UK to the Mediterranean by train with DC -anyone tried this?

[SwampOfDeath]

I am looking for stories of family train travel from the UK to the Mediterranean, if anyone has travelled on holiday this way? With flying off the menu for environmental reasons, we are trying to figure out how best to manage and make the most of a journey like this. DC are old enough, 6 and 9, and definitely up for a trans-European backpacking adventure.
Can anyone recommend a sea side (or lake side / river side, as long as swimming is safe and easy) destination that is accessible by train?
Anything to think of / plan for / avoid?
Thanking you in advance!

We went to Malta by train a couple of summers ago. It was great

*Snort (especially the person who thought it was serious....)

Someone needs to invent an aqua-train that runs on the sea bed

We got the train to marseilles with a 1 year old. It was great, straight through Paris in the way then a stop over on return.

The eurostar to Marseilles is a good option alternatively I can recommend the ferry to Santander if northern Spain is of interest. Whilst I admire your environmental concerns, in all seriousness all travel for pleasure is optional, even trains have a carbon footprint and depending on what you read, it's not as far away from driving as you think

*We went to Malta by train a couple of summers ago. It was great

*Snort (especially the person who thought it was serious....)

Someone needs to invent an aqua-train that runs on the sea bed*

Obviously you get a ferry for the final part of the journey. Of course they were serious

I was researching only yesterday getting to Cyprus by train. An adventure I'm keen to do when the dc are big enough to carry their own bags. Am watching this thread with interest

We took the kids Eurocamping just south of Barcelona this summer and went by train.

The youngest had just turned 5. It was good fun. They happily read or played card games for most of the journey. Definitely take food with you, as the onboard cafe didn’t have great options and none that the 5 year old would eat.

Also .. Someone needs to invent an aqua-train that runs on the sea bed

Imagine that - like a tunnel that runs under the sea from one country to another maybe, perhaps call it something like eurotunnel. I do wonder when someone will invent that

I'm quite old now but when I was a child we went on numerous holidays toBrittany, Côte d'Azur, Costa Brava and Italian Riviera. In those days it took the best part of 24 hours door to door but it felt like an adventure . Now it would be more like a 12 hour journey and if you have a sleeper ( and even if not) which is really not much longer than the whole get to airport/ muck about before flight/ plane / transfer etc with much more scope for stretching legs , new experiences and beautiful views. I would do it.

We did it years ago when I was a teenager. We live in the south east - which makes it easier, of course. This was pre eurotunnel days so we got the ferry to France then joined a train somewhere (not sure of the details these days) to go overnight to the south. We were there in time for breakfast. These days the fast train to the south only takes a couple of hours. If you are changing trains in Paris it is a different station so you have to allow for the change which will make it a bit trickier with young children but not impossible.

My parents have done lots of holidays across Europe by train in recent years. I don't think they've experienced particular delays on any of them. But as PP says, that is a risk with any form of travel.

I haven't done long train journeys with my two yet but am so looking forward to it. I have travelled quite a lot through Europe and beyond by train (with ferries as needed) and I really think I'd find a flight more stressful in comparison than a long distance train.

My mum and I were surprised how lovely Malaga was, when we ended up there for a few nights to get her a new passport after hers was pickpocketed in Madrid on our way to Morocco.

The European sleeper train services are much reduced in recent years though, which is a shame as a cabin booked out for a family would probably be the most comfortable and relaxing way to do a long journey with a family. If you want that experience then I would suggest taking the Paris Venice sleeper and maybe travelling on to a nearby seaside resort if Venice is too expensive or not seasidey enough, like Lido di Jesolo.

happycamper11 you've given me my first laugh of the day!

We've done Europe by train for years. Train to the Med is very easy -Eurostar goes straight through in the summer though you have more choice/ flexibility if you change at Paris or Lille and get a TGV.
European trains are generally very good and it's part of the holiday,whizzing across countries on comfy trains (mostly!)

Of course they were serious

*Snigger

www.theguardian.com/travel/2006/oct/28/ecotourism.travelsenvironmentalimpact.environment

What's with the sniggering - you're the one that has looked silly with your derision over the concept of a train to Malta (poster probably felt the short catamaran journey at the very end of an epic train one didn't really need explained) my grandparents who met on the island have also made the journey by train so I'm familiar with it. Your ridiculous comment about the possible invention of some sort of underwater train tunnel is definitely worth a snigger too - just imagine 🤷🏼‍♀️🙈🤣

Did it loads on the overnight train when I was small. Done it a couple of times when DC were small with an overnight break in Paris. Easy-peasy. We’ve done Antibes, Royan and when I was small a variety of places in the South of France.

Watching with interest, would love to do this.

We do this every summer! We’ve done the Trello sleeper from Paris to Venice - magical! But not v comfy beds.

Eurostar from London to Paris gare du nord, then change to gare de Lyon for the TGV to the south of France. Takes 4.5 hours from Paris to Perpignan. Trains are efficient, smooth, on time...

I love travelling this way. We also do trains from south of France into Spain, down as far as Barcelona. Saves the awful queues you get driving from France to Spain.

We book via the sncf website or Trainline.eu, and Seat 61 is good for general travel advice.

Pm me if you have any questions!

If you happen to be travelling through Germany there are family carriages in all ICE trains with more space and things to entertain the kids. For anyone with younger children (up to 3 years) there are also parent and child compartments which have room for pushchairs and a closing door for privacy.

Based on my recent trip I would recommend leaving plenty of time to make the Eurostar if you're travelling north on a sleeper train.

We were delayed by 2.5 hours due to the Swiss border guards waking everyone up to check passports and see inside our cabins.

One thing I do recommend thinking about is the amount of liuggage you have!

DS and I went train - camping and carried our own tent with us. Never again!!

I have looked at this - would definitely recommend Eurocamp or something when you get there.

Last year, we we were inspired by Race around the World and were looking at a train trip from Munich to Istanbul with lots of stop offs.

I did Norfolk to Portugal by public transport a few years ago. Not with children though (drunk adults which are probably worse than chidlren!) it was great fun! As a pp has said include the travel in the holiday. So 3 days for travel, then a week or 2 at destination and 3 days back. It’s such a good way to see more of the countries you’re travelling through and worked out pretty cheaply. Though not compared to v cheap flights obviously.

1969 my mum & dad took us to Italy by train. 50 years on and I still remember waking up as we were travelling through the Alps with the sun coming up. Stunningly beautiful

We’re planning on taking the Thello overnight train from Paris to Verona next summer. From Verona it’s a 25 minute local train journey to Peschiera on Lake Garda where there are several Eurocamp sites to choose from. Will be travelling with a 6 year old and a 9 year olds I’ve travelled to Florence on the overnight train without children - it was terrific (apart from the slightly early morning wake up call when you arrive at the destination)

Thing is, horrible delays happen on flights, on ferries if you go by car etc. I don't think they are worse by train

Delays are much more likely to snowball if relying on public transport.

A 2 hour delay on a ferry adds 2 hours to the journey. A 2 hour delay on the train, can lead to missed connections and that 2 hour delay turning into a 12 hour one.