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Travel

How do you like to travel?

(57 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?

Hetty58 Sat 11-Sept-21 08:04:01

It seems I'm not the only one who enjoys the comfort of train travel. Still, right now I'd be wary of sharing space with (possibly Covid infected) fellow travellers. Therefore, my next trip will be by car - with frequent breaks to stretch my legs.

grannyrebel7 Sat 11-Sept-21 07:05:53

I would say car personally, but one holiday we had in America was travelling from New York to LA on one of their Amtrack trains and it was really lovely. These trains are huge and you get so much space to yourself. The sleeping compartments with the bunks are really comfortable as well. The only thing I didn't like was having to sit by strangers for meals! I really miss going on holiday to America.

homefarm Tue 24-Aug-21 14:40:20

In comfort

Elvis58 Mon 23-Aug-21 19:12:53

Car every time.Do not fly anymore.

Neilspurgeon0 Mon 23-Aug-21 17:24:41

Victoria coach station is a right dive so, although much more expensive, I would definitely suggest ally choose the train, if I could afford it

Gabrielle56 Mon 23-Aug-21 16:20:52

Train must be a mature persons thing! Our eldest DS spent a honeymoon travelling across Canada in the fantastically huge sleeper trains they have with a viewing caboose (heaven!) But they didn't like it (wha??) Said they felt shut in , restricted and most of other passengers were quite a bit older than them in their 20s -what did they expect I wondered? They didn't produce any sort of travel record in photos, I know it was a honeymoon but they had another week before in Carribbean too, I just thought the whole experience was wasted on them I had a sneaking feeling they went because it was scarily expensive and he is a bit of a show off...... that's taught him ! Sadly no longer with the missus but I envied their trip!

Gabrielle56 Mon 23-Aug-21 16:11:11

Depends. Any time we've been to London/Edinburgh/York it's train! Comfortable reserved seating first class if we feel like loos walkabout etc etc. Going to Devon/south west or to lakes(1.5hours) anywhere where we may be wanting to explore then definitely car, flexible Impulse visit if we choose and can clear off home if we choose too.

ExDancer Mon 23-Aug-21 16:06:37

Luggage is a problem on the train. I'm in my 80s and used to travel 250 miles to see my daughter, but struggled with even a small suitcase. The journey involved taking the underground from Euston to Waterloo and there are no escalators. There are also steep stairs to the ladies loo.
But I'd still recommend the train.

4allweknow Mon 23-Aug-21 15:55:05

Train rather than bus as I can be travel sick on a bus.

LauraNorder Mon 23-Aug-21 15:54:59

Sounds lovely Flopsey, I must give it a go one of these days.

Growing0ldDisgracefully Mon 23-Aug-21 15:13:04

I hate public transport, no control over when it turns up at either end, never convenient for pick up and destination at either end and no chance to divert from the set route if necessary, crowded and uncomfortable. So the car or my motorbike, every time.

annifrance Mon 23-Aug-21 14:26:42

Car, train, aeroplane as long as it's club class. I used to do a lot of long haul in club. Loved it, comfortable, spacious, good food and wine and time to be creative up there above the clouds after a glass of champagne.

Now it's only budget airlines to and from France. But hey it's only a bus ride so it doesn't bother me. Get sick of people moaning about it, what do they expect for those prices.

We recently we acquired a large, luxury caravan with everything you need in it. It's old but not used so much, and stored here in Southern France for 10 months of the year. Generously given to us by friends as it was more trouble and cost to dispose of it. We managed a week's holiday in Brittany in October with friends. Their camping car towed our caravan. It was perfect, we had such a lovely holiday, picnics on the beach, diners under the awning in super, empty campsites and were able to be independent and keep away from Covid risks.

We decided that we would now only want to go on holiday with our caravan. So comfortable, everything to hand, no unpacking etc. I've stayed in many top hotels around the world, which was lovely and a great privelege, but now only want our caravan!

timetogo2016 Mon 23-Aug-21 14:05:56

Car for me,i don`t like timetables or crowded vehicles of any description.
I like to come and go as and when i please.

beth20 Mon 23-Aug-21 13:59:21

LaGoulue wow! That's travelling in all its dimensions!

I think I'll explore the train option for my mum - I hadn't thought about asking the train company for assistance but that would make a big difference as Mum used to travel frequently but has got a lot less confident in recent years.
She is very sociable and always seemed to arrive with a story about people she had chatted to on the way.
Thank you.

Maggymay Mon 23-Aug-21 13:41:56

Train isn’t always a good experience our DS Dil and 16 month Gd came to visit last WE ,they had seats reserved ,but going home the train was packed and the men in their seat refused to move.Luckily a nice man gave up his seat so Dil and baby could sit down son had to stand for the journey of 1.5 hours.

maddyone Mon 23-Aug-21 13:38:28

How do you like to travel?

First Class but I can’t afford it.

LaGoulue Mon 23-Aug-21 13:37:53

In my 66 years I’ve travelled twice business class return to Oz, I went on Concorde over the Solent on an experience flight in 1985, I’ve rode a Harley Davidson across Sydney Harbour bridge, I’ve flown over the Valley of the Kings and north east Oz in a hot air balloon, I’ve rode an Arab stallion in Luxor, and an elephant in Jaipur, I’ve joined a camel train in the Thar desert in Rajasthan, I’ve flown the shortest flight in the Guinness Book of Records in The Orkneys, and I’ve just got my bus pass and I’ve used it every day so far!

blubber Mon 23-Aug-21 13:33:22

Train. Ask for assistance at the stations, in advance of the trip, and they will take care of the luggage and take her to the platforms if changes are needed

Flopsey Mon 23-Aug-21 13:21:58

LauraNora
Orient Express would be my ideal trip too.
However, I’ve been on a couple of the Northern Belle day trips in the Pullman Coaches.
They were excellent and highly recommended.

Alioop Mon 23-Aug-21 13:14:02

Car for me or if I head into Belfast shopping I get the train so I can have a couple of cocktails before heading home. It has to be done grin

Georgesgran Mon 23-Aug-21 13:11:32

Not travelling far I would much prefer to use my own car.(rhymes!) However my record of travelling further afield reads like a horror story: from the train catching fire going down to London, to flights being turned back mid Atlantic and grounded as the door was damaged, a cruise company going bankrupt while on the Nile and returning home on a rickety plane that would be impounded on landing! Did I mention that BA forgot to put DD2’s wheelchair on the flight? Is it any wonder people are reluctant to travel with me ?

NanaPlenty Mon 23-Aug-21 13:07:45

I drive and the car is very convenient but traffic nowadays is a nightmare. I do like the train but the price is way too high most of the time to make it a viable option. My husband and I were recently stuck in Ashford as our car broke down - we went home to Essex by train - super smooth easy journey - got a train at Ashford at 12.20 - straight into Stratford and changed to our line back in doors by 1.45 ! Amazing …. Cost off peak two single tickets £85!!!!!?

Happysexagenarian Mon 23-Aug-21 13:05:00

Car definitely. Can stop whenever I need/want to. Although it makes for a longer journey I prefer to avoid motorway travel, it's just so boring, prefer to take the scenic routes.

nexus63 Mon 23-Aug-21 13:02:12

i prefer to travel by train, i had being going to see my dad in coventry from glasgow, i book a forward facing seat with table and the disabily help, so someone takes me on and off the train even if i need to change trains, i found it an easy way to travel and i always booked a quiet carriage, as everything was booked online and one phone call for the disabilty it made a stress free journey.

Newatthis Mon 23-Aug-21 13:00:49

We once suggested that MiL take a train which was a direct 3 hour journey. We were going to arrange assistance (not that she need it as she was very mobile) and she would have been taken to the station and put on the train, and picked up be us off the train. She was horrified and didn't speak to us for ages telling us how cruel we were.