I need to travel to Cornwall next month, staying 3 or 4 nights midweek. The easiest option is to fly to either Newquay or Plymouth, but the flight costs for 3 people is pretty expensive, plus airport parking and car hire at the other end.
I have been offered use of a car...my 10 year old VW Transporter and 12 year old Defender are not conducive to a long distance relaxed journey.
Any suggestions as to the best route and approximate travelling time( by car)..my cargo is two elderly relatives! Last summer I backpacked the South West Coast Path and travelled home with Virgin trains to Leeds, so this may be another consideration, but might not be too good for the 'oldies' and again I would need car hire at the other end.
|
Michelin says, for your route
tinyurl.com/2bj5la
|
"my cargo is two elderly relatives"
My Dad used to swear by his "Virgin old person's rail card" (or something like that) which seemed to enable him to travel from N Yorkshire to London,/Worcestershire/South Devon and various other distant places to visit friends for about (I gathered!) £2. He gave up using his car - rail was so cheap. Admittedly he/I might have been exaggerating and I can no longer ask him for the details and the "card " may no longer exist - but it might be worth enquiring.
Old people (and you with 2 old people!) might find a few hours on the train less stressful than driving!
Just a thought
--
Phil
|
A senior citizen's Rail Card is £20 (at least once local council, East Riding, offers it for £10). See:
www.senior-railcard.co.uk/default.htm
If your party is prepared to travel by coach then National Express offers large discounts:
www.nationalexpress.com/save/routesixty.cfm
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
What\'s for you won\'t pass you by
|
Don't forget to factor in that Ryanair and BMIBaby have increased their checked baggage fees too, so unless your elderly relatives are willing and able to travel with carry on bags only, its another cost that makes flying less attractive.
That said, the AA route planner estimates you'd be on the road for 7 1/4 hours (M6 then M5 as far as Exeter) - is stopping off along the way for an hour or two to break the journey an option?
|
Yes I would definitely stop off en route for an hour or two...lunch, hearing recovery etc. I have looked closely at rail fares...the least stressful way of travel in my opinion, but the cost/time factor/sherpa duties in car hire/rail transfer is making this option less likely. Air travel now ruled out as too expensive, and have you seen the cost of hotels ..3 single rooms....rant rant. No wonder I rarely use hotels in this country, but on this occasion they are worth it.
|
|
Have you tried laterooms.com for your hotel rooms?
|
|
|
>>have you seen the cost of hotels ..3 single rooms....rant rant.>>
Plenty of keenly price, well run bed and breakfast establishments all over the UK. Some examples of how to find them:
www.bedandbreakfasts.co.uk/
www.visitus.co.uk/
www.bedandbreakfastnationwide.com/
www.bedandbreakfastsguide.com/
We used to use such establishments in Scotland in particular, where there is an extensive and low cost network.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
What\'s for you won\'t pass you by
|
|
|
|
|
|
I used to drive roughly this route about once a month to visit family - Leeds to St Austell. Went M1-M69-M6-M42-M5-A30, leaving on a Friday after work and it would take about 6 hours. Its not a bad route at all, but you'd probably want to factor in a bit of extra time for the extra distance and a few rest breaks.
|
|
You could make the journey part of the holiday, and take an overnight stop. Cheltenham, Bath are two of the nicer places not far of the M-ways.
|
|
|
|
