I am beginning to research my next trip in May or September 2009.

I live in Minneapolis/St. Paul and can fly directly to London or Paris CDG airport.

What I want to do on this trip is visit Edinburgh (3 days), 5 days in London, 5 days in Paris.

What are my best options for transportation. Fly into London or Paris and how do I get to Edinburgh from London without flying. Or should I fly MSP to London and immediately fly on to Edinburgh?

What kind of train pass would be workable?

I have read info but just can't figure it all out.

HELP please anyone. Where should I begin?

No train pass will be useful for those trips

www.nationalexpress.com for train info and fares Edinburgh-London - buy your tickets there and get ddeep discounts - wait until London or walkup fares you could literally pay hundred bucks more or so

Eurostar London-Paris (train takes 2 hours better than flying IMO - no hassle like getting to airport, on plane, off, etc. and then getting into town. Eurostar city centre to city centre. www.eurostar.com for ticket prices in Pounds ($2=1 pound roughly and also check fares in US$ thru raileurope.com - i always advise calling BETS www.budgeteuropetravel.com to have them manually search for Eurostar fares - they work thru RailEurope but are so helpful IME and RE does not always show lowest fare so a manual search i recommend - and they don't have some of RE's mailing fees. But check both eurostar.com and US prices as one can be cheaper than the other for no rhyme or reason IMO - and book far in advance to get the cheapest tickets as they are tiered with limited numbers at cheapest rates and you could again spent hundred bucks or more by waiting until just before the train. Can book up to nine months in advance in U.S. and be guaranteed the fare. Not sure about eurostar.com

London to Edinburgh - from £15 by train

Edinburgh to Paris - fly

Paris to London - Eurostar

Or better still arrange your air tickets so you fly into one city and out of one of the others - I'd try to fly into Edinburgh & out of Paris or vice versa

www.eurostar.com
www.nationalexpresseastcoast.com
www,edinburghairport.com

Hi E,

>I live in Minneapolis/St. Paul and can fly directly to London or Paris CDG airport.

Fly to Paris,

See www.whichbudget.com for flights from CDG to Edinburgh.

Take the train to London.

Fly home.

Enjoy your visit.

Ira, so you live in MSP. Nice to know that one of our resident experts is so nearby.

Which city?

Naw you should be so lucky

He is a peanut farmer in Jo_Jah but often seems to go to Larry Craig International Airport for some reason - maybe family there.

Yes, our airport is famous now. Actually have people asking which men's room is it?

eurogals: The " > " indicates ira is quoting you

&gt;&quot;<i>I live in Minneapolis/St. Paul and can fly directly to London or Paris CDG airport.</i>&quot;.

Open jaw is your best bet: Fly into London - train to Edinburgh - fly to Paris - fly home from Paris. Or vise versa.

Flights between London &amp; Edinburgh : BA (Heathrow &amp; Gatwick); bmi (Heathrow); Easyjet (Gatwick, Stansted + Luton which isn't really anywhere near London).

Flights between Edinburgh &amp; Paris : FlyBE, Air France and Easyjet.

The non-budget airlines like BA &amp; bmi are often just as cheap as or cheaper than budget airlines. But with all of them, the earlier you book, the cheaper.

Well don't I feel stupid. Of course, Ira doesn't live in MSP. I thought we could have lunch some day.

I'm at work today and trying to do too many things and well you know the rest. . . by the way I'm married to the boss so I can get by with surfing now and then.

Thanks for all the good tips they are greatly appreciated.

Ira has been known to frequent certain toilet stalls in the airport, however so keep in 'touch' as they say

But does he have a &quot;broad stance&quot;?

Thanks for the question and the helpful responses. I, too, am planning an Edinburgh-London (no Paris) trip during July. So far I have not found any reasonably priced (the eye of the beholder) RT tickets to either Ediinburgh or London. Is 'openjaw' a good idea for just the two? thanks

How many days will you be staying in Edinburgh before returning to London

I would consider the 4-day consecutive BritRail Pass - it could be cheaper than the fares you found?

Or even the flexipass pass for 4 days?

Here's a bit about the pass:

If you will be going up to Edinburgh and back in a 3-day period or 4-day period consider the BritRail Consecutive Day pass:

3-days straight - 1st cl =$305 ($259 if 60 and over)

4-days straight $379 1st cl ($319 is a senior 60 and over

In Standard Class (2nd class)

3-days $199; 4 days $249 ; youth under 26 $159 and $199 respectively

If you are going to be in Scotland longer look at the bit higher price 3-day flexipass (good over a 2-month period - 3 unlimited days of your chosing) - better for folks stopping off like in the Lake District, York, etc.

If you have more than two traveling adults the 3rd thru 9th pay only 50% of what the first two full paying adults do

Kids under 16 accompanying parents get a free pass.

Between Nov and end of Feb all prices are about 20% discounted - the Off-Peak Special

For other pass prices and a whole lot of good info on rail travel in Britain: http://www.budgeteuropetravel.com/id11.html#abcons
and www.ricksteves.com and www.seat61.com

PalQ, I think julian is asking about reasonably priced flights to/from London / Edinburgh from his home - but where is that ?

Caroline - yes indeedy - i was a little slow on the uptake i guess.

Then yes Open Jaw would be the best scenario IF the price of the flight would be about as cheap as a round trip into either Scotland or London - and then either fly or take the train between the two. flying you don't see anything of the country in between and though except for the rather scenic train ride from Edinburgh to Newcastle the scenery is most typical of England if you've never seen England take the train IMO - otherwise you just see airports and two large cities.