Paris - Biarritz
 

We discussed driving from Paris thru the Loire and on to Biarritz and Northern Spain .After some discusion we are looking at taking the train to Biarritz. One reason is Parking.We will be in San Sebasian for five days w/ parking at a minimum of 6E. We have found that while the trains are not cheap they may be a better bet than driving and parking. Are there any other options? Maybe Paris to Tours for a day and then then on to Biarritz. Is there a rail pass that one can purchase?

I'm of no help but one of my favorite trips with my late husband, was driving along the coast to get to Biarritz.

I am seeing a one-way TGV ticket from Paris Montparnasse direct to Biarritz for in the 70 - 90 USD range (2nd Class). That doesn't seem unreasonable for a 5 - 6 hr train ride.

Another option is an EasyJet flight from Paris CDG to Biarritz (BIQ) Airport. The flight is ca. 1.5 hrs and, depending on your dates, may cost as little as 25 Euros or so.

My wife and I had a splendid stay in Bayonne/Biarritz for several days. We then took a train to the border town Hendaye, where we spent several hours at a spa near the beach (Thalassotherapy) before catching a bus for Bilbao over the Spain border in Irun.

If you prefer not to drive I can understand that. But to choose another means of travel to save 6 euros a day (minute when compared to the cost of the car, insurance and gas) just seems silly. (Overnight parking here is /$35 to $40 per night - people would be line up around the block for $10 parking.)

We paid 16E/24hour parking in SS city center last may. It was worth the cost. Agreeing with nytraveler on quibbling over parking costs.

The coastline mentioned by cigalechanta can bbest be seen on the seat of a bicycle. There are cycle lanes (originally built by the Germans in the second world war for their motorbike courriers) which are now for cyclists and weave their way through beautiful pine forests and along 200km of stunning beaches - with the pill boxes gradually disappearing into the sand.
Bike hire won't be a problem and you don't have to be Lance Armstrong. It is almost completely flat and even if you just do a few miles, it will be a memorable few miles. Have a look at the photos - you can smell that pine forest!
http://www.jeremytaylor.eu/cycling_w...t_france_1.htm