Hi All
Some Findings on Logistics of getting to Belfast (24/7/11) ,places to stay and where to get bike fixed or indeed purchased if necessary.
BMIbaby flys from EM to Belfast City Airport early doors on the 24th for around £30.00 and bike travels for an extra £25, flying time 1hr 10mins.
If they happen to have lost or left your bike behind then all is not lost as there is a brand new Decathalon Store on the airport road no more than 400m from the terminal where you can pick up a highly rated (Gadget Show says so) Rockrider MTB for £99. I kid you not!!
Return flights from Knock in the Republic are currently available on 30/05/11 and 01/06/11 for around £20 with Mr O'Learys happy irish outfit ( although bike will cost £45 to bring back)
One of my younger staff (ahm lets say 22 yrs old) recommends a group of hostels called 'Paddys Palace' that are located in both Derry and Belfast (also Cork & Dublin) and provide clean,comfy accommodation on a budget. Check em out and give me your opinion. Weatherspoons and 'Old mens pubs, handy walking distance I am assured.
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already spotted a typo that date is meant to say 23rd May 2011.
ReplyDeleteI've found a solution for getting to Ireland that appeals to me and that I'm going to investigate further. There is a "Sail&Rail" offer that provides for train travel in the UK and in Ireland and the ferry for about £35-£50 (depending on where you are going to and from). This would allow a bike to be taken as well (not bagged up or lost by Ryanair). I've tried booking this without success at Derby Train Station ("the computer says no. come back another time") so will try ringing the booking line tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteI can't get a sensible train on Sunday going out but plan to drive to Crewe and then get the train to Holyhead, ferry to Dublin and then train to Belfast (arriving about 8pm). I expect this to cost about £45.
I also plan to get the 9:00 train from Sligo to Dublin on Monday 30th, ferry to Holyhead and then train back to Derby (via Chester and Crewe). The cost of this is about £55. Might be more attractive then flying back although the journey time is quite long.
Another alternative is a late train from Sligo on Sunday 29th (1900) and then the overnight ferry (about 2am) to Holyhead and then a train that gets you into Derby about 0930.
I've booked the train and ferry trip home leaving from Sligo at 9:00 on Monday 30th so will be staying overnight in Sligo. I've rung Irish Railways regarding bike booking and they tell me that you just need to turn up at the station with the bike (Euro9) and they can't be prebooked. This conflicts with the information on the website but might explain why the online booking that Martin tried doesn't work at all. I'm not 100% confident with what I've been told so would welcome anyone else's information and I may ring Ireland again for a second opinion.
ReplyDeleteIan
ReplyDeleteAs I am staying overnight in Sligo too. I would be prepared to share with you so will start to check out accomadation handy for early start from train station for you and time enough for me to pedal to KNock to dispose of the bike!
I've now booked outward travel (at least most of it) taking the Holyhead ferry to Dublin and then intending to travel onwards by train to Belfast on Sunday evening (can't book this leg yet). Train + ferry + bike from Crewe to Dublin is a bargain £34.
ReplyDeleteIrish train booking seems much worse than in the UK!