Take the Train to Pau

Trying to figure out a route by train from London to Pau for stage 17 up the Tourmalet in the 2010 TDF

My plan at the moment is to take the Eurostar (with bike) from st pancras to Paris Gare du Nord.

Get a taxi across town to **Paris Gare Montparnasse **and take the *TGV *down to DAX

Then get a SNFC train to Pau or hire a car from there.

Anyone done this or somthing like it?

Double check the sncf part, used to be that with sncf you had to send the bike separate as baggage and it could take a day or so to arrive.

I took my bike (in a bag) across Paris on the Metro.
I then took it on a train to Toulouse and we drove from there to our accom.

I've travelled all over France with my bike in a bag. No-one ever checks what's in it.

Think the bag must be the key part. Nice one guys.

Take the train

Thanks Guys - but this is France

whether or not your bike is allowed on the train is completely dependant on whatever random side of his couche that particular union official got out of in the morning. (which everytime I've done it has been fine without a bag, without booking)

Accepting I understand this, can we actually get back to the facts we do know. Ie - how to get to DAX on the train?

I took my bike (in a bag) across Paris on the Metro.
I then took it on a train to Toulouse and we drove from there to our accom.

Hey Hippy

Where you going to PAU?

is Toulouse closer or just easier than Dax to use?

Raileurope says there's a tgv straight to Pau, 5 1/2 hours

wow there is TGV Atlantique(PARIS -> PAU)

normaly requires a change at BORDEAUX ST JEAN.

Raileurope says there's a tgv straight to Pau, 5 1/2 hours

i really want to go to this stage. my rents have a place in biarritz and a car so its perfect.

i would say that its gonna be best to fly from stanstead to biarritz and then catch a train

edit: ryan air will really get you on the bagage charge if you have a bike (£30) i think

getting the metro with a bike in a box is fine in paris

ryan air: id rather walk.

they charge extra eachway!
for the bikes,
for anything more than handluggage
they charge you to check in (can't check a bike in online)

Then you need to get too and from standstead

The train is looking like £100 somthing return direct to PAU
Michael O'Leary can go take a running jump

well you cant argue with £100 on the train!

true ryan air is an effin rip off with a bike. ive never taken a bike or anything other than a suit case so its good to that extent

Michael O'Leary can go take a running jump

I think you are being too generous, RA are truly scum bags.

ryan air: id rather walk.

they charge extra eachway!
for the bikes,
for anything more than handluggage
they charge you to check in (can't check a bike in online)

Then you need to get too and from standstead

The train is looking like £100 somthing return direct to PAU
Michael O'Leary can go take a running jump

You forgot to add that they charge you £5 per person per flight to use a debit or credit card to pay for their flights.

China in your hand...

Airport Checkin (Per passenger / Per One Way Flight) = £10
Any Debtcard Administration Fee - (Per passenger/ Per One Way Flight) = £5
Any Luggage Checking Fee 1 (per 15kg bag/ per One Way Flight) = £15
Sports Equipment Fee charged (per 20kg Item/ Per One Way Flight) = £40

So the price for one person on a return journey assuming you only have one 15kg bag to check in & your bike is under 20kg ADD £140 to the price of any ryanair flight.

Is anyone wondering why Ryanair is the only airline who is actually making money at the moment?

I used to live in the South of France, and had the choice of flying to Marseille with Ryan Air, or taking the Eurostar to Toulon.....i flew once, then every other time was the train....so much easier to do the train, especially if you book well in advance and get 1st class!!

Tommy, I too hope to be in France at this time and wondered if you reached a conclusion on the cost of travel to Pau or was it Dax or Lourdes. If so please share the details
Cheers

There are sometimes Ryanair flights from London stansted to Lourdes directly, bikes cost a little extra (as does everything else), but that might be a good option esp if you buy in advance.....My family lives down there and it is a beautiful time of year and the ride is awesome! If you have some time the col de soulor and l'aubisque are both great ones to do as well!

I'm not sure I want to share.. have all you guys book up the tickets!
I Very much will be taking the direct TGV from paris to Pau.

Its speedy, comfortable and so cheap I might even splash out for 1st class

Only problem is you can't book tickets for it online yet, the SNFC only let you do that a few months in advanced - going to try ringing them up see how I get on, will let you know how I do and what prices.

for Canaidan clearly he missed it.

Airport Checkin (Per passenger / Per One Way Flight) = £10
Any Debtcard Administration Fee - (Per passenger/ Per One Way Flight) = £5
Any Luggage Checking Fee 1 (per 15kg bag/ per One Way Flight) = £15
Sports Equipment Fee charged (per 20kg Item/ Per One Way Flight) = £40

So the price for one person on a return journey with ryanair assuming you only have one 15kg bag to check in & your bike is under 20kg ADD £140 to the price of any ryanair flight.