help please on a train fare!

i-luv-free-stuff

is anybody at wizz at fiding cheap fares and able to figure out the cheapest way to make a journey? its coming up so expensive when i search.
i need to be at gatwick on 11 march traveling from manchester preferably but can go from anywhere within 50-60 miles i suppose and returning around 18.00 on he 13th
i think the manchestr option isnt happening as it showing £189 for a single!!!!

wealdroam

As you haven't given the time of day of your outward journey, it is difficult to give precise figures.

No idea where the £189 comes from, but if you need to leave Manchester before 09:30, then an Anytime Single is £182.50.

If you can possible leave Manchester after 09:30am, then an Off Peak Return is 'only' £87.90.
That would be valid on any returning train on the evening of 13 March.

If you need to leave before 09:30, there are still Advance Singles available at £43 leaving Manc at 08:55 and 09:15 arriving Gatwick at 12:18 and 12:40 respectively.

Travelling 60miles from Manchester opens up too many opportunities to look into.
Maybe look at fares from Stoke on Trent and Sheffield.

Have you thought about flying?
From £121-ish return with Flybe... look at Expedia etc.

i-luv-free-stuff

hi sorry weald i need to be at gatwick around 10am ish

jbuchanangb

by far your best bet is to go down the night before and stay in a cheap hotel. Your rail fare can be £87.50 return, whereas if you have to travel down on the morning of the 11th you'll pay over £200. Gatwick Travel Lodge about £40 per night

The_ICT_Engineer

Have a look at /http://www.trainscanbecheaper.info/cheapestroute.aspx ,
the cheapest walk on spit ticket that came up was £52.80 return

Ticket Details
http://www.trainscanbecheaper.info/cheapestroute.aspx?sessionID=0&Origin=MAN&Dest=GTW&Avoid=HDLWFH&rest=&AvoidRoutes=&Select=Month

i-luv-free-stuff

jbuchanangb wrote: »

by far your best bet is to go down the night before and stay in a cheap hotel. Your rail fare can be £87.50 return, whereas if you have to travel down on the morning of the 11th you'll pay over £200. Gatwick Travel Lodge about £40 per night

not possible night before unfortunatly
but cheers

i-luv-free-stuff

The_ICT_Engineer wrote: »

Have a look at /http://www.trainscanbecheaper.info/cheapestroute.aspx ,
the cheapest walk on spit ticket that came up was £52.80 return

Ticket Details
http://www.trainscanbecheaper.info/cheapestroute.aspx?sessionID=0&Origin=MAN&Dest=GTW&Avoid=HDLWFH&rest=&AvoidRoutes=&Select=Month

great site.
need a bit of persistence but it could be very useful!

dzug1

i-luv-free-stuff wrote: »

not possible night before unfortunatly
but cheers

Is the overnight coach - megabus or National Express - a possibility?

yorkie2

Note that the website mentioned in posts 5 and 7 above is not being maintained by the developer any more; don't rely on it being accurate!


A split ticket booking site will follow shortly.

i-luv-free-stuff

dzug1 wrote: »

Is the overnight coach - megabus or National Express - a possibility?

not really
i need to go that morning

jbuchanangb

OK, Morning fares are always going to be expensive.

But there are still some Advance purchase fares available. you need to book into London and then out again. 6.10am or 6.35am or 6.43am Manchester Piccadilly to London £116, and then 9.32am Victoria to Gatwick £10, gets you down to £126 instead of £182.50 going down. If those times don't suit you exactly try tweaking about a bit.

I found the Manchester to London fare on the London Midland website, even though it is a journey with Virgin Trains, and the Victoria to Gatwick was on the Southern Railway web site..

The return leg is available easily at £43.95 booked straight through.