Liverpool to Antibes

[joke2711]

Hi Everyone

Considering doing a trip from Liverpool to Antibes via Virgin, Eurostar and TGV.
My Partner and I have never travelled internationally by train before so we are complete novices.
Could anyone be so kind as to provide the best ways to book and what the best ways of completing this journey at an affordable cost.

At the moment timescales are open but it is likely to be between September/October.

Many thanks for your assistance

 

[JonathanP]

Your best starting point would be to read the "Man in Seat 61" page on France https://www.seat61.com/France.htm which is orientated towards novice international travellers and explains the services available, what to expect, and how to book tickets.

It even mentions Antibes specifically

 

[joke2711]

Brilliant site ... thank you so much!

 

[InterCity:125]

Try booking through Trainline.eu
They can find a range of connecting trains from London to Antibes.
(They can’t book inside Britain, you’ll need Trainline.com or just national rail enquiries)

 

[snail]

I did Manchester to Nice a few years back. Antibes is a couple of stops before. We booked first class on the TGV and got facing seats on the duplex upper deck, definitely preferable to squeezing into standard class airline seats for a 5 hour journey from Paris. We stayed overnight in London going out but did the return in one day, leaving Nice at 9am and getting into Manchester about 10pm (that was via Waterloo, much easier now it's into St Pancras!). Navigating Gare du Nord is a pain but once you find the RER getting to Gare de Lyon is simple.

 

[Polarbear]

You could also try https://loco2.com/ for European rail tickets.

I'd also recommend 1st class on longer haul TGV services if it can be afforded, it's a bit cosy in 2nd if (like me) you're tall.

 

[MarcVD]

If possible, try to change trains in Lille Europe instead of Paris. Even if it means one more change further south, it's still preferable to the madness of the Paris stations and the always crowded RER.