小弟一行五人，將會在 Birmingham Int'l Airport 東面的，但未到 Coventry
town 的地方住 6 晚。上網查到 900 號巴士由機場來往 Coventry，班次都
似乎不錯 (不過 off peak 就半粒鐘一班)。但如果五個人拎住五大喼行李咁樣搭
巴士，有冇問題？
另外，由於除左 stay o係果個地方住，我地亦要一行幾人去附近 country club 既
會議場地 exchange (果處應該冇公共交通到達)。加上週末或空檔時間都打算會出返
Birmingham City 順道遊覽，如果五人夾錢租車渣有冇著數？現時英國油費大約
幾錢一升？當地泊車費又貴唔貴呢？
1. 900 will be a push. The route is operated with Tridents and although the front wheel arch can be used (unlike HK) as luggage space, they have no other dedicated space for luggage otherwise (other than the wheelchair space if it is not occupied by wheelchair/buggies), and will not cater luggage for 5 people in one go. You are much better off being on a train from Birmingham International to Coventry, which runs frequently.
As you have not specified which country club you are going, I cannot comment the transportation in around that location. However, West Midlands have an excellent transportation network and very well served by buses and trains, so there is no need for a hired car to get around that area - I would argue it makes it more difficult instead. Nevertheless, you will have to pay extra for additional drivers in a hired car. And current fuel price is not cheap either, standing at circa £1.40 per litre for petrol or about £1.50 for diesel.
2. Taxis are usually available outside the station, but it will only be good to get you there, but not the way back. The normal thing to do is order a cab in advise. In fact, if you were thinking about hiring a car for Birmingham, why not doing so for this purpose instead? It's so much easier for the amount of people you have.
Anyway, if you need information for public transport info, this is the website to go for:
Hitch-hiking is not an option to consider in this country.
3. The posh way is of course the open top sightseeing buses operated by L'Open Tours or Les Cars Rouges. However, the public transport network, that is the underground and suburban railway services, are easily understandable enough to get around places.
The Visite ticket is basically a tourist travelcard, which allows unlimited travel, and discount entry to some museums on specific day(s) or purchase. Ticket t+ is just a book of 10 single tickets which can be used by anyone in the party i.e. you can share it with your friends. The catch is that when you make a connection on different mode of transport, you need to use another ticket. So in your example, if you change from the underground to a bus, you have to use two tickets, in the same way that you have to pay twice in HK.
The is another type of tickets called the Mobilis, which is essentially a travelcar, just like the Visite ticket without the museum offers and obviously cheaper:
During my previous visits I basically use the Mobilis ticket if I know I have to get around places a lot, and keep a book of t+'s as backup. What you'll end up finding is that you will spend more time walking around, and the t+'s will likely to be enough most of the time.
4. Hardly nowadays. There are odd ones used as school buses in Coventry and Leicester, but none are used in regular services nowadays.
Thanks for your answer first, I've now got a clear picture about this.
1. Noted Rt. 900 is operated with Tridents. However, I think we will not consider taking trains to Coventry, as we still have to change for the bus to our destination afterwards.
Actually we will go to Forest of Arden Hotel and Country Club for exchange & meeting. The fuel price seems nearly the same level as HK if it is at £1.4 per litre now... @@"
2. That's a good suggestion for us, I will try to advise my friends, to see whether they are interested to go there too. After searched for the driving route, it is around 100 miles per single trip if driving driving from Birmingham to Castle Combe, and with free parking facilities. Searched for some more information on the web, few more miles nearby is the Lacock Abbey, where used as a location in film productions (e.g. Harry Potter).
Noted hitch-hiking is not preferable in the UK.
3. See, may be I will try to use Mobilis ticket (Zones 1-2) plus t+ during my trip. Can I purchase this type of ticket by using TVM at Metro stations?
BTW, RER-B CDG railway station is located at Zone 5 (or within a special fare zone)?
