Best way to get my Daughter from Luton to Belfast Uni

GlynD

LucianH wrote: »

Thanks for that and that will be a good option once she's there and wants to come home for a bit. The big problem is getting her and all her stuff out there for the first time.

You do have the option of accompanying her in your car to Belfast if you want to do the big ferry journey. The ferry terminal in Belfast is just outside the city centre and very convenient for all the campuses regardless of which uni she's going to. (Presumably Queen's). The University area is awash with decent hotels and parking is reasonably good, even a lot of on-street. If you want to splash out the big city centre hotels are only a couple of minutes drive away. You're lucky in that Belfast is a small city so everything is convenient. You could help her into the Halls of Residence, spend some time exploring the coffee bars and then go to a decent hotel and even see your daughter the next day before setting off for the ferry - which if it's from Queen's is only about a ten minute drive.

LucianH

jammin wrote: »

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.

Thanks, the Dublin route looks atractive - always wanted to visit Dublin so could do an overnighter and make a day of it on the return.

GlynD

LucianH wrote: »

Thanks, the Dublin route looks atractive - always wanted to visit Dublin so could do an overnighter and make a day of it on the return.

The road from Dublin is now mostly motorway, so that's a sensible option too. The motorway takes you right through the centre of Belfast. N1 north, onto the A1, then take M1 (Belfast) at Sprucefield. From Dun Laoghaire about 2 1/2 hours, not counting stops for lunch etc. All very well signposted.

martinthebandit

What is she going to need that wont fit in a large suitcase, or two if you want to go with her for the first time she goes over?

2 hold bags with your flight on easyjet may be the cheapest option

GlynD

LucianH wrote: »

Thanks, the Dublin route looks atractive - always wanted to visit Dublin so could do an overnighter and make a day of it on the return.

If you're going to stop in Dublin I recommend the Gresham in O'Connell street. It's a 4* but you can get it for around £90 a night on hotels.com. The breakfast is absolutely memorable and you couldn't be more central.

LucianH

martinthebandit wrote: »

What is she going to need that wont fit in a large suitcase, or two if you want to go with her for the first time she goes over?

2 hold bags with your flight on easyjet may be the cheapest option

As I've mentioned above:

LucianH wrote: »

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

GlynD

Looks like you're committed to the Holyhead-Dun Laoghaire route then. I'm not 100% sure, never having used that service but it might be possible to get a cabin in which to have a sleep. You're in for a long drive on very busy roads. Perhaps you could even have your daughter stay with you in Dublin and stage the journey that way? Leaving Dublin City centre for a 2 hr journey to Belfast would be delightful given the scenery and historic locations on the way. If you're going to Queen's I'd recommend coming off the M1 at Balmoral (Kennedy Way) and taking the Lisburn Road down to the University area.

snowydogh

Most definitely Holyhead to Dublin - long drive from Luton to Holyhead - but break it up with a few rest stops - one or two longer ones...leaving in plenty of time....

Once in Dublin.. you could stay overnight but it's quite expensive... and it's only an hour and half drive from Dublin to Belfast - mostly motorway the whole way.

Try driving from Blackpool to Heysham (north of Blackpool).. being told ferry was cancelled and a place had been booked for us on the HOlyhead to Dublin - ... all the way back down past blackpool, past Liverpool, the whole north coast of wales and eventually just about made the boat (after near running out of petrol 7miles from the port with only 15mins to go and not a petrol station in sight)...then off the boat in Dublin and the journey up to Belfast.... eek.... basically did a full circle of uk and ireland after we had initially got the boat over to stranraer and down through scotland to get to blackpool lol

DavidHayton

LucianH wrote: »

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.

It's a long way by road and sea from Luton to Belfast: not easy to do it in a day. Also the Irish Sea ferries are not cheap. £400 round trip is typical in the Summer. Plus petrol ... Seriously, I would consider flying with her to Belfast.

But maybe you like road trips and would like to visit Dublin? There are lots of factors to consider aside from which-is-the-cheapest? spreadsheet activity.

If you do decide to fly, consider buying as much as you can in Belfast to cut down on shipping costs ... or have internet retailers deliver it to Belfast.

Best wishes
David

lou49

This might help a bit! We sent a couple of packages to our DS at Uni in Leeds (we are in London) and they are quite good, and reasonable. Have to say for the main move in/out, we drove up with a very full car though and stayed overnight. Bit of a pain and all the stuff is all over the place in the house atm - with DS saying 'I can't put it away, I'm still in transit!):)

http://www.unibaggage.com/