I booked a flight into Bordeaux ( July 9 -arrival at 17:00) and planned to take a train to Sarlat for 3 nights. I knew there was train service, but got on different sites to check train schedules,/prices this evening, and it looks like it is all sold out, busses as well. Am I correct on this or am I missing something ?
Do they release more tickets later on ? Might you be able to get them directly at he station, or is it a lost cause ?
We are not going to rent a car-so planned to go to Sarlat as a base. Another option for a base in Dordogne with rail or bus service ? Advice ?
Thank you very much !!! It seems like plan B is necessary....
Posted by
Panguitch, Utah
2707 posts
Tickets are not sold out; they have not yet been released for sale. This is probably because of the current strike action by SNCF unions.
In any event, I would not recommend visiting the Dordogne without a car. Sarlat, as charming as it is, is not a transportation hub.
Posted by
Chicago
8166 posts
Like the above poster says it may be because that strike situation. But without a car you can buy a tour at the Sarlat information center to go to those hard to reach places like La Roque Gageac and Castelnaud.
https://www.ophorus.com/sarlat-dordogne-sightseeing-tours/
You can also take a public bus to Montigac yourself to go see the caves at Lascaux
Posted by
Kelowna, Canada
118 posts
We were in the Dordogne and used Sarlat as a base and would not do this without a car
There is so much to see - Font De Gaume, Domme, Le Roque Gageac, Beynac just to mention a few and these need a car to get to
Posted by
OP
Park City, Utah, USA
38 posts
Thank you everyone for your help.
Concerning the train and tickets-should I just keep watching for tickets on the web page for changes-any rhyme or reason to this ? IS this the normal ?
As for the car scenario, I understand it's hard without a car, but I had planned to take the bus tours while I was there. I know it will be limiting, but it will work for us. I appreciate the links, I just want to get there, ( !) so any other insights on how French trains sites limit ticket sales during strikes, that would be very helpful. The busses were all booked as well-just seemed very odd, but at the same time, I know the area is very popular.
Any other links to tours or activities out of Sarlat, would be great. We would like to canoe on the river as well.
Thank you, Mary
Posted by
Panguitch, Utah
2707 posts
insights on how French trains sites limit ticket sales during strikes, that would be very helpful.
The SNCF does not sell tickets for strike days which leads me to believe that July 9 could be a strike day or at least is potentially a strike day. If indeed July 9 is a strike day, it will be very difficult to reach Sarlat, or anywhere else in France, without a car.
Strikes currently are posted through May. It is not a lost cause but no one knows how far into the future strikes will continue.
Posted by
New York City, NY
301 posts
We used "Allo Philippe", a taxi service, for a day of sightseeing that included 2 cave visits - he's listed in the Rick Steves France book. Philippe is a larger than life quintessential Frenchman who was a great raconteur and wanted to show us as much as he could. We also used a service recommended by the hotel for renting a canoe to paddle along the Dordogne River and that was great as well. We don't like to drive and these were 2 options that worked for us.
Posted by
OP
Park City, Utah, USA
38 posts
Tocard, Thank you once again. There are no ticket available for this route starting about July its, onward, at least through July 19- It would then seems they are anticipating this strike to continue through this time---
Would this strike also affect bus tickets ? They are also not available, although maybe people are just snatching them up...
Thanks-
Posted by
Chicago
8166 posts
Making lemonade out of lemons there are buses you can take but none direct from Bordeaux to Sarlat.
You would have to take the Ouibus to Périgueux
and then Transperigord Line 7 to Sarlat
I used Transperigord line 8 from Sarlat to Montignac to see Lascaux IV last January
Posted by
London, United Kingdom
4684 posts
The current strikes are not every day, so if there are no tickets available at all for July I don't think it's because of that. More likely it's because the French railway timetables change in mid-June and often tickets after that time don't go on sale as early as they usually do.
More generally I think you're over-worrying about this, as the line from Bordeaux to Sarlat is a local one, which means there are no discounts for buying tickets in advance and no compulsory seat reservations. So as long as trains are running at all you could buy your ticket on the day you travel and not be disadvantaged.