Rail Europe
Pedal power
There are 12 million bicycles for 16 million people in Holland. And why not cycle, when there are 17,000km of marked cycle routes, and the terrain is flat and easy for everyone in the family? Travelling to Amsterdam via rail involves taking the Eurostar to Brussels and then another train to Amsterdam, which costs from £69 return. In late 2008 a high-speed link between Brussels and Amsterdam will make this journey faster by one hour and 20 minutes – find out more from www.raileurope.co.uk. Once in Amsterdam, you can enjoy exploring the city by bike, or head out to the coastal path, fields of flowers in bloom (best in spring) or forest trails. You can hire bikes at more than100 rail stations throughout Holland, costing £4 for a day pass, but must have ID and leave a deposit of between £35 and £100.
www.holland.com
Downstream
The Eurostar relocation to St Pancras will take place on 14 November this year. Journey times reduced to 1 hour 51 minutes from London to Brussels, with fares from £59 return per person.If you think going to Brussels is all about Belgian chocolate and moules frites, you‘d be surprised by the number of options to burn it all off. There are adventure parks, canoeing and kayaking within an hour of Brussels. If you head to Dinant 65km to the south, you can kayak down the river Lesse, from £6 to £11 for a 21km tour. Call 0032 82 22 43 97 for Lesse Kayaks.
www.belgiumtheplaceto.be
Out at sea
You’ll be surprised how quickly you can be in Marseille, on the Côte D’Azur, by rail. From London to Marseille takes 6 hours 40, via Paris (after 14 Nov this will take 20 minutes less), and costs from £109 return. It is easy to book online on www.raileurope.co.uk. A traditional naval port, Marseille is once again on the yachting map – in 2004 the pre-regattas for the Louis Vuitton Americas Cup were held here. Soak up some Mediterranean glamour on board a traditional gaffe-rigged sailing boat, on a tour that takes in the Bay of Marseille, the Frioul Islands, and the Cap Croisette. This costs £24 for an afternoon’s sailing.
www.marseille-tourisme.com
All in
For the small supplement of £39, you can choose to travel to some of Ingham’s Lakes and Mountains destinations by train instead of by airplane. To get to Kitzbuhel, in the Kitzbuheler Alps, you travel overnight in a couchette to Munich, then onto Saltzburg, and there is a short one-and-a-half hour transfer from Saltzburg. Hotel Erika offers free bike hire and guided walk, as well as afternoon tea and a free drink with dinner, representing excellent value. The nearby Lake Schwartzee is a good place to cool off after a hike or a bike in the mountains. Seven nights at the four-star Hotel Erika start from £648 per person on half-board, including flights and transfers.
www.inghams.co.uk
Make a wake
Since the super-fast TGV Est line opened on 10 June, the journey time from Paris to Zurich has been reduced from 5 hours 50 minutes to 4 hours 35 minutes. There are currently two direct services daily, and this will increase to three early in 2008. Prices start at £134 return.Wakeboarding on Lake Zurich, between Zurich and Davos, is a popular activity in the summer. You can get wakeboarding equipment and tuition from the Wakeboarding Academy near Wollishofen to the west of Lake Zurich. Lessons for beginners cost £24. Book by calling 0049 79416 4208
www.myswitzerland.com
There are 12 million bicycles for 16 million people in Holland. And why not cycle, when there are 17,000km of marked cycle routes, and the terrain is flat and easy for everyone in the family? Travelling to Amsterdam via rail involves taking the Eurostar to Brussels and then another train to Amsterdam, which costs from £69 return. In late 2008 a high-speed link between Brussels and Amsterdam will make this journey faster by one hour and 20 minutes – find out more from www.raileurope.co.uk. Once in Amsterdam, you can enjoy exploring the city by bike, or head out to the coastal path, fields of flowers in bloom (best in spring) or forest trails. You can hire bikes at more than100 rail stations throughout Holland, costing £4 for a day pass, but must have ID and leave a deposit of between £35 and £100.
www.holland.com
Downstream
The Eurostar relocation to St Pancras will take place on 14 November this year. Journey times reduced to 1 hour 51 minutes from London to Brussels, with fares from £59 return per person.If you think going to Brussels is all about Belgian chocolate and moules frites, you‘d be surprised by the number of options to burn it all off. There are adventure parks, canoeing and kayaking within an hour of Brussels. If you head to Dinant 65km to the south, you can kayak down the river Lesse, from £6 to £11 for a 21km tour. Call 0032 82 22 43 97 for Lesse Kayaks.
www.belgiumtheplaceto.be
Out at sea
You’ll be surprised how quickly you can be in Marseille, on the Côte D’Azur, by rail. From London to Marseille takes 6 hours 40, via Paris (after 14 Nov this will take 20 minutes less), and costs from £109 return. It is easy to book online on www.raileurope.co.uk. A traditional naval port, Marseille is once again on the yachting map – in 2004 the pre-regattas for the Louis Vuitton Americas Cup were held here. Soak up some Mediterranean glamour on board a traditional gaffe-rigged sailing boat, on a tour that takes in the Bay of Marseille, the Frioul Islands, and the Cap Croisette. This costs £24 for an afternoon’s sailing.
www.marseille-tourisme.com
All in
For the small supplement of £39, you can choose to travel to some of Ingham’s Lakes and Mountains destinations by train instead of by airplane. To get to Kitzbuhel, in the Kitzbuheler Alps, you travel overnight in a couchette to Munich, then onto Saltzburg, and there is a short one-and-a-half hour transfer from Saltzburg. Hotel Erika offers free bike hire and guided walk, as well as afternoon tea and a free drink with dinner, representing excellent value. The nearby Lake Schwartzee is a good place to cool off after a hike or a bike in the mountains. Seven nights at the four-star Hotel Erika start from £648 per person on half-board, including flights and transfers.
www.inghams.co.uk
Make a wake
Since the super-fast TGV Est line opened on 10 June, the journey time from Paris to Zurich has been reduced from 5 hours 50 minutes to 4 hours 35 minutes. There are currently two direct services daily, and this will increase to three early in 2008. Prices start at £134 return.Wakeboarding on Lake Zurich, between Zurich and Davos, is a popular activity in the summer. You can get wakeboarding equipment and tuition from the Wakeboarding Academy near Wollishofen to the west of Lake Zurich. Lessons for beginners cost £24. Book by calling 0049 79416 4208
www.myswitzerland.com
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