Llanelli to Gatwick by train. £69 best price?

Happy_saver_4

We need to travel from Llanelli to Gatwick airport then to Travelodge on the 30th Dec.

The lowest price I can find is £69 each , one way. The return date is April 1st and the train ticket sites don't seem able to deal with a booking for more than 3 months ahead.

£138 for the two of us to get to Gatwick by train seems a very high cost - can anybody help us by finding it cheaper? We don't mind time of departure we just need to finish up at the Travelodge after 15:00 on the 30th Dec ready to fly the next day.

richardw

Have you tried split ticketing http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/travel/cheap-train-tickets

Happy_saver_4

richardw wrote: »

Have you tried split ticketing http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/travel/cheap-train-tickets

I've tried a few.
Llanelli - Reading £60;. Llanelli - London £62; Swansea - Reading £59; Swansea - London £61. Then we've still got to get to Gatwick. So, no savings there it seems.

richardw

The colour coded ATOC map on this page http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/tocs_maps/maps/network_rail_maps.html may help, split where the train company changes.

malid

Have you considered taking the coach?
National Express could be cheaper and I guess you won't have to change (the train will have a minimum of one change - Reading).

mad_rich

One-way car rental Swansea-Gatwick is £52 with Alamo:

http://www.alamo.co.uk/Hotdeals/740/uk/aluk_airportconnect

(Get £7 cashback via Quidco)

Petrol would be perhaps £25 on top of that.

Would also have the benefit that you could use it to get to the Travelodge and then to LGW in the morning.

Happy_saver_4

malid wrote: »

Have you considered taking the coach?
National Express could be cheaper and I guess you won't have to change (the train will have a minimum of one change - Reading).

Just been checking that out. If I get a friend to take us to Swansea then the two of us can get to Gatwick for £65, no changes; thru National Express using their 10% promo code. Seems best deal so far.

metrobus

Advance singles with great western start at £14.50 Llanelli/gatwick
but you have to wait until around 9 weeks prior to book.

They are selling these tickets up to 23rd december today so try in 1 week and you will get them for the 30th Dec.

You get the 10:03am from llanelli which gets you to Gatwick at 2:50pm with a change at Paddington over to Victoria(tube) and down to Gatwick.

They send the tickets free of charge and you get them within 2 days or you can nominate a station to pick them up from.

For your return you could book them online when you are away after say feb 1st and arrange to pick them up at gatwick railway station using the ref # they give you when you book online.

Swansea/gatwick on the nat express is a nightmare journey.

Mrs_Ryan

Also - little tip for you - my friend and I stayed at the Travelodge Gatwick in March when we had to be at Redhill the next morning, you can get a National Express branded Hoppa Bus from the airport to the Travelodge, I think it cost £12 return for the 2 of us (£3 each one way) but I've just checked the site - its £3.50 now - cheaper than a taxi, drops you off right at the door and makes regular trips from the hotel to the airport.. makes it easy to link up with the coach. (PS its 12-13 quid in a taxi - the hotel is miles from the airport!)
Hope that helps! Mrs R xx

Happy_saver_4

Mrs_Ryan wrote: »

Also - little tip for you - my friend and I stayed at the Travelodge Gatwick in March when we had to be at Redhill the next morning, you can get a National Express branded Hoppa Bus from the airport to the Travelodge, I think it cost £12 return for the 2 of us (£3 each one way) but I've just checked the site - its £3.50 now - cheaper than a taxi, drops you off right at the door and makes regular trips from the hotel to the airport.. makes it easy to link up with the coach. (PS its 12-13 quid in a taxi - the hotel is miles from the airport!)
Hope that helps! Mrs R xx

Thanks for that very useful info.

Can you tell me if there is anywhere close to this Travelodge to get something to eat in the evening without catching a taxi?

LesD

Mrs_Ryan wrote: »

Also - little tip for you - my friend and I stayed at the Travelodge Gatwick in March when we had to be at Redhill the next morning, you can get a National Express branded Hoppa Bus from the airport to the Travelodge, I think it cost £12 return for the 2 of us (£3 each one way) but I've just checked the site - its £3.50 now - cheaper than a taxi, drops you off right at the door and makes regular trips from the hotel to the airport.. makes it easy to link up with the coach. (PS its 12-13 quid in a taxi - the hotel is miles from the airport!)
Hope that helps! Mrs R xx

The Hoppa is free for over-60s with a bus pass!