bdesaul

We have a trip already planned this SEPT and had booked on Vueling Airlines to fly from Bordeaux to Barcelona on Sept 16. We are staying in Sarlat so we were going to drive back West to Bordeaux early Monday AM to catch a 9:40 AM flight.. ... but now Vueling has cancelled the morning flight to Barcelona and have us flying back very late Sunday night instead.

Are there any other suggestions on best way to get from Sarlat to Barcelona? Maybe I don't have to drive back to Bordeaux but can head in another direction

I also looked at Easyjet from Bordeaux... (flight leaves 16:45)...but was hoping to find something earlier..
Seems like there are no high speed train routes to Barcelona from the Dordogne area..

StCirq

You can fly from Toulouse to Barcelona cheaply and quickly on Vueling and Iberia. Just as I wouldn't have driven to Bordeaux to catch a same-day flight to Barcelona from Mérignac, I wouldn't try a same-day flight driving to Toulouse, either.

There are trains from Sarlat to Toulouse if that interests you (two changes - one in Siorac and one in Agen), but you're right, there aren't any high-speed trains to anywhere from the Dordogne.

Michael

Aren't there direct trains from Brive-la-Gaillarde to Toulouse?

StCirq

Yes, TER and IC trains. But when you factor in the drive to Brive, turning in the car, etc., it doesn't save all that much time.

StuDudley

Brive la Gaillarde to Toulouse by train
- Drive to Brive. Depart Sarlat at 9:15 & arrive in Brive at 10:15
- return car & walk 5 mins to the train station 10:15 - 10:30
- Train to Toulouse. Depart 11:01 & arrive at 13:19 No train changes
Hopefully there is a flight that leaves after 16:00

Sarlat to Toulouse by train
- Drive to the Europcar office & return the car by 12:00 (when it closes for lunch)
- Walk or taxi to the Gare
- Train to Toulouse. Depart at 13:44 & arrive at 18:43. Two train changes

Sarlat to Toulouse airport by car
- 2 1/2 hrs

Stu Dudley

StuDudley

PS

If you need to travel on a Sunday, the Europcar offices in Sarlat & Brive are closed all day. If you drive to the Toulouse airport - the office at the airport is open all day.

For Monday train travel in May (Sept schedules may not be complete yet), the Sarlat to Toulouse schedule is
- depart 11:50 & arrive at 16:11. Bus, TER, TGV. Three changes
- depart 14:31 arrive 20:05 Two train changes.

Stu Dudley

Michael

It saves on changing trains.

bdesaul

Thanks for the feedback folks... Toulouse does not have direct flights to Barcelona so ruling that out.. our plans are pretty solid already that we need to have Monday Sept 16 as our travel day.. seems like Vuerling does not fly every day of the week... Easyjet has a direct flight at 16:45 to Barcelona landing around 18:00 so that is Plan B.
Driving to Toulouse and taking a high speed train may be an option.. exploring that ...

StCirq

https://www.vueling.com/fr/routes/vo...n-de-barcelone

Michael

Why not drive to Narbonne and catch a train there?

bdesaul

Thanks Michael!! l
Looks like Sarlat to Narbonne is only about 4 hours drive... .. and they have direct train at 2:36 from there to Barcelona (2 hour train)... this looks like a great alternative to driving back to Bordeux and flying Easyjet... no security lines.. no cancellations of planes.. etc..

StuDudley

I would choose Michael's recommendation.

- 4 to 4 1/2 hr drive from Sarlat to Narbonne

- TGVs
Depart 10:33 arrive at the Sants station at 12:38
Depart 14:36 arrive at 16:34

Or you could drive 2 3/4 hrs to the Toulouse train station and take a train from there - with 1 train change (in Narbonne)

Your original plan was to drive 2 3/4 hrs to the Toulouse airport - which might take 3 1/2 hrs on a Monday "back to work" day (airport is on the "other" side of Bordeaux). I would never choose this option to catch a 9:40 flight. You would need to depart Sarlat at 3:45am or so.

A train option would consume less of your day, IMO. Airports outside of cities eat up time & add stress.

Stu Dudley

PalenQ

Driving to Toulouse and taking a high speed train may be an option.>

There is no high-speed train from Toulouse itself but take normal fast trains from there to Narbonne where you change to the true new high-speed line tunneling under the Pyrenees and if taking 8:53 am train you' be in Barcelona in 3 h 45 minutes - as quick or quicker than flights all in all and you see some pretty coastal scenery. Book those tickets far in advance for nice discounts at www.oui.sncf - French Railways site - book your own tickets on it for lowest prices. www.seat61.com has lots on booking your own tickets - general info trains www.budgeteurpetravel.com; www.ricksteves.com.