Peter’s Post
Our travel expert answers queries on routes and destinations around the world
THE WAY TO LONDON TOWN
Besides the crowded London Underground, which are the easiest and most costeffective ways to travel from Heathrow Airport to central London? — Simon Bisseker
The tube’s Piccadilly Line remains one of the most popular ways to get from the airport into London and it is very costeffective at only £5.70 (R102) one-way ( tfl.gov.uk/tickets).
However, as you point out, the trains can be packed and uncomfortable at peak times. A cheap alternative is to take one of the National Express coaches, which run to and from Victoria Station every few minutes ( nationalexpress.com). The journey takes
anything from 40-90 minutes and the fares are £6 (R107) one-way and £12 return (R214).
Only a little more pricy is the Heathrow Connect rail service ( heathrowconnect.com). It takes 25-35 minutes from the airport to London Paddington and costs £9.90 (R177) one-way and £19.80 (R354) return.
The most luxurious train service is the Heathrow Express, which runs between the airport and London Paddington in 15 minutes. It prides itself on being the fastest way to get from the airport to the city centre. The price for a single ticket is £21 (R376) and £34 (R609) for a return ( heathrowexpress.com).
Another fairly cost-effective way to make the journey is by shuttle bus. Expect to pay £18-£19 (R322-R340) for a one-way trip in a shared shuttle bus to a hotel in central London ( heathrowshuttle.com).
Finally, although they are not the cheapest, the black cab taxis provide a very comfortable door-to-door service from Heathrow ( heathrowtaxis.org). Expect to pay anything from £50-£80 (R896-R1 433).
Note that you can get a discount on fares for Heathrow Connect and the Heathrow Express if you apply for a Railcard. The discounts, which can be as high as 34%, are applicable to senior citizens, family groups, travellers aged 16-25 and the disabled ( railcard.co.uk).
SEEING THE SOUTH OF FRANCE
At the end of June, my wife and I will be based in Juan Les Pins, France, for a week. We want to do day trips to places such as St Tropez and San Remo. We would normally hire a car, but feel it may be better to take public transport at that time of the year due to traffic, parking and congestion. What is your opinion cost-wise and convenience-wise? — Tony Jamieson While there is nothing to beat the convenience of having your own vehicle, you have quite rightly identified the problems you would experience in high season. You may be able to cope with the congestion, but the limited availability of parking is the real killer. You can easily travel between the major towns by bus or train. Fares are very reasonable and there are four bus companies plus TER trains serving the region.
Once you get to St Tropez or San Remo, be prepared to sightsee by foot. Cruising taxis are rare and public transport is limited. An alternative is to hire a scooter in St Tropez ( rolling-bikes.com). In San Remo, cycling is popular and a cycle path runs right along the coast through the town ( cyclesanremo.com). However, if you really want to have a hassle-free day, then your best bet would be to go on an organised day trip or arrange a private day tour for yourselves from Juan Les Pins. You can do whatever you want without having to worry about traffic, parking or fellow travellers. Try
viator.com and tourazur.com for organised and custom tours.