OW European adventure - tips please

[Colster]

Hi All,
Merry Christmas and happy festivus to all,

am packing the family and going on a European adventure next year. We have flights organised from Syd-BCN and then return LHR to Syd (qf1/2). As putting the 4 of us in PE put a dent in the old credit card, I didn't add the internal Europe flights that we needed at the time.

we need to go from BCN to NAP, a week later FCO to CDG or Orly (4 days) then to Edinburgh, before finally LHR. All up 32 days in Eurpope. What's the best way to purchase the tickets? Individually or as a multi stop ticket? Is the OW Europe explorer thing worth it? Any tips or tricks are much appreciated.

once again, Merry Christmas

 

[andye]

I would consider the train for the Naples to Rome leg. We used it in the other direction in 2012-very quick, comfortable and efficient. We had a great trip: Sorrento, Pompeii and Rome are unforgettable.

Suspect you are best buying individual flights. Vueling are associated with BA/IB and fly direct from Rome to Orly but I'm pretty sure you wouldn't get any OW benefits with Qantas status.

Merry Christmas

 

[andye]

If you have a way of accumulating some BA (or IB) Avios the Reward Flight Saver fares are often good value as the taxes are capped. The very high proportion of the fares attributable to tax makes short-haul Qantas redemptions in Europe worse value than toasters

 

[aikman]

Personally I would just buy one way tickets on the direct flights between your destinations. BCN-NAP on Vueling, NAP-PAR on easyjet, CDG-EDI on easyjet. Remaining loyal to oneworld will add $$$$$ to your travel bill and hours and hours of unnecessary connections.

 

[Mattg]

Flying around Europe on oneworld can be quite expensive... especially if there are four of you. I would just book one-way tickets on the cheapest airline flying the route. (If it just so happens that a OW carrier is available for slightly more, then go for it, but it is usually much, much more expensive.)

 

[andye]

I've found BA reasonably competitive with some of the LCCs when you factor in the sort of luggage you end up with as a family on these trips. However agree, don't do unnecessary connections and don't pay silly prices for loyalty. And I suspect you know that J seats for short-haul Europe are very poor value when it is your own money.

 

[Spongbob]

I guess it all depends on your land activities; do you need to be at a certain location at a particular time (e.g. booked accommodation)? If not, I would choose overnight train travel to day time air travel.

 

[Colster]

Not sure about the overnight trains due to the kids and their ongoing hyperactivity would look at High speed but they seem actually quite expensive compared to air travel.

 

[kelvedon]

Not sure about the overnight trains due to the kids and their ongoing hyperactivity would look at High speed but they seem actually quite expensive compared to air travel.

There are some very reasonable train fares available in Europe if you scratch a bit and use the national train companies directly.
The go to this site for this is:

The Man in Seat Sixty-One - the train travel guide...

An amazing font of information on this form of travel.

 

[JessicaTam]

There are some very reasonable train fares available in Europe if you scratch a bit and use the national train companies directly.
The go to this site for this is:

The Man in Seat Sixty-One - the train travel guide...

An amazing font of information on this form of travel.

Seat sixty-one is a great resource.

Train travel if you can manage it is a very relaxed way to travel. NAP-FCO booked with Trenitalia Trenitalia - Homepage English - Trenitalia three months out in J is worth investigating as it will not be much more than Y.

 

[medhead]

I've been looking at trains Paris to Brussels and 90 days in advance I can see 45€ for first class on tgv. I've also seen good prices Paris to London on eurostar. I was wondering whether a train Paris to Scotland would work. Eurostar is quick but I'm not sure about onwards from London.

Worth noting that many train tickets aren't offered for sale until 90 days in advance. So it is possible to get the good prices without too much trouble.

 

[kelvedon]

Eurostar trains from Paris to London would deposit you at St Pancras station. Trains to Edinburgh leave from Kings Cross station, only 100 metres away.

 

[Colster]

Rome2rio (favorite new website) suggest 8 hours by train between Paris and EDI so may stay with planes (stop at BA first lounge on the way

 

[JessicaTam]

I did spend a day watching the east coast of Scotland/England from Aberdeen to London a couple of years ago. Perhaps not suitable for a family of four though.

Aberdeen Train Tickets | Aberdeen Train Times | East Coast