Southampton -Need ideas!

[wheatley]

I can get a van to take 8 people from Southampton dock to London for 40 GBP. The catch is it doesn't go till 1pm. Is there anything to do in Southampton for about 4 hours after we get off the ship? We will also have to do something with our luggage. To get from the dock to our hotel for 5GBP each is great but I don't think we want to just sit there and wait. Any ideas would be appreciated. Thanks.

[samanth1]

please let me know which service you are using. We need a similar service on August 7th.

 

We are doing a free walking tour before we go on the cruise. It meets in the middle of the town each day. Luggage could be a problem but a nearby hotel may do you the courtesy of keeping it for you.

 

 

Thanks

Brigitte

[sddsddean]

I don't know what the other Brits on here think, but I would check that price and get it confirmed. £40 seems incredibly cheap...it wouldn't cover the fuel! Going rate for a van for 8 should be around £150 - £200.

 

Simon

[John Bull]

I can get a van to take 8 people from Southampton dock to London for 40 GBP. The catch is it doesn't go till 1pm. Is there anything to do in Southampton for about 4 hours after we get off the ship? We will also have to do something with our luggage. To get from the dock to our hotel for 5GBP each is great but I don't think we want to just sit there and wait. Any ideas would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

 

£40 will pay for little more than the fuel, so I'm presuming this is a favour from a friend/contact.

 

If you can't arrange something with the cruise terminal, left-luggage at the De Vere Grand Harbour hotel. This facility for all, not just hotel guests, but there's a small charge. This is walkable with luggage from City Cruise Terminal (berth 101), from the other terminals it's a £5 taxi ride.

 

Map at www.southamptonvts.co.uk & cruise ship schedule on the same site under the Port Information drop-down

 

In this central part of Southampton, all easy walking distance of Grand Harbour Hotel, you have:

 

West Quays shopping mall, which also leads through to the broad & pedestrianised main shopping street of Above Bar, other shops on the southern side of the Bargate in High St & East St, plus small malls off.

 

The Bargate (original entrance to the city), the remains of the Roman town walls & other remnants of that period.

 

The small Maritime Museum, housed in the old Wool House, a 5min walk from the hotel & opposite Town Pier, and Gods Tower & the Tudor Merchant's House a short walk from there towards the Bargate. There are a few other interesting old properties in/off High St.

http://www.southampton.gov.uk/s-leisure/artsheritage/museums-galleries/maritimemuseum.aspx

 

A small but interesting Hall of Aviation, in Albert Road South, vaguely walkable.

http://www.spitfireonline.co.uk/

 

A 10-minute ferry crossing from Town Pier to the village of Hythe (associations with early high-speed launches, D-Day & hovercraft) on the opposite side of Southampton Water - about £1 return, including the Hythe pier railway.

(if you google it, this is Hythe, Hampshire & not Hythe, Kent)

Unless anyone has a special interest, not ideal within your timescale but a 10-15 min taxi ride from Hythe pier is the National Motor Museum, Abbey & Bishop's Palace is a single complex at Beaulieu. Worth 2 to 5 hours.

http://www.beaulieu.co.uk/beaulieu/index

The other ferry routes, to the Isle of Wight, don't fit your timescale unless you stayed on the same ferry for the round-trip.

 

None of these are must-see's, Southampton isn't a tourist city, but certainly enough to amuse you for a few hours.

 

Do some googling & get back if you need any specifics.

 

John Bull

[John Bull]

please let me know which service you are using. We need a similar service on August 7th.

 

We are doing a free walking tour before we go on the cruise. It meets in the middle of the town each day. Luggage could be a problem but a nearby hotel may do you the courtesy of keeping it for you.

 

 

Thanks

Brigitte

 

Hi Brigitte,

 

As Simon's post, this is not a commercial rate.

Services most frequently used by cruise passengers include:

http://www.westquaycars.com/

or

http://www.smithsforairports.com/index.html

 

Expect to pay around £80 for a car, mebbe £130 - £150 for 8 + luggage to Heathrow, a little more to Gatwick, and central London is about an hour past Heathrow plus a congestion charge of about £8.

 

JB

[chubbypiggy]

JB,

 

Have you heard of Woodford Chauffurcars service? When time allowed, could you please see my post on the "Southampton - AM bus" thread.

 

Thank you.

 

Chubbypiggy

[Bruin Steve]

Could it be the OP missed something somewhere along the line and the quote was £40 PER PERSON...not for the entire van? I would double check...

[wheatley]

I don't know what the other Brits on here think, but I would check that price and get it confirmed. £40 seems incredibly cheap...it wouldn't cover the fuel! Going rate for a van for 8 should be around £150 - £200.

 

Simon

The reason it's so cheap is because they are bringing people to the dock and were planning on the return trip to London to be empty, so they were willing to take us for 40 GBP or as they called it "a nominal fee" if we're willing to wait that long. I'm still not sure if it's worth it though.

[lord of the seas]

The reason it's so cheap is because they are bringing people to the dock and were planning on the return trip to London to be empty, so they were willing to take us for 40 GBP or as they called it "a nominal fee" if we're willing to wait that long. I'm still not sure if it's worth it though.

 

I should check that this "Van" has seats in the back as it could be driven by Polish builders looking for an extra income stream.

[John Bull]

The reason it's so cheap is because they are bringing people to the dock and were planning on the return trip to London to be empty, so they were willing to take us for 40 GBP or as they called it "a nominal fee" if we're willing to wait that long. I'm still not sure if it's worth it though.

 

 

Sorry, W, but it just doesn't ring.

You mention transport to "our hotel", which suggests central London, rather than Heathrow.

The going rate to central London is in the order of £125 for four, & much more for a van.

Most transfer specialists earn pretty basic money on a one-way transfer, they rely on a fair percentage of back-to-backs at the same rate to make decent money.

OK, so trim the price as compo for the delayed transfer - but down to £40?????. Are they based next door to your hotel????

 

A couple of other considerations

- the client to Southampton cancels, suddenly your fare is a money-loser & they'll not honour the booking.

- even if believeable value is offered, is the delay really worthwhile unless you're going to be in London for a week or more. For most cruisers their time in London is pretty valuable. Southampton can keep you occupied, you wouldn't be bored - but it can't compete with the myriad must-see's of London .

 

I'm intrigued - can I ask which company, & where they're based?

 

JB

[wheatley]

You're probably right. If something seems too good to be true, it probably is. We decided the wait time wasn't worth it in any case. Well, back to the drawing board for our transfer! Thanks for all your input.

[lord of the seas]

You're probably right. If something seems too good to be true, it probably is. We decided the wait time wasn't worth it in any case. Well, back to the drawing board for our transfer! Thanks for all your input.

 

They surely could not be licenced and insured for that sort of money