We're combining back to back tours of Spain and Portugal in May, 2015 ending in Porto, Portugal. We're considering traveling 5 days from Porto, Portugal to La Coruna, Spain to Bilbao, Spain to St. Jean de-Luz, France to Amboise, France to Paris from where we will fly back home. Would it be best to rent a car or travel by train? Any suggestions or problems would be appreciated.
RTY
Are you planning to hire a car in Porto and return it in Paris?
International one-way car hire incurs a large surcharge (see other posts). Before you consider this, get a quote and ask how much an international one-way hire will cost.
Otherwise I say this is a lot in 5 days. viamichelin.com says Porto to Paris via La Coruña, Bilbao and St. Jean de-Luz is 1769 km and takes 19h33 without stops. Cost: Tolls €110 Petrol €208. I would reckon 3 days doing nothing but driving. This trip needs more time or less distance.
Train journey takes approx 33 hours with 4 changes on route from Port to Paris Est. Helluva journey!!!
Unfortunately, while it looks reasonable on a map, the transit links are not. Portugal is not well connected to Spain by rail and Spain is only just improving it's rail links to France. So the result is the horrific amount of travel time listed above. And driving will incur the huge drop-off fees also noted. You might have more success breaking up the journey, say train to northwest Spain and then a car to Bilbao, then train to Paris. Or stick around more of Portugal or northwest Spain and then fly to Paris.
That sounds like 5 days fairly full with transportation time and not with sightseeing. Consider also:
Check www.skyscanner.com for affordable flight options to Paris from Portugal or from A/La Coruna, Bilbao, or San Sebastian.
A train from Porto to Bilbao (skipping La Coruna) takes 14 hours overnight, with connections in Coimbra and Miranda de Ebro. How to Look Up Train Schedules Online gives you the DB train schedule link and tips for using it.
If you travel along the north coast of Spain, you probably will drive that part, which is not well served by the national railway. Again, see www.viamichelin.com for driving times.
