How to plan a cash-saving trip to Europe by taking trains and coaches
HAVE you been inspired to avoid plane travel by hit show Race Across The World?
Taking a train or coach can be a romantic adventure, and save you stacks of cash.
Here are some ideas on how to plan a trip into Europe by rail and road . . .
COACH: Travelling by coach is cheap and fuss-free compared to by plane.
Come prepared with drinks and snacks — plus a travel pillow to help you sleep.
FlixBus picks up from cities across the UK, including Glasgow, Swansea, Plymouth, and London, and heads to most top destinations in Europe. International buses tend to leave from London, so you’ll need to transfer unless you start your journey in the capital.
From London direct to Amsterdam and Brussels, I found one-way tickets from £25.99pp, or Paris from £29.99pp.
Book further in advance and travel at less popular times to bag the best prices.
Omio.co.uk/coaches lets you compare European coach operators and coach against plane and train routes.
EUROSTAR: Eurostar travels direct from London and Ashford in Kent to destinations including Amsterdam, Lille, Paris, Brussels and Disneyland Paris.
You can get good value tickets by booking a few weeks in advance.
Best-price tickets from London to Paris for the summer are currently £39 one way.
But Eurostar also periodically offers flash sales with tickets for £29 one way.
Sign up to its mailing list to be notified when these go live.
RAIL: If you want to travel further into Europe, plan routes and buy tickets at thetrainline.com.
But if you’re travelling in one individual country, check if you can get a better price through the country’s rail operator.
France’s state-owned SNCF has national and regional special offers at bit.ly/3L62Q4k.
It’s all in English too.
For example, a family day pass for two adults and two children to make an unlimited number of stops through the French Riviera is £31 (35 euros).
- All prices on page correct at time of going to press. Deals and offers subject to availability
Deal of the day
THIS jumper has a bright spring look and will keep away the chills.
It’s down from £23 to £11.50 in the sale at Matalan.
SAVE: £11.50
Cheap treat
KEEP your favourite snacks handy in this dishwasher-safe box, £1.50, Flying Tiger.
What's new?
START your morning with one of the new Naked breakfast smoothies, including pineapple & passionfruit flavour, £2.10, at Tesco.
Top swap
COMPLETE and hold your make-up with BareMinerals Mineral Veil setting powder, £25, from Boots.
Or try Primark’s Loose Mineral Powder, £2.
SAVE: £23
Leah's little helper
IS your partner a noisy sleeper?
For a better night’s kip try giving them the Silentnight anti-snore pillow, £12, from Argos.
Shop & save
HOME baking is a piece of cake with Betty Crocker chocolate fudge brownie mix, on offer for £2.50, down from £3, at Asda.
SAVE: 50p
Hot right now
CLEAN up with selected Comfort, Persil and Surf washing products now half price at Tesco.
PLAY NOW TO WIN £200
JOIN thousands of readers taking part in The Sun Raffle.
Every month we’re giving away £100 to 250 lucky readers – whether you’re saving up or just in need of some extra cash, The Sun could have you covered.
Every Sun Savers code entered equals one Raffle ticket.
The more codes you enter, the more tickets you’ll earn and the more chance you will have of winning!