Best way to purchase train tickets for Montpellier to Barcelona
Mar 3rd, 2008, 07:38 AM
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Best way to purchase train tickets for Montpellier to Barcelona
I need to purchase train tickets for Montpellier to Barcelona. We aso will have a rental car to drop off. Is the sncf site the place to go for that route? Raileurope has 2 tickets for 56 euros and it looks like we would switch trains when we get to Spain.
Mar 3rd, 2008, 07:52 AM
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There are two Talgo trains daily from Montpellier to Barcelona. Their wheels are adjusted at the border from the standard gauge used in France to the broad gauge used in Spain. All seats are reserved on these trains and they are often fully booked.
There are other trains from Montpellier to Port Bou, the first station in Spain, where you can change to a Spanish train. These connections are more frequent, and there is no problem buying tickets at any time.
There are other trains from Montpellier to Port Bou, the first station in Spain, where you can change to a Spanish train. These connections are more frequent, and there is no problem buying tickets at any time.
Mar 3rd, 2008, 08:37 AM
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Hi M,
www.voyages-sncf.com wants 36E pp for this trip via Bou.
They will deliver the tickets to your hotel for free, or you can pick them up in Montpellier.
www.voyages-sncf.com wants 36E pp for this trip via Bou.
They will deliver the tickets to your hotel for free, or you can pick them up in Montpellier.
Mar 3rd, 2008, 10:29 AM
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Raileurope does not price tickets in euros but $
$56 dollars would be about the same as 36 euros i suspect
These trains, the two daily TALGOS that have moveable wheels as Geoff explained, are very popular because they are the only trains that go thru the border or else you do have to change at Port Bou
If your ticket has you chaning at Port Bou you are not on the Catalan Talgo which is MUCH more preferable than changing at the border - as also regional trains on each side can be dumpy IME
There is a Talgo that goes early in the morning and one later in the afternoon. Do like Ira says - go to www.voyages-sncf.com for perhaps the best pricing - but you should also check Raileurope as sometimes they can be in the ballpark - but RE would charge a $15 booking fee and $18 mailing fee per order, not per ticket. BETS www.budgetleuropetravel is who i recommend for any RailEurope product as though they are a RE agent their service is tops by phone and they don't charge some of RE's fees. But often www.voyages-sncf.com is the best but that site can be very fickle and you'll need experts like Ira or TimS to walk you thru it perhaps like they have legions of others who throw up their hands trying to book on the site. This is one ticket i would not wait until Montpellier to book though you certainly could the regional trains requiring a border change and which take much longer.
$56 dollars would be about the same as 36 euros i suspect
These trains, the two daily TALGOS that have moveable wheels as Geoff explained, are very popular because they are the only trains that go thru the border or else you do have to change at Port Bou
If your ticket has you chaning at Port Bou you are not on the Catalan Talgo which is MUCH more preferable than changing at the border - as also regional trains on each side can be dumpy IME
There is a Talgo that goes early in the morning and one later in the afternoon. Do like Ira says - go to www.voyages-sncf.com for perhaps the best pricing - but you should also check Raileurope as sometimes they can be in the ballpark - but RE would charge a $15 booking fee and $18 mailing fee per order, not per ticket. BETS www.budgetleuropetravel is who i recommend for any RailEurope product as though they are a RE agent their service is tops by phone and they don't charge some of RE's fees. But often www.voyages-sncf.com is the best but that site can be very fickle and you'll need experts like Ira or TimS to walk you thru it perhaps like they have legions of others who throw up their hands trying to book on the site. This is one ticket i would not wait until Montpellier to book though you certainly could the regional trains requiring a border change and which take much longer.
Mar 3rd, 2008, 08:31 PM
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I did finally get information on the direct train to Barcelona on the raileurope site, but I was told that they did not have tickets available for purchase yet and they would email me when they were available. Hope that actually happens. Thanks for all the information about the trains. I am amazed by all the knowledge on these boards!
Mar 4th, 2008, 03:48 AM
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No it won't kill you to change at the border but you may have to wait there some time as schedules are not always coordinated on either side
and my experience on regional trains on each side were dismal - overcrowded and dirty at least the ones i took
The Talgo is far far preferable IMO
and my experience on regional trains on each side were dismal - overcrowded and dirty at least the ones i took
The Talgo is far far preferable IMO
Mar 12th, 2008, 12:50 PM
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Yes indeedy - i recently took a French regional train from Perpigan to the border and it was the pits
like something out of the 60s - old and was dirty with litter, etc.
I was really shocked as this type of cattle car as it turned out i thought did not exist in France
then after waiting for what seemed like hours for the Spanish regional train at Cerbere to Barcelona it was even dumpier - more like a metro car than comfy train.
TALGO is the only way to do this IMO and others too apparently and this is why the train may book up - unlike most trains you cannot stand - only reserved ticket holders allowed on board.
I don't know why they don't ramp up this service as there seems to be but two thru Talgos a day. I guess when the new Trans-Pyrenees highspeed route opens in a few years it will be moot and you'll have Paris-Barcelona direct trains
like something out of the 60s - old and was dirty with litter, etc.
I was really shocked as this type of cattle car as it turned out i thought did not exist in France
then after waiting for what seemed like hours for the Spanish regional train at Cerbere to Barcelona it was even dumpier - more like a metro car than comfy train.
TALGO is the only way to do this IMO and others too apparently and this is why the train may book up - unlike most trains you cannot stand - only reserved ticket holders allowed on board.
I don't know why they don't ramp up this service as there seems to be but two thru Talgos a day. I guess when the new Trans-Pyrenees highspeed route opens in a few years it will be moot and you'll have Paris-Barcelona direct trains
Mar 15th, 2008, 09:09 AM
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there was not a $15 booking fee included? One reason i advise budgeteuropetravel.com is because they charge for that type order a $5 mailing fee and not $18 even though they work thru RailEurope as most agents do (and most charge $15-18 mail fee as well). Anyway the price for the tickets seems in the ballpark for what you;d pay locally and now be guaranteed a seat on these busy trains
