We are planning on taking a train from Barcelona to Paris on May 17th. Is it cheaper on another day of the week? What to avoid or be wary of. Should we make stops? Are there train options?

Thanks,
Rob

According to SNCF.com, there is only one train leaving at 19:55 from Barcelona to Paris. Tickets purchased three months in advance would cost about 93€. There may be more trains going to Perpignan or Narbonne from where one might find more frequent trains to Paris.

The direct route is an overnight train. If you want options and stopping along the way ( a necessity unless you want the sleeper train mentioned) you will need to plan individual legs of the journey

We're using the Elipsos "trenhotel" to travel overnight from Barcelona to Paris in late March. We will book as soon as we are 90 days out exactly. Some great options for fast trains to good interim stops. And of course both cities are big air hubs; we just prefer train travel.

We are also going from Barcelona to Paris, at the end of April. I investigated the train but it was so long a trip and adding up all the fares (seat, sleeper car, etc) besides it being so long a trip, we opted to fly. Easyjet was only $127.34 for the two of us oneway and just 2 hrs.

annw: It's 3 months out for the cheapest fares, which is not always 90 days. Just so you know...

Thanks St. Cirq - I've been trying the Elipsos site every day and the 90 day reminder pops up (trying to book for March 28) , so I guess they are quite literal? Or else the site won't let me purchase (but there's no indication of that -- I can see dates, times, etc. just can't purchase).

annw: just realized you're working with the Spanish site, which I am NOT any kind of expert on. It may very well be literally 90 days. On the French national railway sites, the typical window is 3 months, whether that's 90 days or more. Sorry for the confusion.

Not sure what you mean, March 28th is neither 3 months from now nor 90 days (which are exactly the same date at this time, I believe, which is March 29th). What is happening that you can't purchase, what happens when you put in your ID info and credit card?

I think the suggestion from jan47ete to fly is the best. No sense spending such a long time on the train though the countryside might be fun to see.
Thanks

Vueling also has cheap flights Barcelona- Paris

The Elipsos site simply keeps popping up the message:

"Elipsos Trenhotel tickets can be purchased with a maximum of 90 days prior to the date of travel.

To purchase tickets click the bottom to your right and you will be redirected to the sales page.

Thank you very much. "

when I click the purchase button it simply repeats the message.

Here's the URL: http://www.elipsos.com/en/PlazasLibres.aspx

Glad for any help.

To the topic, flying is much more efficient with Barcelona and Paris being major hubs. We've just always loved trains and have a hankering to do a night train which we haven't done for 20 years....

According to Seat 61, from Jan 8 there's an AVE leaving Barcelona Sants at 0905, connecting at 1020 from the same platform at Figueres to Paris Gare de Lyon, where the French TGV arrives at 1520.

Booking engines are on holiday today. Usually, there's no such thing as the "cheapest day of the week": check 90 days out for what prices actually are. But you don't need to faff about with overnight trains, and the train's a great deal less unpleasant than all the claptrap at airports.

annw

had a look at the elipsos website and didn't work for me either - it is really rubbish isn't it?

try this it's a US based agent and seems to work OK

http://petrabax.com/renfe/

Thanks, Sofar -- they won't book more than 62 days out but at least the site looks workable!

Fly its faster and cheaper, we did it on Easyjet for less then 100 euros, for two people , all fees included ( checked bags etc) . Takes less then 2 hours.