How do I work out distances in France when I don't know where things are?

[KatyMac]

I tried using the AA map, but it's all a bit odd

How far are these places apart (so I can get a taxi)

• « Le Domaine de Dugny » in Loire Valley & Onzain train station
• « Les Sables du Midi » in Languedoc & Béziers train station
• « Les Pierres Couchées » in South Brittany & Saint-Brévin-les-Pins train station

TIA

brittany by train is very do-able - my parents have a house there and we go every summer by train to st brieuc. we get the tickets from rail europe, but it's true, they don't always recognise smaller stations. we have never managed to book a ticket for the whole journey to get to italy - we buy one to milan, then buy a local ticket for local people in milan.

you could try the sncf website (i think it's voyages-sncf.fr or com or something...), but don't say you want it in english, or you'll be rerouted to... guess who... raileurope.

and i would question whether it would be quicker to fly from london to brittany - by the time you've got to the airport, arrived an hour early, been delayed and got from the airport it probably wouldn't be much different. train travel is much better .

oops, only read to bottom of 1st page before adding valuable contribution opinion. sorry if comments seem random...

btw as someone so wisely said eurostar tickets go on sale 4 months in advance, train tickets go on sale 3 months in advance, no one can buy them before that date, so if you buy them at the first available opportunity then you should get the best price. i don't think prices go up in august, just more people want them so they sell quicker.

also, for the uk leg - i presume you have a family railcard? if you are paying £60 for tickets you will certainly make a saving with one, and you can travel at peak times with one. the commuters love it when you are feeding your toddler weetabix on their journey to work for considerably less than they paid... i don't suppose your 13 year old will need you to do that though .

Hi Janek, The £60 is for all three of us, DH is ex transport so gets a subsidy. I don't think we could do Norwich to London for much less even with a rail card.

What I think I need to do is plan 3 or 4 version of the trip, take the risk & book the caravan and ring up on the day each train opens to try & get the best one; maybe adding in a night in Paris

katy, as suggested by goawaysnow I think you need to look at getting a through quote for Norwich-St Nazaire (or Norwich-Paris + Paris-St Nazaire if you want a stopover) as well as the separate fares - it may be cheaper that way even if you can't use the ex-transport subsidy

But I wouldn't be able to use the airmiles/tesco vouchers then would I?

ah - no, you wouldn't, sorry, had forgotten about those!

(Get a through price first anyway though, then you know what you're comparing with. It might be worth you keeping the tesco points for some other deal later)

Sorry, tell me again which website I'd get from (& when) - I'm all confused now

not sure - I know the Eurostar website (or phone) can quote from some UK stations (not all) to a Eurostar station, & presumably onward too

\link{http://www.eurostar.com/UK/uk/leisure/travel_information.jsp\eurostar travel inf page}

at the bottom are links to UK national rail connecting services, & European rail network.

also a Contact Us link

Evening,

Different ways I have done are:
-eurostar from dept to destination.

• eurostar from dept to Lille, Lilly to destination.
• normal UK train to Ashford, A to Lille then des. or A to dear.
• All separate (has never worked cheaper but you have discount.)

Happy to help if I can.

Is there an actual map (like the underground one)? so I can work it all out?

Oh Hell I may just ring a travel agent it might be worth the extra

I'd ring eurostar first, katy - the website doesn't seem to want to let me put in other stations but I bet you could get a phone quote (ask for late march initially, eg 18th-25th)

I'm happy to spend few mins giving you some options. Will see if I still have your email. Claire

Thanks Claire, it's not like there is any great hurray is there - we have loads of time

Thanks Claire for that great info

I'm starting to make a plan

Excellent news :-)

I have booked my Accommodation

[giddy]!!