SW England to Leipzig

[starrymarkb]

I've just booked a hotel in Leipzig in May next year...

What would be the best way to get there from the Southwest, I'm wondering if Easyjet from Bristol to Berlin and then train onwards, train all the way or to drive again (with overnight stops this time). I'm pretty much open to all options (except Ryanair)

Only problem is it is Pfingsten holiday weekend so my hotel was very expensive and I suspect the trains will be very busy with the black masses for WGT (which is why I picked that weekend ) so any advice on tickets routings etc would be appreciated.

 

[Chester025]

This website will help you with train times: http://www.bahn.com/i/view/GBR/en/index.shtml

 

[WestCoast]

Ryanair are starting Stansted to Leipzig/Halle on 2nd November 2011.

 

[starrymarkb]

I'd like to try and avoid Ryanair if I can!

 

[WestCoast]

Fair enough, well, if you want to do a air/rail combo from the South West I must say routes are not exactly numerous.

-There is easyJet as mentioned from Bristol to Berlin then train
-Flybe fly from Exeter to Düsseldorf and Hannover then train
-Lufthansa fly from Newquay to Düsseldorf (where you can buy a connecting flight to Leipzig/Halle).

DB website has some good deals for tickets from London St. Pancras to all destinations in Germany, book way in advance, prices from London to Cologne start at 49 euros.

SEE OFFER HERE: www.bahn.de/i/view/GBR/en/prices/europe/london-cologne-special.shtml

 

[lemonic]

DB website has some good deals for tickets from London St. Pancras to all destinations in Germany, book way in advance, prices from London to Cologne start at 49 euros.

SEE OFFER HERE: www.bahn.de/i/view/GBR/en/prices/europe/london-cologne-special.shtml

In fact prices from London to anywhere in Germany start at 49 euros. You'll find it hard to get from south-west England to Leipzig by train in a day though, so you'll probably either need to stop off somewhere overnight (up to 2 breaks of journey for up to 48 hours total are possible with the 49EUR ticket) or find a sleeper connection which I don't think is covered by the 49 euro offer.

 

[tannedfrog]

If you buy a Lufthansa flight to Frankfurt, I think you can buy pay just €25 extra for a train ticket to anywhere in Germany

 

[gordonthemoron]

DB used to allow you to include a sleeper with the €49 offer, bumping it up to something like €89 but it doesn't work anymore.

I'd just fly to Berlin & get the train. Connex are cheaper, but DB run rather more trains

 

[starrymarkb]

Thanks everyone - Having a chat with my friends we are looking at Easyjet to Berlin, might have a night in Berlin either going out or coming back...

 

[WestCoast]

Tips for the fare from Berlin Schönefeld Flughafen to Leipzig Hbf:

Well, I don't know how familiar you are with the system, but I'm not an expert but here are my thoughts.

I've had a look at Connex (I don't know a lot about them) and they have saving fares (return) from Berlin Hbf to Leipzig Hbf for around 28 euros each. Obviously your fares to/from the airport will be separate, but that can be included in any Berlin public transport day tickets you buy.

With DB, the through Sparpreis ticket (just like an advance - book as early as you can) from Berlin Schönefeld to Leipzig Hbf start at 38 euros each return, you can build a stopover of up to 48 hours in Berlin-Hbf on either leg of the journey. You are normally booked on an ICE from Berlin Hbf to Leipzig Hbf, which is the fastest option. If you book at the first available moment, then it's likely you will get your hands on that cheapest fare. Seat reservations cost extra, don't expect a seat if you don't have one.

However, the big trick with DB I've found is to make use of their rover tickets for groups. These are only valid on regional trains (denoted R/RE/IRE or private contracted operator equivalent). This will take longer - you can get all the options for this by ticking "only local transport" when you perform a search on the DB website. If it's Saturday/Sunday you are travelling buy the Schönes-Wochenende-Ticket - 34 euros will get you a country day rover valid on regional trains for up to five people, so it would be a single ticket to get there/back. Or alternatively. on a weekday buy the Quer-durchs-Land-Ticket after 9.00am and it's 42 euros for one person plus 6 euros per person up to an additional four people.

Which is the best for you? Well the regional trains do take rather longer mainly, they are probably going to be the double decker stock so actually rather nice IMO, but it will involve multiple changes. Have at look at Connex, see if it fits. Otherwise, it depends on how many people there are, the DB Sparpreis can be good value and you travel on the fastest trains.

 

[starrymarkb]

Thanks - we'll look into it. It could be up to 6 of us (which may making getting to Bristol Airport with luggage "interesting" - I suspect a Minibus taxi could be hired or train and Flyer coach from TM)

 

[gordonthemoron]

Schönes-Wochenende-Ticket is €39 for up to 5 people, 6th could use an ordinary RE ticket for €30.60

 

[WestCoast]

Schönes-Wochenende-Ticket is €39 for up to 5 people, 6th could use an ordinary RE ticket for €30.60

Apologies, yes it is, a bit of a typo there!

 

[shinkansen1966]

Later this month, taking the train from London St Pancras to Dresden Hbf for €49 one way with Deutsche Bahn. Travelling via Brussels, Frankfurt Fernbf and Leipzig Hfb.

Booking via www.bahn.de was easy. E-ticket complete with schedule and platforms interchanges.

Yay.

 

[valedave]

Firstly: DB London-Spezial w/ sleeper (City Night Line) does work, it's just not bookable online. You would have to contact DB's telesales or an independent German travel agent.

If you wanted to travel by train, the best option would be to get the Eurostar from St Pancras at around 14:00, the ICE from Bruxelles to Köln and then get on the Amsterdam - Prague sleeper at Köln and alight at Dresden early the next morning. Then get an ICE to Leipzig, arriving at around 10am.

This would be from €79 (couchette, more for double or single berths), not including travel from Bristol to London.

The return journey is doable in one day (partly down to gaining an hour in the tunnel). You can either leave Leipzig at 5:30 and be in London by 15:00, or you can sleep a bit longer and leave Leipzig at 9:00 and arrive in London at 20:00. Fares start at €49. The cheap €49 fare can be found by avoiding busy areas (mainly Frankfurt-Köln and Köln-Aachen), even on Mondays or Fridays when you'd expect no cheap fares to be available.

Of course, all this train info applies to the current timetables which will be changed in December. It could be the case that the connections become better/worse.



Otherwise, fly Bristol-Berlin with Easyjet and book a train from Südkreuz to Leipzig. There's an express bus from Schönefeld to Südkreuz which takes 20 minutes and is much much faster than any RE/S-Bahn connection via Hauptbahnhof. Obviously ensuring you leave enough of a buffer on your flight to Germany in case of delay. Any savings tickets booked in advance are non-refundable if the train is missed.

 

[starrymarkb]

Thanks for all your help.

We are going to fly from Bristol to Berlin and stop overnight there (and do a bit of sightseeing in the evening), then get a morning train to Leipzig...

With the flight being an afternoon, we'll leave in the morning and have a leisurely return back to the airport