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Transport options:
- Ferry/train combo
- Bus (which drives right onto the Eurostar train)
Ferry and train options
A good alternative to taking a flight is the ferry, especially if you take a car. When everything is taken into account the ferry can be a similar price to a flight or cheaper with a daytime crossing. Obviously there is more travelling time, but with the night crossing you have a cabin and you can sleep the whole way. Or you can take advantage of the onboard entertainment and if you haven’t been on a ferry before you will be amazed that they are actually much similar to small cruise ships than to some rickety boat shuttle. All ferries have a casino, cinemas, shops, restaurants and disco/bars onboard.
Prices for the whole thing for a foot passenger start at around €33 each way, though they are a bit higher during July and August. There are comfortable reclining chairs in the normal areas, though experienced passengers will take those all really fast so you have to be quick. But you can also rent a small cabin starting at around €30 for a single or €50 for a double and even cheaper if you share a 4 berth cabin. Prices are lower for the cabins on ferries with a daytime crossing, and they often offer them at half price, which is nice for anyone who stayed up all night.
If you plan to stay in Holland for a longer break or on a work assignment, you can bring your pet. All ferries have kennel facilities below deck or they can be kept in your car during the crossing. This is subject to strict EU regulations in which your pet must have a passport stating they are disease free after being checked by a vet. They must also be micro-chipped and the price is usually around £15.00 each way. But check the conditions with each ferry.
One of the three ferry services connecting England to Holland and they sail from Newcastle to IJmuiden in Noord Holland with one crossing per night. Coach transfers are provided to nearby Haarlem and Amsterdam and at the moment they have a special 2 night mini-cruise to visit the Keukenhof gardens from £66 each person. More special offers are available for car and foot passengers, so be sure to check the website at DFDS seaways.
This ferry sails from Hull to Rotterdam with one overnight crossing and takes about 11 hours. The ferry docks at Europoort and is about 40 km/24 miles from the centre of Rotterdam. There is a Eurolines bus connection taking you to the central station in Rotterdam, but for Amsterdam and other main cities there is a train connection. P&O also have short break offers with 2 for the price of 1 from €70.00 per person or with a car £107.00.
This is the easiest route from London with train connections from Liverpool Street Station to Harwich arriving at the Hoek van Holland in Schiedam near The Hague. It’s possible to get an inclusive ticket all the way from the station to the connecting station in Holland. The ferry takes about 7 hours and there is 1 crossing at night and another during the day.
Bus from London to Amsterdam
This is by far the cheapest method and probably the least famous as well, but the fact that it takes around 10 or 11 hours makes it less than ideal for many people. The Eurolines bus leaves from Victoria Coach Station in the centre of London and drives to the Channel Tunnel where it goes onto a shuttle train all the way to France. The bus drives off the train the other end and after making a pit stop, continues the journey to Amsterdam. It arrives at Amstel Station in Amsterdam, which is about 2 km south of Centraal Station, and easy to reach by tram or metro. The one-way fare for the bus is €40 for adults or €36 for people 13-25 years old, but you can also get a promotional fare for €14, no matter your age. That’s right, all the way from London to Amsterdam on one bus, including a trip through the tunnel, for €14 each way. If you are backpacking around on a small budget this is your best option for sure. |
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