Hi, we are visiting our daughter in London from the US. We are planning a two week trip originating in London. We plan on taking the Chunnel across and visitng Bruges. We plan on going to Amsterdam and then heading back to London. We have heard the Hoeck to Harwick Stenaline Superferry was an alternative, anyone had experience with this? Please suggest or comment on a way to get back to London that is more romantic than the Chunnel.
Posted by
TX
980 posts
Cross channel ferries aren't exactly known for their romance factor. A short flight from AMS to any of the London airports is probably what most travelers would do. Several low cost carriers (Easyjet or Cityjet for example) have one way flights for less than 100€. If you can find a flight to London City airport you will save considerable time.
DJ
Posted by
the Netherlands
2487 posts
I've done Hoek to Harwich a couple of times, and I agree you need a very rosy view to call this connection »romantic«.
Try indeed to get a flight to City Airport. By the time you've reached the luggage belt at Heathrow, with City Airport you are already at your accommodation.
Posted by
Green Bay
20085 posts
Frequent flights between London City airport and Amsterdam Schipol. Take the DLR train between airport and central London and connections on the tube.
http://www.cityjet.com/
Posted by
New York, NY, USA
11294 posts
If you can't get a flight from AMS to London City (LCY), I'd take the train back from Amsterdam to London rather than deal with any of the other London airports. That's because when you figure in the time and hassle it will take to get from any of the other airports into the city itself, the train will be faster and easier overall.
Note that trains from London to Bruges and Amsterdam to London start out affordable for advance purchase, non-refundable tickets. As you get closer to the travel date and/or if you need flexibility, the prices go up - potentially to the stratosphere. Be sure to book as soon as you know your dates.
For Bruges to Amsterdam, in addition to trains that have pricing like in the above paragraph, there are also slower trains, with more connections, that do not go up in price.
For details of all these trains (as well as the ferry options), a great resource is The Man In Seat 61. Here's his Amsterdam to London page, for starters: http://seat61.com/Netherlands.htm#.Vyn0g3onKT8
Posted by
winston salem, nc, usa
1078 posts
We will be taking the Stenaline night ferry this June from Hook to Harwich with our 10 YO grandson-just as we first did with his older brother. Outside room for 3 is 202Pounds, plus another €36 to Hook from Amsterdam along with 80+ Pounds from Harwich to the Liverpool station. Price includes breakfast, and it was a nice change from going through airports and clean and quiet.
Posted by
Frankfurt am Main, Germany
2779 posts
The Amsterdam (The Hook of Holland) to Harwich ferry is very nice. They are the largest combinded passenger/freight ferries in the world. Cabins are nice and you get a good night's rest. On the Dutch side you take the train to Hoek van Holland Haven which is just outside the vessel. On the English side the train from - again just outside the vessel - takes you straight to London Liverpool Street station in 90 minutes.
Stena Britannica and Stena Hollandica (the names of those two vessels) were built in 2008 and the passenger decks are more like on a cruise ship than on a ferry.