btg

I need to travel from San Sebastian area to either Toulouse or Brive in late May. I looked at keeping my rental car and driving, but the rental car drop charge for Toulouse or Brive (where I will take the train to Paris after my stay) is huge. Any ideas for the easiest way to travel? Thanks!

tedgale

Whether you choose Toulouse or Brive as your destination, a train voyage will route you through Bordeaux, will require two changes (Bordeaux and Irun) and will take about 6 hours.

I see no feasible air routings.

Robert2533

There is a direct train from Hendaye to Toulouse, 4hr 37min, if you want to leave at 06h56. Otherwise there are connections you'll have to make, unless you want to leave on the 2:45 pm train that will take you through Bayonne and then to Toulouse, 4hr 45min.

Michael

Take the local train from San Sebastian to Hendaye and rent the car there. Hendaye is listed as a pickup location by Autoeurope.

neckervd

Have a look at the timetables Irun/Hendaye - Bayonne and Bayonne - Toulouse
http://cdn.ter.sncf.com/medias/PDF/a...tcm50-9052.pdf
http://cdn.ter.sncf.com/medias/PDF/a...tcm50-9056.pdf
The local trains between San Sebastian and Irun - Hendye are very frequent.

btg

Thanks everyone!

Michael-how did you find that Hendaye is a pick up point for Autoeurop? That is good info to know.

neckervd

Do you want to RENT a car at the F/E border or to DROP OFF?

Michael

I went to the Autoeurope site and opened its rental window. The first thing it asks is pick-up location and by scrolling don the list, one finds that Hendaye is an option.

btg

So I found that if I rent the car for my visit in San Sebastian area and then drive to France to drop it off, there is a huge drop fee. So I will rent in San Sebastian for while I am there and then take the train to Bordeaux and drop it off in Brive, so I can then take the train back to Paris which is where I fly out of.

Thoughts?

btg

I am having trouble finding the train schedules from San Sebastian to Bordeaux. Help ;-(

Michael

From San Sebatian it is probably best to take the commuter line to Hendaye and then a regular train from Hendaye to Bordeaux. The commuter line has its own station across from the SNCF station.

btg

Ok, now I see why @Michael suggested Hendaye as my car pick up point...it looks like there is a change of trains there and a wait time in order to get to Bordeaux.

But, Auto Europe does not seem to be able to let me pick up in Hendaye (when I called they said there no location for them there). they do, however have a location in Bordeaux.

btg

Thanks @Michael! Where do I find the schedules for the trains similar to the ones you posted above (and for the commuter trains, also)?

Michael

Someone else mentioned that the local train is frequent, so I would not worry about it until you are in San Sebastian. As for the train from Hendaye to Bordeaux, try http://www.voyages-sncf.com/billet-t...sultat?hid=2LE. Between 6:45 a.m. and 4:25 p.m. there are at least six trains. I picked a date out of the blue.

Robert2533

You can book the San Sebastian to Bordeaux train on the SNCF web site, or under international trains on Renfe.com

btg

Thank you @Michael and @Robert2533. Your help is so appreciated.

neckervd

"Where do I find the schedules for the trains"
In the timetable links I sent you 2 days ago (see above).
The train between San Sebastian and Hendaye runs every 30 min as you have already been told too.
http://www.euskotren.es/sites/www2.e...FICADO%202.pdf
http://cdn.ter.sncf.com/medias/PDF/a...tcm50-9052.pdf

btg

Thanks so much for following up @neckervd!