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Germany Planning a Trip Transportation

Getting from Hamburg to Berlin

Hamburg is Germany’s Gateway to the World, home to the country’s biggest port. The city offers plenty of things to do and places to visit.

Berlin is Germany’s capital, a city well known for its history and nightlife. It also offers plenty of interesting places to visit and things to do.

Summary

The short distance (288 km) between Hamburg and Berlin doesn’t require a flight (although indirect flights via Dusseldorf are available and start at €98 one way in mid-June 2012). The cheapest way to get between the two cities is the bus (whether you can score a ticket in advance for €9 or pay the standard fee of €22 or €27). Trains aren’t very expensive (from €29) either if you book in advance.

Trains from Hamburg to Berlin

Bahn.de operates fast trains (ICE , IC) between Hamburg and Berlin. The travel time is between 1h 40 min and 1h 50 min. The single savings fare starts at €34 and the standard fare is €73. On the slower trains (EC), the single fare is €29 and the standard fare is €59. The travel time is 2h. There are trains departing hourly from Hamburg between 3:46 a.m. and midnight.

>>read more about Train Travel in Germany

Buses from Hamburg to Berlin

Berlin Linen Bus operates direct buses between Hamburg and Berlin. If booked in advance the single fare starts at €9. Otherwise the fare is €22. Buses depart hourly from Berlin, starting at 7 a.m and ending at 9 p.m.

On the way back, from Hamburg to Berlin, expect fares of €9 (if seats are available and if booked in advance) or €27. Buses depart Hamburg hourly between 6:10 a.m. and 9 p.m.

>>read more about Bus Travel in Germany

Driving from Hamburg to Berlin

You can certainly rent a car in Hamburg and enjoy the 288 km drive to Berlin in A28. The travel time is about 3 h 10 min.

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Germany Planning a Trip Transportation

Getting from Munich to Vienna

Munich is the capital of Bavaria, well known for Oktoberfest. But the German city also offers palaces, churches, relaxing gardens and interesting squares to spend your time. Don’t miss visiting some of the museums either.

>>read more about the Things to do in Munich

Vienna is the capital of Austria, a lovely city well known for its architecture, museums and opera. Walk on the Ring Street to see the most important sights in the country, visit Schonbrunn Palace with its gardens and zoo. And don’t miss Stephansdom, an impressive Catholic cathedral right in the center of the city. For lovely views of the city, talk the elevator to the observation deck on Danube Tower or ride the Giant Ferries Wheel in Prater.

Summary

If you purchase the train ticket in advance , it’s almost as cheap as the bus ticket (€39 train, €34 bus) but you’ll be saving two hours of traveling. Either way , you won’t need to deal with getting to/from the airport.

Flights from Munich to Vienna

Munich International Airport (MUC) is the second busiest airport in Germany and is a major hub for Lufthansa. It is also hub for: Air Berlin, Augsburg Airways and Air Dolomiti.

Vienna International Airport (VIE) is located just outside the city limits and is home base for Austrian Airlines and Niki. It is the busiest airport in Austria. S-Bahn (commuter rail) is the cheapest and easiest way to get from the airport to the city center but there are also buses which go to important squares.

Flights between Munich and Vienna are operated by: Austrian Airlines, Lufthansa, Niki, Air Berlin and TUIfly. The flight time is 50 min. In mid-June 2012 expect to pay from €63 one way on Air Berlin. A return flight during the same period is €112 , also on Air Berlin. By mid-October 2012, expect to pay from €53 one way on Niki.

>>book a cheap flight to Munich

Trains from Munich to Vienna

Bahn.de operates trains between Munich and Vienna (Wien) Westbahnhof . If you purchase in advance, the single savings fare is €39 on the direct train (RJ) and €59 with a connection in Plattling. The standard fare ranges from €79.40 to €89.20 one way. The travel time is between 4 h 20 min and 5h.

The direct trains leave Munich daily at 1:27 p.m., 3:27 p.m. and 5:23 p.m. On the way back, the direct trains leave at 6:14 p.m., 6:14 a.m., 8:14 a.m. , 10:14 a.m. The complete scheduled can be found on the operator’s website (which also lists trains operated by other companies).

Buses from Munich to Vienna

Eurolines operates a bus line between Munich and Vienna. It departs Munich at 7 a.m. daily and the travel time is 6 h 30 min. On the way back, the bus departs Vienna daily at 4:45 p.m. The promotional single fare starts at €34 , but depends on how far in advance you purchase the ticket. The standard single fare is €47.

Driving from Munich to Vienna

You can certainly rent a car in Munich and drive to Vienna. Both Germany and Austria are part of the Schengen area so you won’t be paying any surcharges, either. On A1, the distance is 406 km and you should be able to cover it in about 5 hours (depends on the traffic, of course).

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Germany Planning a Trip Transportation

Getting from Frankfurt to Munich

Frankfurt is the economical capital of Germany and home to the country’s largest airport, with a lot of connections to the rest of the world. The downtown area and the scenic neighborhoods attract millions of travelers each year.

Munich is mostly known for being home to Oktoberfest, the world’s largest beer party, but the city also has a lot of other things to offer. The architecture and the culture are big parts of the city’s appeal to visitors.

Summary

With no buses connecting Frankfurt to Munich, the cheapest option is the train. Book in advance and you’ll pay €29 (savings fares one way on IC trains).

Flights from Frankfurt to Munich

Frankfurt Airport (FRA) is a major international hub, the busiest airport in terms of passenger traffic in the country and connects Germany to the rest of the world. The airport is located 12 km from the city center and is hub for Condor Flugdienst and Lufthansa.

Munich is served by two airports, but the flights to/from Frankfurt land on / depart from Munich International Airport (MUC). It is located 28.5 km from the city center and is hub for Air Berlin, Augsburg Airways, Lufthansa and Air Dolomiti. It is the second busiest airport in the country.

The only company operating direct flights between the two cities is Lufthansa. In mid-June 2012 expect to pay from €78 one way on Lufthansa. A return flight in the same period starts at €159 on the same airline. The same fares apply later in the year, too.

>>book a cheap flight to Munich

Trains from Frankfurt to Munich

Bahn.de operates fast trains (ICE) between Frankfurt and Munich. The travel time is about 3 ½ h. If you book in advance (about a month) the single savings fare is €59 . The standard fare is €95 one way. Trains depart from each station every hour until 1 a.m. And they start around 5 a.m. daily.

The savings fare on the IC trains is €29 and the travel time is similar. If don’t mind traveling in the evening, these are excellent choices to save money and get between the two cities fast.

>>read more about Train travel in Germany

Driving from Frankfurt to Munich

You can rent a car and drive the 400 km (on A3 and A9) between Frankfurt and Munich. Driving in Germany is a delight and you should be able to cover the distance in about 4 h (depending on the traffic).

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Germany Planning a Trip Things to Do Transportation

Getting from Frankfurt to Berlin

Frankfurt is the business and financial center of Germany and an important travel hub in the country, offering connections to the rest of the world. The downtown area is very popular among travelers and its off the beaten track neighborhoods still retain the old charm.

Berlin is a city filled with history, known for the remains of the Wall and home to Branderburg gate.

Both are important and interesting cities and traveling between them is an absolute delight. And there are plenty of choices , depending on your budget.

Summary

The cheapest option for traveling between Frankfurt and Berlin is the bus. The fares start at €33 one way (but they can be higher if you don’t book in advance) and the travel time is 9 h. A more expensive, but much faster – 4 to 5 h – option is the train. Book in advance and you can pay just €59 one way.

Flights from Frankfurt to Berlin

Frankfurt Airport (FRA) is a major international hub , located 12 km from the city center. It is hub for Condor Flugdienst and Lufthansa and is the busiest airport by passenger traffic in Germany.

Berlin is served by three airports: Tegel International Airport (TXL), Schönefeld (SXF) and Brandenburg (scheduled to open in June 2012). When the airport opens, Schönefeld is scheduled to close (as of August 2012).

Tegel International Airport (TXL) is the main airport serving Berlin and is located 8 km from the capital city. The airport is hub for Air Berlin and Germania and is the fourth biggest airport in Germany. It is also a focus city for Lufthansa.

Flights between Frankfurt and Berlin are operated by: Air Berlin (Tegel) and Lufthansa (Branderburg, Tegel). The flight time is 1h 15 min.

In mid-June 2012, expect to pay from €71 one way on Air Berlin. Lufthansa charges a slight higher price (€74 one way). Return flights during the same period start at €122 on Lufthansa. By mid-October, expect to pay from €53 one way on Air Berlin and from €102 for a return flight on the same carrier.

>>book a cheap flight to Berlin

Trains from Frankfurt to Berlin

Bahn.de operates trains (ICE and IC) between Frankfurt and Berlin. The travel time is between 4 h and 5 h. Book in advance (about 1 month) and you can find the cheapest fare of €59 one way (savings fares) rather than the standard fare of €118. The fares do depend on the hour of departure and route. Some trains connecting the two cities are direct, while some require a change in Hannover.

>>read more about Train Travel in Germany

Buses from Frankfurt to Berlin

Berlin Linien Bus operates buses between Frankfurt and Berlin and offers the possibility to book the ticket online. Book in advance and you pay only €33 one way between the two cities. The bus leaves Berlin at 7:06 a.m and arrives in Frankfurt 9 hr later. On the way back, catch the bus in Frankfurt at 8 a.m. and by 5 p.m. you’ll be in Berlin. The schedule and prices are here (pdf).

>>read more about Bus Travel in Germany

Driving from Frankfurt to Berlin

Driving in Germany is an absolute delight. The roads are in excellent condition and the drivers obey the rules. Especially if you are not traveling alone, renting a car here can be an excellent way to get from one city to another.

There are several routes to choose from when getting from Frankfurt to Berlin and, if you use Google Maps, you can get accurate traffic information. On the shortest route – 547 km on A4 and A9 – you can cover the distance in about 6 h.

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England Planning a Trip travel guide

England in June

Summer sets in and June is filled with events and festivals. From the Queen’s Birthday to the Midsummer’s Day bon fires…you won’t be staying still if you visit England now. It’s perfect weather to explore the outdoors but you’ll also have fun in the cities.

Weather

June is the first month of summer, which means the weather tends to be warmer but it’s just as unpredictable as during spring. So, bring an umbrella and a sweater…just in case. It’s lovely now to plan hikes in the outdoors.

Sample temperatures

Bath avg high 18C / avg low 9C
Birmingham avg high 18C / avg low 9C
Bristol avg high 18C /avg low 12C
Leeds avg high 18C / avg low 10C
Liverpool avg high 17C / avg low 10C
London avg high 18C / avg low 10C
Manchester avg high 17C / avg low 10C
York avg high 17C /avg low 8C

>>read more about Weather in England

Flights and Accommodation

The start of summer also means more tourists coming to England. So, book the flight in advance (stay within the 1 to 2 months range, if possible) and look for deals. If you don’t mind the carry on restrictions, low cost carriers can offer good deals, but you need to book the ticket pretty much on the spur of the moment.

Accommodation-wise, hotels tend to be quite prices in the summer, but of course, there are always some discounts available. Or just look for hostels but remember to book well in advance.

Things to do

Warm weather means you can explore the cities without having to find a warm place by 4 p.m. But you’ll probably want a place to get your dose of caffeine, anyway. Still, June is a good month to plan exploring the outdoors or just walk in the cities. Of course, expect crowds, especially in places such as London or Manchester.

>>read more about the Things to do in Manchester

June 13 marks the Birthday of Queen Elisabeth II which means: Trooping the Colour (Carrying of the Flag), a military parade held for the event.

The longest day – Summer Solstice (June 21 – June 22) – is celebrated at Stonehenge where people gather to see the sunrise. But Midsummer’s Day is associated with myths and witchcraft, so large bonfires are burn all over the country.

Glastonbury Festival also takes place in June ; or you can attend the Edinburgh International Film Festival, unless you are found of Rock Ness.

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England Planning a Trip travel guide

England in May

Warmer weather attracts more visitors – and so do the many festivals – but it’s still affordable to travel to England in May and the crowds haven’t taken over the sights yet. Spend time in the outdoors, plan to visit the sights and enjoy the early summer (or last days of spring).

Weather

May still falls during spring – albeit by the end of it – so the weather is not exactly reliable, however it’s one of the best times to visit England. Sure, you might end up having sunshine during your entire stay. But, as always when you plan to visit England, pack an umbrella and a sweater.


Sample temperatures

Bath avg high 15C / avg low 6C
Birmingham avg high 15C / avg low 6C
Bristol avg high 16C /avg low 8C
Leeds avg high 16C / avg low 8C
Liverpool avg high 15C / avg low 7C
London avg high 16C / avg low 6C
Manchester avg high 15C / avg low 7C
York avg high 15C /avg low 8C

>>read more about Weather in England

Flights and Accommodation

May falls during the end of summer and, by now, the prices start to increase. Make sure to plan your flight in advance (stay within the 1 to 2 months range, if possible). If you don’t mind the carry on restrictions, low cost carriers can offer good deals.

As for accommodation, the large cities don’t exactly have season variations when it comes to room prices but you can find discounts online, if you take your time to do some homework. And if hotels are too expensive, there are always the hostels to relay on but remember to book well in advance.

Things to do

May Day (May 1) now stands for the beginning of the summer and Labor Day (in Europe). For the ancestors , May Day was a major festival day, celebrated with dances and music. Traditionally, girls rushed out on May Day to wash their faces with the May due as it was believed to have magic proprieties.

A variety of festivals take place in May all over England. From the Brighton Festival – which is all about music and arts – to the May Day festivals and North Devon and Exmoor Walking Festival.

Should you plan to get married in May, please not that it’s considered an unlucky month (all over the continent; but I certainly many couples who wed in May and they are still together decades after the wedding day).

May is a lovely month to explore the cities and the countryside. There isn’t such thing as shoulder season in large cities, including London, for example, so do expect crowds – and by now they are getting bigger -, but it’s still relaxed and you can soak up the city’s atmosphere.

>>read more about the Things to do in Manchester

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England Planning a Trip travel guide

Getting from Manchester to Birmingham

When visiting either Manchester or Birmingham – or why not, both of them – travelers have plenty of choices when it comes to transportation. First of all, they are just 80 miles apart, so you can fly into either of them or into London – especially if you come from other parts than Europe – and then travel by land.

Buses and trains offer excellent connections between Manchester and Birmingham. You can also rent a car if you prefer the freedom at moving at your own pace.

Quick summary

The cheapest way to travel between Manchester and Birmingham is by bus. Fares start at £3.00 one way and the travel time is about 2 hours. Trains are slightly faster, but more expensive.

Trains from Manchester to Birmingham

Birmingham’s main station is New Street, which offer direct connections to Manchester Piccadilly , about every 10 to 15 min daily. The travel time is 1 ½ h to 1h 50 min and single fares start at £32.50.

Details, schedules and prices can be found here .

>>read more about Train Travel in England

Buses from Manchester to Birmingham

All intercity buses arrive at Birmingham Coach Station, a modern new station which is located close to the city center.

National Express offers daily connections, departing hourly or every two hours from Manchester Coach Station. The travel time is between 2h 50 min and 3h 15 min and the single fare starts at £5.50.

Megabus offers nine departures per day, about every 2 hours. The travel time is close to 2 h and the single fare starts at £3.00 and depends on the time of the departure.

>>read more about Bus Travel in England

Driving from Manchester to Birmingham

You can rent a car in Manchester and drive the 83 miles to Birmingham in about 1 ½ h. Of course, the travel time depends on the traffic on M6.

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England Planning a Trip travel guide

Getting from Bristol to Birmingham

Bristol is located in South West England . It is the sixth largest city in England and also one of the warmest and sunniest cities in the country, which makes it a pleasure to explore the city any time of the year.

Bristol and Birmingham are just 88 miles away, so there is no reason to fly between the two cities. So, you are left with traveling overland: by train, bus or car.

Quick summary

The cheapest way to travel between Bristol and Birmingham – or the other way around – is by bus. Even the fastest bus fare (which is more expensive than the slowest) is half as expensive as the train fare (and trains are only ½ h faster).

Trains from Bristol to Birmingham

National Rail operates trains between Bristol Temple Meads station and Birmingham New Street station, daily, every 30 min. The travel time is 1 ½ h and the single fare is £35.50.

>>read more about Train Travel in England

Buses from Bristol to Birmingham

National Express offers daily connection, about every hour, between Bristol and Birmingham. The fastest bus takes 1h 50 min and the single fare starts at £8.50 (on the slower bus – 3h) . Still, even on the fastest bus the fare is cheaper than the train fare (£10.50 or £20.50 depending on the time of departure).

>>read more about Bus Travel in England

Driving from Bristol to Birmingham

You can rent a car in Bristol and drive the 88 miles to Birmingham in about 1 ½ h on M5. Of course, the drive time also depends on the traffic.

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England Planning a Trip travel guide

Getting from Liverpool to Isle of Man

The Isle of Man is a British Crown dependency, located in the Irish Sea, between the islands of Great Britain and Ireland. It has its own government and parliament and is an associate member of the European Union.

Being an island, there are only two ways to get from Liverpool to the Isle of Man: by air or by water. The fares are similar (for foot passengers) but you might end up paying bookings fees when flying (so take that into account, too).

Flights from Liverpool (airport code: LPL) to Isle of Man

Liverpool John Lennon Airport (LPL) serves the city of Liverpool and the North West of England. Hub for EasyJet and Ryanair, the airport handles domestic flights as well as flights to European cities.

Isle of Man Airport (IOM) is located in Ronaldsway, near Castletown on the Isle of Man. It is not hub for any airline and receives a handful of flights from Ireland, Great Britain and other European countries.

Flights between Liverpool and Isle of Man are operated, year round, by EasyJet and Flybe. The flight time is 40 min. In the summer of 2012, expect to pay from £35 one way on EasyJet, but do remember that additional fees (booking fee, checked baggage fee) might be added to the price.

Make sure to book your ticket about 4 to 8 weeks in advance in order to get the best rates. If you need more luggage than the accepted carry on can handle, purchase the checked baggage before going to the airport (to cut down the fees).

>>book a cheap flight to/from Liverpool

Ferries from Liverpool to Isle of Man

The ferries between Liverpool and Isle of Man are operated by the Steam Packet Company . Depending on when you plan to travel, special fares may be available. At the time the article was written, a single ticket between the two ports costs £34.50 for an adult (transaction fees applied only when you pay with credit card).

At the time the article was written (March 2012) there is one departure available daily between the two ports. The travel time is 2h 45 min and the ferries leave Liverpool Sun to Thu at 4:15 p.m., Fri at 11:15 a.m. and Sat at 7:15 p.m. On the way back, catch the ferry at 3 p.m. Sun to Thu, at 7:30 am on Fri and Sat.

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England Planning a Trip travel guide

Getting from York to Manchester

York has a history which dates back to the Roman times and is home to some of the best preserved historical buildings in England and Europe. In Roman times, it was known as Eboracum and was one of the important Roman cities in Britain. The Vikings also ensured a major urban revival for the city. Nowadays, it’s a small but charming English city , home to plenty of festivals.

The closest airport to York is Leeds but it doesn’t offer too many options for flights. In fact, it’s a more expensive option than Manchester’s Airport , which is the largest British airport outside of London, served by a variety of carriers.

Quick summary

Getting from York to Manchester is easy: the cheapest option is the bus, but the fastest is the train (and the fare difference is not too much between the two means of transportation).

Trains from York to Manchester

Trains connect York to both Manchester Piccadilly and Manchester Oxford Road. The travel time is similar : about 1 ½ h , but it’s cheaper to travel to Manchester Piccadilly at certain hours. Single fares start at £12.00 and there departures every 15 to 30 minutes daily. Details, schedules and prices can be found here.

First also operates daily trains between the two cities, leaving every 10 to 30 minutes. The travel time is the same and the fares start at £12.00 one way.

>>read more about Train Travel in England

Buses from York to Manchester

National Express offers buses every hour, daily between York and Manchester. The travel time is 2 ½ h and the single fare starts at £10.30 but depends on the time of departure.

>>read more about Bus Travel in England

Driving from York to Manchester

You can rent a car in York and drive the 75 miles to Manchester – or the other way around. The travel time is about 1 ½ h but it does depend on the traffic.

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