Train or plane?

Old Aug 14th, 2001, 09:43 PM
  #1  
Joe
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Train or plane?

My friend and I are planning a trip to Europe soon. Since United does not fly into Spain, we plan to take a train from Paris-Lourdes-Bourdeaux-Saragossa, Spain. Is it cheaper to purchase rail tickes in Europe rather than use a eurail pass? Anyone knows the approximate roundtrip cost for these destinations? Any advice will be greatly apprecated
 
Old Aug 15th, 2001, 04:43 AM
  #2  
Liz
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Here is a site that has good train info to help you decide:
www.footloosetravel.com
 
Old Aug 18th, 2001, 10:56 AM
  #3  
Liz
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Thank you so much for your reply. I studied the site and it was very informative. I appreciate your advice very much.

Aloha,

Joe
 
Old Aug 18th, 2001, 11:40 AM
  #4  
Bob Brown
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Hi Joe. I looked up the fare for a town in Spain called Saragosse in French.
I presume that is the same as Saragossa in English.
The one way fare, second class, from Paris to Saragosse is 615 francs or about $88.

The trip is a long one and the schedule is not to my personal liking!! You leave Paris about 4:00 in the afternoon, but arrive in Saragosse at 4:10 AM. You also have a wait for the next train in a border station called Irun for over an hour.

I think you would be more comfortable on such a long trip in first class, but that boosts the cost considerably. On the SNCF webside, the first class fare comes out at 1784 francs (about $250) Darn near triple!! I was surprised at the difference.

You can get a little better schedule if you lay over for a night in Bordeaux.
That way you can avoid that 4 AM arrival.

But, you don't have a whole lot of choice in the matter.

I don't know what the closest airport is to Saragosse or Saragossa, but I would try to find it so I did not have to ride a train on a 12 hour trip.
 
Old Aug 18th, 2001, 11:54 AM
  #5  
xxx
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What about flying one of the airlines that has the inexpensive flights? Try www.europebyair.com. There are others, so maybe more knowledgeable Fodorites will chime in.
 

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