Best way to get my Daughter from Luton to Belfast Uni

LucianH

Not sure where best to place this question. I wouldn't class it as "Home and Play" since it's a real necessity but I can't see a better forum.

My daughter starts at Uni in Belfast this year and we live near Luton. What I would like to know has anybody investigated the best (and cheapest) way to "ship" her and all her stuff for the first time (once she's established herself then it's good ol' Easyjet).

So the sort of options I can think of are:

o Go by ferry
- Which ports are the best ones to go for?
- How long is the journey going to take?
- Are the ferry times such that it can be done in a day?
o Ship her stuff in packing crates and use a shipping firm

Any other ideas?

If there's a better place to post this question then I would appreciate some pointers.

jammin_2

Coming from Luton, I would go Holyhead to Dublin / Dun Laoghaire with either Stenaline or Irish Ferries. Tesco Clubcard vouchers can be used to pay or part-pay for tickets.

Luton to Holyhead by car is 4hr 30mins without stops. The fast ferry is 1hr 40mins but the cheaper ones are 3hrs+. Dublin to Belfast is about 1hr 30 mins.

LucianH

jammin wrote: »

Luton to Holyhead by car is 4hr 30mins without stops. The fast ferry is 1hr 40mins but the cheaper ones are 3hrs+. Dublin to Belfast is about 1hr 30 mins.

Thanks for that. As you can probably tell, I've not used ferries before - just one point, why do the cheaper ones take twice as long (older steamboat ferries!?)

duchy

Are you driving her or is this public transport ? It's an awfully long way from Dublin to Belfast though (106 miles) Personally I'd look at the Liverpool to Belfast ferry 8 hours or Stranrar Belfast 2 hours. Going to Dublin then driving 100 miles would be insane !

jammin_2

LucianH wrote: »

Thanks for that. As you can probably tell, I've not used ferries before - just one point, why do the cheaper ones take twice as long (older steamboat ferries!?)

Older, larger ferries. Take longer so don't cost as much. Faster boats are cheaper (more desirable).

duchy wrote: »

It's an awfully long way from Dublin to Belfast though (106 miles)

It's an hour and a half drive. Not really awfully long in comparison to the drive from Luton.

duchy wrote: »

-does Stranrar Larne not run anymore ?

Yes it does, but Luton to Stranraer is a good 7 hour drive, and you'd need to stop at least once.

jammin_2

duchy wrote: »

Personally I'd look at the Liverpool to Belfast ferry 8 hours

8 hours ferry is better than an hour and a half?

duchy wrote: »

or Stranrar Belfast 2 hours.

Hmmm.. from Luton? See above post.

duchy wrote: »

Going to Dublin then driving 100 miles would be insane !

How so?

GlynD

There's a direct flight by Easyjet from Luton to Belfast International (Aldergrove). If you give me five minutes I'll also throw in any flight details to the City Airport (George Best).

GlynD

Yep, as I suspected - BMI Baby from £19.99 http://www.bmibaby.com/bmibaby/flights/home.aspx?bmb_fdlorigin=STN&bmb_fdldestination=BHD

The City Airport is probably most convenient, regardless of which campus she's on. Aldergrove is about 15 miles from the city centre whereas George Best is only about 3.

LucianH

duchy wrote: »

Are you driving her or is this public transport ?

We'll be driving with a car load of stuff (eg, clothes, iPod speakers, shoes, bedding, clothes, kithen stuff, shoes, small TV, clothes, laptop, shoes, printer, and clothes)

GlynD

I believe you can pre-book the Easyjet files in a sort of a "season ticket" style deal. The cost of flights then reduces to pennies. Still got to pay the airport tax though

LucianH

GlynD wrote: »

Yep, as I suspected - BMI Baby from £19.99 http://www.bmibaby.com/bmibaby/flights/home.aspx?bmb_fdlorigin=STN&bmb_fdldestination=BHD

The City Airport is probably most convenient, regardless of which campus she's on. Aldergrove is about 15 miles from the city centre whereas George Best is only about 3.

Thanks for that and that will be a good option once she's there and wants to come home for a bit (as will the easyjet's "season ticket" thing - I'll look into that). The big problem is getting her and all her stuff out there for the first time.