Should we rent a car or use the trains to get around the South of France?
May 13th, 2006, 10:41 AM
#1
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Should we rent a car or use the trains to get around the South of France?
We are staying in a town in between Cannes & Nice and want to see the surrounding areas. I know there is a train system along the coast....how easy is it? How expensive is it?
Can we take the train into the mountains, to Gourdin? To Provence?
Should we take the train for the coastal visits and a car for Provence?
Does anyone have a link to the train system/schedule or a a link for a great deal on rental cars?
Thank you~!
Can we take the train into the mountains, to Gourdin? To Provence?
Should we take the train for the coastal visits and a car for Provence?
Does anyone have a link to the train system/schedule or a a link for a great deal on rental cars?
Thank you~!
May 13th, 2006, 11:41 AM
#2
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Hi Jes,
Train schedules and prices are at www.voyages-sncf.com
For car rental try www.novarentacar.com and www.autoeurope.com
Have a nice visit.
Train schedules and prices are at www.voyages-sncf.com
For car rental try www.novarentacar.com and www.autoeurope.com
Have a nice visit.
May 13th, 2006, 11:52 AM
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No, you cannot get out to Gourdon by train; I'm not even sure a bus goes there. A car for that part of Provence is a very good idea, although the train along the coast would work well too.
Check with autoeurope.com for good prices on rentals.
Which town are you staying in--Antibes, St-Laurent-du-Var, Cagnes-sur-Mer?
Check with autoeurope.com for good prices on rentals.
Which town are you staying in--Antibes, St-Laurent-du-Var, Cagnes-sur-Mer?
May 13th, 2006, 01:16 PM
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May 13th, 2006, 01:27 PM
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Larryincolorado - You're thinking of the wrong Gourdon. The one in question is north of Grasse.
There is bus service every 15 minutes (06:00-19:40) between the Valauris bus station and the Golfe-Juan train station. Train and bus service along the coast is frequent and cheap. There is bus service between the Valauris bus station and the Cannes train station every 30 minutes (07:15-19:00) and to the Antibes bus station once an hour (07:00-18:00).
You can get to hilltop villages like St-Paul-de-Vence, la Turbie, and Eze by bus. There is a new SNCF train between Cannes and Grasse. You'll need a car to go to Gourdon. There is a private train (www.trainprovence.com) that goes from Nice to Digne.
There is bus service every 15 minutes (06:00-19:40) between the Valauris bus station and the Golfe-Juan train station. Train and bus service along the coast is frequent and cheap. There is bus service between the Valauris bus station and the Cannes train station every 30 minutes (07:15-19:00) and to the Antibes bus station once an hour (07:00-18:00).
You can get to hilltop villages like St-Paul-de-Vence, la Turbie, and Eze by bus. There is a new SNCF train between Cannes and Grasse. You'll need a car to go to Gourdon. There is a private train (www.trainprovence.com) that goes from Nice to Digne.
May 13th, 2006, 03:13 PM
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OK, sorry, I don't know when the French give towns the same name. However, according to, www.beyond.fr/villages/gourdon.html, there is once a day bus service from Grasse to Gourdon.
May 14th, 2006, 09:02 AM
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Cigal, thank you for that link--it has some great options.
Tim--thank you for all for the bus info--that is extremely helpful.
I guess I'll see if it makes sense to rent a car for a few days vs a week depending on price.
We are going the first two weeks of June. If I do get a car is parking horrendous?
Tim--thank you for all for the bus info--that is extremely helpful.
I guess I'll see if it makes sense to rent a car for a few days vs a week depending on price.
We are going the first two weeks of June. If I do get a car is parking horrendous?
May 14th, 2006, 10:21 AM
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JES - You're welcome. My wife and I and our daughter spent five nights in Nice the first week of June last year. We used the train and bus the first four days. We picked up a rental car on the fifth day so we would only have to find parking for one night. We drove the Grande Corniche between Nice and Monaco, saw a few other nearby places easily reached by car, spent the night, and then drove to the Luberon where we absolutely needed a car.
May 14th, 2006, 10:46 AM
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Thanks again Tim--that sounds like a good plan. Where did you pick up your car? Did you get a good rate?
I was wondering if it would be difficult to pick it up if not at the airport.
I also have to find out from the people who own the home we are staying at in Vallauris if it is within walking distance to a train or bus station.
I was wondering if it would be difficult to pick it up if not at the airport.
I also have to find out from the people who own the home we are staying at in Vallauris if it is within walking distance to a train or bus station.
May 14th, 2006, 03:29 PM
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We picked up our car at the parking garage right next to the Nice Ville train station.
We rented through Auto Europe (www.autoeurope.com) a consolidator that find you the best rate from among several different companies. AE guarantees to either match or beat any price you find by contacting a company yourself. Many people on this board recomment AE and we were well pleased with the service and the price. For the best price, book before you leave home and well in advance of your trip.
We rented through Auto Europe (www.autoeurope.com) a consolidator that find you the best rate from among several different companies. AE guarantees to either match or beat any price you find by contacting a company yourself. Many people on this board recomment AE and we were well pleased with the service and the price. For the best price, book before you leave home and well in advance of your trip.
