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Travel

How do you like to travel?

(56 Posts)
beth20 Sun 22-Aug-21 20:57:09

My mum is late 80's. She is independent and in good health but beginning to get frail.
There is a direct train line between us which takes just over 2 hours.
There's a coach that comes to the airport which takes about 3 hours and involves a change at Victoria in London.
We could collect her and drive her here which would be a long round trip for us around the M25 but would take about 3 hours for her in the car.
We are moving soon and would very much like her to see our new bungalow (no stairs for her to worry about anymore). Part of the reason for our move is that we will have a room for her should she need/want it in the future.
It just set me thinking about which mode of travel people would prefer and why?

tanith Sun 22-Aug-21 21:03:35

I'd rather the train because i could move around a little on a coach you're pretty much trapped.

crazyH Sun 22-Aug-21 21:05:17

Train, for me ...

Hetty58 Sun 22-Aug-21 21:10:39

I get car (and coach) sick but I'm fine on a train. There's also the opportunity to stretch your legs - and use the loo if necessary - so no feeling trapped in a seat.

Shinamae Sun 22-Aug-21 21:16:57

I’m in North Devon and my daughter is in St Albans, I go to see her about three or four times a year, I used to take the coach but it was very labourious and boring so now I take the train I get a senior Railcard which means I get a third off the fare…

Nannagarra Sun 22-Aug-21 22:10:24

Train for me as it’s often a reminder of what a green and pleasant land I live in. Unlike DH, I have good sea legs and am attracted to any vessel available. It’s a long time since I’ve been on a coach, though I wouldn’t dismiss the opportunity. Hopefully it’ll be an even longer time before I’ll be in an airport as I don’t like flying. Thank goodness for Eurostar!

Humbertbear Sun 22-Aug-21 22:12:33

Definitely train. I used to take the coach sometimes to Manchester in order to economise but it’s horrible. You cant move around and takes so much longer.

Gwyneth Sun 22-Aug-21 22:17:12

Train for me too but I did once have the good fortune to travel First Class by air to Boston. What an experience. I’ll never forget it. Amazing.

LauraNorder Sun 22-Aug-21 22:17:28

Train for me. Orient Express would be my dream holiday.

M0nica Sun 22-Aug-21 22:28:40

I am like Hetty car and coach sick (and, at times, sea and air sick). Train for me every time.

Ashcombe Sun 22-Aug-21 22:31:00

Rail travel for preference but I drive when travelling to and from DH's home in France.

BigBertha1 Sun 22-Aug-21 22:35:51

Oh the train definitely. I can stare out of the window and have fantasies.

SueDonim Sun 22-Aug-21 22:41:20

Car. I like to be in control.

B9exchange Sun 22-Aug-21 23:01:27

I enjoy train travel for a day trip, but if I am going away then definitely car because I don't have to worry about dealing with suitcases, or the weather.

NotAGran55 Mon 23-Aug-21 07:12:25

Car , no question. Private, comfortable and flexible. Set off whenever you like , stop for breaks , divert to see interesting places on the way, cheaper than train . The list is endless.
I like the independence .

Lincslass Mon 23-Aug-21 08:01:07

Train for me. No dealing with dangerous, impatient drivers. No traffic jams. No parking worries. Let the train take the strain as they say. Only thing I dislike is having to change, then you get pushy people, mainly men and teenagers trying to knock you over in the rush to get a seat. Perhaps all seats should be booked, once train full, no more.

Nortsat Mon 23-Aug-21 08:09:35

Train ... and in the best seat I can afford.

When my late dear sister was ill, I spent many hours on the train covering the 300 miles distance between us.

I always reserved a first class seat and ultimately spent a lot of money on rail fares. But it was so worth it, to be comfortable, at a time which was emotionally challenging.

Mattsmum2 Mon 23-Aug-21 08:47:41

I’ve moved a few times in the past few years, my mum who is nearly 80 has just bought a senior railcard and is looking forward to the journey to Bristol via Paddington, she still drives quite a bit and is going on a mini break with a friend at the end of September which involves a 2 hr drive.

She did a journey over Christmas by coach but it was a disaster as there were delays and the driver ran out of hours and had to park up. She lives on the tube route on outer London and uses that too.

beth20 Mon 23-Aug-21 09:06:39

We once had the good luck to be travelling from Manchester to London and the first class carriage had been reallocated to second class, so we hopped on. It was lovely!
Like a lot of people here I'm a train person by choice as I find it the least hassle.
Short distance - bicycle every time.

Froglady Mon 23-Aug-21 09:10:15

Train for me, especially if the coach involves a change.

nanna8 Mon 23-Aug-21 09:20:50

We don’t have first class train carriages unless you go on one of those things where you are on board for several days crossing the country. I prefer car ,drive ourselves, any day. Hate public transport. I’ll get on a plane at a pinch but it would have to be a big pinch these days.

fevertree Mon 23-Aug-21 09:22:02

Train here too. I love the luxury of time to read, look out the window, perhaps share a smile with a fellow passenger, eat a snack.

If at the other end my destination cannot be reached on foot, and I'm not being fetched in a car, I will hop in a cab.

It's altogether a spoily experience. smile

(Best to buy train tickets in advance, the prices are outrageous).

Shandy57 Mon 23-Aug-21 09:32:26

I get the train but have to have assistance to get on, it is a free service and has always worked.

I look able bodied so staff are normally surprised, but I have a phobia about the gap and can't go near the train door on my own. I'm getting nervous about getting off too after a huge 'gap' when I arrived at a station, I might have to get help with that too.

JackyB Mon 23-Aug-21 09:47:20

I love the freedom of train - or even coach - travel. When you get off, you are completely detached from everything. It takes me back to backpacking days.

With a car, you have to remember where you parked, worry that it'll be OK while you're walking about

Having said that, I agree that a car does have some advantages: you can take bulkier items, you can reach more obscure destinations, and you can stop where you want.

henetha Mon 23-Aug-21 10:09:27

Motorhomes really. But as that is no longer possible then trains every time. I could happily travel the world on trains.