Travel to Mediterranean

[iknowyeah]

Hi all

Sorry to ask for information (again), but I'm looking at travelling by rail for me and my girlfriend to Spain, Italy, Portugal or anywhere Southern Europe affordable within a day or so's travel in September. Dates are flexible between 3rd and the 15th, and we're travelling with FIP/ Coupons.

I've looked at Thello to Italy for these dates and these are generally fairly expensive unless we go couchette, which my girlfriend isn't set on. I assume as these are full FIP discount won't be applicable.

We'd ideally be leaving St Pancras after about 11am due to living in the north and peak time restrictions.

Any recommendations for interesting or cheap tickets are invited!

Any information on booking trains with FIP and coupons in Spain and Portugal would be handy too, as I am possibly looking at Sud Express or AVE from Barcelona southwards. Ive booked TGV and ICE before, I imagine these would be similar?

 

[squizzler]

It think your best bet is Spain because it is closest to due south and benefits from TGV in one hop from Paris. It is perfectly doable to get from London to Barcelona in one day. I don't know if the search will reappear if you click the following link:

https://loco2.com/en/journey/london-st-pancras-international-barcelona-1twtvi0

 

[davetheguard]

Hi all

Sorry to ask for information (again), but I'm looking at travelling by rail for me and my girlfriend to Spain, Italy, Portugal or anywhere Southern Europe affordable within a day or so's travel in September. Dates are flexible between 3rd and the 15th, and we're travelling with FIP/ Coupons.

I've looked at Thello to Italy for these dates and these are generally fairly expensive unless we go couchette, which my girlfriend isn't set on. I assume as these are full FIP discount won't be applicable.

We'd ideally be leaving St Pancras after about 11am due to living in the north and peak time restrictions.

Any recommendations for interesting or cheap tickets are invited!

Any information on booking trains with FIP and coupons in Spain and Portugal would be handy too, as I am possibly looking at Sud Express or AVE from Barcelona southwards. Ive booked TGV and ICE before, I imagine these would be similar?

If you want to avoid sleepers/overnight travel because of cost, and leaving London at 11.00, I assume you'll looking at somewhere you can go in about twelve hours from St.Pancras, which narrows it down a lot. Portugal is out, but you might just about make northern Italy (Turin) or Barcelona in north east Spain via Paris if trains run at the times you'd need. Otherwise, it's somewhere in southern France or south west France. The Deutsche Bahn website will help you with train time from St. Pancras to all sorts of places (not just Germany!). Or, of course you could stay overnight in London or somewhere en route and greatly increase your choice of destination.

Also, be aware that coupons in Italy are now almost useless unless you're travelling on local stopping trains; you'll need to buy FIP tickets on Inter City and all high speed services there.

 

[30907]

The last Barcelona is at 1407 from Paris(Lyon) and the last direct Milan at 1423, so if you don't want an overnight stop outward you are limited to France or San Sebastian in Basque Spain (the northbound trip is much easier to do in a day).

If Italy takes you fancy (Venice, Garda, Florence...) you could consider going through Belgium and Germany (and even Switzerland), which would allow you to get more out of your coupons.

Check out www.seat61.com for reasonably reachable places.

 

[Bald Rick]

The last Barcelona is at 1407 from Paris(Lyon) and the last direct Milan at 1423, so if you don't want an overnight stop outward you are limited to France or San Sebastian in Basque Spain (the northbound trip is much easier to do in a day).

San Sebastián isn’t the Med though...