|
Getting There … transport options …
Email Tim on gumbril@gmail.com or Karen on karen.hamers@gmail.com if you need assistance with your route planning. (Journey durations and fuel costs given here are indicative.)
… on the day:
You will not need your own car on the day unless you choose to use it. Transport on the day of the wedding to and from the venue will be provided, both for those staying in Maastricht (from a central point) as well as from /to the group of Family Apartments at Meschmolen.
Taxi services in Maastricht are excellent if you want the flexibility of independent timing without the burden of your car. (See taxis section for numbers and charges).
If you prefer to travel to the wedding using your own car, you have the option to leave it safely overnight in the castle car park and use the coach on your return (See the section on parking). Please indicate as much in your RSVP. You also may wish to ask Linda – our travel helper - to send you a map with directions as it is not terribly obvious how to reach the castle.
…by ‘Plane …
Maastricht has an airport, serviced by KLM Cityhopper, but flights are often quite expensive and you will usually have to connect via Schiphol Airport. (In practice, you could just as easily get a train connection from Schiphol if you factor in the check in and the transfer times.)
Several airports are within relatively easy access of Maastricht. We recommend you fly into Brussels if you are not hiring a car as the train connections are easier to manage than the German airports. Conversely either Dusseldorf, Cologne Bonn or Eindhoven are easiest if you are planning to hire a car, because the motorways are usually less congested at peak times than around the Brussels ring road.
We have had the best experience for the price from the following airlines (some departing from locations within as well as outside the UK, and many servicing more than one airport on our indicative list).
Amsterdam Schiphol:
The motorway journey from Amsterdam to Maastricht can be very slow as it is two, not three lanes, for most of the way. The duration varies - add up to 60 mins at rush hour -and it also depends on how willing you are to break the speed limit of 100km per hour (60 miles) - which is in force throughout most of the journey.
Public Transport: The train is usually direct, with change at either Utrecht or Eindhoven and takes about 2.5 hours. www.ns.nl. This brings you into Maastricht station from which you can get a taxi to your hotel.
Car hire from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport: - The distance from Amsterdam to Maastricht is 221 km or 138 miles. - Journey Time: 2hrs 15 mins - Fuel cost: 21 euros
Dusseldorf:
The motorway journey from Germany to Maastricht is straightforward. The duration varies – add up to 30 mins at rush hour - and depends also on how willing you are to take advantage of the absence of a speed limit J ). Note that some airlines have a dual travel agreement with the German Railway company Deutsche Bahn, so if you fly in, you can often use the train up to the German border for free. Since the German/Dutch border runs through Aachen, (where you pick up a bus) this is convenient for your travel.
Public Transport: Look up your train times to Aachen (a direct train) which takes 1hr 37 minutes (Ticket 2nd Class is 20 euros). See www.bahn.de for details. From Aachen you will need to catch the 420 bus at the station which is a fast service directly to Maastricht train station.
Car hire: - The distance from the airport to Maastricht is 104 km or 65 miles. - Journey Time: 1hr 15 mins - Fuel cost: 10 euros
Cologne (Koln-Bonn):
Public Transport: Look up your train times for Koln-Bonn Airport to Aachen and change at Duren. (See www.bahn.de for details.)The journey time is approx. 1 hr 20 minutes. A ticket costs about 14.00 euros. From Aachen you will need to catch the 420 bus at the station which is a fast service directly to Maastricht train station.
Car hire: The distance from the airport to Maastricht is 111 km or 70 miles. Journey Time: 1hr 15 mins Fuel cost: 10 euros
Brussels: (Zaventem Luchthaven)
Public Transport: The train connection to Maastricht is via Brussel Nord and Leuven, and you may need to change at Liege-Guillemins. The cost of a first class ticket is approximately 20 euros.
Car hire: The distance from the airport to Maastricht is 121 km or 75 miles. Journey Time: 1hr 9mins Fuel cost: 10 euros
Eindhoven:
Public Transport: There is a bus connection from the airport to the centre of town where you can pick up the train direct to Maastricht. The journey from to Eindhoven train station is about an hour.
Car hire: The distance from the airport to Maastricht is 98 km or 61 miles. Journey Time: 1hr 05 mins Fuel cost: 10 euros
Rotterdam:
Public Transport: Note: Best to hire a car if you choose to fly into Rotterdam – public transport connections can be a bit tricky.
Car hire: The distance from the airport to Maastricht is 211 km or 132 miles. Journey Time: 2hrs 05 mins Fuel cost: 20 euros |
