A week away, end of October, no planes...

[Pip]

I pushed the wrong button and it posted before I had finished typing. Sorry about that....

Phew, because that definitely would have made me pack my bags.
At some point in the (near, hopefully) future I want to fly to Berlin, get a train to Hamburg and another train to a deserted bit of some (any) coast

 

[Isambard]

I just threw some random dates in a couple of websites, end of October you can get London-Cologne-Hamburg by train from GBP 125 return.

 

[Pip]

I just threw some random dates in a couple of websites, end of October you can get London-Cologne-Hamburg by train from GBP 125 return.

What websites? Railbookers?

 

[Isambard]

Eurostar.com for London to Cologne and Bahn.de for Cologne-Hamburg.
The latter has an English version, click on International Guests and is THE website for timetables.

 

[AnnO'Neemus]

...I don't like driving in this country, never mind Abroad, and there are certainly lots of trains to Hamburg, changing at Koln. But it did start getting expensive, I am afraid. Like about 300 quid return. Still not bad for how far it is, mind. You can do it by sleeper train, too...

I hired a car in Hannover for about five days for about GBP170
but the petrol was expensive though (well, compared to Qatar where it costs the equivalent of a fiver to fill my tank).

And what's not to like about driving on the autobahn? I put my foot down and did 200kmph...

...and only afterwards converted it to mph

Fun though!

 

[Guineveretoo]

I just threw some random dates in a couple of websites, end of October you can get London-Cologne-Hamburg by train from GBP 125 return.

That's a much better deal than I was able to get

I phoned several companies, and tried it online, too.

I guess it goes down in October.

Trains are fun

 

[AnnO'Neemus]

Both the sleeper trains to Scotland (a number of destinations) and Cornwall (ditto) are great fun (but I love sleeper trains - they can be quite romantic in a cramped bang your head on the ceiling kind of way... - for those who like a lot of laughter in their relationships anyway!!). It's a nice way to go to the Eden project or anywhere else in that area.

There's the overnight boat to Santander from Plymouth - but that is a bit of a faff - would be worth it once you get there - I would highly recommend nearby Bilbao - one of the best "city breaks" I've done. The train and boat to Ireland is nice and the section that goes from Chester to Holyhead is really really really lovely - mostly along the coast on a tiny tiny train.

If you're willing to take Eurostar there are any number of night trains and high speed trains to various destinations in Europe - for example, I was in Alsace at the beginning of June on the "Route de Vin" near Colmar (managed to get a week long INSET there... ) which as the name suggests is a fabulous place and looks like a giant set for Hansel and Gretel. I would also recommend Brittany - Mont St Michel, gallettes, more wine (can you see a theme?).

(I don't know if you are at all interested in cycling - but taking a bicycle, especially if it's a folder, to any of these places opens up lots of options - we've done some great cycling and staying in Gites in northern France, Pas de Calais, which basically involved jumping on the train from Herne Hill down to Dover, hopping on a ferry and then cycling from Calais to some wonderful little places with stunning scenery).

Cycling round the Loire Valley is cool... lots of wine round there too.

 

[ScallyWag II]

If it was earlier in the year than the end of October i would suggest a canal boat holiday, but by then the weather (at least in the UK) will probably be a bit too cold. Some of the Germany train trips sound like they would be fun though!

 

[quimcunx]

Time Out has a book out dedicated to trips not using planes, if that's any help.

 

[Detroit City]

so what did she finally decide on?

 

[editor]

I'd be tempted to get one of those cheapo night sleepers to Scotland, or take a trip to Cornwall/St Ives - we used to go regularly and fond iyt easy enough to get around on public transport (or taking/hiring bikes gives you a lot more freedom).

We've just come back from a walking holiday around the Lake District and had a great time, catching steam trains to Lake Windermere and a narrow gauge line to remote parts.


I definitely fancy getting to Berlin by train too - I'm still nurturing hopes of doing an Offline there, with everyone coming over on an overnight sleeper!

 

[Chairman Meow]

mooch around cafes, see things (not so much scenery - architecture, galleries...), eat nice food, drink in the evenings...
considered ireland but dublin always seems a bit 'brighton' - plus extremely expensive for drinking! must be other irish destinations, though.


care to narrow it down?

Cork, obv.

 

[QueenOfGoths]

Bruges or Ghent for me - both lovely cities, small centres so easy to walk around, great bars and restaurants plus canals, museums, churches, squares and chocolate shops!

 

[ethel]

i'm going to this that week:

http://www.fencerecords.com/gigs.php?gig_id=310

 

[baldrick]

Yeah, why not? You'd go through some nice countyside!

OMG no. It would take a whole day. Going to the Lakes from Brum was torture enough.

I think the sleeper train would be the best bet and then do the trip through Fort William - Mallaig the next day - that's the best bit of the countryside and that way you won't miss it.

 

[Miss-Shelf]

you might get a better eurostar/german rail deal through deutschebann's (sp sorry) english phoneline

I've just come back from greece - we used artesia overnight train from paris to northern italy - that's quite an easy trip and the italian rail staff were funny and a bit bonkers

we had a bit of stop over time in bologna - loads of great places to eat really nice food.
you could also get to rome, florence, milan and venice in a eurostar then one overnight trip

what about south of france too?

I know a friend of a friend who runs a vegetarian b&b somewhere nearish to clemont ferrand - there is a train station in their small town(or course can't find the link now)
here it is:
http://www.3placedesarbres.com/

 

[spanglechick]

well - it's a lovely thread, but it looks like we're going to Barcelona. which no one suggested. so there.

 

[ethel]

i've been to barcelona by train. it was ace.

 

[Isambard]

Barcelona by train is still a possibility for my trip in November then natch onto the South of Spain and by train via a bit of North Africa. But right now it seems more likely to be train from Bangkok to singapore and back.