I need to be in Manchester & Belfast and Rome this summer. What's the least expensive way to travel 1)between the 2 UK cities & 2) to Rome. There are 5 of us. I'm a bit nervous about driving on the left.

Driving between Belfast and Manchester isn't much of an option since they are on different islands. If you are thinking of renting a car and taking a car ferry, that's probably not the best idea because the rental agencies either won't allow you to take the car on the ferry, or if they do allow it, they will charge a hefty fee. Have you looked at some of the budget airlines, such as Ryan Air or Easy Jet?

You'll almost certainly find flights from Liverpool, Leeds or Blackpool to either of the Belfast airports will be a great deal cheaper than from Manchester. The ferry to Belfast from Birkenhead or Heysham can be about as cheap for a foot passenger as flights - but getting to the ports is a real pain.


There are low cost flights to Rome from Belfast (Easyjet), Liverpool (Ryanair) and Manchester (Jet2)

Check the airport websites for details of operators.

People always seem to head for cheap flights on grounds of cost, but the overnight ferry between Belfast and Birkenhead has a lot to offer. It may be slow but you get, dinner, a cabin and breakfast in the fare. You can get nearly a full day in on the day you sail and a full day on the day you land. You sleep while you're travelling and don't have hotel bills. You can get taxis to the terminals. It's an option worth considering.

Do you have a web site for the ferry?

Mimmel,

http://www.norsemerchant.com/