Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
From
Ireland
, direct rail tickets to Europe via Britain generally include both boat con-
nections, and are available from Irish Railways offices in the Republic ( 1850 366 222,
irishrail.ie
)
,orNorthernIrelandRailwaysintheNorth( 02890666630,
translink.co.uk
).
For rail passes, contacts and other types of discounted rail travel, see
Europe-wide rail
By bus
If you're really watching your pennies, a long-distance bus is often the cheapest option,
although much less comfortable than the train. The main operator is
Eurolines
(
eurolines.co.uk
;
eurolines.ie
)
, which has a network of routes spanning the Continent.
Pricescanbeuptoathirdlessthanbytrain,andtherearemarginallycheaperfaresonmost
services for those under 26, which undercut youth rail rates for the same journey. There's
usually a discount if you buy your ticket in advance, and bigger discounts for journeys
booked a week in advance: as an example, current Eurolines fares from London's Victoria
Coach Station to Paris or Amsterdam start at £25 for a one-way ticket or £46 for a return
bookedatleastsevendaysinadvance,butspecialoffersaresometimesavailable.Connect-
ing services from elsewhere in Great Britain add £15 each way to the price of the ticket.
Eurolines also has
Minipass
return tickets from London to two or more European cities,
valid for ninety days. Alternatively, you might consider their fifteen- or thirty-day passes,
or one of the various passes offered by
Busabout
for their services around the Continent.
By ferry
There are numerous ferry services between Britain and Ireland, and between the British
Isles and the European mainland. Ferries from the southeast of Ireland and the south coast
of England connect with northern France and Spain; those from Kent in southeast England
reach northern France and Belgium; those from Scotland and the east coast and northeast
of England cross the North Sea to Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany and Scandinavia.
