We are going on two bike tours in France in the spring 2012 -- first out of Toulousse. Following that tour, we'd like to take a train to Tours. We will have two bike boxes with us (we have boxes no larger than 26" x 26" x 12"), plus one large suitcase and a daypack. How would we best get there, and when should we puchase our tickets?
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23626 posts
The train works well and if the bikes are in suitcases then they can be stored in the generally luggage area. Personally I would reduce the one large suitcase to two carryon size, back pack style bags. You can easily purchase ticket the day of or a day or two before departure. The only advantage to early purchase is potentials discount but it does lock you into a set schedule.
Posted by
OP
Danville, CA, USA
5 posts
Thanks much for your advice! We'll try to pack light and do the two lighter, smaller packs/cases. We traveled to Italy earlier this year with the bikes and carried too much weight, and except for the bikes, suitcases weren't on wheels. A huge challenge!
Posted by
Minneapolis, MN, USA
8700 posts
If you book well in advance (up to three months allowed) at tgv-europe.com, you can get discount fares as low as €19 for Paris-Toulouse and €22 for Toulouse to St-Pierre-des-Corps which is 4km from Tours. Take a cheap regional train from there to Tours. To keep the site in English and to avoid being bumped to the Rail Europe site which doesn't offer discount fares, choose Great Britain as your ticket retrieval country. If you're given the option of printing your own tickets, do so. Otherwise you can pick up your tickets at any SNCF station or boutique in France (even though you listed Great Britain).