Venice – Nice – Barcelona – Paris

Hetman
Traveller
364 comments

do you want to go to Barcelona and come back by train or only go there and come back for example by plane?

Yurdoo
Traveller
12 comments

[quote]do you want to go to Barcelona and come back by train or only go there and come back for example by plane?[/quote]

I would like to visit maybe 3-4 cities (include Barcelona), I think that should be enough for 10 days, right?
I'm not really sure how should I go really. :/ But I know that cities I want to see the most are Paris and Barcelona, then I'm interested in south of France (like Marseille, Nice...) and maybe Venezia (closest to BA).

My problem is I don't know how to start planning. I'm going alone and for the first time.
Starting point is Bratislava. I need to puzzle my route somehow in terms of the budget I have.

Hmm, would be Bratislava - Venezia - Marseille - Barcelona - Paris - Bratislava ok?
Maybe other cities to consider?
Thank you!

Hetman
Traveller
364 comments

in this post you can find preposition of route for mentioned travel

[u]https://rail.cc/en/travel-routes-proposals/f6629#p26130[/u]

the route starts in Vienna because, as I supose, you are Slovakian so you can not use InterRail in you country. For that it's better to take REX train to Vienna and there start the travel.

Remember that you can not use IR in this REX because you will lost one day form the 10. You have to buy normal ticket for this train, without InterRail because then it will allow you use 19:00 rule :arr: [u]https://rail.cc/en/1900h-rule-night-train/f1024[/u]

Yurdoo
Traveller
12 comments

[quote]in this post you can find preposition of route for mentioned travel

[u]https://rail.cc/en/travel-routes-proposals/f6629#p26130[/u]

the route starts in Vienna because, as I supose, you are Slovakian so you can not use InterRail in you country. For that it's better to take REX train to Vienna and there start the travel.

Remember that you can not use IR in this REX because you will lost one day form the 10. You have to buy normal ticket for this train, without InterRail because then it will allow you use 19:00 rule :arr: [u]https://rail.cc/en/1900h-rule-night-train/f1024[/u][/quote]

Thank you very much for your time, Hetman! BTW, yes I'm Slovak.

But I was thinking today about changing my route, and start in London (by plane). The reason is, I have two cousins working there in summer, so I can stay for free, which is an opportunity. Then I would go to Paris (by ferry it's cheapest, as I learned, right? I need to learn more when I can) and then continue to Barcelona, probably skip Marseille, go to Venice and then back to Vienna - Bratislava. Just need to calculate all the costs, when I have time...

Not sure right now about skipping Marseille, but I'd start using my Interrail pass on my way to Paris, so maybe I can handle it (financially and in terms of time) and stop even at Marseille (or Nice). I still want to fit into those 550€.

What do you think?

Hetman
Traveller
364 comments

[quote]Then I would go to Paris (by ferry it's cheapest[/quote]
yes, you're right but there is also possibility of use bus :arr: [u]https://rail.cc/en/train/london-to-paris[/u] where you can not use IR but, if you like travelling by bus it's also some possibility for you.

the main idea I've shown you so you can change it. remember that some trains do not go daily so always be sure their running.

Yurdoo
Traveller
12 comments

OK, thank you again for info! 8)

Yurdoo
Traveller
12 comments

Ok, so I'm still tweaking my journey and need some help. :idea:
[b]I have a problem to decide what kind of trip to take.[/b]

[b]My first plan[/b] is to go to London by plane (have cousins there - free stay), cost is 85€ per flight and I want to stay for 3 days. Then continue to Paris by bus (41€, night bus) and stay also for three days alone. Then go to Barcelona by plane (65€) and stay for 3 days with my friends, who’ll arrive there, when I do. Then finally go back to Vienna/Bratislava by plane (95€).
As you noticed, I don’t plane to use Interrail on this one, it would not make sense, I use planes.
I would start travelling from August 21th till the end of month.

[b]The second option[/b] is to go like two weeks later (end of August) with my friends, (who are visiting Barcelona) and leave London out (because my cousins will be left by that time). We would probably visit Paris, Barcelona and south of France (Nice, Saint Tropez...) only by trains.

Cost for travel is higher in the first one – around [b]290€[/b] (2nd is maybe [b]250€[/b]), but I can save in London having free stay.
I’m not sure if it is a good idea to take that many planes (possibility of prices getting higher, complications on airport etc.)

What do you think is a better idea? See London-Paris-Barcelona and not use Interrail (and be alone in Paris), or to take Interrail and go to the entire journey with my friends, but skipping London?

[b]Thank you very much![/b]

Peter
Traveller
9339 comments

Hi.
I am definitely not a fan of this kind of plane-trip. I is absolutely not the same, not the same feeling. You just go into a plane, sit there for an hour, get out, that's it. No feeling for the distance,s no adventures - and you will forget this trip two years later. About your Interrail trip you will still talk to your kids then in 20 years. :)
Also don't forget: the airports for the cheap airlines are always outside of the city centres. You have to calculate heavy extra fees for bus or train transportation to the airports.
Example Barcelona: the airport for the low-cost airlines is Girona (100km in the North-West of Barcelona). Bus transfer is about EUR 25 (return ticket).
London Stansted: 60km away from the city center - one way around EUR 10.
And so on ... central train stations are much easier to reach ...
Peter :)

Yurdoo
Traveller
12 comments

[quote]Hi.
I am definitely not a fan of this kind of plane-trip. I is absolutely not the same, not the same feeling. You just go into a plane, sit there for an hour, get out, that's it. No feeling for the distance,s no adventures - and you will forget this trip two years later. About your Interrail trip you will still talk to your kids then in 20 years. :)
Also don't forget: the airports for the cheap airlines are always outside of the city centres. You have to calculate heavy extra fees for bus or train transportation to the airports.
Example Barcelona: the airport for the low-cost airlines is Girona (100km in the North-West of Barcelona). Bus transfer is about EUR 25 (return ticket).
London Stansted: 60km away from the city center - one way around EUR 10.
And so on ... central train stations are much easier to reach ...
Peter :) [/quote]

Thank you Peter.
Today I was thinking about it and came to the same conclusions about this as you posted, so I agree - trains would be definitely better and cheaper. But there's also a question about London. It would be a lot more expensive if I go there by plane and then to Paris by eurobus and continue with InterRail passport, right? There isn't really a way to include it cheaply in my trip (a kind of which I described in my first posts), I think...?

So, if I must skip London because of a strict budget, I have an idea of changing my route in a way, that we can get to Paris on the first weekend in september to visit some museums for free.
I imagine it probably like this: [b]Vienna-Venice-Nice (and surroundings in south of France)-Barcelona-Paris-Vienna.[/b]
I just need to find cheap stay mainly in Venice . Do you think campings there are ok? Because hostels I researched are all very pricey. The one cheaper I found was isolated on some small island, so there would be an extra cost for a boat. Ok, I'm gonna plan some more. :)

Thank you.

Peter
Traveller
9339 comments

That's London ... in the past it was easy and cheap to reach by ferry from France to the UK. But since the EUROSTAR train trough the channel started, it got more and more expensive.
Only cheap ways are:

- by plane (like you said) - if you get a cheap flight
- by bus: [u]https://rail.cc/en/train/london-to-paris[/u]
- by ferry coming from the Netherlands: [u]https://rail.cc/en/train/amsterdam-to-london[/u]

Concerning your trip you planed now ... it looks good, but Venice - in my eyes it is only very very touristy. A nice city, but extremely expensive. :o
Maybe better to have there only a stop for one day and to sleep some where else.

Paris - Barcelona: think about including the Petit Train Jaune trough the Pyrenees. It is much cheaper than the direct night train and much more nature and adventure!!
Details here:
[u]https://rail.cc/en/train/paris-to-barcelona[/u]

Peter :)

Yurdoo
Traveller
12 comments

Ok, I better leave London alone then. :) I can take a trip there later anyway.
Considering Venice, I know it's touristy and expensive, wasn't really sure about this choice to be honest. What would be you personal choice for another interesting destination along the way instead of Venice, if I may ask?

Thanks again!

Yurdoo
Traveller
12 comments

Hi,
so I have planned my trip into more details. We're 3 friends and our final route is, as I've mentioned:
Vienna - [b]Venice – Nice – Barcelona – Paris[/b] - Vienna. Now, I'm trying to fit into those 10 days we have.
Our trip starts on [b]Sept 6th[/b] (direct night train Vienna-Venice on 5th in the evening) and ends on [b]15th[/b] in Paris. We would like to stay 2 days in every city, but need to leave Paris on the second day here, which I don't like at all - cause that would be only 1.5 days in Paris. So I was thinking to stay full 2 days and go back to Vienna the next day ([b]16th[/b]) - but without InterRail pass. Good idea or not?

What I would like to know is the cheapest price for Paris-Vienna connection without InterRail ticket.

Hetman wrote me days ago about this train (Vienna-Paris):

dep: 19:48 VIENNA Westbahnhof
EuroNight, reservation compulsory:
Seat | 2nd class EUR 25*/19
Couchette 6 | 6-bed-compartment | 2nd class EUR 39*/34
Couchette 4 | 4-bed-compartment | 2nd class EUR 48*/42

arr: 6:06 Frankfurt am Main dep: 9:00
ICE Alleo, reservation compulsory: 2nd class EUR 10
arr: 12:50 PARIS Est

Can someone please tell me, where I can find info about the full price for this or similar connection? It doesn't have to be a night train, maybe the day one would be even cheaper?

Thank you!

Peter
Traveller
9339 comments

Hi.

Here connections for Paris - Vienna: [u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail/paris-to-vienna[/u]

If you only want to win 1 more day in Paris, think about if it is worth travelling back on normal (maybe discounted) train tickets. Check the websites of the national railway companies if you can find some: [ux]https://rail.shop/omio[/ux] , [ux]https://rail.shop/sncf[/ux] , [ux]https://rail.shop/bahn[/ux]

Peter :)

Yurdoo
Traveller
12 comments

Thanks Peter,
I just can't seem to find the full prices for trains on the internet... Guess I'll try tomorrow, hope I have more luck.

Peter
Traveller
9339 comments

You won't find the prices for the direct route. Do it step by step.
For example at the SNCF website Paris to Karlsruhe/Mannheim/Frankfurt/Stuttgart/Munich (select one of the Germany cities).
Then on the Deutsche Bahn website Karlsruhe/Mannheim/Frankfurt/Stuttgart/Munich to Vienna.
Peter :)

Yurdoo
Traveller
12 comments

Hi,
so, another question. :)
Our trip is planned and here it is:

[b]5th Sept:[/b]
EN 237 Vienna-VENEZIA Express: Wien Westbahnhof, dep. 20:40 > Venezia Santa Lucia, ar. 08:34 (19.00 rule)
[b]Day 1[/b]
free day in Venice
[b]Day 2[/b]
free day in Venice
1. IC 9746 FRECCIABIANCA: Venezia Santa Lucia, dep. 18:20 > Milano Centrale, ar. 20:55 (Seat | 2nd class: [b]10€[/b])
2. IC 689: Milano Centrale, dep. 21:10, > Ventimiglia, ar. 01:05 (Seat | 2nd class: [b]3€[/b] reservation)
3. RE 86104: Ventimiglia, dep. 04:47 > Nice Ville, ar. 05:36 ([b]free[/b])
[b]Day 3[/b]
free day in Nice
[b]Day 4[/b]
free day in Nice
1.NZ Lunea 4720: Nice Ville > Toulouse-Matabiau | dep. 20:20, ar. 05:22 (Seat | 2nd class: [b]6€[/b] / Couchette | 2nd class: [b]17.50€[/b])
2. TGV 5301: Toulouse-Matabiau > Narbonne | dep. 06:54, ar. 08:08 (Seat | 2nd class: [b]6€[/b])
3. TLG 463: Narbonne > Barcelona Sants | dep. 08:20, ar. 11:48 (Seat | 2nd class: [b]6.50€[/b])
[b]Day 5[/b]
free day in Barcelona
[b]Day 6[/b]
free day in Barcelona
[b]Day 7[/b]
free (half) day in Barcelona
R 15839: Barcelona Sants > Cerbère | dep. 17:16, ar. 20:00 ([b]free[/b])
NZ Lunea 3730: Cerbère > Paris Austerlitz | dep. 21:15, ar. 07:28 (Seat | 2th class: 6€; couchette | 2th class: [b]17.50€[/b])
[b]Day 8[/b]
free day in Paris
[b]Day 9[/b]
free day in Paris
[b]Day 10[/b]
TGV 9553: Paris Est > Frankfurt(Main)Hbf | dep. 09:09, ar. 12:58 (Seat | 2th class: [b]10€[/b])
ICE 29: Frankfurt(Main)Hbf > Wien Westbahnhof | dep. 14:16, ar. 21:26 (Seat | 2th class: [b]3.50€/5.50€[/b])

What I wanted to make sure is if prices for trains I've written here are right? And, I'd really like to take that beautiful scenic Le Petit train through Pyrénées, but decided to take night one - just to be longer in Barcelona. Same with Nice - Barcelona night connection.
What do you think?

Thanks a lot!

Peter
Traveller
9339 comments

Hi.
Just had a short look and it looks correct.

Day 4:
Add the Petit Train Jaune (if you want) - or simply cross the Pyrenees (faster and without the Petit Train Jaune).


Without Le Petit Train Jaune - but beautiful nature - and free of extra fees.
Toulouse - Latour de Carol
Latour de Carol - Barcelona: [u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail/latour-de-carol-to-barcelona[/u]

With the Petit Train Jaune:
Toulouse - Latour de Carol
Latour de Carol - Perpignan: [u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail/latour-de-carol-to-villefranche-de-conflent[/u]
[u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail/villefranche-de-conflent-to-perpignan[/u]
Perpignan - Barcelona


Day 10:
ICE 29: you don't have to pay a reservation fee. You can use it for free.

Peter :)

Yurdoo
Traveller
12 comments

Thanks Peter,
I should buy you a beer or something. :)
I'll think about your train changes suggestions. And one more thing I like to ask about. How do I buy tickets for night trains and reservations for trains? How far in advance do I need to do that to be sure? For example, when we arive in Venice, can I buy a ticket for a night train Venice >Milano? Or the same on first day in Nice - buy reservations to Barcelona?

Thank you.

Peter
Traveller
9339 comments

It depends on how flexible you are.
There is no rule saying if a train is full or not on a certain date.
We added to all mentioned night trains how to order/get the reservations. And yes you can buy them there at the stations - in Italy I recommend to order online and pick it up at a ticket machine at a station.
Peter :)

*beer* ;)

David028
Traveller
2 comments

Hi´Yurdoo
Would you mind if I joined to your trip? I like the route you have choosen. I did interrail trip the last year so I have some experience. I'm from Czech republic, 29 years old.

Peter
Traveller
9339 comments

Hi David...
Just complete your profile.
Then you can send private mails to [b]Yurdoo[/b]. :)
Peter :)

Yurdoo
Traveller
12 comments

David, I'll let you know, but Peter, I guess I have a problem. :o
I realised that I can't fit into 5 travel days, right (I have 10 days, 5 travel days pass)?
OMG, tell me this is not true... :/ I thought when I go by night trains, then it will be just one travel day, but there are some changes... oh, damn...

David028
Traveller
2 comments

Hi' I think it's possible to fit in 5 days. You should only change Day2 and Day7 conections. Maybe this Route planner will help you hafas.bene-system.com/bin/query.exe/en?L=profi Or you can buy regular ticket from Barcelona to Cerbere wich costs 11 euro and change only the Day2. But i'm sure, Peter will find better solution.
PS: Let me know as soon as posible :)

Yurdoo
Traveller
12 comments

Oh, I sort of panicked last night...
Ok, so I realised a made a BIG mistake thinking that 19.00 rule applies day before my InterRail ticket is valid. :| My mistake. I've changed the route now, so we're starting the next day (6th) and go to Venezia by this connection:
[u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail/latour-de-carol-to-barcelona[/u]

Thank you again. A lot!


2 beers :D

Peter
Traveller
9339 comments

Hi...
Here it is: [u]http://www.renfe.com/EN/viajeros/cercanias/barcelona/index.html[/u]
As it is a kind of local/regional train, it is not listed in the big schedule planers. That's why we run the railcc website, to show you travel routes like this.
The train is free of extra fees.
Peter :)