I am up to train bookings and would like some help yet again!
Apr 27th, 2013, 09:25 AM
#121
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>>>><i>I will not be checking in the luggage and will be taking everything on as hand luggage.
YES! You will be so happy you decided to do this. <b>But make sure to WEIGH it as well. It's not just the dimensions that are important, but the weight. </b>
YES! You will be so happy you decided to do this. <b>But make sure to WEIGH it as well. It's not just the dimensions that are important, but the weight. </b>
Apr 27th, 2013, 03:16 PM
#123
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I agree with Doppio; weight matters and if your bag is too heavy, you may have to check it after all. Plus, the heavier, the more uncomfortable to carry around.
I'm sure you've thought of this, but check your airline's website for carry-on luggage restrictions (both weight and measurements; these vary from airline to airline as you probably know), and also it's a good idea to practice a bit before you leave. Pack your bag up with everything you think you'll need and lift it up over you head (to see how easy it'll be to get into the overhead compartment) and also put your bag on, grab your kids, and walk around town with them for a while. Even take a bus or two to see how it goes. You may feel a little silly walking around your home town like that, but it'll help you get an idea of what you're in for. After doing that, you can decide if you need to lighten the load or not.
Are your mother and husband also traveling with carry on bags? If they don't plan to or haven't decided, I'd try and convince them to do so, if I were in your shoes. The more hands the better when it comes to little kids, and everyone will be happier and less stressed. Plus, it kind of defeats the purpose of bringing only a carry on if you then have to go to the luggage carrousel anyway and wait for someone else's heavy, enormous bag!
I hope I'm not coming across as too bossy/preachy...I'm taking a trip to Europe myself this summer and I have to admit, I've become a little obsessed with packing!
I'm sure you've thought of this, but check your airline's website for carry-on luggage restrictions (both weight and measurements; these vary from airline to airline as you probably know), and also it's a good idea to practice a bit before you leave. Pack your bag up with everything you think you'll need and lift it up over you head (to see how easy it'll be to get into the overhead compartment) and also put your bag on, grab your kids, and walk around town with them for a while. Even take a bus or two to see how it goes. You may feel a little silly walking around your home town like that, but it'll help you get an idea of what you're in for. After doing that, you can decide if you need to lighten the load or not.
Are your mother and husband also traveling with carry on bags? If they don't plan to or haven't decided, I'd try and convince them to do so, if I were in your shoes. The more hands the better when it comes to little kids, and everyone will be happier and less stressed. Plus, it kind of defeats the purpose of bringing only a carry on if you then have to go to the luggage carrousel anyway and wait for someone else's heavy, enormous bag!
I hope I'm not coming across as too bossy/preachy...I'm taking a trip to Europe myself this summer and I have to admit, I've become a little obsessed with packing!
Apr 27th, 2013, 04:51 PM
#124
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Yep ..I know about weight .. .I am checking in with the airlines but I plan on leaving on less the 7kg a piece . . they allow 12kg when travelling with an infant/child . . .also as my kids have a seat they are allowed 7kg each ...I am sure I will not need 21kg . .well at least going over I won't!
My mum is going to be the same . . I can't convince hubby and to be honest it's really the time with mum that I want to have our hands free etc
so yes while with mum neither of us will have luggage on the carousel. .. I know this is the best choice we can make in regards to luggage.
In reagards to packing - I am using the site given from the travel girl on how to travel light. I plan for the kids doing the zip lock clear bag idea . . .5/6 outfits sorted as sets into clear bags and then you just take the set out each day and put the dirty clothes back into it after etc. This way I can't over pack.
Like I have said over here . . i am not going to 3rd world countries and everyone uses diapers etc so I plan just to buy that sort of stuff when I am there.
Not long now!
My mum is going to be the same . . I can't convince hubby and to be honest it's really the time with mum that I want to have our hands free etc
so yes while with mum neither of us will have luggage on the carousel. .. I know this is the best choice we can make in regards to luggage.
In reagards to packing - I am using the site given from the travel girl on how to travel light. I plan for the kids doing the zip lock clear bag idea . . .5/6 outfits sorted as sets into clear bags and then you just take the set out each day and put the dirty clothes back into it after etc. This way I can't over pack.
Like I have said over here . . i am not going to 3rd world countries and everyone uses diapers etc so I plan just to buy that sort of stuff when I am there.
Not long now!
Apr 28th, 2013, 03:45 AM
#125
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Did you get your train tickets yet? If not, scroll back to April 17 to my post and follow those instructions.
Did you get the car yet? If not, go to the Autoeurope.com or kemwell.com (sister companies). The prices you are quoting here are truly crazy. Get the smallest possible car you can fit in.
I am not trying to be rude here but from your various threads, especially this one, you sound like you have difficulty focusing. (ADD? OCD?) You are jumping from train to car to luggage. You are getting some great info and seem to be ignoring most of it. You seem concerned with cost but then willing to spend hundreds and hundreds for totally unnecessary things. Slow down, go back over this thread and figure out what to do about the train, then about the car, then about the luggage.
Did you get the car yet? If not, go to the Autoeurope.com or kemwell.com (sister companies). The prices you are quoting here are truly crazy. Get the smallest possible car you can fit in.
I am not trying to be rude here but from your various threads, especially this one, you sound like you have difficulty focusing. (ADD? OCD?) You are jumping from train to car to luggage. You are getting some great info and seem to be ignoring most of it. You seem concerned with cost but then willing to spend hundreds and hundreds for totally unnecessary things. Slow down, go back over this thread and figure out what to do about the train, then about the car, then about the luggage.
Apr 28th, 2013, 04:39 AM
#126
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hahaha thanks Isabel . .often told if I was a child in modern day that yes I would be ADD and yes I have been known as OCD like most teachers are 
My change in direction happens due to previous threads/comments..I follow that direction.
Train tickets are still a no . . I have to wait till Monday to call my phone company to allow for international dialling so I can call them but I will re read your advice and see if that works.
The jump from car to train has happened because when looking into car hire we thought that maybe a lease would be better and then we would just drive into barcelona rather then catch a train . . .finding out now that July the 16th Perpignan to Barcelona is going to be difficult . . .which is making me think maybe I should just do the lease or now see how bad the fees for hire drop off in Spain are going to be.
The luggage issue is sorted . .we WON'T be using the check in Luggage . . I will be using a duffle bag with shoulder strap and a small back pack! Huge relief that we can relax knowing our luggage will be with us!
My change in direction happens due to previous threads/comments..I follow that direction.
Train tickets are still a no . . I have to wait till Monday to call my phone company to allow for international dialling so I can call them but I will re read your advice and see if that works.
The jump from car to train has happened because when looking into car hire we thought that maybe a lease would be better and then we would just drive into barcelona rather then catch a train . . .finding out now that July the 16th Perpignan to Barcelona is going to be difficult . . .which is making me think maybe I should just do the lease or now see how bad the fees for hire drop off in Spain are going to be.
The luggage issue is sorted . .we WON'T be using the check in Luggage . . I will be using a duffle bag with shoulder strap and a small back pack! Huge relief that we can relax knowing our luggage will be with us!
Apr 28th, 2013, 06:00 AM
#127
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You're getting a lot of information and advice from lots of different directions here. All these things: train travel, car travel, luggage and so on are necessarily connected and related to one another while traveling. No small wonder this post is kind of all over the place.
It doesn't help that you seem to have a lot on your plate in terms of planning and logistics for what is a rather long trip with very small kiddos. You come across as a little flustered and distracted, but frankly I don't find that surprising at all under the circumstances. If I were in your shoes I'd be totally overwhelmed!
I agree with isabel, read back over this whole post slowly, make sure you aren't missing anything! Good luck
It doesn't help that you seem to have a lot on your plate in terms of planning and logistics for what is a rather long trip with very small kiddos. You come across as a little flustered and distracted, but frankly I don't find that surprising at all under the circumstances. If I were in your shoes I'd be totally overwhelmed!
I agree with isabel, read back over this whole post slowly, make sure you aren't missing anything! Good luck
Apr 28th, 2013, 06:39 AM
#128
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Ok, Update from tonight:
Went through my display folder to double check what still needs to be done:
Accommodation : all booked except the disney hotel 2 night stay . . .just waiting for them to get back to be about a suite thing.
Travel :
Flights - all booked
Trains - avignon to paris - still getting sorted,
paris to Bordeaux or Brive - depending on car lease/car hire - lease Bordeax or hire - Brieve
Perpignan to Barcelona - got to look into this (16th July) if the service will be available at all, however, if we have a car lease we will drive instead.
Prague to Berlin - Not available yet
Berlin to Frankfurt-Not available Yet
Ferry - all booked but may need adjustments - if we need to add a car onto the booking because we choose to lease etc
So to all of you who have helped me so very much ..THANK YOU! It is almost all done and then I can start looking into what to do when in these beautiful places!
Went through my display folder to double check what still needs to be done:
Accommodation : all booked except the disney hotel 2 night stay . . .just waiting for them to get back to be about a suite thing.
Travel :
Flights - all booked
Trains - avignon to paris - still getting sorted,
paris to Bordeaux or Brive - depending on car lease/car hire - lease Bordeax or hire - Brieve
Perpignan to Barcelona - got to look into this (16th July) if the service will be available at all, however, if we have a car lease we will drive instead.
Prague to Berlin - Not available yet
Berlin to Frankfurt-Not available Yet
Ferry - all booked but may need adjustments - if we need to add a car onto the booking because we choose to lease etc
So to all of you who have helped me so very much ..THANK YOU! It is almost all done and then I can start looking into what to do when in these beautiful places!
Apr 28th, 2013, 07:30 AM
#134
RENFE shows an 8:58 direct train on July 16 from Perpignan to Barcelona, priced from 41 euro. Go to: http://www.renfe.com/EN/viajeros/index.html
Re public toilets: I once wrote a "Seven Steps to Happy Squatting" guide....
Re public toilets: I once wrote a "Seven Steps to Happy Squatting" guide....
Apr 28th, 2013, 07:56 AM
#135
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I guess I hadn't realized the CC in question was Australian, I believe SNCF does block their cards sometimes, the whole country. I forget why, obviously some fraud issues, it was discussed some years ago on here.
But crazyfamily, why do you think a train will not run between Perpignan and Barcelona on July 16th? That's just a Tuesday, no holiday. There's a train everyday at 8:58 am, I believe, you can see it on the SNCF schedule (if you just ask for the schedule, you can't buy it). There should be other trains, of course, but they depend on the Spain rail system and they don't have their act together this far in advance, for some reason, in terms of giving schedules so you can't see them on SNCF or RENFE. But I can't believe that there could be no train that day.
But crazyfamily, why do you think a train will not run between Perpignan and Barcelona on July 16th? That's just a Tuesday, no holiday. There's a train everyday at 8:58 am, I believe, you can see it on the SNCF schedule (if you just ask for the schedule, you can't buy it). There should be other trains, of course, but they depend on the Spain rail system and they don't have their act together this far in advance, for some reason, in terms of giving schedules so you can't see them on SNCF or RENFE. But I can't believe that there could be no train that day.
Apr 28th, 2013, 08:38 AM
#136
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Well, I can't see it on the SNCF schedule - I get a message saying the train schedules for this summer on that line can't be displayed yet, and then a link to the Perturbations et Travaux site, which doesn't even show anything beyond the end of June, so it's a bit of a mystery. And I believe I've read a bunch of threads here and on TA saying service on that line is going to be disrupted this summer and they can't show proper schedules yet.
Apr 28th, 2013, 09:09 AM
#137
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The new direct train service from Perpignan to Barcelona has been postponed once again. The current timetable remains valid (2 fast trains a day with a change in Figueres-Vilafant, one direct train - the old Talgo - via the coast) but at the moment, it is not possible to make reservations after May 29. There are and there will trains from Perpignan to Barcelona. There will be no disruption of service. Be patient and check the SNCF site regularly.
