Hemel Hempstead – Folkestone off-peak day return

[A S Leib]

What's the cheapest option for an off-peak day return from Hemel Hempstead to Folkestone (Central or West) for two adults and a child with a Family & Friends and 16-25 Railcard? So far, I've got

• 2 × adult railcard + 1 × child railcard HML – Watford Junction off-peak day return at £4.75 each / £1.35 + Southern DaySave Off-Peak Group at £50 + 2 × adult railcard + 1 × child railcard Ashford International – Folkestone Central off-peak day return at £6.45 / £1.85 each = £75.60 (I suspect this route's at least four hours each way, so I'd rather avoid this one)
• 2 × adult railcard HML – London Travelcard off-peak day return at £16.15 each + 1 × child railcard HML – London Travelcard off-peak day return at £4.65 + 2 × adult railcard London terminals – FKC super off-peak day return (no HS1) at £21.80 each + 1 × railcard London terminals – FKC super off-peak day return (no HS1) at £6.25 = £86.80
• 2 × adult railcard HML – FKC off-peak day return at £38.65 each + 1 × child railcard HML – FKC at £11.10 = £88.40
• £6.10 for an adult and child HML – WFJ off-peak day return w/ F&F + £55.70 for an adult off-peak day return from Watford Junction + £1 child fare + £38.65 HML – FKC w/ 16-25 = £100.45 (HML – FKC is a fare set by LNR, so splitting at Watford Junction for the £1 child fare)

To simplify the above, (a) using Southern DaySave between Watford Junction and Ashford International, (b) splitting in London and avoiding HS1, (c) the simplest option ticket-wise or (d) relying on the £1 child fare (which I don't think ever works out if you have a Family & Friends railcard, as 0.66 + 0.2 of an adult fare means you're paying 86% of an adult fare, compared to 101% without a railcard).

Apart from looking for advance fares, either from St. Pancras or Charing Cross (as they don't seem to exist from Watford Junction or Hemel Hempstead), are there any options I've missed?

 

[Bletchleyite]

I've not researched this in detail and am struggling to read the way you've presented the options you've checked in prose, but very often, particularly in Super Off Peak times, the cheapest way from the south WCML to places on Southern/Southeastern for a day trip is an outboundary day Travelcard and a Boundary Zone ticket.

With kids the Family Travelcard may be applicable.

 

[A S Leib]

I've not researched this in detail and am struggling to read the way you've presented the options you've checked in prose Jim Jo, but very often, particularly in Super Off Peak times, the cheapest way from the south WCML to places on Southern/Southeastern for a day trip is an outboundary day Travelcard and a Boundary Zone ticket.

With kids the Family Travelcard may be applicable.

With a railcard, splitting at Knockholt gives £36.95 + £49.75, so £86.70.

 

[PaulJ]

Is there a way to factor in the SE Kids for a Quid deal for the London to FKC section?

 

[A S Leib]

Is there a way to factor in the SE Kids for a Quid deal for the London to FKC section?

With a Family and Friends Railcard, the railcard will always work out cheaper. It's 34% off of adult fares and 60% off of child fares, so 66% + 20% of 1 adult fare; one adult and one child with the railcard therefore comes to less than one adult fare without a railcard.

 

[Hadders]

Groupsave would be cheaper than the F&F railcard. 3 adults travel for the price of 2 and there's nothing preventing a child using an adult ticket.

 

[A S Leib]

Groupsave would be cheaper than the F&F railcard. 3 adults travel for the price of 2 and there's nothing preventing a child using an adult ticket.

I'm not sure if the Southeastern website just has issues showing it, but I can't get it to below £113 with Groupsave (I've tried splitting at zone 6 / Knockholt and at London terminals).

 

[Hadders]

I'm not sure if the Southeastern website just has issues showing it, but I can't get it to below £113 with Groupsave (I've tried splitting at zone 6 / Knockholt and at London terminals).

I've not looked at Southeastern's website but Thameslink applies Groupsave although for some fares the Kids for £2 works out cheaper than Groupsave (I think due to rounding).