Search Sort Posts:  Oldest to newest Newest to oldest

23/04/2008, 7:46 P2 Joined on 13/09/2006 Posts 224 Re: Car on the train  ErnieY wrote: I'm afraid the relevance of your reply to the topic rather escapes me Paul I'm pretty certain that virtually everyone here will have driven to their place in France enough times to appreciate everything you say and also know the route, or routes, which work for them. Without question taking a leisurely drive has much to recommend it, if however one's purpose is a little more focussed on getting to the destination, i.e. our house in The Lot, then a straight 1000km drive from Calais in an MG Midget falls somewhat short of qualifying as a pleasure, even for my daughter ! The motives behind the enquiry were to explore the relative cost's and logistics of putting the car on the train rather than undertaking that drive but considering that the train journey actually begins at Calais then unfortunately it looks to be completely prohibitive on cost alone Ernie, yes probably most people have driven, but your post referred to your daughter, who I thought might have been worried about such a long drive and I was trying to give some reassurance that it is not such a bad drive - sorry for trying to be helpful. But, now you have clarified matters that it is an MG Midget then personally.......... Paul    Report

23/04/2008, 19:12 chrisb Joined on 14/08/2003 Posts 252 Re: Car on the train  Russethouse wrote: I have mentioned this before and keep hoping that it may have changed, but you have to careful when you book that your party is all in the same compartment. We shared with friends going, but coming back there were four of us and a couple. A lady I met on the station while waiting for our car to be unloaded, shared with her daughter plus an elderly couple, their grand daughter, who was a baby, a dog and cat (complete with litter tray......) Our friends who traveled back separately also had a bad experience as their daughter was unwell and the couple they were with kept switching off the light making it difficult for them to get to the toilet along the corridor, then get her settled etc...... Having said that, when it goes well its really pleasant...... I believe that they now guarantee that you won't have to share a compartment with strangers. It's several years since we did it (since buying our holiday home in Normandy we've not been south) but always found it a good experience. Expensive - yes, but ideal if you've only got one driver and limited time.    Report

24/04/2008, 7:33 pagnol81 Joined on 11/07/2007 Somme Posts 37 Re: Car on the train Its possible to book a compartment for two people, more money then sharing one of the compartments for 6 people, but still a lovely way to travel    Report

28/07/2008, 17:12 Tara1 Joined on 24/07/2008 Northamptonshire Posts 4 Re: Car on the train Hi My boyfriend and I used the Motorail to get to and from Narbonne last year. You do get a compartment/couchette just for the two of you (or whatever size of your party - up to 6 in a compartment) they are a bit old and shabby but OK . You have seats which fold into beds and are provide with a sheet and pillow. Each carriage - of a few couchettes has a toilet at each end. It's an expensive way to travel though unless there are 4 or 6 of you as you pay for the couchete rather than per person. http://www.roskelldesign.co.uk    Report

29/07/2008, 9:38 ColinE Joined on 10/10/2007 Posts 61 Re: Car on the train Hi Ernie. Yes we have done it twice,it was super, one of the trips, we got up in the morning on arriving at the station in Avignon, to find breakfast all laid out on the station for us, we sat in the sun, it was glorious, would not have missed it for the world, after this we drove to Grasse for a weeks holiday, we were driving a Rover 2000 P6 this time. Recommended.   Colin    Report

29/07/2008, 19:30 Polremy Joined on 23/08/2004 66 nr. Perpignan Posts 276 Re: Car on the train We did it (motorail Narbonne-Calais) last June. We knew it would be expensive but it seemed to suit the occasion because: 1.We didnt want to drive all that way (we are old fogeys now) 2.We had a car full of wine boxes for our joint 60th birthday party back in old Blighty (didnt want them nicked in the parking at a formula 1 en route) 3. We were leaving the car over there , donating it to our daughter and had a really cheap flight back home to Perpignan. Unfortunately, there was a power cut shortly after we left Narbonne. This meant that the compartment we shared had no air conditioning and was stifling. It also meant that there was no lighting at all during the night so you couldnt read for example and going down the corridor to the toilet would have been difficult. We had a long exchange of letters after we got home. It took several months but eventually we received the princely sum of £25 compensation!!! Added to that, we found out that the price of the journey had been reduced by 50% the week before we travelled. Might pay you to delay booking until the last minute. I dont think they ever are fully booked. If that works, I look forward to a cut !    Report

29/07/2008, 19:36 powerdesal Joined on 07/01/2006 Sharjah U.A.E Posts 2,173 Re: Car on the train An interesting take on how you see yourselves, 'we are old fogeys now' but you hadn't had your 60th birthday. I can't really see 59 years old as 'old fogey' territory. Personnally, I might consider 70+ as that but I doubt it, unless I really fall apart. Steve Sharjah (but not for long ) + 50 (in France) ........................................................................... 7 days Ins'Allah (1 with the packers, 2 for the week end, 4 for work)( or maybe 8, or 9, or 10 or 11 or....)    Report

29/07/2008, 20:05 Polremy Joined on 23/08/2004 66 nr. Perpignan Posts 276 Re: Car on the train Must put it on "songs we are singing" cos "You make me feel so young"    Report

05/08/2008, 10:48 Cendrillon Joined on 19/10/2007 S.E. England & S.W.France Posts 405 Re: Car on the train  powerdesal wrote: An interesting take on how you see yourselves, 'we are old fogeys now' but you hadn't had your 60th birthday. I can't really see 59 years old as 'old fogey' territory. Personnally, I might consider 70+ as that but I doubt it, unless I really fall apart. Sixty is not old it is the new forty! Cendrillon    Report

Page 2 of 3 (22 items) < 1 2 3 >

France Forum » Travelling to/f... » Travelling to/f... » Re: Car on the train

(Quick links) Forums Home |- Search Forums |- Active Topics |- Unanswered Posts User Options |- Sign In |- Join this community |- Forgot Password About This Forum (READ ONLY) |- About This Forum Moving |- Finding/Owning French Property |- Making the Move From Outside the EU |- Long-Term Letting |- Employment Vacancies in France Legal and Finance |- French Legal Issues |- French Finance Building and Renovation |- House Renovations |-- Working with Wood Living |- Earning a Living |- Driving |- French Education |- Pets |- Animal Welfare, Rescue & Protection |- French Satellite TV, French Internet and Telephone |- Health |-- Changes to Healthcare Entitlement, CPAM, CMU and Cartes Vitales |- Swimming Pools in France Owning/Running a Business |- French Artisans |- Gite Owners |- Hotel and Restaurant Owners |- B&B/Chambres d'Hôtes Owners Leisure and Pastimes |- Gardening |- Sport, Leisure and Pastimes |- Shopping |- French Antiques, Arts & Crafts |- Photography |- Motorcycling in France |- Books and Literature |- Getting Married in France |- Pregnancy and Birth French Culture |- French Food and Wine |- French Culture |- French Language |-- French Language FAQs and Useful Links |- Wildlife/Nature/Environment |- French History Travelling to/from France |- Travelling to/from France |- Latest Good Value Deals to/from France Holidays |- Holidays General Discussion |- The Complete France Post Bag |- The Lighter Side |- Other Topics |- Forum Technical Support |- Useful Links About France/French Living Regions |- HOTEL SEARCH |- Central |- North East |- North West |- Paris Ile de France |- South East |- South West |- East |- West |- Corsica and DOM-TOMs