Zoe1416

My friend and I are doing a whirlwind tour of Europe. We don't have a lot of time, so I want to know what is the fastest and most inexpensive (or give me both) on how to get from Verona, Italy to Lourdes, France.

I'm guessing we should take a plane from Verona to an airport in France, and then take a train to get to Lourdes? (From what I can find online).

Does anyone have any recommendations? What are cheap airlines to try? What about the train - how long would it take by train? What is the recommended way to get from Verona (or Venice) to Lourdes?

Please help! I'm trying to plan it all out.
Thanks!

madamtrashheap

As you have stated that you don't have a lot of time on your trip, you may find that you will have to spend more money than you planned to get to Lourdes quickly. The closest ( and largest) airport (AFAIK) for Lourdes is Toulouse. Cheap flights to Toulouse might be an issue. If you want to fly to Toulouse, from Venice will likely be your best option in terms of budget carriers (Vueling, Iberia, etc, otherwise you're looking at BA and Alitalia flights which will likely start at around Euro200 one way (depending on when you're flying and how far ahead you book). Otherwise, you are looking at flying to Perpignan with airlines like Ryanair, but I don't think they do direct flights.

For train times, check www.trenitalia.com and click on the English link at the top right.

jh2011

There are available cheap flights from Verona to Lourdes. It would get cheaper if you book them ahead. As of now, that's all I know. Plus, flights are way much faster.

Carlux

The only flights I could see from Verona to Lourdes go by way of Rome and Paris, and take 24 hours - didn't check the price but it doesn't seem very practical. Lourdes is not an easy place to get to - it's in the countryside, with no major transportation routes nearby.

And the we get back to 'Why do you want to go to Lourdes?????' I find it one of the most depressing and upsetting places in France, with its incredibly commercial setting. There are lots of more interesting and inspiring places in France.

If you do still want to go, all you have to do is Google: how to get from Verona to Lourdes.

TimS

According to the search engine skyscanner.com, Vueling flies directly from Venice to Toulouse. However, these flights do not operate every day of the week.

Your best other option (every day) is to fly Venice-Paris and Paris-Toulouse on easyJet.

Take a train from Verona to Venice and from Toulouse to Lourdes.

Alec

There is also Ryanair from Verona to London Stansted and Stansted to Lourdes. But since the once daily flight from Stansted to Lourdes leaves at 0620, you need to stay overnight. Combined fare is around 100 euro.

TimS

Adding to my previous post. Again according to skyscanner.com, on some days of the week you can fly Venice-London Gatwick and Gatwick-Toulouse on easyJet.

Zoe1416

We are both Roman Catholic, so we are going to Lourdes for prayer and religious purposes.

Thank you for all your suggestions. Do you think it would be better for us to go from Verona to Milan via train ($15 for lowest price)

Fly Milan, Italy to Bordeaux airport, and take train from Bordeaux to Lourdes?

Thanks!

Dukey1

That would certainly be a better option than flying to Paris first. There are easy train connections from Bordeaux to Lourdes or you could easily rent a car and drive from there but the train may be your easiest mode. Parking in Lourdes is plentiful IF you get there early in the day (both on the street and in the town's several pay garages). There is a bus service from the train station directly to the grotto entrance although you could walk it. Are you planning to stay overnight?

Zoe1416

No, I think we were just going to the Grotto, and then take a train up to Paris for a few days.

Thank you for your help!

TimS

I'll take back my suggestion of flying from Venice to Toulouse and suggest flying from Milan to either Toulouse or Bordeaux. The train ride from Toulouse to Lourdes is a little faster than from Bordeaux.

flanneruk

First: there's a weekly scheduled flight from "Milan" (actually Oria al sero, which is really Bergamo) See the Ryanair site

Italy is swarming with diocesan pilgrimages to Lourdes, aimed generally at people on low incomes. Every street in Naples, for example, currently has posters up advertising direct flights twice a week, but I've never been in Italy without seeing posters for frequent local pilgrimages in every church. The diocese of Verona might be too small to have any fitting your timetable, but google "milano diocesi pellegrinaggio" and see if Milan's organising them. It's probably easier to book a plane or bus pilgrimage, look after yourself, then go to Paris yourself.

Lourdes is organised round trains from Paris, and charter buses and flights from all over Europe. There are scheduled flights only from Paris, London, Manchester, Rome, Bergamo and Brussels.

Ignore the crap about "commercialisaton". It's a Protestant myth.