Grimsby to Karlsruhe

[DeeGee]

I'm having a bit of fun at the minute thinking about planning a trip to Karlsruhe in September to run the marathon. I'm actually trying to make a decision whether to enter Karlsruhe on the 20th September or Poznan which will be on, probably, the 11th October.

Both trips by air come in on budget, but Poznan is a lot less faffy for me as the flight is from Doncaster direct to Poznan. To fly to Karlsruhe requires me to get to Stansted, play the fruit machine that is a Ryanair booking, and then somehow get from an airstrip with no station some way from Baden Baden to Karlsruhe.

I'm quite keen to do Karlsruhe, though. It's a better date for me, and the city is celebrating its 300th anniversary next year. I also used to live just over the French border from there and know the city quite well. And I've got a bunch of Euro sitting around. Which led me to think about the train.

Now, it's something like 9 or 10 hours (4 trains, change at Doncaster, London, Paris) but that has its charms, and to be honest, compares quite favourably with the timings if I were to fly. Plus I can eat and drink what I want, when I want.

However, I can't find the price. I can work out Advance to London International, but I can't get DB to quote me a return from London to Karlsruhe (I've picked a random Friday out Monday back scenario from early January to try).

Of course, if I'm going to make this decision, I need to decide quite quickly to hammer down cheaper hotel rates, and if I am going to Poland I can book the plane as soon as possible to keep the price down for that too.

Is there any easy way I can find out what the fare is likely to be? I got the timings from bahn.de, but they couldn't quote for the journey.

Or is there a better way to do it?

 

[Searle]

Try these guys, they'll offer you a fare because you're using the French TGV rather than actually using DB's trains: http://uk.voyages-sncf.com/en/

I'd also recommend checking the Eurostar and TGV price seperately, it won't take long and there's a chance of saving a little bit of money!

 

[eastwestdivide]

Paris-Karlsruhe as low as €39 from bahn.de for dates in Jan. I think there's a 90-day booking window.
Also London-Brussels-Karlsruhe from €69 from bahn.de for Jan. Youi might need to jiggle with the Brussels stopover time to force the connection onto a DB ICE rather than a Thalys, as DB only seem to offer fares on their own trains from Brussels (and from London via the London-Spezial offers)

 

[GrimsbyPacer]

The trams there are worth a ride.
It might be a good idea to check ferry prices from Hull to Holland.

 

[30907]

To clarify Eastwestdivide's post: you need to uncheck "prefer fastest connection" as this will tend to route you via Paris. If necessary specify "via Cologne" or the 10:58 ex London.

Via Harwich-Hoek would be worth considering too.

 

[DeeGee]

If my memory serves, Hull to Holland becomes prohibitive for 1 pax, as I have to take a whole cabin to myself. I'd love to do that, though. I'd have to leave Hull on Thurs and Karlsruhe on Sun, though, if I were to have the same time off work and some time on the Sat to recover from the journey.

Just seen the Eurostar prices too. Wow! Just wow!

 

[30907]

If my memory serves, Hull to Holland becomes prohibitive for 1 pax, as I have to take a whole cabin to myself. I'd love to do that, though

Correct, whereas Harwich-Hoek prices basic single cabins quite reasonably (and has a nice posh restaurant too), and the ticket will get you as far as Venlo.

You should get Eurostar for €59 with an overnight stop in Brussels or possibly Köln, if you book early enough.

 

[DeeGee]

I've tried a date in late Jan for comparison and I can get about £155 return via Paris with timings that suit, no need for an overnight.

I might well consider this, then...

 

[GrimsbyPacer]

Good luck on your trip then.

 

[DeeGee]

I do like a ferry, though. Do we reckon it would be feasible to get from Grimsby to Karlsruhe in a day via Harwich? I'd happily start at stupid o'clock. I imagine I'd have to change at Peterborough for the cheap inclusive ticket, would I?

 

[eastwestdivide]

The day sailing from Harwich is 0900. Sounds to me like starting from Grimsby the day before. If you're going to do that, why not nip across to Hull for the overnight sailing to Europoort + bus from there to Rotterdam?

When I tried the Harwich route this year from S Yorks, I took a leisurely journey across the UK via Peterborough during the day for the night sailing from Harwich.

 

[Pete81E]

Not trying to put you off the train, which would be my preference too, but I did Stansted - Baden-Baden with Ryanair and it was a doddle. Nice small airport - off the plane and out the airport in 15 mins. Passport control to exit about 50 yards.

There is a bus every 30 mins literally just outside the airport door alternating between Rastatt and Baden-Baden, and from either there are plenty of trains to Karlsruhe. Get a KVV day ticket to cover a wide area of trains/trams/buses and you're away! It was 18EURO for 2 people.

If you find yourself at Rastatt get the S4 to Tullastraße Karlsruhe and you're on a train/tram that will turn off just before Hbf and then pass outside the front entrance as tram.

I really liked Karlsruhe and plan to go back myself this summer.

 

[GrimsbyPacer]

KLM have flights to Amsterdam from Humberside airport.

 

[DeeGee]

KLM have flights to Amsterdam from Humberside airport.

Yes, they do, and it's £210 minimum for a flight with a connection, plus £25 each way for transfers from Laceby Acres to Kirmington.

If I go from Kirmington I'll probably fly to Frankfurt and train. It's an hour from FFM Hbf to KA, but then I'm very much paying for conveinence.

I like the way KLM insist on a 3 hour check in at Kirmington. I phoned them about this, and they said it's in case I'm delayed en route.

It's 12 miles from home. I could run that in 2 hours, easy, and cycle it in a lot less. In a taxi it's 20 minutes...
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I did Stansted - Baden-Baden with Ryanair and it was a doddle. Nice small airport - off the plane and out the airport in 15 mins. Passport control to exit about 50 yards.

There is a bus every 30 mins literally just outside the airport door alternating between Rastatt and Baden-Baden, and from either there are plenty of trains to Karlsruhe. Get a KVV day ticket to cover a wide area of trains/trams/buses and you're away! It was 18EURO for 2 people.

You're selling me this option. However, how do I get to Stansted?

 

[Pete81E]

How do you get to Stansted? Well, you're a runner, aren't you?

No, fair point. It's even a pain for me to get to Stansted for an early flight (as the cheapest invariably are) from Oxford. I usually end up getting the bus at 0100 to get there for 0410. Luckily if I do it on a Friday morning the Weatherspoons is open Thursday night until 0100 and that's just across the road from the bus station... :grin:

 

[GrimsbyPacer]

Yes, they do, and it's £210 minimum for a flight with a connection, plus £25 each way for transfers from Laceby Acres to Kirmington.

I like the way KLM insist on a 3 hour check in at Kirmington. I phoned them about this, and they said it's in case I'm delayed en route.

It's 12 miles from home. I could run that in 2 hours, easy, and cycle it in a lot less. In a taxi it's 20 minutes.

If you're in Laceby Acres you can get on the Humber Flyer bus on the opposite side of the road to Morrisons. They leave that stop at 06:05 then 07:21 then hourly if that helps. Last bus at 18:21 to the airport. 6mph is fast running but there's no path and it's hilly.