Overnight Train Trip? RECONFIRM!!
 

Daughter is traveling Barcelona to Paris overnight, I just happened to log on to their site to show her grandmother photos of the train-hotel. A small message appeared (in Spanish) "the 7:55pm overnight to Paris will be leaving at 6:25pm this month. If you show up late you can get a refund". etc

Late trains are easily dealt with, BUT 90 MINUTES EARLY???? Re-confirm! Check the websites. Renfe, where she purchased her tickets, had her email address but did not do any email notification or advisory.

AVOID GETTING STUCK IN BARCELONA WITHOUT ACCOMODATIONS!

that's a bu...er.

i agree that leaving early is a dastardly trick, and even worse when they have contact details which they fail to use.

the fact that they offer a refund suggests they are expecting howls of outrage.

when was/is the trip?

Yikes! Glad you caught that for her!

Hopefully she's on the train NOW as it left a couple of hours ago! She was staying in a hotel with no room phones, and I don't think had figured out her iphone yet because she didn't reply to anything. But we got an email back from the hotel saying that she got the message and was thankful.

Well, I imagine they had their pick of tren cabins since half the passengers will be left behind!

is it a new phone, clark?

i ask, because I've made it a rule never to travel with a new phone. It usually takes me a good 6 months really to conquer the darn thing.

you don't want to be struggling with a new phone while you're away from home.

Yeah she had to get one of those Verizon loaner phones because she has an Iphone4 and waited too late to explore her options.

I'm not sure if she hasn't figured out Verizon's Global Plan yet, or if she's just been scared by horror stories and is keeping the phone in airplane mode or something. Anyway, at her upcoming accomodations in Paris and London they have room phones and she has a cheap phone calling card, or we can at least phone her and leave messages. And she'll have wifi etc.

clark - i hope she gets to Paris safely and that you hear from her soon.

W'eve stayed here. The rooms are tiny. The neighborhood is great, with cafes, a supermarket, a fabulous patissiere and I believe our room came with mini-fridge. Great rates for the great neighborhood. 3 or 4 metro stops within walking distance and La Motte Picque metro just a block away. Easy walk to Eiffel tower maybe 12 mins. Safe, clean, friendly.

The website brings up 3 hotels and the one I'm recommending is the first one, "Grenelle". If you choose this hotel,let me know if you need metro directions or anything.

http://www.saphirhotel.fr/fr

Sorry my last response 2:31pm was wrong thread

We've know a number of people whose Verizon loaner phone didn't work, even after contacting Verizon. Also, her iPhone from Verizon is not compatible with the GSM system used in Europe. AT&T's iPhone is a GSM, as is T-Mobile's, but T-Mobile does not offer a roaming plan.