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Post by htmb on Jan 16, 2015 21:46:47 GMT
Tod, am I right in understanding you plan to land in Munich, then thinking of spending five nights in the area between Montpellier and Toulouse, before checking into your Paris apartment?
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Post by tod2 on Jan 17, 2015 16:10:56 GMT
Yes, that's the plan. I hope to increase the time in the South of France to 7 days if I can. We will then take the train from Montpelier directly back to Paris. I don't know how far up the Canal Du Midi we will go. It is really a sort of 'scouting out'for maybe a longer option another time.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 17, 2015 16:46:49 GMT
Okay, have you ever visited that part of France before? If not, you are going to have to frustrate yourself enormously by not staying anywhere as long as you would like. (That's about how 90% of my trips have always been, so I'm an expert.) For example, if you start in Montpellier, you should probably only spend two nights there even though it's worth more time and the first day is already wasted to airplane fatigue. On the morning of the 3rd day you should pick up a car (probably though www.autoeurope.com which will almost certainly give you a car through Europcar), and then you can hit the road for more frustration.
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Post by htmb on Jan 17, 2015 16:54:09 GMT
I have very limited experience (one week in the area), but I so agree. I took the train from Paris to Montpelier, then Montpelier to Carsasonne and saw so many places outside the train window that I would like to see closer at hand. I remember that I could see the coastline at one point and what looked like a lot of shorebirds in the distance. And, as touristy as it is, I'd even like to spend a half day in Carcasonne. I only spent a couple of hours in Toulouse, but would love to go back there, too. So many places to explore, Tod, you'll be ready to start planning another trip back!
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Post by tod2 on Jan 18, 2015 9:38:16 GMT
All very good tips noted! Thank you for the car hire link Kerouac. I have driven along the Italian Riviera into the French Riviera as far as Marseille, before turning inland and heading for Paris. The journey started in Frankfurt and ended in Frankfurt after about 14 days. Drove from Germany through Switzerland into Italy then France before back to Germany. This was our very first motor home trip.
I am concerned with running our of time and regretting not seeing half of anything. I think a shorter distance and fewer places would be good. If we love it and can handle the driving....(scary on the opposite side), we can go back next year.
Htmb - How long was that train journey? I will stick my neck out here and say I think those shorebirds and coastline could well have been the Camargue.
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Post by bjd on Jan 18, 2015 9:53:38 GMT
Pull your neck back in Tod, that shoreline was not the Camargue, which is on the other side of Montpellier, over towards Marseille. The shore going west has a lot of saline ponds and is flat -- windsurfing country. Also around Montpellier are two of the ugliest resorts in France: Palavas les Flots and la Grande Motte. Examples of what not to do when you want to respect the environment.
The problem for tourists with little time is that there is so much to see. So many nice villages that are worth a stop and walk around, interesting countryside when you go inland...
I think the best is to read up on the area and choose a couple of places that seem most interesting to you and build your route around them.
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Post by tod2 on Jan 18, 2015 10:08:27 GMT
I notice that with Europcar, it costs exactly the same whether one drops off in the same town or somewhere else. This could be very good news for us. It means spending time only going in one direction with no rush to get back to the starting point for rail connection. We could just as easily take the train back to Paris from another city like Toulouse. My quote was $140 for 11 days car hire. OK...glad you put me right bjd! I should have looked at a bigger map I have months and months to research the area and formulate a sort of planned route. If we don't book hotels ahead of time we can be even more free to change direction at the last moment. I am not into resorts at all! Little villages are the places we will be seeking out. Thanks for telling me about a Grande Motte etc. I want to look them up just for interest sake.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 18, 2015 10:37:52 GMT
Yes, the one way rentals are one of Europcar's best selling points. The other companies like Hertz and Avis usually do it, but there seem to be a lot of exceptions...
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Post by tod2 on Jan 18, 2015 11:32:47 GMT
Well, I consider you the car hire expert in all journeys to and from Paris Kerouac. You are the one person who is bound to know the cheapest deals and most reliable car hire company.
Regarding the train routes. I have briefly looked at them and see there is no direct train from either Toulouse or Montpelier ( and a few other places like Beziers), to Paris. This has filled my heart with dread somewhat as that Paris-Cologne-Frankfurt trip has already given me two heart attacks! The trains leave so near to the one arriving and the other departing you have absolutely no time for error or dithering.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 18, 2015 11:42:37 GMT
Yes, there are plenty of direct trains between Paris and Toulouse or Montpellier (or many other cities in that part of France). You are probably trying to look at schedules too far in the future. Tomorrow, for example, there are direct trains from Toulouse to Paris at 06:38, 09:04, 10:45, 13:04, 14:04, 16:04, 16:35, 18:04 and 22:34.
There are also plenty of direct trains from Paris-Est to Frankfurt -- no need to change in Cologne or anywhere else.
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Post by htmb on Jan 18, 2015 13:50:29 GMT
Sorry, Tod, I don't remember how long the trains took. It was 2008, so things may have changed anyway. We had TGV between Montpelier and Paris, and from Avignon to Paris, but slower trains from Montpelier to Carcassonne and Toulouse to Avignon.
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Post by tod2 on Jan 18, 2015 13:55:02 GMT
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Post by htmb on Jan 18, 2015 21:41:54 GMT
Tod, I'm not sure if you are a good influence, or not. Following this thread is putting ideas in my head for extending my next trip.
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Post by tod2 on Jan 19, 2015 10:02:27 GMT
htmb....I hope I'm bad bad bad! So bad you start dreaming and scheming about getting the most out of being away from home Kerouac I am obviously doing everything wrong when I book my train tickets! This past trip we had to change at Cologne and fortunately we made the connection within the required 12min. Now that I know there are two concourses - one above the other, does help in case I ever have to change trains again.
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Post by bjd on Jan 19, 2015 10:24:13 GMT
Tod, on TT, for anything to do with European trains, people are advised to read the website The Man in Seat 61, and for Europe-wide timetables, the German train website bahn.de
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Post by Deleted on Jan 19, 2015 11:36:20 GMT
Here is a screen shot of the SNCF site showing the first trains of the morning going to Frankfurt tomorrow. It is very clear when the train is direct and when there is a connection. And the travel time is very different when there is a connection! imageshack.com/a/img538/766/3hkVWF.jpg
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Post by tod2 on Jan 19, 2015 14:10:28 GMT
Kerouac - I booked my seats on DBahn. Maybe it was the price of the seat or the time it left Paris that influenced my selection. This time however I want to go back to Munich for our return flight as the beer shananigans would be over so hopefully I'll get the seat I want. I see there is ample time for the connection between TGV and ICE at Karlsruhe.
bjd - Yes, I know that man and seat 61! He has excellent advice.
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Post by tod2 on Feb 12, 2015 14:20:37 GMT
Train from Geneve to Montpellier Saint-RochONE-WAY FROM: 51€ (£38) AGENCY FROM TO FREQ DURATION TGV TGV Geneve Montpellier Saint-Roch once daily 3hrs 49min Line TGV SCHEDULE www.rome2rio.com/s/St-Gallen/MunichWhen I click on the above Schedule a lot of trains come up with different times??? But it states that the train is only ONCE DAILY. What time does this ONE train leave Geneve? Please can someone tell me whats going on?? Booking this part of the journey from Munich via Switzerland means I will have to work backwards in order to make this train. Unless......
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Post by Deleted on Feb 12, 2015 15:03:12 GMT
Are you trying to look too far ahead into the future again? You won't find complete schedules until 3 months before your travel date. I don't think there are any direct trains between Geneva and Montpellier -- you always have to change at least once, often in Lyon. Just looking at a random date within 3 months, I am coming up with a fare of 34.30€ on www.voyages-sncf.com . Capitaine Train is also highly recommended for buying exactly the same tickets at exactly the same fares as on the SNCF site, particularly for people who stumble over the French language: www.capitainetrain.com/en
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Post by tod2 on Feb 12, 2015 17:38:36 GMT
Yes Kerouac...I am trying to sort the train travel before (not book, just see possibilities) so that when I book my flight it ties in with onward travel. You are right about not getting a direct train, and that Lyon has a possible lay over of an hour or so, but what I am trying to establish is - Is there only one train a day or more trains? Thanks for the links - I will investigate them.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 12, 2015 17:43:56 GMT
The SNCF site shows at least 20 possibilities between Geneva and Montpellier every day, but some of them require two changes, so I would almost certainly want to exclude those. On top of that, since SNCF fares are basically calculated on the number of kilometres, unlike airlines, often the most inconvenient connections are the most expensive since they are routed less directly.
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Post by tod2 on Feb 13, 2015 11:55:32 GMT
You have helped a lot - thanks! I would like to do the trip in one day and most likely the same day our flight lands. SAA comes in to Munich very early morning so plenty time to hop on a train and be in Montpelier or Sete the same day. I don't mind changing trains more than once as long as the interval is reasonable and no need to panic. The Man in Seat 61 advises never to take a train that also includes a bus ride or taxi. I can see why as we experienced arriving by train at a small station just outside Dover only to find no taxis. We had a scheduled appointment and so as the minutes ticked by we grew more anxious. That was a very long wait.
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Post by tod2 on Feb 15, 2015 12:55:32 GMT
I know that people don't carry around maps printed on paper any longer now that one can pick up a route or surroundings on a laptop, iPad and even a cellphone. But, I am so bad at getting to the link I need that I have decided to make my own map(folded about an A4 size when closed)of the Canal du Midi route that we may travel along. I tore the relevant pages out of my Michelin map of France and took them along to have them enlarged to A3 size in colour. Then joined the route together and have space enough to paste notes on. It can easily be unfolded in an instant and I can view the entire canal from Sete to Toulouse in quite a lot of detail. I'm feeling quite pleased with myself
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Post by Deleted on Feb 15, 2015 16:30:58 GMT
I still carry paper maps everywhere.
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Post by mossie on Feb 15, 2015 19:23:25 GMT
Yes, I wouldn't go anywhere without a proper map.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 15, 2015 19:37:26 GMT
Paper maps work 100% of the time, which is more than I can say for electronic maps.
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Post by tod2 on Apr 23, 2015 7:17:17 GMT
bjd - this train & coach offer is exactly what I needed. I don't think I would have liked to do the initial trip from Munich, through Switzerland and onward to Montpellier, Sete, etc., on my own. Castelnaudary was one of the places I thought we could initially stay at only because it has a lovely hotel on the canal and hands out free bikes so one can pedal further along. The other interest was to see a real live French Foreign Legionaire.... and maybe try some cassoulet of course. You probably know the one place that's better than it's rivals??? I will be reading up on everything to do with the canal and towns to make the most of my 7 days there. All tips and advice are more than welcome!! This is my trip: www.raildiscoveries.com/tours/languedoc-carcassonne/#5BCS
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Post by bjd on Apr 23, 2015 9:06:08 GMT
Tod, of course Castelnaudary is famous for cassoulet -- just hope it's not too hot outside because it's heavy and filling. I hadn't realized there was a Foreign Legion camp there.
That tour looks like a lot of time wandering on your own in Béziers. I don't know that area well at all, so am not qualified to comment.
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Post by tod2 on Apr 23, 2015 11:30:27 GMT
bjd - The French know that cassoulet is eaten in the winter months but mad foreigners want to eat it even in Summer Yes, the French Foreign Legion Headquarters are in Castelnaudary but of course there are no tours inside.....the most one might get to see is an individual in the town itself. Then, maybe not. I am regarding this organised trip as a scouting exercise for a more in depth look at the canal du midi area maybe next year. The one place I wish we were going to for more than a day trip, is Sete. Maybe if I've had a long enough look at Beziers a quick train trip up to Capestang might be in order. Just have to see how it goes. One thing I'm sure about is that there will be no young people on the coach/train trip
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Post by Deleted on Apr 23, 2015 11:54:55 GMT
My parents lived in Béziers for two years and loved it, but of course at the time they had a cute little Fiat Spider convertible for getting around. I am not thoroughly familiar with the city, but the Roman cathedral with the citadel on top of the town is impressive, and there are also some Roman bridges still in service. The main street of the city is the Allées Paul Riquet. There is a flower market there every Friday. There are some normal street markets there on other days.
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