How to holiday in the UKTransport

When it comes to travelling around the UK, are you paying over the odds taking the train when you could find a better fare and travel by plane or coach? We have found in the past that, on the whole, travelling by train was the most expensive way to get around. 

When we wanted to go from London to Glasgow for our March 2007 issue, the cheapest rail tickets advertised were frustratingly unavailable – even seven weeks in advance! In addition, the range of tickets advertised was complex and confusing, although, in the end, Super Advance and Saver tickets were almost invariably the best options. 

Visiting London? Get an Oyster card and save a few extra pounds

Had the advertised fares been available, then travelling by train would have been the cheapest mode of transport. As we were unable to buy them, coach travel proved to be the cheapest – although it was the most time-consuming option. 

Travelling by air is obviously the quickest way to get about (even including check-in times) and extremely competitive fares are widely available. However, you’ll need to factor in any extra costs and times of travel to the airport, as well as considering the environmental impact of choosing air travel for relatively short journeys.

By plane

PROS

• By far the quickest way to travel on longer journeys
• Flights can be very competitively priced, especially if you book well in advance

CONS

• May be check-in queues
• It may be expensive to get to the airport; if you travel by car, you’ll need to pay for an airport car park
• If you live far from an airport this is added journey time
• Increased check-in and security measures adds more time to the journey
• Luggage allowance is restricted and some airlines charge you to put your bags in the hold
• Environmentally unfriendly

Which? Holiday tips for flying

If you can, be flexible when it comes to departure times this can mean great savings on flights.

When comparing the costs of flights, try using a flight comparison website such as www.skyscnner.net, www.traveljungle.co.uk or www.travelsupermarket.com. These look for the best prices from a range of airlines.

Domestic flights generally are more expensive than taking the train, but the price difference isn’t as big as you might think. Booking a flight in May 2008 between Norwich and Manchester, leaving on a Friday evening and returning on a Sunday, cost £98 including taxes with Flybe (www.flybe.com). This is only £3 more than a return journey by train (www.thetrainline.com)

By train

PROS

• The most environmentally friendly form of transport
• The train will usually take you into the city centre
• You can get up to stretch your legs whenever you like
• The cheapest fares on offer are very competitive

CONS

• Often the most expensive form of public transport
• The cheapest fares are very difficult to obtain
• Luggage space may be limited and is not very secure unless you keep it to hand
• You need a reservation to be guaranteed a seat

When Which? investigated rail fares last October (2007) we found huge differences in the prices charged for similar journeys. Our research also found that National Rail Enquiries telephone helpline and station staff generally offered poor advice and frequently failed to give us the cheapest fares available. To get the best deals, book your tickets as far in advance as possible and avoid peak times (7-9am and 4-7pm on some journeys). It is also worth buying a railcard (www.railcard.co.uk) if you travel frequently, as this will save a third on most tickets.

Which? Holiday tips on train travel

Train timetables are set 12 weeks in advance. This is the best time to try to obtain cheap tickets. Avoid buying a rail ticket on the date of travel as these are often the most expensive fares. Also if possible, avoid travelling at peak times.

Buying two singles can often be cheaper than buying a return. However, availability is limited and sometimes you can only travel during anti-social hours. Most train fare websites offer you a return ticket as standard if you are making a return journey. However, in many instances, booking two single tickets could provide a substantial saving. 

A ‘saver return’ ticket from Southampton to Cardiff over a weekend, for instance, costs £35, but two singles for the same trip would save you more than £20, as they cost just £7 each way.

If you have a railcard, check whether it can be used with the ticket you would like to buy.

A free BiTe discount card offers a 20% saving on food and drink at train stations countrywide. To subscribe, visit www.bitecard.co.uk.

Discounted fares are usually cheaper when purchased through a train company’s website. Availability of these offers is limited so the further ahead you book, the better your chances of purchasing a cheaper ticket.

For cheap rail fares on South West Trains and East Midland Trains, take a look at www.megatrain.com.

Which? Holiday tips if you’re visiting London

If you’re visiting London for a long weekend, consider using an Oyster card to make sure you don’t pay over the odds for public transport. Oyster is a ‘smartcard’ which stores pre-paid cash and can be used for travel on tubes, buses, trams and some trains. You order the card online, on the phone or at one of over 2200 outlets in London (all require a £3 deposit), then top it up.

Every time you make a journey, the journey cost is deducted from the amount loaded onto the card. It’s quick, convenient and cheaper than paying cash fares. For example, on the tube, a single off-peak cash fare in zones 1-2 costs £4, but only £1.50 with a pre-paid Oyster card. In addition, Oyster caps the price of your travel at less than the cost of an equivalent adult day Travelcard.

For more info, visit www.tfl.gov.uk/oyster, or call the Oyster helpline on 0845 330 9876.

By coach/bus

PROS

• Usually the cheapest form of public transport
• You don’t need to book weeks and weeks in advance to get cheap tickets
• The coach will usually take you into the city centre
• More environmentally friendly than air travel

CONS

• It’s the most time-consuming form of public transport
• Coach transfers may require long waiting times
• Sitting in the same seat for long periods of time can be very uncomfortable
• Limited luggage space

Which? Holiday tips on the road

In Scotland and Wales, anyone over 60 gets free bus travel, in England they are entitled to free nationwide off-peak travel.

In Northern Ireland, over 65s can get a pass for free travel on buses and trains. If you travel by train, a senior railcard costs £20 and gives you a third off most fares in Great Britain.

Megabus (www.megabus.com) offers cheap coach fares to a wide range of UK destinations.

Which? Holiday money saving tips 

A fuller tank
The comparison website www.petrolprices.com is a useful tool if you want to search for the cheapest petrol prices in your area. A quick search for petrol in Leeds showed a 5p a litre difference on unleaded petrol between the cheapest and dearest garages. For super unleaded and diesel the difference was 14p and 7p respectively.

Search for the cheapest petrol prices in your area

Pedalling goods
Cycling is a great way to enjoy the countryside and keep fit. Which? Holiday tests found that the Mount Blanc Barracuda (£53 from Skidrive) was the best roof-mounted rack system. 

The Paddy Hopkirk Quickball (£30 from Tesco Direct) is also a Best Buy. You may also be able to apply for a bike rental scheme through your employer.

Cheaper rentals
If you don’t own a car suitable for long family trips, hiring one may work out cheaper than taking the kids on the train. Avoid poor-value insurance deals, though. 

Car hire firms typically charge around £10 a day for cover, yet you can buy your own from Insurance4carhire or Worldwideinsure.com for around £2.50 a day.

Softer on the pedal
Driving more efficiently is good for your wallet as well as the environment. Keeping your engine revs between 1,500 and 2,500rpm is a good starting point. Accelerating smoothly and minimising unnecessary gear changes will help too.

Get the right car cover
Before you pack the family into the car, make sure you have good-value insurance cover. Buying online is generally 5% to 10% cheaper. See our latest Which? Recommended Provider car insurance report.