Trainspotting and the conscious traveller

Trips away usually need to be around rest and a switch off of at the core, otherwise we risk returning home knackered rather than energised.

And with popular weekend dates and summer getaways ahead leading to challenges on some roads, and petrol costs, well… at an all time high, don’t be put off by wondering how to get from A to B to C stress free as the train is a serious option.

We know that isn’t always cheap either. But when you factor in speed, the chance to unwind from the start of the journey and not just the end, and the ability to be smart around times of day to travel to max the savings, it might free up the thinking for some different options and more places more often, once you get the time and cost planning cracked. And for that, these options are worth checking out…

• Trainline’s SplitSave feature helps passengers save money by splitting a trip into trip into multiple tickets, without the need to change trains
• Seatfrog, which allows you to bid in small increments for upgrades to first class tickets when those tickets are left unsold
• Railcards - a fixed cost of £30 when you are eligible but with savings of up to 50%

Arguably it’s also more sustainable. Ok no travel is entirely that, but if the train is on its route anyway, choosing that plan of action rather than going by car prevents adding more pollution and car journeys into our big picture challenge. And every little personal contribution can help.

And if it’s going to be option for you, then jazz it up and make it special.

You definitely don’t want to think ‘there’s food on the cart’ and wait for that to hit your seats, because as we all know, warm beer, dull sandwiches and a melting KitKat aren’t going to hit the mark at all.

But if you keep in mind how every part of the trip needs to be an experience and a memory builder, then build a picnic fit for the trip. 37,000 Google search results show it’s a thing. So get creative.

Find a podcast to share that fits with where you are heading or what you are planning to do. Watch a movie with your travel partner. And do all the relaxing things that you wouldn’t do when you are stuck in a slip road exit jam.

At LiBi we are all about ‘MeTime Retail’ but ‘MeTime Travel’ is just as important as the smart bookend to a satisfying, and - especially if you nail the picnic part – more memorable start to a getaway.