Bordeaux to Nice

Old Sep 21st, 2017, 05:31 PM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Bordeaux to Nice

Seeking advice. I need to get to Nice from Bordeaux. Is the train ride scenic and worth the extra time to get to Nice, or am I better off just taking a plane? Cost is the same. Thoughts? Thank you!!
jshimagirl5 is offline  
Old Sep 21st, 2017, 06:53 PM
  #2  
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 27,609
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
I am a big fan of train travel, but with that much difference in time I'd fly.

The Marseille to Nice stretch is definitely scenic, don't know about Bordeaux to Marseille.
thursdaysd is offline  
Old Sep 21st, 2017, 11:52 PM
  #3  
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 8,312
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
As you are obviously not interested in the tons of gems between Bordeaux and Nice, I would rather fly.
neckervd is online now  
Old Sep 22nd, 2017, 03:36 AM
  #4  
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,728
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Just book a train, city centre to city centre at www.trainline.eu and print your own ticket.

Flying never saves as much time as you think because the 'one hour flight' in fact takes the best part of 4 hours of bus/taxi/train, airport hassle, flight, airport, and another bus/taxi/train. The train is city centre to city centre.

Unlike the flight, a train ride across a foreign country (or even one's own) is always an interesting experience which things to see, and a chance to read or chill out with a glass of wine (like me yesterday going from London to Bordeaux and back by train!).

You'll leave Bordeau on the Atlantic, pass through Toulouse and by Carcassone (can't remember if you can see the walled town from the train or not), and soon find yourself running a few hundred yards from the Mediterranean. The ride along the south of France takes you through Perpignan, past lakes on a causeway with flamingoes feeding in the shallows, past Beziers cathedral, and from Marseille to Nice its a FABULOUS piece of line, all along the Cote d'Azur past rocky headlands, yacht-filled harbours, blue sea.
Man_in_seat_61 is offline  
Old Sep 22nd, 2017, 03:43 AM
  #5  
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 78,320
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Yes scenic most of way as Man in Seat 61 describes - get off maybe at Carcassonne to see that gem and get back on a few hours later.

See France not just airports and clouds - check www.voyges-sncf.com for tickets and fares - book eraly for discounts - for general info also www.seat61.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.

One of the more scenic trains in France!
PalenQ is offline  
Old Sep 22nd, 2017, 06:32 AM
  #6  
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 22,947
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
The ride along the south of France takes you through Perpignan,

Your enthusiasm is getting in the way of factual information. The fastest way, with a change in Marseille, does not go as far south as Perpignan, and I doubt that any routing would unless chooses to go to Perpignan.
Michael is offline  
Old Sep 22nd, 2017, 09:04 AM
  #7  
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 78,320
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Yup Man in Seat 61 is indeed wrong - Perpignan not on the 9-hr route.

9 hours way too long for a train ride but if you want to break it up someplace for a day or two could be nice. But 9 hours? Even I would fly!
PalenQ is offline  
Old Sep 22nd, 2017, 11:37 AM
  #8  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 49,560
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
My personal opinion is that it is not all that scenic atrip, and I don:t think it goes through Perpignan.Still, I`d probably rather take a train than a plane.
StCirq is offline  
Old Sep 22nd, 2017, 03:06 PM
  #9  
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 78,320
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Still, I`d probably rather take a train than a plane.>

really for 9 hours?

Things can be scenic to folks who have never been to southern France that locals like you may take for granted. But to me a visitor all of southern France seems scenic - the towns the train goes thru - ubiquiotus small villages puncuated by steeples of the village church dotting the pastoral countryside.

In fact, I'd call southern France one of the most scenic venues in Europe all in all, from my subjective American perspective.


ah the eyes of the beholder.
PalenQ is offline  
Old Sep 23rd, 2017, 01:32 AM
  #10  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 49,560
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
You do not get to see much of anything of the towns the train goes through. `Typically, the train stops at a small stone building outside the perimeter of the town and all you get to see is the people waiting for the train, the people getting off, and a small car park. It is hardly scenic or representative of what the town actually looks like. And in between the tracks generally go through the least interesting landscape. I would rarely call it scenic.

I do agree i would probably break up the 9-hour ride, though.
StCirq is offline  
Old Sep 23rd, 2017, 06:20 AM
  #11  
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 78,320
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
FLY
PalenQ is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
mbw220
Europe
4
Mar 20th, 2015 01:54 PM
Maudie
Europe
8
Mar 30th, 2009 10:57 PM
JessLynn
Europe
4
May 7th, 2008 07:10 AM
rodrigus
Europe
7
Feb 29th, 2008 09:45 AM
Annet
Europe
4
Jun 12th, 2002 07:50 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are On


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -