Barcelona-Paris Round Trip: Bus / Train / Flight?
Jul 21st, 2012, 01:52 PM
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Barcelona-Paris Round Trip: Bus / Train / Flight?
I am taking a vacation in Spain for 13 days in August and intend to go to Paris at the end of Spain trip for 3 more days. My last stop will be Barcelona during Spain trip and I fly out from Barcelona itself.
I am young and energetic so hectic travel is not a limiting factor in choice of transportation while going from Barcelona to Paris.
If I take overnight train or bus to and fro, not only the scenery would be awesome, but I also save on hotel stay, meaning I could splurge on a good hotel for one night in Paris and make do with taking rest in the bus / train for the other 2 days during to and fro travel. If I take a flight, ofcourse I get few hours more in Paris. But the savings in hotel stay would compensate for my already ballooning trip cost. Now, money is not the only factor, but if it won't be much uncomfortable, I don't mind stretching it.
What do you guys suggest? What's the best way to travel between these two cities?
I am young and energetic so hectic travel is not a limiting factor in choice of transportation while going from Barcelona to Paris.
If I take overnight train or bus to and fro, not only the scenery would be awesome, but I also save on hotel stay, meaning I could splurge on a good hotel for one night in Paris and make do with taking rest in the bus / train for the other 2 days during to and fro travel. If I take a flight, ofcourse I get few hours more in Paris. But the savings in hotel stay would compensate for my already ballooning trip cost. Now, money is not the only factor, but if it won't be much uncomfortable, I don't mind stretching it.
What do you guys suggest? What's the best way to travel between these two cities?
Jul 21st, 2012, 02:13 PM
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Flying. You really want to have enough time to see Paris! Unless you can change your flight home to out of Paris, or at least fly back to Barcelona from Paris, you are really limiting yourself.
Sometime, in the next 3-5 years, there is supposed to be a high speed train between Paris and Barcelona, but it isn't available yet (otherwise that would be SUPER!)
Sometime, in the next 3-5 years, there is supposed to be a high speed train between Paris and Barcelona, but it isn't available yet (otherwise that would be SUPER!)
Jul 21st, 2012, 02:31 PM
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There are no direct trains serving the two cities. It means one or more train changes, making an overnight difficult.
While on a train, if you want to talk to those around you, hold up a book in English and start reading it. Folks like to practice their English.
If not, ignore them, stare out the window or feign sleep.
While on a train, if you want to talk to those around you, hold up a book in English and start reading it. Folks like to practice their English.
If not, ignore them, stare out the window or feign sleep.
Jul 22nd, 2012, 04:15 AM
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No direct trains?
Apart from the excellent Elipsos trainhotel, obviously!
Departs Barcelona at 20:43, arrives central Paris at 08:37, fares from €74 (winter) or €93 (summer) including a bed in a single-sex 4-berth 'Tourist' sleeper. Very time-effective and saves a hotel bill too! The train also has an elegant restaurant car (dining on a train is great, with proper tablecloths and crockery, no airline plastic here, see the virtual tour at www.elipsos.com )
You can book at www.renfe.com or (if you have any payment problems) at www.petrabax.com/renfe
There's also two high-speed daytime services with one easy cross-platform change at Figueres, book at www.tgv-europe.com
Apart from the excellent Elipsos trainhotel, obviously!
Departs Barcelona at 20:43, arrives central Paris at 08:37, fares from €74 (winter) or €93 (summer) including a bed in a single-sex 4-berth 'Tourist' sleeper. Very time-effective and saves a hotel bill too! The train also has an elegant restaurant car (dining on a train is great, with proper tablecloths and crockery, no airline plastic here, see the virtual tour at www.elipsos.com )
You can book at www.renfe.com or (if you have any payment problems) at www.petrabax.com/renfe
There's also two high-speed daytime services with one easy cross-platform change at Figueres, book at www.tgv-europe.com
Jul 22nd, 2012, 04:19 AM
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How about taking an overnight ALSA / Euroline bus to Paris, reaches at 12 noon...and then staying there for 3 days 2 nights and flying back on the last flight back to Barcelona in night..? Next day early morning is my flight back home.
Jul 22nd, 2012, 09:41 AM
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I have taken the Elipsos Hotel trains several times and they are amongst the most comfy night trains in Europe and I have ridden literally hundreds of night trains - the AC actually works on Elipsos trains! And the bedding and service is tops.
Bring whatever food and drink you want on board - wine or beer perfectly OK to do so so you will not have to pay top euro for what they sell on the train.
Book well in advance to get cheapest fares at www.elipsos.com. And check out these fine fine sites for lots of info on night trains and European trains in general - www.seat61.com (Man in seat 61 who posts above - his fantastic site on European train travel and www.ricksteves.com and www.budgeteuropetravel.com.
Again be sure to book the cheaper fares early - just show up and you can pay a whole lot more.
Bring whatever food and drink you want on board - wine or beer perfectly OK to do so so you will not have to pay top euro for what they sell on the train.
Book well in advance to get cheapest fares at www.elipsos.com. And check out these fine fine sites for lots of info on night trains and European trains in general - www.seat61.com (Man in seat 61 who posts above - his fantastic site on European train travel and www.ricksteves.com and www.budgeteuropetravel.com.
Again be sure to book the cheaper fares early - just show up and you can pay a whole lot more.
Jul 22nd, 2012, 11:11 PM
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PalenQ, thanks for the feedback..
I checked out flgihts as well as this train...train fare is not so cheap any more (I am late I guess...) and am getting not-so-expensive flight tickets on Air France, so guess will book the flight this time. I'd have to pay extra for the hotel nights, but then, this is my first time to Paris. So I am lumping it.
I checked out flgihts as well as this train...train fare is not so cheap any more (I am late I guess...) and am getting not-so-expensive flight tickets on Air France, so guess will book the flight this time. I'd have to pay extra for the hotel nights, but then, this is my first time to Paris. So I am lumping it.
Jul 23rd, 2012, 04:39 AM
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We are going Barcelona to Paris in April, so have just finished checking out our options.
Overnight train does save on hotel but with hubby wanting private shower, very expensive ($700 for 2). Nikki air is $67 one way for one, Easyjet 86E. There was a 7hr day train but at 200mph we didn't figure we'd see very much.
Overnight train does save on hotel but with hubby wanting private shower, very expensive ($700 for 2). Nikki air is $67 one way for one, Easyjet 86E. There was a 7hr day train but at 200mph we didn't figure we'd see very much.
Jul 24th, 2012, 06:05 AM
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There was a 7hr day train but at 200mph we didn't figure we'd see very much.>
this is a fallacy IMO - speed irrelevant to not being able to see anything - the scenes are in the distance as the new TGV lines mainly go thru countryside so you will see Provence and Burgundy - these rural bucolic areas just as well as at 110-130 mph of conventional trains.
this is a fallacy IMO - speed irrelevant to not being able to see anything - the scenes are in the distance as the new TGV lines mainly go thru countryside so you will see Provence and Burgundy - these rural bucolic areas just as well as at 110-130 mph of conventional trains.
Jul 25th, 2012, 01:48 AM
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We are planning to do a one way Paris to Barcelona in early November. I just don't need an extra trip hassling at the airport with luggage and security. It will be a few extra hours, but I look forward to trying the train experience. We get to Barcelona at 2:45 p.m. This seems reasonable to me. We have done the Easy Jet from Orly to Rome and it was chaotic. I don't relish another flight like that. It looks as though the fare for the train will be 72.10 euros one way.
Jul 25th, 2012, 07:24 AM
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opaldog, yeah airport procedures can be quite unnerving. Train journey has its own charm and it lets the change of destination evolve in your mind and sink in. 72 euros is a good price and you save the hotel stay. If you are not hung up on train, you could also try bus. ALSA website would also give you few options between paris / Barcelona.
In my case, I have only 3.5 days and 3 nights in Paris, so want to make the most of it. Plus, I am uncomfortable in the small & not so clean wash utilities in trains irrespective of whichever class you upgrade to. And luckily, I have got this fare on Air France which seems to be a full service carrier, so hopefully flight should be good
In my case, I have only 3.5 days and 3 nights in Paris, so want to make the most of it. Plus, I am uncomfortable in the small & not so clean wash utilities in trains irrespective of whichever class you upgrade to. And luckily, I have got this fare on Air France which seems to be a full service carrier, so hopefully flight should be good
Jul 25th, 2012, 09:39 AM
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r80 - for your desires and time constraints flying makes the most sense to me and if going to Paris CDG or Orly getting into town is not that long nor expensive - if to Beauvais as some discount airlines do then it is a lot longer out.
Jul 25th, 2012, 10:28 AM
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We have 4 nights in Paris and 4 nights in Barcelona and have already booked our apartments in both cities, so there is no need for an overnight train. We have also been to both cities before. I've done the high speed train between Paris and Brussels, and Paris and Amsterdam. They of course were much shorter in length, but I think I will be ok with resting and watching the scenery flash by on the train.
Jul 25th, 2012, 12:56 PM
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PalenQ, yes I double-checked and it is CDG airport. And I don't have to worry about luggage fees as air france is full service airline.
opaldog, time is on your side then enjoy the stay.
opaldog, time is on your side then
enjoy the stay.
