going to Holland

UKroseblue

Hi am taking my daughter and 2 friends (all 12/13 yrs) to Duinrell in Holland via Keycamp in April. I was going to drive and have ferry booked etc but now the cars playing up a bit and i'm not confident about taking it, plus i'd like time with the kids rather than driving for 7 hours so have looked into other ways to get there. I'd also like to save money if i can. We live on the Isle of Wight so i have to budget £70.00 just to get off the island in the car, breakdown cover for £30.00, and petrol there and back which will be at least £100 i reckon, so i'm looking at £200.00 at least, plus if i take the car i'll need to get it serviced which is another £80.00 and i think the clutch is playing up so will need that looked at too!!

We can take the coach to The Hague and then a bus or taxi and this'll cost £220 from London for all of us. I can get to London for £65 for all of us with a railcard so for about £300.00 i can get us there and back, spend time with the kids and have a bit of an adventure with more time in Holland as we'll travel overnight both ways.

What i'd like to know is, does anyone know of any cheaper ways to get there, know any Eurolines promotions or discount codes that can be used 11/4/08-16/04/08 (yep, schoolhols!!) or just have any useful tips?

thanks in advance.

Voyager2002

A slightly cheaper and more pleasant way to travel is:
http://www.stenaline.co.uk/ferry/rail-and-sail/holland/

For 25 pounds per person in each direction, you get a combined train and ferry ticket from London to any station in Holland. You will have to spend the best part of a day on the boat, but to my mind that is far more fun and comfortable then being cooped up in a bus all the way. And you do need to begin the journey early in the morning to catch the daytime sailing. Alternatively, you can travel overnight and sleep in a cabin on the boat, but for that you have to pay rather more.

UKroseblue

Hi Voyager 2002,

Thanks for the tip, i have looked at that option but i suffer a bit from sea sickness (and there's me living on an island!) and am terrified that we'll get a crappy day with the weather - i think (although it was a while ago) that I booked via dover-calais for that very reason! I agree a longer boat trip would be better than a long coach ride and if it was significantly cheaper i might have considered it and taken loads of pills:rolleyes:

I think i'd still prefer the coach over self drive though so am still hoping anyone has some pointers re: discounts/offers?

thanks very much anyway.

arthur_dent_2

I have just been on the Hull - Rotterdam minicruise and was petrified of being sea sick, but the journey was really good despite the stoms being the most violent of the year to date.