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Post by madamtrashheap on Jul 14, 2007 0:18:59 GMT -5
Welcome to GFE, eparsons! The train route you are seeking will be found on www.trenitalia.com/en/index.html (or www.ferroviedellostato.it/ if you speak Italian). It will take around 5hr30m and might have a few changes, but it goes through some pretty, and not-oft visited, countryside. I have a sneaking suspicion that Eurostar (Italia) has begun servicing this route at some point too, so that will make for a faster journey. Buon viaggio!
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Post by madamtrashheap on Jun 30, 2007 0:48:36 GMT -5
NewTraveller, as you're landing and departing from Gatwick, believe it or not that is actually an advantage in terms of getting into/out of central London. Victoria station (where the Gatwick Express - and regualr trains servicing the airport - comes into is just up the road, literally, from Buckingham Palace, so seeing the changing of the guards, the palace, Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey and then even Green Park, Hyde Park, Piccadilly, Soho, Leicester Square and Covent Garden are all doable. See if you can locate a tourist map of central London, just to get your bearings and an idea of what lies where. But make sure you leave plenty of time to get back to the airport. Again, the train will leave from Victoria Station but getting back to Victoria from wherever your last sightseeing place is will take the time. If you'd like to eat in a pub, may I suggest not the first one you see (which will be the ones right outside Victoria Station). There are better choices that'll you'll go past in your travels. Here is the official site for Gatwick Airport www.gatwickairport.com/ which has some interesting information on the Home page, as well as information on airport facilities. It's not a huge airport compared to say Heathrow, but it still takes time to get between the North and South terminals. Also, here's the link regarding Left Luggage (baggage storage) at the airport www.gatwickairport.com/portal/controller/dispatcher.jsp?CiID=32fb8f106ad52010VgnVCM100000147e120a____&ChID=623a0a4c06b75010VgnVCM10000036821c0a____&Ct=B2C_CT_GENERAL&CtID=448c6a4c7f1b0010VgnVCM200000357e120a____&ChPath=Home%5ELGW%5EAirport+Information%5ENorth+Terminal%5ETerminal+A-Z%5ELeft+Baggage as I don't think you can check in any more than 3 or 4 hours before your flight leaves. (cut and paste the above link, it's too big to hyperlink properly here!) Hope that helps with the planning of "London in 6 hours or less"! ;D
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Post by madamtrashheap on Jun 28, 2007 1:24:01 GMT -5
Ditto on the points the others have made about baggage restrictions - Ryanair are one of the strictest and the first to charge you for 1kg/1lb over the limit. As for travelling from the airport to central London - I'm of the opinion that if there's something (-things) you'd like to see in London town then sitting around an airport for 8 hours is worth the money to escape into the city. However, there are a few points worth considering... PONR's figures for Gatwick are correct (the fastest way into the city from LGW airport is on the Gatwick Express which costs GBP14.90 one way, or rather GBP15.20 for a same-day return ticket) and for Heathrow it will be GBP15.50 one way or GBP29.50 return for a ticket on the Heathrow Express to Paddington station, or buy a One Day Travelcard and take the Tube (underground train) on the Piccadilly Line (dark blue) to the centre of London in around 1hr15mins (to Covent Garden, for example). If you get a Travelcard then you'll save money if you intend to use the Tube to see a few things, but take into consideration that you'll need time to get through Customs (this will vary on which airport, number of staff on duty, planes unloading simultaneously, etc, but allow at least 30mins to be on the safe side), then collect luggage, work out which Terminal your next flight leaves from, sort out what to do with luggage, go into the city (anywhere from 30mins to 1hr30 travel time), getting around, then getting back out to the airport to check in a minimum of 2hours before your flight leaves. You will be able to leave the airport provided there are a few things you observe: - you don't need a visa for the UK (USA passport holders don't) - you can leave your luggage (once upon a time you could, but now with security that's a bit of a contentious issue) or check it in (but check in for international flights is usually max 4hrs before takeoff) - passing through Customs & Immigration you have all of you flight documentation and passports on you to prove you are leaving again that day Plus, depending on the time of day, you may find that you're smack in the middle of rush hour! Not to put you off, but you need to weigh all of this up before you work out if you can afford it to go into the city (time- and money-wise). On the other hand, at least you have overcome the luggage charges situation by changing airlines. ;D Although it's a good point about not taking to much luggage anyway that PONR makes. If you are flying into Stansted and out of another airport, forget seeing London - you'll pass right through it trying to get to the departure airport and will spend a good chunk of time doing just that! Come to think of it, this might work in your favour (the only time Stansted is a good thing! )- but I won't write any more until I know which airport(s) you're flying in to/out of in London.
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Post by madamtrashheap on Jun 14, 2007 21:34:51 GMT -5
As interesting as it is - I say the Post should get the Moderator Chop! ;D
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Post by madamtrashheap on Jun 3, 2007 23:09:24 GMT -5
If you take the TGV to Rennes, it should take around 2hrs15mins plus the extra 90mins or so by bus to Mont St Michel itself from Rennes station (direct). Otherwise, if you feel like taking a super early train (6.30) you could take the TGV to Rennes, then swap to the regional train from Rennes to Pontorson (45mins) which is about 15mins from Mont St Michel and there are busses from there to the island. You'll probably end up spending about the same amount of time on either route. There are other train routes, but these are the quickest AFAIK.
Either way, I'd recommend taking an early train (around 7.30) to make sure you get the most amount of time there without having to cut your trip short to suit bus timetables.
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Post by madamtrashheap on May 30, 2007 23:34:37 GMT -5
sil, have you looked here: www.ot-montsaintmichel.com/acces_gb.htm ? The tides will also affect your access times so have a look at the listings on that site. I believe the best and fastest way to access Mt Saint Michel without a car is by train (not sure of bus services from Paris) then transit with local bus. Hope you make it there - it's worth the journey.
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Post by madamtrashheap on May 27, 2007 18:50:09 GMT -5
prez, as far as I know you can make reservations for trains other than the country you're in, so you'll be able to do this in your country of departure. It's a matter of going to the 'International" travel section in the train station (some tourist information offices also offer this service) and doing it in person. There are various schools of thought as to how much more expensive this is compared to doing it in the country of travel, but as this is not an option for you (and it's not really that much more), I'd suggest simply reserving what you need ahead of time when you have the chance.
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Post by madamtrashheap on May 25, 2007 22:17:50 GMT -5
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Post by madamtrashheap on May 25, 2007 22:14:54 GMT -5
The train Berlin to Prague takes around 4hrs30, and if you wanted to add a stop you could get off at Dresden for a few hours. The train Prague to Munich takes 6 or so hours (on a good run) so you might consider flying on that route, or the night train. Alternatively, you could go Prague, o'night in Plzen then on to Munich.
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Post by madamtrashheap on May 20, 2007 21:40:48 GMT -5
Bingo! WT's suggestion is exactly what I would recommend - convenient and will be affordable too. Odd that you can't find the cheaper Eurostar price considering you're travelling later in the year. Could be because you are looking for a one way ticket on this route which can be more expensive (the €70 might be for return tkts). If that's the case, then the BMI flight WT recommended will be the best choice. Othewise, look at www.brusselsairlines.com (flights from Heathrow and Gatwick) and see if that's any better (they might be cheaper).
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Post by madamtrashheap on May 20, 2007 21:30:19 GMT -5
Poissy is known as the birthplace of Louis IX connection and takes about 30mins to reach on the train from Paris. I'm not sure that I would choose it over, say, Fontainebleau, but that's a personal choice. Any particular reason for choosing Poissy?
If you like Louis IX, in Paris go to see his statue at the Sacre Coeur (the one on the left is Joan of Arc) and the Sainte-Chapelle which was originally built as his own personal chapel (on a sunny day the interior is incredible) and to house the relics which were brought back from the Crusades, including the relics of the Passion of the Christ that are now held in Notre Dame.
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Post by madamtrashheap on May 14, 2007 19:10:27 GMT -5
A note on Ryanair - I think you may find that their luggage restrictions are more severe than other airlines in that they allow 15kg (about 32lbs) of checked luggage and 7kg of hand luggage only. Double check on their website as they may have increased this to 20kg (44lbs), but they will slug you hard for excess baggage if you're over.
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Post by madamtrashheap on Apr 30, 2007 2:47:57 GMT -5
Have you tried either the www.db.de (click the English bit at the top or the Internat. Travellers heading at the top of www.bahn.de ) or www.sbb.ch train sites? There are plenty of trains to choose from each day, you'll just have to change a few times and it's a big part of the day in travel. You'll go through Zurich in most cases. (PS. Munich in German is Muenchen or München and Lucerne is Luzern, but you should be fine in the English version) only 4 more sleeps now ;D Woo-hoo! Enjoy your trip and keep us posted on everything (when you get back is fine!).
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Post by madamtrashheap on Nov 18, 2007 23:16:42 GMT -5
Soz, that's probably me not being specific enough - thanks for the clarification Muvver. I don't have a UK driver's licence so always show my passport (along with most others), but yes, it's a seperate security area at LHR, Gatwick, Edinburgh, et al, rather than a true Immigration area.
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Post by madamtrashheap on Nov 15, 2007 21:08:55 GMT -5
Yep, there is David. Many years ago it used to be a little more lax (driver's license from UK was OK if you forgot your passport!), but now is also subject to the same checks as everywhere else.
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