whats the cheapest?

[bobb1985]

how/what would be the best/cheapest way to get to lille from cardiff and back?
set off - aft 20/02/07
return - aft 21/02/07

[Buenchico]

(Multi-part post):

Cheapest way by rail:
Depart Cardiff 0955. Arrive London 1202. (That's the only train that still has a pre-booked �11 single fare available).

�4 for the tube to Waterloo.

1341 Eurostar to Lille. Arrives 1621. Fare �72.50 single (when purchased, in advance, as part of a return journey).

Return on 1403, 1536, 1741 or 1836 Eurostar service. (Arrival times, respectively, are 1458, 1623, 1827, 1928). Fare �72.50.

�4 tube fare across London.

Any suitable train back to Cardiff. (The pre-booked fare, currently offered on all suitable services is �16).

Cheapest total rail fare = �180

[Buenchico]

There are no suitable flights from Cardiff airport but there are several options available from Bristol. British Airways fly to both Paris and Brussels. Easyjet fly to Paris. SN Brussels Airlines fly to Brussels. (Brussels is nearer to Lille than Paris is. There are rail links from both cities).

The easyJet service to Paris is currently quoted at a total fare of �104.66. (Dep. Bristol 1255, Arr. Paris 1515 / Dep. Paris 1545, Arr Bristol 1605).

SNCF are offering a pre-booked fare of �15 on the 1646 TGV service direct from the airport to Lille. (Arrives 1743). Similarly, they offer �15 on the 1216 return service. (Arrives 1341).

That makes the cost of travelling on the Bristol - Paris flight come out roughly as follows (assuming you drive to the airport and ignoring parking costs):
Petrol about �10 + Flights about �105 + TGV �30 = about �145 by air to Paris

[Buenchico]

SN Brussels Airlines have a flight from Bristol at 1100. (Arrives Brussels at 1310). For the return flight you can choose between a departure at 1540 (arrives Bristol at 1550) or at 2140 (arrives Bristol at 2150). The inclusive fare is �117.70. The 1404 train from the airport arrives at Brussels Midi at 1425, where you can pick up the 1520 TGV to Lille Europe, arriving at 1556.

To get back for the later of the two return flights (which would allow you time to explore the stunningly beautiful city of Lille), you could take the TGV at 1758 from Lille Europe (arriving Brussels Midi at 1833). Then connect with the 1848 train to the airport, arriving at 1908.

TGV services have to be pre-booked. The return fare is �37.

That makes the cost of travelling on the Bristol - Brussels flight come out roughly as follows (assuming you drive to the airport and ignoring parking costs):
Petrol about �10 + Flights about �118 + trains to/from Brussels airport to Brussels Midi, about �10? + TGV �37 = about �175 by air to Brussels

It seems that supporting MUFC will be fairly expensive, however you do it. That is why you're going, isn't it? ;-)

Links:
National Rail (for pre-booking rail travel to London):
http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/
Eurostar:
http://www.eurostar.com/
easyJet:
http://www.easyjet.com/en/book/index.asp
SN Brussels:
http://www.flysn.com/com/home/
SNCF (for booking TGV services):
http://www.sncf.co.uk/

Chris

[Im a BusyBee]

this post is not relevant to me in any way but Buenchico has given such detailed information again, he has helped me many times and never fails to impress. I really dont know how he knows as much as he does!