Bit early for this thread but here goes.....

Who's Going?
How?
Staying where?

I've got my stag do booked in for the weekend. Going from Stansted

on Saturday until Tuesday. The only direct flight around! Staying in the Ibis like we have done in the past. Should be a quality weekend away!

How much was the flight Ginger ? might be intersted in that

Hopefully going, on the club trip more than likely (Say what you like, it's convenient and I have to put in no effort whatsoever

). With a bit of luck it'll stay a couple of nights in Barcelona as Perpignan shuts for Easter

Staying in Barca and travelling up on the train. I think the new TGV line is now open

Wondered if anyone could help me? It's a bit of a long shot though...

My Girlfriend's parents have a house in a little town called Vire in France. Driving wise it's around 10 hours! I'm trying to find a way (possibly train) to get to Perpignan?!

We have the national rail does anyone know if there is a website for French Train Travel?

Thanks.

www.voyages-sncf.co.uk/ is the English language version of the French 'National Rail' site. I've also used [url=http://www.raileurope.co.uk/Rail Europe[/url for tickets before. www.seat61.com/ is also handy. That said, it might be eaiser / cheaper to get to Paris and fly down.

www.voyages-sncf.co.uk/ is the English language version of the French 'National Rail' site. I've also used [url=http://www.raileurope.co.uk/Rail Europe[/url for tickets before. www.seat61.com/ is also handy. That said, it might be eaiser / cheaper to get to Paris and fly down.

Quote ="RhinoLaney"Wondered if anyone could help me? It's a bit of a long shot though... My Girlfriend's parents have a house in a little town called Vire in France. Driving wise it's around 10 hours! I'm trying to find a way (possibly train) to get to Perpignan?! We have the national rail does anyone know if there is a website for French Train Travel? Thanks.'" www.seat61.com/

Quote ="RhinoLaney"Wondered if anyone could help me? It's a bit of a long shot though... My Girlfriend's parents have a house in a little town called Vire in France. Driving wise it's around 10 hours! I'm trying to find a way (possibly train) to get to Perpignan?! We have the national rail does anyone know if there is a website for French Train Travel? Thanks.'" www.seat61.com/

Seat 61 is your best bet ... It also tells you how to book your tickets and not get hammered for them with booking fees (as I think Rail Europe does)

After all, planning on the t'internet is one thing .... Actually do the trip for real is *ahem* another



And before you ask, I did it overland to Perpignan the last time we played on an Easter Monday a couple of years ago.

Depends on how 'easy' you want it .... I've looked at the Air France internal flights from Paris to Perpignan and they ain't cheap

Basically, my overland journey a couple of years ago just involved two changes of train .... In London and again in Paris.

Thank you everyone for helping me!!

Had a quick look last night at Seat 61 seems easy enough to use.

The Train from Vire > Paris takes 2 hours by all accounts.

How did you find the experience Admiral? Was it a lot of hassle?

I'm sure, or atleast I hope, that atleast one bar owner will not be bothered about Easter and open up for the tourists!!

Hang onto that hope.

Perpignan isn't a 'tourist' town other than fortnightly influxes of rugby fans and is also in a region where religion is very keenly observed. If the place is a ghost town on Sunday's, don't expect much to change on the second most important weekend of the Christian calendar.

^ Thats where Canet Plage comes into play

By tourists I mean the fans. We didnt struggle to find a bar on the Sunday last time. If not we will go to Canet(?) and the beach. Something will be open there surely?

.........though I am slightly worried about not been able to find a bar on my stag do!!!

^ No but there is a knocking shop near the ground

As long as they're not on strike French Railways are a doddle ....

Don't rule out the TGVs from Gare De Lyon in Paris ... Down to Perpignan in a little over five hours.

Two and a half hours on the high speed lines down to Avignon and then another two and a half dodging commuter trains down through Montpellier and the like.

The sleeper down from Paris, which I've also done, is basic and means you have share with five other people in your compartment. In my particular one, there were three Cats fans and a old girl who liked the English ... So no worries there. I actually broke my journey on that train and had a morning looking around the old town of Carcassone.

I didn't even bother with a hotel on that trip ... Quick shower and change in a mate's hotel room (after all night in the bars) and then back to the station for the first train up to Paris about 04.30 in the morning.

I merely kipped on the train and remember French 'standard' class on TGVs is as good as (if not better) than First Class on something like East Coast. Wide seats and bags of leg room.

Plan your journey via the DB (German State Railways) timetable system and book your tickets well in advance (90 days) ... As long as you can commit to a specific train and you book early enough, you could land a 'Prem' ticket and they're peanuts

I always enjoy your railway posts.
When we went by sleeper to Perpignan, I think we were in a four-berth and were tucked-up in bed before the others arrived and, on the return journey, we just paid a few francs to freshen-up in the shower room at the station in Paris.

I do agree with your recommendation to use DB's timetables, in the past I have found that, on occasion, they were more up to date than thetrainline.com even for some British services.

I'm not a train freak myself but I did visit Strand / Aldwych (disused) underground station last weekend ... fascinating it was.

Quote ="El Barbudo"I always enjoy your railway posts. When we went by sleeper to Perpignan, I think we were in a four-berth and were tucked-up in bed before the others arrived and, on the return journey, we just paid a few francs to freshen-up in the shower room at the station in Paris. I do agree with your recommendation to use DB's timetables, in the past I have found that, on occasion, they were more up to date than thetrainline.com even for some British services. I'm not a train freak myself but I did visit Strand / Aldwych (disused) underground station last weekend ... fascinating it was.'" I'm not a train fanatic either, but heartily commend this to you: www.amazon.co.uk/The-Subterranea ... 145&sr=8-1

Quote ="El Barbudo"I always enjoy your railway posts. When we went by sleeper to Perpignan, I think we were in a four-berth and were tucked-up in bed before the others arrived and, on the return journey, we just paid a few francs to freshen-up in the shower room at the station in Paris. I do agree with your recommendation to use DB's timetables, in the past I have found that, on occasion, they were more up to date than thetrainline.com even for some British services. I'm not a train freak myself but I did visit Strand / Aldwych (disused) underground station last weekend ... fascinating it was.'" I'm not a train fanatic either, but heartily commend this to you: www.amazon.co.uk/The-Subterranea ... 145&sr=8-1

If it keeps me off the planes ... Then I'm happy !

Still not over Wolf 359?

Not even over Monarch Airlines flight 359 ....