How to Book Train Travel From France to Spain

Train travel between France and Spain has never been easier. When you book a rail pass on Eurail and other local rail systems at once, you can relax and enjoy day trips between Nice and Seville, Paris and Madrid and Lyon and Barcelona with ease. Booking your ticket online is simple and fast and you can tailor your pass to meet your travel needs and budget.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• A computer with Internet access to purchase tickets
• A passport

Book a Ticket That Fits Your Travel Needs

1. Determine the length of your stay before booking a ticket. Most standard tickets include four days of travel, but you can always add more.

2. Book your itinerary in a logical progression from one city to the next. This will save you time and money. It is always best to start at your destination airport and end there as well, as most airports in France and Spain also have train stations.

3. Take advantage of group discounts and book travel with one to three other people.

Prepare for Your Train Travel

4. Know that the difference in fares between first and second class on this train is typically about one-third to one-half the price.

5. Do not bring any animals. Pets are not allowed on Eurostar trains, or on any trains within Spain for that matter.

6. Know that fares can be pretty inexpensive, starting around $150 for four days of second class travel for minors and groups. Even the longest trips are less than $600 for ten days of first class travel.

Choose Your Train Type and Class

7. Realize that Eurostar, one of the most popular trains, runs direct routes between France and Spain.

8. Know the entitlements of first class travel. In general, first class is a quieter section with more room for walking and sitting. There are fewer seats per compartment/car and you will have more room for your luggage. Also, food and drinks are typically included with your fare in first class.

9. Understand that second class travel is usually very comfortable. Here, you will find less legroom and more people, but most trains have generally nice second class accommodations.

10. Realize that you will have to pay for your own food when you book a second class ticket.

11. Book train travel by calling RailEurope at (888) 382-RAIL or by visiting the link below.

Tips & Warnings

• Look for train timetables or information monitors near the platform entrances in most stations. Departures are on a yellow background, while arrivals are printed on a white background.
• Know that European residents are not eligible for Eurail passes. American citizens are better off buying tickets in the US online (see links below) or from travel agents because it can be nearly impossible to do so in Europe itself.

[aussiechick99]

on 11/24/2008 Struggling +++ to get from the south of France to Spain via anywhere except Paris, definitely can't get to Barcelona from Lyon and Nice to Barcelona takes nearly 12 hours...