Cheapest trip to the beach!

[Class377]

Hi all,

Given this recent heat we've been having, I wouldn't really mind a day out to the beach somewhere local. Problem is, I don't really know how to make it that cheap, or where there are cheaper alternatives! There would be 3 of us, one with a 16-25 railcard (although I guess that's irrelevant as groupsave works out better)

Going from St Albans station (SAC) so I would have imagined Brighton as the best bet but a £51.90 off peak return seems slightly expensive (probably just about what we'd be willing to pay). Are there any splits to reduce the price?

Alternatively, is there anywhere cheaper nearby? Initial thought was Southend as it's geographically closer but seems slightly more expensive. If I went from Stevenage then Skegness seems about £40-50ish with advances but a bit out of the way (and it limits how much time we can spend on the day out).

I'm sure it's an open-and-shut case that Brighton IS cheapest but I just thought I'd check before deciding on anything certain. Any splits/weird routes/cheaper locations to make a cheap day out from Southern Hertfordshire?

Cheers

 

[telstarbox]

If you want to go to Brighton Monday-Friday, you can split at London Bridge, changing onto Southern for the LBG-Brighton leg (prices without Railcards):

St Albans-South Bermondsey Off Peak Day Return £14.10
Southern All Network Downlander (as e-ticket) £16.50
Total £30.60

NB "All Network Downlander is valid after 10:00 weekdays and at any time over the weekend and on bank holidays. Not valid on trains that depart from a station within London Zones 1-6 between 16:15 and 19:15 (inclusive) Monday to Friday."

If you're travelling on a Saturday, Sunday or Bank Holiday, replace the Downlander with:
London-Brighton FCC Only Super Off Peak Day Return £10.00
Total £24.10 (and you can use direct FCC trains).

 

[tractakid]

Couldn't you use St Albans Abbey to split at Watford Junction?

Cheapest option I can find (I'm no expert though) is Groupsave return £9.15 to WFJ, then DaySave (£28) from Watford Junction to Brighton on Southern Services?

£37.15 for the lot of you. (Off Peak)

 

[Class377]

Watford junction would be a good starting point to be honest so £28 seems very good, thanks

 

[Hadders]

If doing this on a weekend then a St Albans-London Thameslink Super Off-Peak day return is £8 (so £16 for the group),combined with an FCC only Super Off-peak day return from London Terminals - Brighton is £10 (so £20 for the group)

Total for the group is £36. Valid on direct trains from St Albans to Brighton.

These are walk up tickets available on the day from the station.

 

[tractakid]

If doing this on a weekend then a St Albans-London Thameslink Super Off-Peak day return is £8 (so £16 for the group),combined with an FCC only Super Off-peak day return from London Terminals - Brighton is £10 (so £20 for the group)

Total for the group is £36. Valid on direct trains from St Albans to Brighton.

These are walk up tickets available on the day from the station.

Surely your totals are wrong considering there are 3 in the group?

 

[mm333]

£25.30 for a day in Whitstable?

ST ALBANS to FAVERSHAM
OFF-PEAK DAY R
Fare £21.80
Route +NOT VALID ON HS1

FAVERSHAM to WHITSTABLE
OFF-PEAK DAY R
Fare £3.50
Route ANY PERMITTED

 

[Hadders]

Groupsave can be used on the tickets I quoted so 3 can travel for the price of 2.

 

[danbushell]

What about a FCC Daysave ticket valid for unlimited travel on 1 day.
£17 per person but cannot be bought from the stations.
Details on the link below.
http://www.firstcapitalconnect.co.uk/tickets-and-fares/off-peak-tickets/travel-off-peak/daysave/