Flying into Europe & taking the train to London? @ xmas time

[Buffalo]

Was thinking of returning to the UK for Christmas to see my long suffering Mother (first time home for Christmas in 5 years). The more I think of it, the more i like the idea of flying (from Sydney) to Europe and then travelling by train to UK.

So far I have thought of Madrid or Barcelona and taking the train through France. I probably won't spend much time in either of the countries, because I don't have a lot of time to spend at home, but I just fancy seeing somewhere different and the view as the train (hopefully) speeds by will be enough. So, I would like the most dramatic scenery possible. There seems an excellent train option from Spain (trenhotel) but I would rather travel in the day.

Any other suggestions..?

[Puggit]

Emirates fly in to Nice occasionally during the week. You can then pick up the TGV to Paris. If you book in advance you can get ridiculous prices in first class.

(you have to book anyway to use the TGV).

[mrmaggit]

Then Eurostar to London.

[Bluebarge]

Sounds like a waste of a day to me. You will not see much out of a dirty train window in December, and the laws of physics require train tracks to go over fairly flat ground so you are likely to go under any "dramatic scenery" in a tunnel. Also sounds like you are trying to put off seeing your dear old mum!

[FPC]

How about Amsterdam? Speedy trains connecting to Eurostar at Brussels.

The man at Seat 61 is the guru for this kind of thing:

www.seat61.com

[Buffalo]

Well, I'm assuming that I may have to have a day at the start destination (depending on flight times), but surely some of these tracks go "past" interesting scenery..? Like the Eiffel Tower, isn't it better to be in it looking out of it..? So by that logic it is better to be on flat ground looking at mountains, than being in mountains looking at flat ground..? Seems a bit of a peculiar idea perhaps, but I'm just so bored of flying long-haul with no break.

Did think of up switzerland way, because my brother did a train journey up there and the scenery was spectacular, but it doesn't quite appeal as much as France, or somewhere down that way. Amsterdam is at least on a reasonable haul route...

[Nicholas Blair]

Do Qantas (if you are using them) still fly (directly via BKK) to Rome ?

Nice journey from there.

Edited by Nicholas Blair on Tuesday 6th October 10:25

[Bluebarge]

Look here for timetables - http://reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/query.exe/en?newr...

I'm guessing you know where the mountains are in Europe, and where the flights land from your departure point.

Not many mountains between Amsterdam and England BTW.

[zac510]

I suppose it would shorten the 12hr haul from SE Asia to Heathrow, but otherwise lengthen the whole trip by quite a bit!