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Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

Original poster

Xmas holiday

40 replies

stardustliz · 31/10/2021 09:31

DS is at uni 200 miles away. Those in similar situations, do you/will you pick up and drop off at Christmas or with they return on train/coach with a large bag!

OP posts:
inevitablytired · 31/10/2021 09:36

When I was at uni at a similar distance, I used to get the train with a suitcase! You don't need as much for a few weeks. It was less than five years ago so is hopefully still a good option.

burnoutbabe · 31/10/2021 09:42

Won't it depend on how much they have in their room and whether it needs to be clear for holidays? We just got one lockable cabinet for holidays so I had to have a parent collect me.

maofteens · 31/10/2021 09:51

That's not that far. If they have to empty their room collect. If they just have a bag then they can train it.
I do find sitting in a car is a GREAT way to talk. You don't have to look at each other and sometimes things come out. I'd take it as an opportunity to have a good chat.

Original poster
stardustliz · 31/10/2021 10:07

Room doesn't need to be cleared or anything but think DS wants to bring a few things home (xbox for one ) which will bulk out his luggage. It's 300 miles (not 200 my error) and traffic bad/ seems to take 6 hours so I'd probably need a stop over (each way) if I did pick up....

OP posts:
titchy · 31/10/2021 10:39

Train - if he wants the ps badly enough he'll manage - ds did - rucksack with laptop and ps, one bag with clothes in one hand and guitar in another - for two weeks Hmm

MarchingFrogs · 31/10/2021 11:02

The other two had no trouble with getting the train (although DD only had one full term away before the first lockdown), but I fear that DS2 won't opt for public transport while a friend from school at the same university who took his car is willing to offer liftsHmm.

RampantIvy · 31/10/2021 11:24

I collect DD because her room is like a garden centre and she brings all her plants home.

It is only 120 miles each way for us.

Mumsnut · 31/10/2021 11:30

My ds brings his PS4, laptop, etc, on the train. he still has loads of clothes here though. Leaves his washing!

Stopyourhavering64 · 31/10/2021 12:44

My 2 dcs who were at Uni 300miles away usually came home by train , although couple of times we would rendezvous in Edinburgh for the Christmas market and make a weekend of it and then either drive or fly home

chesirecat99 · 31/10/2021 13:06

@stardustliz

Room doesn't need to be cleared or anything but think DS wants to bring a few things home (xbox for one ) which will bulk out his luggage. It's 300 miles (not 200 my error) and traffic bad/ seems to take 6 hours so I'd probably need a stop over (each way) if I did pick up....
What is the train journey like? It would probably be cheaper for him to get an Uber to the station and you pick him up at the other end.

Does he have suitable luggage? You can get a giant wheelie suitcase from Primark for about £30 and one of those big laundry bags that cost a few pounds for anything bulky like a duvet.

MarchingFrogs · 31/10/2021 13:52

Sports Direct also good for large, lightweight suitcases. DD got one from there, big enough for her move to her 'year abroad' university. Only after she'd paid did I begin to 'have thoughts' about the brand name, though - Firetrap...

JulesJules · 31/10/2021 15:01

D1 is living out in a rented house this year (2nd year) so doesn't have to clear her college room. She won't have to bring much home and has already booked the train.

boys3 · 31/10/2021 19:49

DS3 is a six hour drive away, on a good day, whilst his brother is a few hours in the opposite direction. Both have their final seminar of term on the same day. I think likely DS3 will be on the train, although may get picked up from his second change point.

3teens2cats · 31/10/2021 19:55

Train or coach with a suitcase and small rucksack. Fuel and overnight night stay means its not cost effective to pick up unless you really need to, for example at the end of the year when they need to empty the room.

didireallysaythat · 31/10/2021 19:56

Train or bus surely? Isn't it the norm to drop off at the beginning of the year and maybe pickup at the end of summer term? Surely you don't ferry them to and fro every term???

kitcat15 · 31/10/2021 19:57

Train

Kite22 · 31/10/2021 20:15

Train is so expensive, one of us tends to collect dd
But we are lucky enough to have a certain amount of autonomy over what days we work.
that said, she had a lift to somewhere 30mins away from us from a flatmate's family one time, and to somewhere about 2 hrs away from us from another student who was going home there another time, which made the return journey for us a lot easier.

dc1 used to come on the megabus from where he was and dc2 had bought her own car.

Original poster
stardustliz · 31/10/2021 20:24

Thanks. Think the train is the way to go! He has a large rucksack which should be ok but will looking into some larger bags. He'll have to do his washing before coming back !

OP posts:
MatildaJayne · 31/10/2021 22:34

My DS brings a wheelie suitcase and a rucksack home on the train. He only gets 2 weeks for Christmas, so not many clothes needed.

DogCatRabbit · 01/11/2021 07:52

Last year I picked her up because she wanted to bring most of her clothes home - I was glad she did as she ended up staying for three months thanks to Covid!

Hillarious · 03/11/2021 12:20

All three of mine went to the same uni - a round trip of 300 miles by car. The oldest two would come home by train and be taken back in the car. The youngest came home at Christmas in his first year with us, as we'd driven up for his sister's Master's graduation, he was scooped up for the Easter holidays in his first year because of Covid and has since acquired a hamster, so can't bring the cage home on the train. He's a canny lad!

Darbs76 · 07/11/2021 22:14

No I’d tell him to come on the train. He doesn’t need to bring loads, and she’s been can fit a games console into a small case

damonhudnall · 19/11/2021 09:53

I would recommend travelling by train if possible, he should be able to get enough stuff in a suitcase + rucksack for over Christmas. Just make sure to book in advance and reserve a seat. Trains often have space for luggage, so for most of the journey the suitcase wouldn't be an issue.

Madmog · 19/11/2021 15:02

DD is 660 miles away (a large difference from what you're talking about OP), but we made it clear from the start we'd support her with her choice, get her and her items up there, but after that we'd only be going back to visit. She sorts train out, for lockdown she sorted storage out, doing a year abroad right now so she brought back two large suitcases and everything else was sent and delivered here - amazingly £44 four four boxes.

ErrolTheDragon · 19/11/2021 22:52

We've done a mix of pickup or DD taking the train. She just used her rucksack for luggage, the DofE one that's about as big as she is.