Help with travel

[emkat]

Hi,

Does anyone go to DLRP from the West of England and which method of travel do you use ? I am currently looking into booking for March next year, but can't seem to find the best method of travel. Ideally the Eurostar, but we are coming from Salisbury and the train to Waterloo is about £100, and won't get back until midnight - not really ideal with a nearly 4 year old Flying is not really an option, as it is more expensive and seems to be a bit of a hassle.

Driving to Ashford seems to be preferable, but how much time to leave ???? The AA suggests a 2hr run, but this is without the M25 in the morning. I'm a bit concerned that if we leave too early we will be sat at Ashford with a fractious child for hours, or we run the risk of missing the train

any thoughts,
em

 

[fatratstew]

We live in Bristol and are going on saturday. We have booked a coach down to London on the National Express. This cost us just £2. Yes, thats not a typo, because we booked the coach early and online we were eligable for a cheap fare called the 'funfare', which costs £1 each.

Eurostar cost around £32 each, each way but leaves at about 9am so we are getting the coach down to London the day before and are staying at a travel inn right next to waterloo international, so we can just hop onto the train the next day. We are leaving Disneyland at 6pm so get back about 10pm.

Hope this helps you.

 

[jillrobinson]

Hi there we're in South Wales and the last twice we have travelled by Eurostar, I won't risk driving up in the morning so we've stayed overnight at Ashford, before and after the trips. (I allow 4 hours with stops, motorway delays etc.) and we've always arrived well within this time. With parking and hotel it does work out expensive though, but I do love the Eurostar, and the Disney Express luggage service is fantastic.

I'd say the only hassle with Eurostar is the security check and this is only because of the amount of clothes you'll be wearing in March. You have to get your baggage, hand luggage, coats etc. onto the conveyor belt to go through xray. It just always seems to be a bit chaotic as people struggle with their clothes, bags, excited kids, but it could just be me.

A word of warning about March - expect it to be very very cold, in 2004 it was absolutely bitterly cold with some snow and sleet. This year we went prepared for the worse but in all fairness I didn't find it too bad, it was fine and the sun shone most days, although I know others who went around the same time weren't so lucky.

We flew from Bristol on our first trip and I couldn't believe how long it took to get to the resort, not helped by a French strike which meant the shuttles weren't running as often as they should, with a 6.45 am flight from Bristol we arrived at the Cheyenne at 3.30 in the afternoon. I wasn't impressed.

Have you looked at Exeter airport ?
Flybe fly into Paris CDG from there, their flights are much cheaper than the British Airways from Bristol.
I'd certainly consider flying from there, I've just priced up a package during October half term and there is £250 difference between Exeter and Bristol departures.

BTW I'm only considering flying because DH doesn't want to go again so soon and I couldn't face navigating the M25 on my own - it scares me.

 

[emkat]

Thanks for your quick replies

I'm probably going to try going the night before and staying overnight in a Travelodge - found one for £15 !

Is March cold ?? I'm in denial, and believe that it will be a very unseasonal heatwave

em

 

[Cyrano]

Is March cold ?? I'm in denial, and believe that it will be a very unseasonal heatwave

em

You can live and hope, but don't bet to much