Holyhead to Conwy

kopkidda

Any other options other then train to get to conwy, working out at €60 for return for family of 4.

selwyn froggitt

You could try this? They do a family ticket for £12

https://tickets.arrivabus.co.uk/wales/wales/

kopkidda

selwyn froggitt wrote: »

You could try this? They do a family ticket for £12

https://tickets.arrivabus.co.uk/wales/wales/

Thanks for reply, don't think them buses go as far as conwy?

CeilingFly

That seems to be best value and not too bad considering its 8 journeys.

Train prices in the UK are way above Irish Rail prices.

https://www.thetrainline.com/ €55 return for family of 4

Bus service from holyhead to Conwy requires a change and is infrequent

Alun

Would a Sail Rail ticket work out any cheaper than separate ferry and rail tickets in this case?

danm14

Alun wrote: »

Would a Sail Rail ticket work out any cheaper than separate ferry and rail tickets in this case?

Sail & Rail is €80 return per adult and €40 return per child with Stena Line.
Irish Ferries are the same price, but with a €3 booking fee (one fee per booking, not per passenger) and a €6 per adult or €3 per child each way supplement for using the fast ferry.

danm14

CeilingFly wrote: »

Bus service from holyhead to Conwy requires a change and is infrequent

It's only infrequent on Sundays (every two hours connecting into every 30 minutes). Monday to Saturday it's more frequent than the train - every half hour from Holyhead to Bangor, and every 15 minutes from there to Conwy.

kopkidda

Stena works out at €26 and then the train return to conwy €60, think I will go with that, save all the messing around with transfers with small kids , thanks for replies

Vic_08

Sailrail is nearly always cheaper than separate ship + rail tickets, unless there is a special offer being used, the Tuesday €6.50 pp day trip fare in this case.

OP you may consider the Friends and Family Railcard. Cost £30/year and gives 33% of Adult and 60% off child fares. Won't be cheaper for this trip but definitely worth it if you will make more rail journeys in the year.

https://www.familyandfriends-railcard.co.uk/

danm14

kopkidda wrote: »

Stena works out at €26 and then the train return to conwy €60, think I will go with that, save all the messing around with transfers with small kids , thanks for replies

The first train to Conwy after the ferry arrives is at 1:24 PM, a two hour wait. The last train back that connects with the 20:30 ferry is at 6:28 PM.

A return ticket to Llandudno or Colwyn Bay is very slightly cheaper (30p for adults, 15p for children) than a ticket to Conwy. You can still get off at Conwy (just tell the conductor you're "breaking your journey") - this is expressly allowed, you're doing absolutely nothing wrong. You'll then have the choice either to stay in Conwy for the day, or to go from Conwy to Llandudno (changing at Llandudno Junction) or Colwyn Bay before coming home, though make sure the train times allow this. Even if you only intend to go to Conwy, why pay a pound more than you need to!? The ticket I suggested here isn't valid at the time you're coming back, thanks Vic_08

You should buy your train tickets at Holyhead Station (or from the train conductor on board if the ticket office is closed). There's no discount for booking the train online on this journey, you'll pay booking fees to buy online on some sites, and there's a charge for cancelling your tickets if you decide not to go.

Also, remember that Conwy is a request stop, so when you're on the train from Holyhead you must tell the conductor you want to get off at Conwy. This is especially important if your ticket is for Llandudno or Colwyn Bay! When you're getting on a train at Conwy, you must make a hand signal like you're getting on a bus. If you don't (and nobody else does), the train will continue without stopping.

Vic_08

danm14 wrote: »

The first train to Conwy after the ferry arrives is at 1:24 PM, a two hour wait. The last train back that connects with the 20:30 ferry is at 6:28 PM.

A return ticket to Llandudno or Colwyn Bay is very slightly cheaper (30p for adults, 15p for children) than a ticket to Conwy. You can still get off at Conwy (just tell the conductor you're "breaking your journey") - this is expressly allowed, you're doing absolutely nothing wrong. You'll then have the choice either to stay in Conwy for the day, or to go from Conwy to Llandudno (changing at Llandudno Junction) or Colwyn Bay before coming home, though make sure the train times allow this. Even if you only intend to go to Conwy, why pay a pound more than you need to!?

You should buy your train tickets at Holyhead Station (or from the train conductor on board if the ticket office is closed). There's no discount for booking the train online on this journey, you'll pay booking fees to buy online on some sites, and there's a charge for cancelling your tickets if you decide not to go.

Also, remember that Conwy is a request stop, so when you're on the train from Holyhead you must tell the conductor you want to get off at Conwy. This is especially important if your ticket is for Llandudno or Colwyn Bay! When you're getting on a train at Conwy, you must make a hand signal like you're getting on a bus. If you don't (and nobody else does), the train will continue without stopping.

The cheaper off-peak day return for Llandudno or Colwyn Bay is NOT valid on the 18.28 (or 16.23) Departures from Conwy.

danm14

Vic_08 wrote: »

The cheaper off-peak day return for Llandudno or Colwyn Bay is NOT valid on the 18.28 (or 16.23) Departures from Conwy.

Not sure how I missed that, edited accordingly.

CeilingFly

Holidays, small kids, luggage.

Enjoy the holiday, take the easiest route even if its a little more expensive.

Book online beforehand (trainline.com is best) and take all risk and hassle and enjoy yourself.

danm14

CeilingFly wrote: »

Book online beforehand (trainline.com is best) and take all risk and hassle and enjoy yourself.

No reason whatsoever to book online for this journey - there are no discounted tickets for this route.

Trainline is never best, they charge booking fees, and every ticket they sell is available at the same price on any train company's website without the booking fees.

Booking online for this journey will be the same price as paying at the station provided you do it with Arriva Trains Wales (or another train company's site) - it'll be more expensive than paying at the station if you use Trainline.

Vic_08

danm14 wrote: »

Not sure how I missed that, edited accordingly.

Easily done, GB rail fares are a quagmire. If that train was 2 minutes later it would be valid.

CeilingFly wrote: »

Holidays, small kids, luggage.

Enjoy the holiday, take the easiest route even if its a little more expensive.

Book online beforehand (trainline.com is best) and take all risk and hassle and enjoy yourself.

Trainline is NEVER best, they add booking fees that none of the rail company websites charge.

The tickets required by the OP are walk-up tickets, no discount is available for buying in advance but in the case of a cancelled trip they would be out of pocket.

For this journey I would recommend buying at Holyhead station.

It is understandable that people that don't know any better think using Trainline is cheaper due to their misleading advertising. Sheep indeed.

kopkidda

Great stuff lads, thanks for all your input.