Arna via train

just completed a two week trip to Arna, travelling by train from London. I
just thought I would post here to say that travelling by train was very easy
and comparable in cost to driving. By booking as early as possible we
managed to get 1st class return fares for the price of second class, which
on the Eurostar leg gets you a meal and free wine!

The journey was:

London Waterloo -> Paris Nord

Paris Montparnasse -> Dax

Taxi from Dax to Arna. The taxi from Dax to Arna was ?50, not cheap but kept
it all within our budget.

Taxi was booked through Arna.

Travel time for example: Depart Dax 11.40 -> Montparnasse about 4pm, had to
wait an hour, then Eurostar to waterloo arriving local time about 8pm.

much preferred it to driving, we just had a small wheelie bag each
containing mainly books, sunscreen and towels! Oh the joys of naturist
holidays!

Mike

In message <ZMVti.5316$mZ5.1029@newsfe6-win.ntli.net>, Mike
<mikeinlondon2003NO@SPAMhotmail.com> writes

[snip]

>The journey was:
>
>London Waterloo -> Paris Nord
>
>Paris Montparnasse -> Dax
>
Did you go via Paris by choice or because that was what the ticket
provider suggested?

If you wish to avoid the cross Paris Metro link then book via Lille, see
<http://www.seat61.com/France.htm>

Furthermore, if the delay for the connection at Lille seems
inconveniently long, turn it into a meal break. A short stroll from the
station takes you into a part of the city where there is a cluster of
restaurants and cafes.

--
Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.
Mike

>>
> Did you go via Paris by choice or because that was what the ticket
> provider suggested?

because we were told that that was the best was to get a fast train to Dax.
I did mention Lille for that reason to the man from Rail Europe, but he said
the best trains to Dax were from PM.

Mike

In message <I8Xti.12605$ph7.1474@newsfe5-win.ntli.net>, Mike
<mikeinlondon2003NO@SPAMhotmail.com> writes
>we were told that that was the best was to get a fast train to Dax.
>I did mention Lille for that reason to the man from Rail Europe, but he said
>the best trains to Dax were from PM.
>
I have just checked and it seems that the man at Rail Europe was right.
Nevertheless I stand by my advice to research the timetables *before*
contacting Rail Europe or any other ticketing agent just in case they
get it wrong (they are far from infallible!).

--
Mike
"Why," said Ford squatting down beside him and shivering, "are you lying face
down in the dust?" "It's a very effective way of being wretched," said Marvin.

	#1
Mike	Arna via train just completed a two week trip to Arna, travelling by train from London. I just thought I would post here to say that travelling by train was very easy and comparable in cost to driving. By booking as early as possible we managed to get 1st class return fares for the price of second class, which on the Eurostar leg gets you a meal and free wine! The journey was: London Waterloo -> Paris Nord Paris Montparnasse -> Dax Taxi from Dax to Arna. The taxi from Dax to Arna was ?50, not cheap but kept it all within our budget. Taxi was booked through Arna. Travel time for example: Depart Dax 11.40 -> Montparnasse about 4pm, had to wait an hour, then Eurostar to waterloo arriving local time about 8pm. much preferred it to driving, we just had a small wheelie bag each containing mainly books, sunscreen and towels! Oh the joys of naturist holidays! Mike

	#2
Mike H	Re: Arna via train In message <ZMVti.5316$mZ5.1029@newsfe6-win.ntli.net>, Mike <mikeinlondon2003NO@SPAMhotmail.com> writes [snip] >The journey was: > >London Waterloo -> Paris Nord > >Paris Montparnasse -> Dax > Did you go via Paris by choice or because that was what the ticket provider suggested? If you wish to avoid the cross Paris Metro link then book via Lille, see <http://www.seat61.com/France.htm> Furthermore, if the delay for the connection at Lille seems inconveniently long, turn it into a meal break. A short stroll from the station takes you into a part of the city where there is a cluster of restaurants and cafes. -- Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana. Mike

	#3
Mike	Re: Arna via train >> > Did you go via Paris by choice or because that was what the ticket > provider suggested? because we were told that that was the best was to get a fast train to Dax. I did mention Lille for that reason to the man from Rail Europe, but he said the best trains to Dax were from PM. Mike

	#4
Mike H	Re: Arna via train In message <I8Xti.12605$ph7.1474@newsfe5-win.ntli.net>, Mike <mikeinlondon2003NO@SPAMhotmail.com> writes >we were told that that was the best was to get a fast train to Dax. >I did mention Lille for that reason to the man from Rail Europe, but he said >the best trains to Dax were from PM. > I have just checked and it seems that the man at Rail Europe was right. Nevertheless I stand by my advice to research the timetables before contacting Rail Europe or any other ticketing agent just in case they get it wrong (they are far from infallible!). -- Mike "Why," said Ford squatting down beside him and shivering, "are you lying face down in the dust?" "It's a very effective way of being wretched," said Marvin.