Short train break to somewhere a bit hot

[19sixtysix]

If you fancy a boat ride instead the ferry to Northen Spain is a relaxing 24hrs. Train to Portsmouth Harbour then Santander or Bilbao. I suspect cheaper than train. You get a cabin.

 

[klang]

If you fancy a boat ride instead the ferry to Northen Spain is a relaxing 24hrs. Train to Portsmouth Harbour then Santander or Bilbao. I suspect cheaper than train. You get a cabin.

I've done that, was great. I love the northern coast of Spain, wonderful landscape and amazing food to be had very cheaply.

 

[Riklet]

This is the site you Eurostar train fans have always wanted. Snap!

Pick AM or PM and youre allocated a few days before I think. So obvs requires a bit of leeway but you can travel CHEAP to Paris and get another ticket from there if necessary.

What about going to Cornwall on the sleeper train btw? It's been refurbished and theres some good cheaper deals.

 

[not-bono-ever]

You’ve set yourself a big task as most would suggest the med or northern Spain and it’s a slog that would eat into your limited time. I am a big fan of le touquet and the Belgian riviera but the weather will be much the same as the U.K. ish.

 

[not-bono-ever]

If you fancy a boat ride instead the ferry to Northen Spain is a relaxing 24hrs. Train to Portsmouth Harbour then Santander or Bilbao. I suspect cheaper than train. You get a cabin.

It is about 500 return for a pair of foot passengers

Yes really

I have been looking into this for a camping holiday in Spain - it’s the thick end of 2k for a summer return with a car if you want a pokey cabin. A few hundred cheaper if you want to doss in an aircraft style seat

 

[ignatious]

Ile de Re is nice at this time of year, before the hordes arrive from Paris. Good beaches and miles of cycle paths to explore the island. Train from Paris to La Rochelle, which is also worth a visit.

 

[Gromit]

This is the site you Eurostar train fans have always wanted. Snap!

Pick AM or PM and youre allocated a few days before I think. So obvs requires a bit of leeway but you can travel CHEAP to Paris and get another ticket from there if necessary.

What about going to Cornwall on the sleeper train btw? It's been refurbished and theres some good cheaper deals.

I've been keeping that quiet and there you go just posting it for everyone to see so that the availability of seats drops.

It is good but doesn't cover all the destinations, just certain ones as and when they decide which ones they want filling.

 

[Bahnhof Strasse]

It is about 500 return for a pair of foot passengers

Yes really

I have been looking into this for a camping holiday in Spain - it’s the thick end of 2k for a summer return with a car if you want a pokey cabin. A few hundred cheaper if you want to doss in an aircraft style seat

Frau Bahn and the baby Bahns are doing this in early August with car, £1256 round trip for the three of them and car, inside cabin. Which is quite reasonable in peak season. The 2 baby Bahns are both under 16 though, which reduces costs a bit.

 

[not-bono-ever]

Yep- my kids are older so no discounts. We were looking at a couple of cabins as well. Inside cabins are cheaper but I get the fear .

 

[Riklet]

Top idea for the ferryboat. Persist - there are def cheaper tickets available.

Cracking weather in June probs... San Sebastian or Santander then some lush beaches and exploring, weather permitting.

I did Santander Plymouth for like 60 quid as a foot passenger in a reclining chair. Takes 20 hours but pretty pleasant overall. Save the money on the boat then get somewhere swankier in Spain when you arrive (obvs not if youve got kids, bit harder)

 

[Sir Belchalot]

Perpignan, you can get a overnight sleeper from Paris then once you're there can travel throughout the Pyrenees Orientales on their 1€ buses.

 

[dessiato]

If you fancy a boat ride instead the ferry to Northen Spain is a relaxing 24hrs. Train to Portsmouth Harbour then Santander or Bilbao. I suspect cheaper than train. You get a cabin.

It is about 500 return for a pair of foot passengers

Yes really

I have been looking into this for a camping holiday in Spain - it’s the thick end of 2k for a summer return with a car if you want a pokey cabin. A few hundred cheaper if you want to doss in an aircraft style seat

I do this every summer, car and four berth cabin for the additional space. I have never paid more than €800 return.

Also, if you don't want to have the mini-cruise there's an économie ferry. You don't have the restaurant, there is only a cafeteria, you don't get all the "entertainment", whale/dolphin watch or outdoor pool, but it does the job. It's comfortable and in my experience it's clean.

 

[editor]

If you fancy a boat ride instead the ferry to Northen Spain is a relaxing 24hrs. Train to Portsmouth Harbour then Santander or Bilbao. I suspect cheaper than train. You get a cabin.

I can't relax on slow moving things that keep me captive for 24 hours. It's my idea of hell.

 

[cybershot]

The post below is mainly UK legs, but there is a Eurostar entry for return services to France and Belgium from £53.

[Megathread] All current UK rail offers, tips & vouchers! - hotukdeals

 

[kalidarkone]

This is the site you Eurostar train fans have always wanted. Snap!

Pick AM or PM and youre allocated a few days before I think. So obvs requires a bit of leeway but you can travel CHEAP to Paris and get another ticket from there if necessary.

What about going to Cornwall on the sleeper train btw? It's been refurbished and theres some good cheaper deals.

What about that above then getting a boat to the Isle of Scilly?

 

[Crispy]

My folks went to the Scilly Isles last year and it looked spectacular. You have to be lucky with the weather though.

 

[circleline]

If you fancy a boat ride instead the ferry to Northen Spain is a relaxing 24hrs. Train to Portsmouth Harbour then Santander or Bilbao. I suspect cheaper than train. You get a cabin.

Love that there is a swimming pool on the ferry. Although, I remember now that the old Sheerness-Vlissengen ferry did indeed have a pool. (Blimey, those were the days; makes me want to weep how the fun has just been sucked out of everything these modern days. )

 

[19sixtysix]

I do this every summer, car and four berth cabin for the additional space. I have never paid more than €800 return.

Also, if you don't want to have the mini-cruise there's an économie ferry. You don't have the restaurant, there is only a cafeteria, you don't get all the "entertainment", whale/dolphin watch or outdoor pool, but it does the job. It's comfortable and in my experience it's clean.

I did the economie boat. It was lovely. Just transport, a sun deck and a book. The cabin was clean and I slept well.

 

[19sixtysix]

I can't relax on slow moving things that keep me captive for 24 hours. It's my idea of hell.

Sounds like you need to slow down and properly relax. Sea travel is good for the soul.

 

[editor]

Sounds like you need to slow down and properly relax. Sea travel is good for the soul.

I'm just fine thanks and can 'properly relax' in all sorts of ways. But being stuck on a boat is not one of them.

 

[cheesethief]

Sounds like you need to slow down and properly relax. Sea travel is good for the soul.

On a ferry to Spain? The English channel is interminably dull once you're away from the coast & being surrounded by annoying holiday makers with no escape is tortuous. I suppose one could get pissed in the bar, get seasick in the cinema & while away a few hours vomiting over the side.

 

[dessiato]

On a ferry to Spain? The English channel is interminably dull once you're away from the coast & being surrounded by annoying holiday makers with no escape is tortuous. I suppose one could get pissed in the bar, get seasick in the cinema & while away a few hours vomiting over the side.

If I'm in an ordinary cabin I prefer inside. There's no natural light so you just sleep, wake up and eat, then go back to sleep. The piss heads are not people I want to be around.

If I go for a better cabin I get one with TV and dvd so I can sleep, watch films, and eat.

Suits me.

 

[DJWrongspeed]

I recommend Marseille. I did London-Marseille in 1 day on Eurostar-TGV, get earliest train possible, lunch in a nice Parisian market near the ornate Gare du Lyon. Arriving at Gare de Saint Charles in Marseille is one of the best entrances to a city in the world. You walk out of the station and are about 10 mins walk to the old port.

I think I've recommend this on Urb75 about twice already

 

[kabbes]

I get on the Eurostar at Ebbsfleet. That’s a breeze — hardly any queuing at all. But you do have to get to Ebbsfleet (which is easier than getting to St Pancras for me, but not if you already live in London, clearly!)

 

[8115]

Cornwall. Sorry. But it's busy as. I'd go for Eastbourn or Bournmouth or take a leaf out of gentlegreen s book and head for Normandy/ Brittany or the North East of France. This summer you're probably going to be lucky with the weather.

 

[8115]

Plus train in North France East or West? Maximum adventure.

 

[Riklet]

Prices like that Marseille has to be the easiest cheapest and most likely to satisfy with sunshine. Even last min there are decent deals.

Still cant get over the fact the miserable cunts make you buy a Paris metro ticket though. The nerve!

 

[hash tag]

I'd sooner go to Avignon. Still south of France, one train, non stop and bit of culture and history

 

[mx wcfc]

I'd sooner go to Avignon. Still south of France, one train, non stop and bit of culture and history

Yeah, Avignon is on my list of places we can go without flying.

 

[hash tag]

There was a lot on interailling in yesterday's paper which may give ideas if nothing else.
one link out of several Five great Interrail itineraries across Europe