Train+taxi or drive to client

[psychocandy]

All I will say is if you drive, consider the fact that it will take you at least 30 minutes to get from the M4 into Bracknell (about 1 -3 miles), and back out again in the evening, so you'll have to add this in.

Was afraid of that. Don't know the area that well but aware that even the M4 (near reading services) can get a bit busy too.
Hmm. Might be train then.

[psychocandy]

Travel down Monday morning, travel back Friday afternoon.

Which is perfect for the contractor with no family etc. Not so good for those of us with young families etc. I appreciate in certain circumstances needs must but I would rather not disappear for 4 days every week.

Also, as discussed previously, even though things are a lot better now, my wife ain't been that well the last few months.

[Ticktock]

Do you know where abouts the office is? Is it town centre, one of the industrial estates, or what?

[psychocandy]

I'm glad you wrote that not me - plus you need to add the accident/car breakdown/lorry shedding their load etc that is guaranteed to happen once a week.

Personally PC if you need to drive home from Bracknell do it twice a week and no more otherwise you will be too knackered.

Thanks all. Sounds like driving is not a good idea then. Google maps has it at 110 miles in two hours obviously not including traffic jams etc.

Good news is looks like gig is going to be mon-thurs on site, fri wfh which makes a HUGE difference to me. Means I can drive/train up monday, home tuesday night, back wed am, home thurs eve. Just one journey a day and two nights away.

Train is probably the best option apart from, as discussed, it'll mean no transport when I'm up there.

Any recommendations for bracknell (apart from don't stay there!). All I'm after is somewhere like travelodge, ideally close to town/supermarket/cinema/pub/restaurant.

[Ticktock]

Any recommendations for bracknell (apart from don't stay there!). All I'm after is somewhere like travelodge, ideally close to town/supermarket/cinema/pub/restaurant.

Do you know where abouts the office is? Is it town centre, one of the industrial estates, or what?

Depending on office location you may also want to be close to it.

[SueEllen]

Bracknell is a bit spread out.

Depending on the time you have to start/leave it's probably better to drive.

Mind you whenever I've gone through Bracknell it's well before 7.30am or on a weekend.

[psychocandy]

Depending on office location you may also want to be close to it.

Its Vodaphone which I think is outside. Cain Road? I see theres a travelodge not too far away, and the ski/leisure centre place and town centre is about 1.5 miles away.

[DirtyDog]

Which is perfect for the contractor with no family etc. Not so good for those of us with young families etc. I appreciate in certain circumstances needs must but I would rather not disappear for 4 days every week.

Nope - it's the ONLY solution to your question of

Anyone got a better system for 5 days away?

Anything else means not having five days away, regardless of the transportation method you choose

(And yes, I've done the five days away with a young family and a wife who wasn't well, so I know what it's like)

[kal]

Which is perfect for the contractor with no family etc. Not so good for those of us with young families etc. I appreciate in certain circumstances needs must but I would rather not disappear for 4 days every week.

Also, as discussed previously, even though things are a lot better now, my wife ain't been that well the last few months.

+1, Have a 5.5 and an almost 3 yr old, even seeing them for a few minutes in the morn and checking up on them in the eve when I get back is worth the 12-14 hr commute into London each day. I do stay the occasional night or 2 in London though (tend to buy a monthly season and if it runs out during the week will stay for the rest of it in a B&B and then get a cheap train home on Friday evenings). Having said that I have renewed until March now and have managed to negotiate Wednesdays WFH, will make a huge difference to my working week

[DirtyDog]

Be sure to get up-to-date news on Bracknell by reading The Alternative Guide to Bracknell and The Bracknell Harbinger.

The "What's On" page at the Harbinger provides a good summary of the town.