hendrenl

First let my apologize for not understanding what I should be searching or purchasing in regards to train travel. We are 3 adults traveling next week. We arrive in London stay for 4 nights - then train to York for 2 nights - then train to Edinburgh for 5 nights. We will be traveling by train from Edinburgh to St. Andrews round trip 3 days at least. Should I just wait until I get there next week and ask someone what I should be purchasing? Should I be buying a "pass" ? Since we will be on the train multiple days I was hoping someone could give me some input if there is just an all inclusive pass to purchase. The options I see - continue to confuse me ! We are traveling to St Andrews for the golf tournament - I see a golf link 2015 option on Scotrail from Edinburgh- but also understand there may be other options - the bus link in conjunction with the train may be helpful though??
Thanks again for helping a novice - your input is appreciated.

hendrenl

I am not sure I want to be held down to an absolute time for example to get on the train - but maybe that is the only way - book now for exact train and train time. Seems like it leaves no room for changing an itinerary?

dotheboyshall

"The Golf Tournament" - You mean The Open. It'll be a bit busy. The Golflink service will be by far the best option

Of your trips the ones you should buy in advance are London - York and York - Edinburgh. I'd book them now through the Virgin Trains EAST Coast website, the others can be bought on the day as they will cost the same whenever you book them

https://www.virgintrainseastcoast.com/

You could also consider the Sleeper train service assuming you are returning to London

https://www.sleeper.scot/

Or even fly to one of the 6 London airports

PalenQ

You are not traveling enough on trains to merit looking at any BritRail Pass - do like others say and nab discounted way cheaper than walk-up fare tickets online - www.nationalrail.co.uk books all British trains and charges no fee or go directly to the train franchise (27 or so independent train lines or 'franchises' in the U.K. now after privitzation of old British Rail years ago) as dotheboyshall gives for London-York-Edinburgh (though other rail franchises i think operate at least the York London portion.

Edinburgh to St Andrews may be better by bus which is dirt cheap - trains take you to Leuchars - six miles from St Andrews itself with bus connections but buses take you right to the town center directly from Edinburgh- why not stay in lovely St Andrews itself?

Anyway for loads of great info on British trains check www.seat61.com - great info on discounted tickets from this British train guru; www.ricksteves.com and www.budgeteuropetravel.com.

Early bird gets the worm on discounted tickets and read conditions of use as there are often severe cancellation/refund penalties on the cheapest tickets.

janisj

There is no train to St. Andrews - so if it is trains, you'll be taking a bus or taxi about 7 miles from Leuchars to St. Andrews.

So the golflink is really your best option, because it bundles the train and coach.

You have left it VERY late to get discounted long distance tickets (to York and to Edinburgh )

Book ASAP

PalenQ

If you have to pay full fare then if it comes to more than $220 as it may I guess then the 3-consecutive-day BritRail Pass would be cheaper but move as fast as you can and see what fares are - see if you can get a ticket where you can stop off in York - probably not but again I doubt any pass would be cost effective though full fare can be really steep.

hendrenl

Thanks for all the help - does the BritRail Pass cover the combo GolfLink option from Edinburgh to Leuchers/ bus/ to golf course
-- I do not see that it does??

hendrenl

I think the military style time is throwing me off on booking the train too!!! my mind needs to limber up here!!

historytraveler

Have you actually looked at the Nation Rail website and prices ? They will have all the information you need regarding rail pass versus tickets etc.

janisj

>>does the BritRail Pass cover the combo GolfLink option from Edinburgh to Leuchers/ bus/ to golf course<<

I don't know for sure but I seriously doubt it does.

It is a special package for the Open Championship and is a bundled offer between the rail companies and Stagecoach (the bus company). So it may be that (if you have a BR Pass) you'd get to Leuchars but have to pay your own way on the bus (cheap) or taxi (not cheap)

BritRail has nothing to do w/ the train operators. It is simply a company that sells rail passes. Normally a BritRail Pass wouldn't pencil out for the few long distance trips you are taking. However in your case it just <i>might</i>. You have left way too late to get reduced fares and the Open is a big draw. So look at the specific dates for London/York/Edinburgh trains you want to take and compare to the cost of a BR Pass.

hendrenl

I ended up getting 3 adult first class tickets - London to York for total for all 3 - 109.95 pounds. Then from York to Edinburgh for 3 adult first class tickets total - it was 158.00 pounds. The time of day on the York to Edinburgh I picked a little more over other options because I was trying to coordinate it with checkout time in York and arrival time in Edinburgh. If we arrived earlier in York we would either have to wait or pay early check fee at the greatbase apartment rental.
So not sure if I got a very good train rate or not - but of course I should have planned earlier. !! ....Thanks for pusing me on to getting this done today! I am sure it would have just got worse. I could not tell if it was worth it to buy first class --- but since we do not travel very often at all - I just indulged and splurged and paid the extra. Now I need to figure out the transport to the Open - train bus combo - not sure if there is an advantage to buy it now vs when we get there or not? And I am not sure I understand the message about improvements and repairs in that area....thought it was just within an hour to get from Edinburgh to Leuchers/ then golf course - but it appears it is longer??

hendrenl

Oh and in response to why we did not stay in St. Andrews - once again I did not plan early enough and when we searched for accommodations - they were booked and ultra expensive for something to accommodate 3 adults in the town of St. Andrews - (myself, husband and 24 year old son) -- Plus our son may spend each day watching golf and my husband and I may branch off and do something else. Since our son is an adult - no big deal to let him be footloose on his own. I am hoping the apartment rental is good - I was late to that as well - but read a good report on the Greatbase apartment service in Edinburgh and London Connections in London - So hope that will end up working out well.

If anyone has any must see - must do suggestions for our areas of travel - I would of course greatly appreciate it - ! Of course - I have not planned any must see activities - I just barely got the accommodations and now train complete.

It has been so so long since we have traveled anywhere - our credit card company overnighted us an updated card with a "chip" in it. I read somewhere that we had to use a card with a "chip" in it for it to work.

London 4 days
York 2 days
Edinburgh 5 days ( which part of that time will be at golf but not sure how many days yet)

Was wondering if we could just pick one tour to Highlands maybe?? which one to pick - I read rabbies was a good tour company?

Thanks again everyone !

PalenQ

Rabbies tours are highly recommended here by folks who know (I have not taken any tours but just what I often read here) - there are others - several companies but it seems you can't go wrong with Rabbies: https://www.rabbies.com/

If you got three people traveling together the railpass for the 3rd is 50% off what the first two pay - so-called Party Pass. 3rd thru 9th people on same pass pay 50% - kids under 16 get a free pass.

hendrenl

Thanks for the railpass info - maybe next visit ! Does railpass cover first class travel too? Is it worth it to pay for first-class? I saw the benefit of free wifi and food - The photos looked good in first class and coach - but could not really tell the difference very well per the photos. I think I am going to love riding the train - but do not really know since I have not done it before !

hendrenl

I see people saying - just fly - but IDK it seems like riding the train is better than negotiating airports.

PalenQ

and no I am sure without even researching it that a railpass is not valid on the golfing link bus or any other bus save a few buses serving as replacement for rail travel or say air links like Heathrow to Reading and Watford Junction - these used to be valid with a railpass but not sure currently. The Watford Junction bus if still exists may be a great way to go from Heathrow to Watford Junction.

St Albans I think is right by Watford Junction - a fine fine old town with an imposing old town square and famous cathedral. Maybe I'm mixing up locations.

janisj

PQ: It is a different Fodorite staying at Watford Junction. Not at all relevant for hendrenl.

PalenQ

Oops - thanks janis!

PalenQ

- The photos looked good in first class and coach - but could not really tell the difference very well per the photos.>

Well in one second onboard you can tell the HUGE difference between classes in Britain - befitting a class-oriented society if stereotypes are to be believed. Huge difference. Will elaborate more later but even discounted tickets come in first class and may not be much more, especially on weekends, then standard (2nd) class ones.

One Fodor expert recently waxed about all the Champagne she got en route to Scotland - yup often lots of free food and drinks on long-distance trains - zilch on commuter trains where the difference in classes is more negligible.

janisj

PQ: They already bought their train tix.

(The 'expert' was moi -- and while 2nd class is totally fine, 1st is definitely nicer for your long distance trips. Meals, papers, drinks, nicer seats)