Liverpool Travel Forum

so, easyjet is not so cheap!! any other way to get to berlin that you know about? i live in the the us, so am not familiar with ferry system, would it be any less expensive to take the ferry and train? fares for dates i need on easyjet are about 70 quid each way! thanks for any help! susan

If you can get a cheap National Express coach fare, via Birmingham, try RyanAir from London Stansted. Usually two flights daily each way. But fares vary enormously. EasyJet is not cheap! RyanAir CAN be - but not always.

In February 2007 I travelled from London Victoria to Liverpool by National Express for GBP 1.00. THAT takes some beating.

And in September 2008 from Frankfurt-Hahn to Berlin-Schönefeld by RyanAir for about 12 euros.

Well - you have not said what your dates are but I doubt you would do it cheaper by ferry and train.
National Express £1 fares are a bit like catching a fly - if you catch it it's not going where you want to go, on the date you want. I receive their email alerts and have yet to catch one.
But the longer/later you book with Easyjet the more the fare is likely to be.

The nearest Ryanair airport with flights to Berlin is East Midlands. Not sure of best way from Liverpool to E.M. though. Booked well in advance Ryanair is usually the cheapest way to go.

Hugh

Hi Susan,
Bear in mind that Ryanair charge around £20 for checked in luggage (15kg limit), whereas Easyjet include 1 case (20kg) to be checked in included in the flight price.So this could add to your fare.

Have you got a set date to travel? If not-sign up for Easyjet and Ryanair mailing list-to find out about special offers.
Midweek is usually cheaper than weekend flights.
Have you tried Skyscanner -for flights Liverpool to Berlin http://www.skyscanner.net/

To get from Liverpool to East Midlands -hire car?

Train - 1 option is Liverpool Lime Street change at Nottingham for East Midlands Parkway.
National Express Coach - Liverpool change at Sheffield for EMA http://www.nationalexpress.com/coach/index.cfm

I hope this is of some help
Best Wishes,
Sue

One-way car hire to EMA won't be much cheaper (if any cheaper at all) than train, I think. www.nationalrail.co.uk will give you all the train options and fares.

Train + ferry + train will be more expensive than flying.

You can get a coach all the way. a long journey (with a wait in London)...but even that is 72GBP.

You could take the tain to London and then the coach to Berlin, but that will be more expensive.

www.nationalexpress.com for coach times and fares.

So, you see, 70GBP is not so expensive........but

....the thing about budget airlines is that you have to book well in advance for best fares...8-10 weeks or so. It costs a lot to run an airline and, when oe considers distances etc, 70GBP is not that expensive.

But if you are looking a very long way in advance (e.g for the end of the year/early next year) you will just be quoted the 'standard' fare. Wait until 3 months or so before you travel to see fares in their lower ranges.

Easyjet is as cheap as Ryanair for many routes and (imo) a much more pleasant experience, although I use both.

Check www.skyscanner.net for cheapest fares for your dates (as long as they ar enot too far in advnace).

Having seen your dates on your other posts, the reason you are not finding cheap fares with Easyjet is that a) you are looking too late for cheap early August flights (best booked in May or earlier) and b) it is in the middle of the UK school holidays, when all flights (with all carriers) cost more.

I still think it is probably your cheapest and certainly most convenient option..but book today, because fares (with all carriers) will continue to rise the nearer you get to your departure date.

wow, didn't realize that you had to book so far ahead to get low fares on easyjet. i work for an airline, so i'm aware of how fare structures work. i guess august must be peak, peak travel time for europeans? unfortunately, won't be able to purchase my ticket until closer to departure (aug 6) time, due to fact i'll be travelling from new york to europe standby and it's way too early to know if i can actually get on a airplane on 5 aug. so, it looks like easyjet is the only game in town for the liverpool-berlin market. if the cost gets too prohibitive, maybe have to look at other alternative, although berlin was my first choice. thanks for all the input! susan

I'm afraid that is exactly how all European budget airlines work. The further in advance you book (within 3 months of travel or so), the better the fare. There are no last-minute fares, and sales are never pre-advertised.

And August is indeed the height of the UK holiday season.

If you can't book now, you must expect fares to rise even further. Sorry.

Might be worth considering that train/coach idea.....it will almost certainly be cheaper than the airfare if you cannot book until mid-July onwards.

Remember that you can get cheap(er) advance UK rail tickets (on some trains on some routes on some days) if you buy them at the station (or online) by 6pm the day before you travel.