(no subject)

[winterbadger]

I love Scotland.

I enjoy trains tremendously.

But £5,150 for a one-week trip around Scotland on a train?

Yes, I know it's a luxury train, with all sorts of super food, beyond-first-class accommodation, and fascinating side-trips.

But let's be real: their version of the Orient Express is only £5,790 for a longer trip over a much greater distance and more exotic locales.

Both my current and former wives think me an appalling spendthrift, but I can't see laying out that kind of dosh for a train trip, no matter how super the train!

For considerably less than £1,000, NJ and I (and up to two friends) could spend a week pottering about the UK or Europe on a canal boat. And we could even bring the cats!

Comments

[peaceful-fox.livejournal.com]

YOWIE! The expense!

By the way, I love trains, too. I wish train service was better here.

I am so much of a geek that I love steam engines. :::shhh::: Don't tell anyone. ;-)

[cmlc.livejournal.com]

Well, indeed! What a spectacular rip off.
For £105 you can get a 4 days in 8 days Freedom of Scotland rail ticket, or £140 for any 8 days out of 15. Covers pretty much all trains in Scotland and a lot of ferries and intercity bus services too.
http://nationalrail.co.uk/times_fares/promotions/rangers_and_rovers.html

[aitkendrum.livejournal.com]

And we could even bring the cats!

Cats on a canal boat or even cats anywhere near water?

Your mad, I tell you, mad.

Actually that's got to be the title for a bad film:

"Cats on a Canal Boat" from the producers of Snakes on a Plane IV

[janewilliams20.livejournal.com]

That does look like rather a lot of money for what you get. Let me find the trip we did earlier this year: Swiss Alps by train, entire trip from London.
http://www.greatrail.co.uk/holiday.asp?holiday=362
"Prices from £1,280 to £1,390"
Do they do a Scottish trip? Yes.
http://www.greatrail.co.uk/holiday.asp?holiday=382
Not quite as much train as yours, but under £1000.

[winterbadger]

Well, there is that. But since we're going to be subjecting American cats to strange, screen-less British windows, they had better be good with the balance thing to begin with (*has vision of cat jumping up into window, realising there is no screen, and overbalancing in surprise out the open window* ground floor falt, maybe?).

And cats can swim fine; they just don't *like* doing it...

I like the film idea, though. :-)

[winterbadger]

Those look fun! And given that the Scottish one (for example) is nine days and eight nights with rail and coach travel, accommodations, and a lot of meals (eight breakfasts and six dinners), ~£900 is pricey but not outlandish. Still not quite my bag, but not crazy mad prices.

[winterbadger]

Nothin' wrong with liking steam trains. :-)

*dons anorak*

[winterbadger]

Much the best deal!