new to family train travel - please help

melb

hi there i was just looking at the possibility of taking me OH and 2 kids 13 and 9 to London for a short break during half term so just googled cheap train tickets to London and looked at the first website I found. I typed in travel from Leeds to KX on Monday 26 oct and return on Thursday 29 oct after 10 am outward and after 1600 return just as a start. I typed in family railcard even though we don't have one and it seemed to say £73 all in which of course is fantastic. So my question is where is best place to buy railcard - it looks like I've just missed out on a couple of offers thru daily Mail and Morrisons (and of course I have the morrisons voucher sat at home). Also are train tickets more or less the same price on all websites for the same journeys? I tried moving the days travelling to sunday to friday and other permutations but the mon to thurs seemed the cheapest. any other tips from seasoned rail travellers. thanks in advance.

dzug1

Train tickets (with very few exceptions) are exactly the same price whatever website you buy them from or indeed at the station.

The exceptions:

thetrainline, qjump and raileasy charge a booking and/or delivery fee - avoid them.

some train companies offer an online discount on some tickets for their own trains only - National Express East Coast are one of them, so for Leeds London book direct with them

Sorry can't help with the discount family railcard question

thefenman

Although I don't use a Family Rail card but a Senior card, my comment would be look at the National Express web site only, they give 10% on-line discount, do not charge for the use of a credit card and will mail the tickets to you free. Also, return before 3:30 to be within the off-peak period.

Buy the card from the station or off the internet at http://www.familyandfriends-railcard.co.uk/. You don't need it till you are actually making the journey.

Above all, do not use The Train Line - in my experience, they don't do anything you can't do yourself.

[Concur with previous comment which was entered while I was typing!]

Livingthedream

Just to add to all the good tip above;

10% discount on Family and friends railcard until 31 December 2009 use code Family10 when you buy online.

Thanx to laurel7172 who posted this on another part of the Forum

melb

thanks for the replies so far. I looked on traineasy (or raileasy) can't remember as it was the first that came up when I googled. It said £74 TOTAL charge but that can't be for all 4 tickets surely?

Livingthedream

Use the NXEC website, you will find;
Leeds to London KX depart 10:40 arrive 13:10 advance single £22.20
London KX to Leeds depart 15:35 arrive 17:56 advance single £22.20

total £44.40 return for 2 adults & 2 children with F&F railcard

There are other train time/fare options available for those days

thefenman

I have just done a check on the National Express web site and the total I get is £27.20 - Yes, TOTAL. Plus the rail card at £26 less 10% - you are quids in.

I selected 10:40 out and 15.35 back

Sorry - missed the fact that there are 2 adults, but otherwise same finding as previous poster.

melb

sorry just resurfaced after work and tea - that's brilliant I'm really tempted. Now just to find a hotel. I won't bother you with that request I've already been doing some research you just send yourself nutty trying to weigh up price v convenience v location v a "bit of luxury"! thanks all very much

AirlieBird

20% off a Family & Friends Railcard - offer ends 14 September
http://www.nationalexpresseastcoast.com/Special-offers/20-off-Family-and-Friends-Railcard/

p00hsticks

Note that the cheapest tickets are often limited in number, so you are best booking them as soon as you see them if possible - they may not still be available nearer the time.

melb

sorry I'm just on the website now buying these fantastically priced tickets but right at the end there is the option to buy the london travelcard and I don't want to mess up my booking by taking ages looking for this elsewhere to find out if I should buy it now. We're staying at premier inn olympia - is it cheaper to buy this travel card now as we shall be going from kings cross to (wherever is nearest this hotel) by tube or will it cost the same when we get there?. I don't know which zone it's in. should we buy the travel ticket now or wait till we get there. I was going to do more research nearer the time about the Oyster card which I've read about on here. thanks