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Making the most of an 8 day Eurail pass within a 14 day trip

Posted by (west coast usa) on

Hello, just looking for any suggestions here on this itinerary. Ideally not driving at all and I have purchased an 8 day eurail pass. I have tried to use the 8 days mostly on days where I am traveling between destinations and not just day trips. I have put in parentheses the 8 travel days.
Nice 2 nights then train to Avignon (1).

Avignon 3 nights then train to Lyon (2).

Lyon train to Beaune (cannot find highly reviewed luggage storage for a few hours) then train from Beaune to Dijon (3).

Dijon train to Besancon, walk around for a few hours, Besancon train to Belfort, walk around for a few hours, Belfort to Mulhouse (4). Is two stops like this too much?

Mulhouse train to Colmar, walk around for a few hours, then train from Colmar to Strasbourg. (5)

Strasbourg train to Reims. (6)

Reims to CDG- end of trip (7).

That leaves one day I remaining I can use. Debating between using it on a trip from Lyon to either Roanne or Vienne? I really would like to go to Roanne but the only day I could visit would be a Sunday so not sure if it would be worth it. Thank you!

Posted by
2723 posts

I would attempt to get a refund on the Eurail pass you purchased and purchase individual tickets for the trains you need:

https://www.sncf-connect.com/
https://www.thetrainline.com/en-us

Those using Eurail passes must purchase reservations on all TGVs and availability is very limited. If you purchase tickets early, 90+ days before you travel, you can find tickets costing little more than what your reservation will cost.

Posted by
3 posts

Thanks for the reply. I should have added the trip is less than 4 weeks away, beginning in mid January. Had I planned earlier I would have booked the tickets individually as you suggested. Now however I am kind of locked into the Eurail route. I did purchase seat reservations already on four of the longer ones- Nice to Avignon, Avignon to Lyon, Strasbourg to Reims, and Reims to CDG airport. $12-$22 range. The seat reservations I believe are non refundable.

Posted by
3 posts

Also the 8 day France Eurail pass was $300. So with the seat reservations I already purchased I have spent about $350-$375 total.

Posted by
15078 posts

It has been years since I visited Roanne. If you do have the chance , do it. I found it interesting since I was in the Lyon area and historically the main square in Roanne was of historical interest, ie that main statue with the figurines. It has to do with Roanne being occupied by foreign invaders in 1814, ie the Austrians.

Visiting Roanne was also a day trip.

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