I already have hotel reservations. I was assuming a family of four could book a daytime train from Paris to Barcelona - but the only option the train website offers is board at night and travel overnight. That is a hotel-expense-saving option for us...but we want the kids to see the scenery in daylight! Must I be investigating a bus trip instead? Surely there are rail options for a Friday in June??
Posted by
near Ringwood, Hampshire, UK
521 posts
A massive engineering project has been going on, so that direct TGVs can run from Paris through to Barcelona. The new services were supposed to start at the end of April, but until the train companies are 100% sure of the date they can't take a risk by starting to sell tickets. Latest news on Man in Seat 61 quotes a source from inside SNCF, suggesting the start date will now be the end of May. You will need to keep checking back, and also bookmark that link to MIS61, because any updates will certainly be published there. In the meantime, you can use www.bahn.de to check out non-direct routes and this MIS61 page for all the options on travel to Barcelona (ignore the London to Paris section).
Posted by
Elk Grove, CA, USA
6898 posts
Diane, while awaiting the TGV run to Barcelona, you can get very high-speed 5hr01min TGV from Paris to Perpignan. No train changes for the 10:07 departure. Here's a link to what I see on the German www.bahn.de http://gyazo.com/c34ab2fe95adc19fea7982fb8dcf81dd If you buy the TGV only run, you can print out the ticket at home. If you buy a run that is coupled with a regional train (RE), you can buy online but you will have to pick up the tickets in France. Once in Perpignan, you can buy your tickets on the next train to Barcelona. It looks like a 3hr wait but its the best that I can see until the Paris-Barcelona TGV comes online.