Would love some input - we are headed to Paris at the end of September. Planning 4 nights in Paris, 2 nights in the Loire Valley then onto Barcelona for 4 more nights. My original plan was to take a train to the Loire Valley and then onto Barcelona via train; however, after some research I'm realizing that there may not be room for our luggage on the train to and from the Loire Valley and we would have to return to Paris for a train to Barcelona anyway. I would love suggestions on transportation to and from the Loire valley other than train. Also, considering renting a car and making a stop for a night between Paris and Barcelona but have no idea if there is a good stop along the way. Would love input on that too!
Posted by
SE Pennsylvania
2660 posts
I don't think you plan will work for such a short trip. Barcelona is more than 6 hours from Paris by train.
Posted by
OP
USA
5 posts
Can you elaborate? I am looking at a 3pm departure from Paris and 9:30 PM arrival in Barcelona on the day we are planning on traveling. Seems like that would be enough time to get back to Paris from the Loire Valley that morning (staying at Les Sources Cheverny). This is my first time planning European rail travel though - am I being naive?
Posted by
Chicago
8164 posts
You should go straight to whatever town you are staying in the Loire Valley on the day you arrive in Paris and then to Paris for 4 nights and then either take the train, drive , or fly to Barcelona.
after some research I'm realizing that there may not be room for our luggage on the train to and from the Loire Valley
You can bring as much luggage as you can handle on French trains as far as I know and have seen. Where did you see that there may not be room?
Do you have airline tickets yet? If so are they roundtrip to and from Paris?
Posted by
OP
USA
5 posts
Ahh, good to know! It was a comment I read either on here or facebook that there may only be overhead space for luggage. Good idea on changing the order - going to check and see if that's an option with hotels!
Posted by
Chicago
8164 posts
There is overhead space by each pair of seats, space between or under the chair depending on how big the bag is and storage by the door for bags too big to fit over your seat. People get on an off the trains at each stop.
Posted by
OP
USA
5 posts
Perfect! Thank you!
Flights are into Paris and flying out of Barcelona
Posted by
Loire Valley
824 posts
You'll need a car. Les Sources isn't really the Loire Valley (except in marketing terms). It's in the Sologne: near Cheverny, for sure, but a distance from anywhere else if you don't have a car. Even driving to Chenonceau or Amboise it's an hour, and I'm not sure you will find a taxi willing to pick you up, wait for you, and then return you to the hotel.
If we have clients staying at Les Sources we get them to drive to closer to where the action is.
Posted by
Washington DC
28067 posts
Renting a car in Paris or the Loire Valley and later dropping it off in Spain would not be a good idea unless you are made of money. The international drop charge would likely be hundreds of euros. In addition, the driving distance from Paris is about 640 miles, so the trip would probably take over 10 hours by car. The train would be a lot faster.
Posted by
464 posts
In May we took the train from Gare Montparnasse in Paris to Amboise via St Pierre des Corps. There are luggage racks by each door that we put our luggage on and then sat near there in that train car. It worked out fine.