Q: Euro Travel, Boat or Plane?

[TLAM Strike]

I was talking with my boss friday and she mentioned they are going to Europe soon. Since there are many people from Europe on this board I have a question, they are planing on flying to Ireland then going to Belgum is it cheaper to take a ferry from Ireland to the UK then another to Belgum? Or would taking a plane directly there be cheaper?

:hmm:

[Tchocky]

If you book early you can great a great deal Dublin -> Charleroi.

www.ryanair.com (http://www.ryanair.com)

Definitely cheaper by air :). I'll put it this way, I'm flying to Lancaster on Wednesday for around $5.

[Boris]

Definitely flying... i wouldn't even have though of ferries as an option... besides, it would take ages.
Could be a nice scenic route for the subsimmer and the nautic enthusiast though :hmm:

Ryanair Flights are usually free (or about 1 cent) if you book early enough. The only catch is that you have to pay for luggage and airport fees etc. Even then you're looking at about 50 bucks a flight.

[Konovalov]

I would only consider the ferry option if you intend or need to take a car. I think you will find it very unlikely that the ferry would be cheaper not to mention you will loose an entire day plus in travel. Take the plane and plant some trees to keep some people happy. :lol:

[Kapitan]

Fly its cheaper unless your me as i dont really do flying unless i have too.

[Chock]

Ryanair flights are cheap http://www.ryanair.com/site/EN/ but be aware that Ryannair is a no frills airline and it has a poor reputation as far as comfort goes (they really ram as many seats as possible into their B737s). It is not for nothing that they are the butt of many jokes.

The two times I have ever flown on Ryanair (to Finland and back from London), there was an arrest made on the flight on both occasions upon landing. I think this is because the cheap prices tend to attract a lot of scumbags onto the 'planes. But nevertheless, Ryanair will get you there, and they are cheap if nothing else.

A better Irish Airline, is Aer Arann http://www.aerarann.ie/ Aer Arann have won many awards and are still fairly inexpensive to fly with. Incidentally, if you are into submarines, Aer Arann fly to Lorient from Ireland! So you could take in a bit of France en route if you fancied it.

Then of course you have the national Irish airline, Aer Lingus who offer a lot of destinations and a good level of service http://www.aerlingus.com/cgi-bin/obel01im1/bookonline/index.jsp

The Ferry would let you experience a bit of dear old Blighty, but the Ferry crossing over the Irish Sea is something that can be a bit rough on occasion (force eight and force nine gales are not uncommon), it's often subject to delays because of the weather too and not for nothing is the high-speed catamaran service to Liverpool known locally as 'the vomit comet'.

The plane for convenience, the Ferry for cheapness (but a long slow journey) is the way to look at it.

:D Chock

[Tchocky]

Aye the ferry to Holyhead can be choppy. i've spent many nights on that boat, looking for somewhere to sit down that wasn't crammed with either screaming children, vomit, or vomit producers.

Aer Arann are a great airline to fly with. A friend of mine's brother flies for them, so when the two of us fly together, no fare!

[Jimbuna]

Fly (for quickness and cost) unless your taking a car :up:

[Konovalov]

The Ferry would let you experience a bit of dear old Blighty, but the Ferry crossing over the Irish Sea is something that can be a bit rough on occasion (force eight and force nine gales are not uncommon), it's often subject to delays because of the weather too and not for nothing is the high-speed catamaran service to Liverpool known locally as 'the vomit comet'.

The plane for convenience, the Ferry for cheapness (but a long slow journey) is the way to look at it.

:D Chock

I have done the drive to Hollyhead, Wales and then the ferry across to Dublin a couple of times. On both occassions the weather has been ok with just a little rockin and rollin. The Mrs didn't enjoy it as much. ;) However I am yet to sample the experience that is the "vomit comet". It sounds like a real ball of fun and a great opportunity to test those sea legs.

[Chock]

Some pictures of the Vomit Comet:

http://www.ferry-site.dk/ferry.php?id=8900012&lang=en

:D Chock :rotfl:

[swifty]

They really need to price it out. What my European friends tell me flying is very cheep especially when compared to US, if booked in advanced. If they plan visiting lots of cities I would consider purchasing the EUrail pass (http://www.eurail.com/), which includes ferrys from Ireland to Europe. However the UK does no participate in the program. Travel to and from including interior would be separate.

I traveled on the rail-pass the last time I was there and loved it. There are different packages but the one i used allowed for practically unlimited travel in first class lasting one month for about $800. The pass allowed me to be flexible if I massed the traian I could just jump on the next one.

[Konovalov]

Some pictures of the Vomit Comet:

http://www.ferry-site.dk/ferry.php?id=8900012&lang=en

:D Chock :rotfl:

Oh, those are built back home in Tassy (Tasmania), Australia. :o I'm sure they would love to hear of it's nickname the "vomit comet". :D

[swifty]

Oh, those are built back home in Tassy (Tasmania), Australia. :o I'm sure they would love to hear of it's nickname the "vomit comet". :D

I met the owner last year. Cool boats all aluminum with twin water jet drives. they also have set a lot of speed records. I remember him talking about the challenges of getting an all aluminum flight deck certified with NAVAIR.

http://www.incat.com.au/fleet_fs.html

[Tchocky]

These run on the Holyhead-Dublin route as well - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-speed_Sea_Service