Byways Train Travel

[roycroppersshopper]

Has anyone used Byways Travel? They offer packages by train/boat. I won't fly, too nervous really hate it.

They put together a package for you of trains, hotels etc. Am thinking of taking a trip from London to Marseille, onto Palma then Barcelona, Paris and back to London.

I'm very recently single and a bit nervous of travelling alone, god knows why am 53 and have enough life experience to handle it am sure!

I really, really need a holiday!

I booked my trip on the SNCF website which I found easy to navigate. They do some really good deals too if your dates are flexible www.sncf-connect.com/en-en

Ha yes I am, travel agent at your service.

I got the 2nd eurostar of the day at 7:31am, changed from Gare du Nord to Gare de Lyon and took a direct train to Arles. Was at my hotel, 10 mins walk from the station, by 4pmish. At the pool by 4.30pmish. Fabulous!

Good but £££ you can look at their journeys and do your own version for less.

Am not moving on from Alres, plenty to do here, lots of art etc. A gallery or two and a pool and I'm all good!

Love this!!! Is a fabulous hotel, very friendly lots of different people to chat to or not as your want. Am super chuffed with it.

Too bloody right! Here's to plenty of holidays for all of us (might have had too much wine with lunch) am over enthusiastic about solo travel!

I highly recommend the south of France. It's an area is know well-ish, I've had probs 10 holidays here en familie. Go for it.

I see Arles has ancient Roman stuff. I'll have to add it to my places to visit. I stayed in Avignon 2 years ago- the ease of getting to the Pont du Gard swung my decision.

Not used byways but I travel a lot (age 53!) by train independently in France. The route you outline is dead straightforward and a great intro to what you feel you can do!

Yes getting there from here is a pain, a train and a bus but they don't align at all. I gave up that idea fairly quickly

Almost home having departed Arles at 5.40am. Last night a lady wandered past the restaurant I had just got the last table in. She was alone, so when she went past for the second time I ran out and told her to come and have dinner with me!

She agreed, thank god or I would have looked like a right loser. She was there for the photography festival, from Switzerland and also hates flying so had come by train. We talked for ages, not awkward both had lots to share. Both have interesting jobs with some similarities. She was lovely, we swapped nos, took a few selfies and had a hug!

Shame it was both of our last nights in Arles 🙄 So good to have a non transactional conversation! We covered families, university, politics, immigration, the glass ceiling, hybrid working, train travel and am sure some other topics too.

My DM raves about them, she thinks they're brilliant.

That's so lovely. An evening to remember. 🙂