Harwich to Hook of Holland. From Holland there are wonderfully cheap and comfortable German City Night Line trains to, for example, Basel and further into Italy. These trains have special cyclists carriages, half bike storage and the other half sleeping compartments for their riders. If you book them wel in advance, they are cheap. These trains give you access to Germany, all of Switzerland, North eastern France, and Northern Italy. There are similar trains direction Prague. All these trains are in the true spirit of real travel.
Willem
Willem
[replying to willem's post]That sounds well worth checking out - my comments on sleepers to Italy were based on the Trenitalia sleepers from Paris - I was wondering whether there might be better alternatives.
I agree that the long distance international trains do have a certain romance (at least in theory!). If there are any other fans of night trains there's a useful site here:
http://www.entrain.ch/nuit.htm
It includes the timetable for the Amsterdam-Milano sleeper - complete with bike pictogram (hurrah!).
http://www.entrain.ch/nuit-amsterdam-milano-09.pdf
I agree that the long distance international trains do have a certain romance (at least in theory!). If there are any other fans of night trains there's a useful site here:
http://www.entrain.ch/nuit.htm
It includes the timetable for the Amsterdam-Milano sleeper - complete with bike pictogram (hurrah!).
http://www.entrain.ch/nuit-amsterdam-milano-09.pdf
When I was looking to take my bike to Denmark (coals to Newcastle?) the Ryanair & EasyJet prices were a tiny fraction of the ferry/train services. I have a secret and very improbable dream that Michael O'Leary will see the greenlight, quit and takeover Eurostar. Paris for a penny? I would certainly be prepared to stand for that!
StuartG said:
Erm right, you can go to Paris for a penny on Ryanair?
You can go to Paris on Eurostar for £29 and your bike goes free - and that's not just the bait-and-switch advertised fare to lure in the suckers, there or plenty of tickets at that price and that's the price you pay. Can anyone remind me what Ryanair charge for carrying bikes?
When I went to Bologna last month the fare from Paris to Bologna was 55€. If I'd been quicker I could have gone for 35€.
Yes there are times when trains and ferries are more expensive, but as with flying, the earlier you book the less you pay.
rich_p - I was posting the link to the Amsterdam sleeper for the OP coming from Hull might be a bit less convenient for others.
Amsterdam is only one of the origins for that train to Milan. You can also catch it from elsewhere, as we sometimes do. From Hook of Holland just take the train to Rotterdam and then Arnhem (I think) where you can board the Milano train at somewthing like 8 pm if I remember. Not so long ago we travelled en famille (two adults two children) from Holland to Basel with four bikes. We slept in a couchette compartment for four both ways, and the fare was just over 400 euro return, including the bikes.
Willem
Willem
old donald
New Member
Some very useful thoughts and dialogue to mull over. It is a little tricky because I want to go further a field, but due to time restrictions I cannot spend too long travelling there and back because that eats into cycling time. Flying may well be the only option - I don't have a folder - an orbit rommany that has served me well (it goes like the clappers with new wheels now).
Anyways - Many thanks for the collective musings - time to start doing some research.....
Anyways - Many thanks for the collective musings - time to start doing some research.....
old donald said:
The timing thing can work in your favour if you use sleeper trains. When I used to go snowboarding I used to travel out on Friday and and arrive Saturday morning, and back Saturday night/Sunday morning; giving me eight days holiday for the price of six.
Leaving Hull Friday lunchtime you could easily be in the south of France bright and early the following morning.
On day trains, the shortest journey time from (say) London to Marseille is six and a bit hours. A lot of France and northern Europe is accessible in a day - and you'd probably devote a day to flying out and back anyway. OK you need to get an early train out of London but cheap flights are also at fairly anti-social hours. (The balance of cost and convenience is obviously going to depend on whether you live close to an airport or far away from St Pancras).
You can also consider the extra travelling time as part of the holiday - I think of it as decompression time. Lunch in a bistrot, and a walk beside the Seine - definitely better than lunch at the airport and walking around the airport shops.
You definitely don't need a folder. Worst case you'll need to put your bike in a bag.
Arch
Married to Night Train
- Location
- Salford, UK
andym said:
At least for us up here in Yorkshire, the East Coast Main line comes into King's Cross - across the road and you're at the start of the Eurostar.
- Location
- The TerrorVortex
andym said:
'Paris' in Ryanairspeak is Beauvais - about 55 miles away. By that theory, I live in Southend. And Peterborough.
andym said:
Ryanair charge £40 for carrying bikes. Each way.
Add on about £25 in taxes and charges. Each way.
£5 to check in online. Each way.
And another £5 to pay with a card. Each way.
You've not even paid for the flight yet.
Not quite so cheap anymore, are they?
Obviously his comments were slightly tongue in cheek and don't bear analysis but to book a return flight to Venice from Gatwick for £111 including bike and baggage (which I have just done) is pretty good when you consider that the 8.30am flight means I shall be cycling in the Dolomites by mid afternoon.
