OK, I am on the verge of hosteling Europe for the first time. I've book trains and planes already to get me to each destination, however, right I'm in the midst of a snag. I have a RyanAir flight that leaves from Tours, France on the 10th of December (9:30 a.m.). I will be in Paris on the 8th and 9th so getting to Tours is not a problem. My problem is, that the earliest train arrives in Tours on the morning of the 10th at 8:00. This I would think would be plenty of time, however, the train station in Tours is about 8 miles out from the airport. Should I go to tours the night before and get a hotel (expensive for us backpackers!) or will there be a bus that can get me to the airport in enough time?
Posted by
Park Ridge, IL
524 posts
Paul I would "bite the bullet" and take a taxi. Must be a taxi stand at the train station. You can't afford to miss the flight! Also, while in Paris, check to make sure there is no France train strike on the day you are taking the train to Tours. If yes, see if you can travel by bus and do it the day before. Bobbie
Posted by
Park Ridge, IL
524 posts
Paul If you are going to London, I bow to the superior recommendations of the previous posters. In this case, it is better "to answer the question not asked", ie. the best and least expensive way to get from Paris to London. Definitely, take the Eurostar! On the other hand, if you are going to Portugal (the only other destination from Tours I can find in winter), arrive the night before and stay in a hostel. You will have so much fun and learn so much! Bobbie
Posted by
London, United Kingdom
4684 posts
Is 9:30 the actual take-off time or the check-in time? If it's the take-off time I think you need to go to Tours the previous night.
Posted by
Minneapolis, MN, USA
8700 posts
I strongly recommend that you go to Tours the night before your flight. Like all budget airlines, Ryanair has a strict check-in deadline. If you don't have a boarding pass in hand when that deadline arrives, your ticket will be worthless and you'll have to buy a full-fare ticket on a later flight. There is a HI hostel in Tours. See the hostelz.com site for an unbiased review. You can book the hostel on this page on the HI site.
Posted by
Bristol, UK
619 posts
The Tours airport website suggests that you are at the airport two hours before your flight leaves. That rules out travelling from Paris to Tours on the morning of your flight. Are you travelling from Paris to London, via Tours and Stansted and using Ryanair? If so, that is a long and tortuous way round, and could well be much more expensive than getting the Eurostar train direct from Paris to London once you have added in all the other costs. This is why Eurostar have something like 75% of the travel market between London and Paris. It may be too late, or too expensive, for you to change your plans now, but this should be a warning to other travellers. Budget airlines, especially Ryanair, use regional airports. These are fine if they suit your itinerary, and the flights are largely used by people travelling between European regions. They may be less convenient if you are going between capital cities.
Posted by
Bristol, UK
619 posts
I have just checked the French Eurostar website. There are tickets available on the 10.13 train from Paris to London, arriving 11.28, costing 48 euro for an under-26. I bet the train to Tours, a bed for the night, and transport from Stansted to London will cost you more than that.
Posted by
Minneapolis, MN, USA
8700 posts
Taking the Eurostar is ideal. If you got a dirt cheap ticket for the Ryanair flight, throw it away and book a train ticket now on the Eurostar site. You can print your own ticket. However, for the record your absolutely cheapest way from Paris to London is to take an overnight Eurolines coach. The fare is low and you won't have to pay for a night's lodging.