tom_uk Posted September 4, 2017 #26 Share Posted September 4, 2017 I’ll support the idea of staying at a Travel lodge or P Inn the night before, part-way on the journey. But don’t try to do too much that evening. Have dinner at home, then just drive for a few hours. I would have thought that somewhere south of Nottingham and north of Northampton would be ideal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NSWP Posted September 4, 2017 #27 Share Posted September 4, 2017 While we are on the subject, after attending a wedding pm on the Friday will be driving from Bourton on the Water on a Saturday morning to Southampton, return rental car and board Sapphire Princess for 4pm sailng. Should that be a fairly easy journey? Around 2.5 hours? Thank you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrianI Posted September 5, 2017 #28 Share Posted September 5, 2017 While we are on the subject, after attending a wedding pm on the Friday will be driving from Bourton on the Water on a Saturday morning to Southampton, return rental car and board Sapphire Princess for 4pm sailng. Should that be a fairly easy journey? Around 2.5 hours? Thank you. It's about 90 miles so around 2 hours or just over depending on traffic. Head towards Oxford and then pick up the A34. Brian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shopping girl Posted September 5, 2017 Author #29 Share Posted September 5, 2017 Thank you for all the advice it is much appreciated. DO you think I should book a travel lodge or premier inn or should we just see how far we can drive and stop and hopefully we will get a room. I worried about booking incase we do not get that far or we feel we can travel further. :confused: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ann141 Posted September 5, 2017 #30 Share Posted September 5, 2017 Thank you for all the advice it is much appreciated. DO you think I should book a travel lodge or premier inn or should we just see how far we can drive and stop and hopefully we will get a room. I worried about booking incase we do not get that far or we feel we can travel further. :confused: I would book in advance because occasionally the hotels are full and then you would have to find one even further on! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
janny444 Posted September 5, 2017 #31 Share Posted September 5, 2017 Hi shopping girl...what time are you hoping to set off from home? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Tinkywinky Posted September 5, 2017 #32 Share Posted September 5, 2017 Difficult to tell but if you are going down the evening before , that would be a Friday ? and we all know what Fridays are like on the roads. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adammara Posted September 5, 2017 #33 Share Posted September 5, 2017 I would pre book a room, often a little cheaper. Go for around halfway, Banbury or Oxford area. Several budget hotels in the Oxford area, we have used the Premier Inn at Abingdon, about 60 miles from Southampton Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shopping girl Posted September 5, 2017 Author #34 Share Posted September 5, 2017 Hi shopping girl...what time are you hoping to set off from home? Hopefully around 7pm when traffic has quieted down a little Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare DamianG Posted September 5, 2017 #35 Share Posted September 5, 2017 We've used the Mercure Daventry Court Hotel a couple of times. It's not far off the M1 and from there it is easy to get on to the A34. It is around 110 miles to Southampton from Daventry so not too bad a drive for your onward journey. With all the 50mph speed restrictions plus the usual Friday night traffic it may be a more reachable/attainable overnight stopping place than further South? Good luck with your plans & have a great cruise. Damian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Florry Posted September 5, 2017 #36 Share Posted September 5, 2017 Hi we are on the same cruise and live in Solihull, south of Birmingham. It usually takes us about 2.5 hours from there [emoji4] Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NSWP Posted September 6, 2017 #37 Share Posted September 6, 2017 It's about 90 miles so around 2 hours or just over depending on traffic. Head towards Oxford and then pick up the A34.Brian Thanks Brian, been into Southampton before, but your advice re travel times helps me out.:hearteyes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Highpeaklad Posted September 6, 2017 #38 Share Posted September 6, 2017 Try and set off as soon as possible as there are often night closures on the A1 in the roadworks near Catterick. They usually close the road after 8pm. Diversions will be slower than the 50mph usually allowed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
janny444 Posted September 6, 2017 #39 Share Posted September 6, 2017 Hopefully around 7pm when traffic has quieted down a little Hi...'fraid I am the sort of person who cannot cope with being on the last minute for any sort of meeting/rendezvous etc so I would try and get down as far as possible. Not sure if one can check in extremely late in Travel lodges ...Premier Inns but for peace of mind I would do that. In fact I think we drive all the way down so that we are in the right place at the right time. Friends of ours travelled down the day before ...put up in an hotel overnight 100 miles or so out from cruise terminal...had a leisurely breakfast...then they got caught up in an horrific traffic accident jam where they didn't move an inch for hours which resulted in them missing the cruise. I know that this is an extreme case and 99.99% of the time everything goes smoothly but "stuff" happens. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marchie1053 Posted September 6, 2017 #40 Share Posted September 6, 2017 Hi we are sailing on Britannia on 30th September we are driving from Newcastle to Southampton. We have never drove to Southampton before we have always used Eavesway travel. We are parking car with CPS. Our boarding time is 1.30pm we are thinking of leaving at 4am I am hoping this will give us enough time to drive down. Unfortunaty we cannot drive down the day before as we have our own business and my husband needs to be at work that day. We could have got coach travel through P&O I was wondering wether to change to coach but they now use a company called inter cruise and when I have looked at reviews they are not very good apparently. Has anyone travelled with them? Also they do not leave Newcastle until 6-7am therefore we have been informed we would not be at the ship until between 3-4pm. When we travelled with Eavesway we left Newcastle at 5am. I may just be feeling anxious as the cruise is 4 weeks away and we have never driven to Southampton before and just worried incase we get held up. Could someone please put my mind at rest either to drive or go by coach. :confused: Apart from this dilemma I can't wait for our cruise so close now :D We drove to Southampton from north of Edinburgh in December 2015, a few days after the Forth Bridge was closed to cars from 05:00 each day, whilst repairs were carried out. To make sure we were well clear, we left home shortly after 03:00! As we reached the M6, overhead gantry signs appeared 'Traffic Jams in 100 miles. 1 Hour delays'. Since this was before 05:00, I assumed the signs were an error - well if you count the delay as being 56 minutes instead of an hour, they were! Well before the Threlwell viaduct, and from about 05:20, traffic just ground to a halt - no accidents or roadworks/lane closures - just pure traffic volumes! Despite driving at the 70mph limit whenever I could (and taking only a 45 minutes break in the West Midlands for a late breakfast), we did not reach Southampton until about 14:45, almost 12 hours from set off on a 500 mile journey! Fortunately, it was the day before the cruise departure - otherwise we would have missed the boat - literally! I would be very tempted to drive as far south as you can sensibly manage the night before and take a Premier Inn or similar booking - late arrival/early departure to be safe and worry-free. The prices are cheap enough not to feel too bad about an 05:00 departure! But that 2-3 hours 'head start' on the day of the cruise gives you a good margin in case of the unexpected! I have taken many (trouble-free) journeys where I can remember very little of the detail - with our Southampton trip, I can recall virtually every detail! The irony is, before I moved to Scotland, I lived about 11 miles away from Southampton Docks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shopping girl Posted September 6, 2017 Author #41 Share Posted September 6, 2017 Thank you all for your advice. We are considering just paying for the coach travel to Southampton ourselves just incase my husband does not leave work on time as often happens due to having our own business. Would rather be safe than sorry I would be devastated if we missed the ship especially as I am celebrating my 50th birthday. I have digested all of the advice and I think paying for the coach is my preferred option. Normally pay for it anyway if it's not offered through cruise it's just one of those things at time of booking we thought we would drive but things happen and now coach is better option. If we missed ship it would cost more to meet it and we will miss 3 days as is at sea! Thank you everyone :cool: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
janny444 Posted September 7, 2017 #42 Share Posted September 7, 2017 Hi..i.f you are considering booking the coach transfer I would do it sooner rather than later...I think you can privately book the coach and be guaranteed a seat up to a certain date cut off point and then after it is a case "if there is room". Phone Eavesway/Intercruises....not sure if both companies are doing your cruise transfer... to check. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shopping girl Posted September 7, 2017 Author #43 Share Posted September 7, 2017 Hi everyone I have booked coach travel this morning with Eavesway. I'm really glad I put this post on thank you for all your advice :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
janny444 Posted September 7, 2017 #44 Share Posted September 7, 2017 Good to hear that you are sorted...can't beat having peace of mind. Now all you need to do is sit back and enjoy the cruise. :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shopping girl Posted September 7, 2017 Author #45 Share Posted September 7, 2017 Yes I definitely feel more relaxed now. Just need to concentrate on packing. 😁😎🛍🚌🚢🍹🌞 can't wait now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goosebear Mum Posted September 7, 2017 #46 Share Posted September 7, 2017 I'm pleased; under the circumstances (not being able to start driving down till late evening) the decision to use a coach is the right one. You'll be more rested, and a lot less stressed, than trying to drive a long way late at night. Enjoy your cruise :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Florry Posted September 7, 2017 #47 Share Posted September 7, 2017 Thank you all for your advice. We are considering just paying for the coach travel to Southampton ourselves just incase my husband does not leave work on time as often happens due to having our own business. Would rather be safe than sorry I would be devastated if we missed the ship especially as I am celebrating my 50th birthday. I have digested all of the advice and I think paying for the coach is my preferred option. Normally pay for it anyway if it's not offered through cruise it's just one of those things at time of booking we thought we would drive but things happen and now coach is better option. If we missed ship it would cost more to meet it and we will miss 3 days as is at sea! Thank you everyone :cool: My hubby is also celebrating his 50th on this cruise [emoji2] Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shopping girl Posted September 8, 2017 Author #48 Share Posted September 8, 2017 My hubby is also celebrating his 50th on this cruise [emoji2] Sent from my iPhone using Forums Hi Florry I hope your husband has an amazing birthday. Might see you both on the ship have a great time in really looking forward to it. 😁 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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