UK travel agent for rail bookings?
Jul 22, 2019, 1:56 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 87
UK travel agent for rail bookings?
My uncle says he finds booking European long-distance trains too convoluted and time consuming. He wants just to pay someone to do it for him, preferably with a physical presence in London that he can visit.
Anyone know of any TAs etc who are good and fit the criteria?
Anyone know of any TAs etc who are good and fit the criteria?
Jul 25, 2019, 12:10 am
#3
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: NW London and NW Sydney
Programs: BA Diamond, Hilton Bronze, A3 Diamond, IHG *G
Posts: 6,344
Booking trains in Europe is one of the less convoluted and time-consuming things you can do, provided the trains are available to book online.
Anyone with a computer who has done it before will be able to help him.
The value of a physical travel agent (for which he may have to pay dearly) would be helping him decide where to go and finding out what train routes exist. Railbookers.co.uk is one such service but this appears to be by phone only.
Anyone with a computer who has done it before will be able to help him.
The value of a physical travel agent (for which he may have to pay dearly) would be helping him decide where to go and finding out what train routes exist. Railbookers.co.uk is one such service but this appears to be by phone only.
Jul 26, 2019, 10:06 am
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 87
I'm not sure he has a specific route in mind yet, just some trips from UK to Europe. He doesn't have a computer, and has no interest in booking tickets himself using his smartphone. He wants to go and see someone and give them a proposed itinerary, and they book it. Much like a high street travel agent would for flights, except for trains.
Jul 30, 2019, 10:39 am
#5
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Newcastle, UK
Programs: BA Silver, IHG Gold, Hilton Gold, Hertz 5*, Avis Preferred Plus, Amex Plat
Posts: 2,080
There are some good suggestions from The Man in Seat 61 here:
https://www.seat61.com/Europe-train-...s-by-phone.htm
It sounds like Ffestiniog Travel would be a good place to start., since he wants the services of a travel agent, rather than just a ticket booking service.
https://www.seat61.com/Europe-train-...s-by-phone.htm
It sounds like Ffestiniog Travel would be a good place to start., since he wants the services of a travel agent, rather than just a ticket booking service.
Jul 31, 2019, 4:30 pm
#6
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: UK. BAEC AAdvantage
Programs: Mucci Des Oeufs Brouilles et des Canards
Posts: 3,671
I used the Swiss Travel Centre in Bedford Street last year. I flew into Geneva, but exited to Milan and they were able to book that trip for me. They found me a deal on a Swiss Pass that wasn't obvious from the website, plus I got them to select hotels for me. Normally I'd book things myself, but as some journeys weren't available for sale (ie not 3 months out) they were able to automate it and get the journeys I wanted, including some really touristy trains. I looked at the cost of the pass, the hotels and the supplements, and the premium for using them was still cheaper than my time trying to stress out about getting seats when the booking period opened.
Of course, not much good to you if you're uncle doesn't want to go via Switzerland!
Of course, not much good to you if you're uncle doesn't want to go via Switzerland!