^ Looks like it

I can vouch for there being a rail-replacement-bus-service in place last year, on the Narbonne to Perpignan section which added to the time a little.

It might be possible to pick up a 'Prem', a French railways well-in-advance cheap ticket for the journey, so that might tempt you to book before you go. Bookings become available around 90 days prior to travel. It is also worth considering that some trains require pre-reservation, so the sooner you do it the better.

Rail Europe is essentially the French Railways UK arm, but they do charge a hefty booking fee if you book them over the phone. If you do it online, rather than send you the tickets to your English address, you can go to the ticket machine at any staffed French station (if even it is not connected to where you're travelling to) and collect / print your tickets there.

NB - Some of the long distance TGVs are double-deckers, but the regional trains (which the chances are will be the ones you're on) aren't much different from what you'd find back home in the UK.

Whilst a lot of people scoff at the overland option, it is worth considering that this might be the way to Perpignan in the future. It is forseeable the cheap air travel will go (certainly the days of the Ryanair flights for pence are long gone), once there is an environmental impact levy placed on airlines and many route will either be too expensive or unviable for a commercial service. Thus, the overland option to Southern France might be the only way of seeing this fixture in years to come.

I hope you are wrong about flights.

Ryanair has theatened high costs for years.

I've a fligjht in March LBA - CCF £10 all in one way.

I'm returnig by another mode of transport as I have some thing to bring home

I am not suggesting it will be this year or even the next couple of years, but it is forseeable in the near future that there will be additional EU control / taxation on co2 emissions made by commercial aircraft and given the amount of co2-per-mile they generate, the costs could be sizeable.

just booked Ryanair Liverpool to Carcassonne £134 RETURN inc. all the extras which Ryanair charges. Dont think I could have got anything cheaper than that really.

with the exception that the vast majority of french trains actually run on time !!!

Corner flags?

^ not corner flags, but I'm sure at some stage McF could have a very well educated guess!

Ah, must be cake then. Some sort of French fancy?

Im not sure when your trip to Catalan is, but when i went last year with wigan (July), we stopped in callela for a week all inclusive. That, plus transfers, cost us £250. I would also, recommend Callela to anyone who is thinking of going. It is in spain but is about an hour or two on a coach. The place itself is great, nice hotels, lots of clubs for those who want to go out and quite a few very good english bars. The atmosphere in every pub/club is great and i thoroughly enjoyed it, so would recommend it to anyone.

I wasn't going to go this year but the Liverpool - Carcassone - train to perpignan seems to be working out at a very nice price.

Anyone recommend any tried and tested hotels in perpignan?

£103 for flights from Liverpool isn't bad at all.

Its alright that isnt it!

I dont know whether to stay for a couple of nights i.e the £103 Sat - return Tues + £75 for hotel. Or go for a package hol in Callela which you can get 7 nights for about £250 pp.

I'm looking (if i can be bothered) to do the Sat-Tues. £150-£180 will do for me.

Go Sunday - Thurs with BMIbaby from Manc @ a cost of £75.98. The Sunday arrival gets you there for 10am local time(i think) in time for kick off

yeh,loads of good hotels in town,depends on the price - haven't been to any bad ones but have found the out of town ones (the chain hotels) cheaper plus good value with the buffet breakfast but you're looking at at taxi ride in & out.The stadia (Brutus or Giral) are both to the north of the city and the Comfort Inn is about two miles north from the ground but away from the town so you still need a taxi or bus ride in.In the southern side we have tried the Kennedy & Aragon plus the B & B which has the Premier Class and other chain hotels in a line - these are great value but you need a taxi or car hire to get about (no bus services) it's a long walk into town then a further couple of miles to the ground.In the centre I know people who have stayed at the Hotel de France,Kyriad & The Victoria and have had no complaints.

I see no-one has yet mentioned the Hotel de la Loge, probably the most central of all the central hotels, probably the strangest hotel you will ever stay in for the whole of your life, one of those places that you will book again to return next year because you didn't believe it the first time around, probably the most French of all the hotels on offer in Perpignan and certainly not corporate-ized to within an inch of its life like most others can be - "multi storey car parks with room dividers" as one well known poster from here described some of the chain hotels.

[url=http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g187156-d243830-Reviews-Hotel_De_La_Loge-Perpignan_Pyrenees_Orientales_Languedoc_Roussillon.htmlHotel de la Loge[/url

I saw that one, but you dont get to soak up the atmosphere the day before, also you'll be nackered at the game as I should imagine it will be a 4am start from home.

I'm looking to stay in the Hotel Alexander 3 star - central Perpignan. 5 person room for 100 euro per night, or a double room for 70 euro per night. Ill have a look for the other ones mention later.

had a look on our first visit to Perpignan but found it totally unsuitable for us due to the lack of Handicapped facilities (my missus is handicapped) - but it looks great and within easy staggering distance of Le Castillet & the rest of the splendours of the city

I've had longer days!

Would love to do it there and back in 2days but flight times are against me!

Aye, must admit it is temping flying direct to Perpignan and from a closer and better airport. Its just that the days are naff, after game day I won't have much interest in hanging around Perpignan.

Aye there is that. Someone should fly out Saturday morning and return Sunday night.

Having 4 nights in Carcassonne and then train to Perpignan for 2 nights at Hotel Mondial and then a week up in the Pyrenees walking and cycling and watching the Tour de France. Just got to save some money now to pay for it !!
Catalan Sports Tour guy says he delivers match tickets to your hotel probably on the Friday ??