From Biarritz to Paris- 2 extra nights
 

I have posted several times to plan this trip, but I still need a little more help.
I now have:
2 nights in Bordeaux
4 nights in Dordogne with day trips
4 nights in Biarritz
2 free nights- need help, no longer want to go to Rennes
1 night in Paris (I realize this is a waste, but been there/done that with the ex, so not doing Paris this trip)

I love to hike and bike (not intensely but can handle 10-20 mile journeys) and want to know if Toulouse is a good base for that, as it is at least a little on the way to Paris. I don't want too small of a village for those 2 nights, so if Toulouse works, I can enjoy the active part and still have plenty of options for nightlife. (I'm turning 50, so not looking for clubs, but at least it's a city with plenty of restaurants/bars).

Or, should I make the trek up to La Rochelle? It's a 4-5 hour train ride, so not sure it's worth it. Toulouse is only 2 hours from Biarritz. FYI, I am not a foodie, so I am not trying to sample all the various cuisines. Just the wine. Any ideas would be most welcome.

Toulouse is great for that and anything. Could do a day trip to Carcassonne or bike/hike along the towpath of the Canal du Midi from Toulouse. You are taking trains all the time?

Thanks PalenQ. Yes- not renting a car.

Take regional trains then that are a bit slower on say Biarritz-Toulose and stay away from TGVs that have much higher fares and demand seat reservations before boarding. Probably gave these train sources before but if not check www.seat61.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.

Albi is another really sweet nice old town you may consider IME.

You can get easily from Toulouse (a wonderful city) to Albi as a day trip. Highly recommend it. I still think you'd prefer La Rochelle/Ile de Ré, but of course it's up to you.

Yes for hiking or biking La Rochelle (***Michelin city I think) for its unique port appearance and the wild Ile de Re opposite it -I've taken the superb footpath that parallels the rugged Re coast from La Rochelle.

i agree i'd prefer La Rochelle- but the only trains departing on Sunday the 16th are at 5pm and 6pm, and it's a 5 hour ride so i give up the entire evening (although I get a full day). The 15th offers 4pm, not much better. Have ruled out local flights. Pricey and just as time consuming. However, given that I'm not renting a car and not hopping around too terribly much, is it worth it?

Where are you looking for trains? I see loads of them on the 16th, starting at around 7:46 am and continuing all day. ???

check www.bahn.de/en for quick schedules for all European trains -simplest and easiest to decipher that I've seen -can't buy tickets but reliable gives all the rail connections.

Thanks all!

Seems that you can leave Biarritz 10:00am and change in Bordeaux to regional train to La Rochelle -getting there at 3 pm -just over five hours.

La Rochelle has direct trains to Paris I think - probably via Rennes!

Decided on Toulouse, mostly b/c I preferred the hotel and dining options of a larger city. I plan on returning many times to France, so I will just have to keep La Rochelle on my list! Now I need to decide whether to do a day trip from Biarritz to Barcelona, or cut my 4 nights down in Biarritz to stay overnight....

Why not do a daytrip or an overnight from Biarritz to San Sebastián? Best food on the planet and an absolutely gorgeous setting! And easy travel on local trains.

We just did 3 nights in Bordeaux and could have used a couple more. There is a great restaurant scene and the launch of the new high speed rail, the LGV from Paris (2hr 8min), will make it even more popular.

Day trip from Biarritz to Barcelona? Have you looked at a map? It's possible, if all you want to do is waste a day.

Why not do a daytrip or an overnight from Biarritz to San Sebastián? Best food on the planet and an absolutely gorgeous setting! And easy travel on local trains.>

Yes or even a day trip is very easy by train - train to Hendaye, border station and take the lovely narrow-gauge euskotren train that rolls thru Basque towns to downtown Donostia (San Sebastian) - a real local train but frequent compared to spotty service by mainline SNCF/RENFE trains changing at Irun. Euskotren is like a commuter rail - flat fare dirt cheap just buy tickets at Hendaye Euskotren station.

http://www.euskotren.eus/

It would take all day to go by train or car to Barcelona one way I would think.

I adored Toulouse and think it should your needs well.

Personally, I would not even consider a day trip from anywhere to Barcelona, a delightful city that IMO easily merits a first visit of 5 or 6 days. JMO.

St-Jean-de-Luz really close to Biarritz is a real nice seaside town with character.