stormygirl

My husband and I will be traveling from London to Bruges for a weekend get away in Sept and i'm wondering if train, ferry or flight is the best option both for expense and time. We'll be leaving Friday after work and returning Sun night. Advice is appreciated!

PalenQ

There are no ferry options that go to Belgium but to Calais and it is arduest to go via public transit from there to Bruges - take the Eurostar train to Lille and then take local trains from there directly to Bruges - the quickest and even cheapest way if you act far enough in advance to get the deep discounted tickets which are sold in very limited numbers and often sell out when they come on the system. Or take the Eurostar to Brussels and use the ABS - All-Belgian-Stations fare to go onto Bruges - longer time-wise but could be the cheapest option. Seriously forget any notion of the ferry. Check out these sites for lots of good dope on Eurostar trains and Belgian trains - www.seat61.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and especially www.eurostar.com for schedules and fares, including the deep discounted but limited in numbers of each train Lesiure fares.

Michael

Looking up Ostende ferry on Google, one discovers that there appears to be a ferry service from Dover and one from Ramsgate.

flanneruk

There are no ferries from Dover to Belgium.

The ferry from Ramsgate to Ostend (the only passenger ferry from SE England to anywhere in Belgium) does not carry foot passengers. But, as long as you avoid travelling Saturdays (when it doesn't run), many people will find driving from parts of London to Bruges the most convenient option, though for 2 it's usually pricier than a deal price on a train or plane, and for most it's likely to take a bit longer

September's not far off, and cheap weekend Eurostar tickets sell fast. It MAY be too late to find a train ticket cheaper than a flight.Though from most central London addresses, the train's far more convenient than a plane, from most of the rest of SE England (including most London suburbs), it's actually easier to drive/train/bus to your nearest airport, fly to Brussels, then train to Bruges via central Brussels. It may also be cheaper at weekends at short notice.

Only you know where you live. So only you can work out which is easier and/or cheaper.

London's far too big to accept (or request) advice on the "best" option from strangers for anything: especially those who retail clippings from Google that have been inaccurate for at least the past half-decade.

Tulips

Sometimes driving is cheaper; there are some excellent fares on Eurotunnel if you go by car. Brugge is an easy drive from Calais, only an hour or so.

chartley

We have done day trips by car to Brugge and Gent while staying near Folkestone and using the channel tunnel. However, you would have to add time for the journey from London, and allow for the fact that continental time is one hour ahead of U.K. time. Your arrival in Brugge would therefore be very late in the evening. Using the ferry would extend your journey time even more.

Assuming you are working in central London, and are leaving work at the end of the afternoon, I would have though that Eurostar to Brussels and local train onwards would be the quickest and most relaxing option. You won't need a car when in Brugge.

Eurostar offer some train+hotel packages which would make booking easy.

Tulips

The hour time difference is the same, whatever the mode of transport. Driving from London to Folkestone on Friday evening would take some time.

If you live or work in the City or east end, consider flying from City Airport to Antwerp; very easy and fast, especially if you have handluggage. Take a taxi to Antwerpen-Berchem station (minutes from the airport), train to Brugge. Though I don't know if there will be a connection by train if you arrive late in the evening. Check www.nmbs.be for train schedules.

On your way back, if you have handluggage, you only need to check in at Antwerp half an hour before your flight.

PalenQ

anyway regards flying - not a good option - train would be quicker and driving as well, presuming you can get on Le shuttle or a boat without a wait in times of affluent travel.

PalenQ

Sorry did not read tulips post and it seems flying in that case is a good option - I was thinking more of from Stansted, Gatwick, etc where it takes time and money to get to airport, etc.

PalenQ

But in any case think of your carbon footprints and take the train as being the best way to reduce your impact - cars and planes are amongst the very worst polluters per passenger. Train thus can be the fastest, cheapest (if act early and can get deep discounted fares) and most envirnomentally friendly.

stormygirl

wow, thanks all for the info! we are in the canary wharf area of london. will research the train options right away as I really don't want a car in Brugges since we wont need it.

janisj

Since you are in Canary Wharf, I'd definitely fly from London City to Antwerp and train to Bruges (see Tulips post)

PalenQ

canary Wharf is probably just as close time-wise to st Pancras station, where Eurostar trains depart than it is to the terminal at London City Airport and you can take a train directly to Bruges, changing at Lille or Brussels (ABS All Belgian Station fare lets you go from any Belgian Station to Bruges within 24 hours of arrival by eurostar in Brussels - does not apply to Lille because it's in France, not Belgium) - so flying you still have to get from airport in Antwerp to train station and pay to go onto Bruges by train.

Unless you save a lot of money it is smarter IMO to take the train and your carbon footprint will be much lower as well though I understand to folks like janis that is not a factor but it would be to me.

PatrickLondon

>>canary Wharf is probably just as close time-wise to st Pancras station, where Eurostar trains depart than it is to the terminal at London City Airport <<

Er, no, actually. 17 minutes by DLR to City Airport: a good half hour or more to St Pancras, whichever route you go. Check-in times and formalities about same at LCY as for Eurostar. What you lose in time Antwerp-Bruges, you would almost certainly gain on the LCY-Antwerp leg, by comparison with St Pancras-Lille.

PalenQ

Patrick - how long does it take to get from Antwerpen airport to the train station? How long is the flight? Is the check-in time more than the 30 minutes required only by Eurostar?

I think the time must be about the same all told and are planes more likely to be late than Eurostars - can you carry enough luggage without extra fees? What exactly is the cost of the plane - Eurostar tickets can be really cheap if you act far enough in advance and with the ABS fare all the way to Bruges at a few extra quid.

And again the carbon footprint - all citizens of the world are responsible for denigrating the atmosphere and little steps do count IMO.

If air were way cheaper then of course but if not and if time is about the same take the train - also more comfy once on board that plane.

PalenQ

Oops I see you have said check in times are about the same - sorry for missing that.

PalenQ

BTW the transfer at Lille is not seemless as you have to transfer from the Lille-Europa (Eurostar arrival station) to Lille-Flandres station, the main domestic Lille station - but to connect is only about a 1/4 mile walk on a dedicated pathway - so easily done and luggage trolleys available to help with luggage.

And I would rather change once as by train - at either Lille or Brussels (same station there, Midi or aka South station) then by plane - change from DLR to City Airport then at Antgwerp Airport to Antwerp Centraal train station (or other train station?) - three changes rather than one by train.

stormygirl

I'm looking at a eurostar city break- 2 train tickets to brussels then up to bruge and a room at the Martin's Relais Oud Huis Amsterdam Hotel Bruges for ₤605 does that sound like a good package price for those of you in the know?

MushroomMom

Carbon footprints are important but it seems belaboring the point gets old fast.

PalenQ

No carbon footprints don't trump everything but if all told the train is as quicker or quicker and is as cheap or cheaper - if you get some of those really cheap advance fares on Eurostar then all things equal it may be the deciding factor. But I agree if flying and bus to train station and train to Bruges is much cheaper or quicker then that is the way to go, as I said above.

I do admit to being a green fanatic however and think we all should try to lower our footprint if possible and if it don't cost us more money - would you not agree?