Ditch the packaging: Cut the cost of train travel

Packaging: a retailing trick to make you think a few cheap components deserve a much higher price by virtue of being bundled together for your convenience.

The same goes for package holidays and as my earlier example proved, with a little research you can put together your dream holiday at a substantial discount to a High Street travel agent.

Although the thick fog of recession has descended over Britain, it is common knowledge that the Brits value their holidays above all. Saving money for Britons means forgoing the gym membership, shopping around for cheaper gas & electrics, maybe going to Aldi or Morrisons instead of Sainsburys and Waitrose - but it NEVER means giving up on our fortnight in the sun.

So this year I predict people will be more willing than ever to book those 2 weeks away independently though the internet. Or at the very least, they will want to exploit online tools that will enable them to find a cheap but perfect package.

Today's focus for independent holidays is cutting the cost of train travel.

For years, departing these shores for sunny climes has meant a trip to the airport, with all that now entails:-

• Lugging your bags to the airport and giving yourself at least 2 hours to spare because of the check-in deadlines and security queues;
• Being marched barefoot through security checkpoints to be frisked and quizzed;
• Sitting for an hour waiting for a gate and being expected in the meantime to pay over the odds for plastic-wrapped sandwiches or cafeteria food;
• Limiting yourself to expensive travel-sized toiletries in your carry-on luggage because that bottle containing goo that looks like shampoo, smells like shampoo and even has a clever label that says it is shampoo COULD BE A BOMB, then being allowed to buy huge glass bottles of booze from the gift shop which could be turned into far more effective explosive devices than a bottle of shampoo;
• Squeezing onto the plane and paying the airline extra for things like meals, onboard entertainment, space for our luggage and even seats;
• Dashing off the plane at our destination as quickly as possible so we can be first in the queue for immigration, customs, the baggage carousel and a taxi.

Is it any wonder that train travel is becoming more and more popular in Britain?

Let's go back to Manchester Piccadilly train station and look at the list of departures again. Do we go to Manchester airport and spend over 2 hours fighting to board our flight or do we take a train to the centre of London in 2 hours and a bit, reading a book and enjoying the scenery along the way? Once arriving at London's Euston station, it's a short walk or hop on the Tube to St Pancras station, where the Eurostar can take us to Paris in another 2 hours and a bit.

After recent track upgrades across Britain and following the London Eurostar terminal being moved to St Pancras, train travel is becoming a more attractive option for Briish travellers. I heartily recommend you have a chat with the chap in seat 61, an expert in international train travel who shares all on his fantastic website.

Another chap you'll want as a travelling companion is Martin the Money Saving Expert. To summarise his philosophy, book well ahead when making your travel plans and you could find a Manchester-London train ticket for as little as £1.

Acquaint yourselves with these chaps and find out how you can let the train take the strain...off your wallet!