Genesea

Greetings Fodorites ...<BR><BR>I'm need your expert advice! I've done some research, but I haven't found the answers I'm looking for ... and if Ben Haines is out there, I would appreciate his advice as well. But here is the scoop:<BR><BR>My friends and I are finishing up studying in the south of France in the end of April. Before some of us fly out of Paris and London (me), we want to visit Scotland and Ireland. One of my friends has about 9 days or travel, and I need to change my flight day home, so I really don't when I'm flying out of London .. <BR><BR>I was thinking maybe the easiest is visiting Ireland first, so I've checked Ryan Air and round trip tickets from London to Dublin are about 100 euros .. I thought this was kinda expensive. <BR><BR>Then I was thinking maybe we should get a BritRail pass (current off season price is $146 for 4 days of train travel in 2 months) for fast travel through Britain (since I'm also supposed to visit from friends in Bristol!) and Scotland and take a ferry to Ireland.<BR><BR>Another friend who traveled through there suggested getting a student discount card and taking the buses instead of the BritRail and flying into Dublin first and taking the ferry to Scotland.<BR><BR>The other option is that I could start out in Bristol and go from there ..<BR><BR>There seem to be too many options, and I need some people to help sort this all out. <BR><BR>Thanks a bunch!<BR><BR>Genesea

AnnaC

I'm not sure I'm going to help you much as I'm just going to suggest some more options!<BR><BR>Try looking at easyjet for flights to Dublin, too, and British Midland. You should definitely be able to get flights cheaper than 100 euros.<BR><BR>There's also the option of getting around by coach. I don't know how costs compare with a BritRail pass, but National Express coaches are usually cheaper than rail fares, so it's worth checking out if they do any pass type offers too.

Siobhan

A cheap fun way to get around would be the paddywagon from dublin it as a 3 or see the highlands and and the same is a

Siobhan

Sorry about that!<BR><BR>Check out the Paddywagon tour from bublin 3-7 day trips and I saw a similar one called haggis ? tour. Geared for students and you stay in Hostels. The SCottish one goes to the highland I believe and the Irish one has 2 or 3 different options taking in different sights. Busses are cheap in Ireland but can be a longer trip. Use your student car for transport discounts!

Sheila

Genesea, let me confuse the issue further. I don't know what price the French trains are in the big scheme of things, but you might consider taking the ferry direct from Roscoff to Cork. Then (if I were you) I'd do the Paddywagon option, and either get the train or the bus to Belfast and get the ferry to Stranraer. You could fly, but it won't be as much time. <BR><BR>There are Sottish equivalents of Paddy Wagon- Haggis Backpackers or Rabbies Trailburners for two and that strikes me as being the best deal.<BR><BR>You _could_ take Ryan air from Dublin to Aberdeen, and if you do I'd be delighted to show you round this area.