So many options, any suggestions on most cost effective/stress free way to make the trip? We will have about 2 days to make the trip, so overnight in London? Eurostar, or fly to somewhere else in France and take the train from there?
Posted by
Sweden
6418 posts
There are many options, and it all boils down to your preferences and what you want to see and do. You can certainly find a flight, but it would a pretty easy train trip with an overnight stop in Paris.
Posted by
Royaume-Uni nul points, pas plus
2512 posts
The least stressful would be the train from York to Kings Cross, walk across the street to St Pancras then Eurostar to Lille.
Lille to Lyon by TGV then train from Lyon to Arles.
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23281 posts
That is exact how I would do it. Easy and comfortable.
Posted by
OP
9 posts
And switching trains at Lille and Lyon is pretty straight forward and easy?
Posted by
Seattle, WA, USA ☔️
6788 posts
And switching trains at Lille and Lyon is pretty straight forward and
easy?
Probably more straightforward and easy than flying would be.
The challenge you face is that neither York nor Arles are well-connected by air. The closest airport for York (one with commercial air service to anywhere near Arles) would be Manchester. Closest airport for Arles would be Marseille. Ryanair can fly you from Manchester to Marseille (for crazy cheap) and they'll get you there in the blink of an eye (relative to taking the train), but you would need to get yourself to Manchester, and then from Marseille to Arles (plus you get all the joys of dealing with airports). And those flights are not daily (they go every other day). The train would certainly be more comfortable, though it would take considerably longer (and would be more expensive).
Speed versus comfort/convenience. Unless I was in a really big hurry, I'd probably opt for the train as described above.
Posted by
OP
9 posts
and where is the easiest place to book train tickets?
Posted by
Sweden
6418 posts
Via Lille is a great option, and if it was me I'd spend a night in Lille. It is in my opinion worth it.
Posted by
Yorkshire
1287 posts
Without wishing to dispute anything David says, the nearest airport to York would probably be Leeds/Bradford International (ahem) Airport. It’s a small airport which in the main caters for taking northern English holidaymakers to sunny spots throughout Europe. Paradoxically there may be flights to Marseilles from there. Check out the flight schedules for the airline Jet2.com. A bit like Ryanair but nothing like as cheap, although there are far fewer “gotcha!” add ons/potholes/rip offs to negotiate.
Failing that, I think EasyJet fly to Marseilles - check their schedules - and you may find it just as convenient to connect from Newcastle upon Tyne airport if there are flights from there. There are trains direct to Newcastle from York and the Metro (think like a mini version of the Tube but more overground - it actually uses some old colliery rail beds) has a direct link to the airport,
All that said, taking the train all the way may well be the best of all options.
Ian
Posted by
114 posts
I think taking the train to London, flying to Lyon and then taking the train to Arles would be easier and possibly cheaper. Most of the Eurostar tickets I have looked at, for our May trip, were rather expensive.
Posted by
L'Occitanie, France
10207 posts
Fly to Marseille from whatever airport. There's a local train from Marseille to Arles about every hour.
Train is way too long.