Lourdes by sea?

thee glitz

My da is looking to travel from Dublin to Lourdes but he won't fly! And he doesn't fancy driving.
Any ideas of the best way in terms of cost and travel time? My first thought was get a boat
from Rosslare and get the train down.

seanmacc

thee glitz wrote: »

My da is looking to travel from Dublin to Lourdes but he won't fly! And he doesn't fancy driving.
Any ideas of the best way in terms of cost and travel time? My first thought was get a boat
from Rosslare and get the train down.

During the summer months foot passenger space on the direct ferries from Ireland to France is very thin on the ground. If he's doing this travel dates would be restricted. There is undercapacity on the ferries to france during the summer and the ferry companies would rather the higher yield car passengers.

Another option would be a Sail Rail to London(95-110EUR return), the Eurostar to Paris (100-500euro return) and try and connect a train from there. Eurostar prices are very much like airfares in their structure, advanced booking online and picking off peak dates and times can get the price down.

It would be a lot less hassle to fly IMO.

gordongekko

When I was at Pamplona there were English lads on a stag. I think they got a ferry from san Sebastian to somewhere in England. Its only about a 90 min drive from there

seanmacc

gordongekko wrote: »

When I was at Pamplona there were English lads on a stag. I think they got a ferry from san Sebastian to somewhere in England. Its only about a 90 min drive from there

Plymouth-Santander or Portsmouth Bilboa would get him close enough the only thing would be getting to Plymouth or Portsmouth by train. They don't connect well from the ferries into Holyhead or Pembroke/Fishgaurd.

Then again when you go to Lourdes it is a pilgrimige and the travel time could be good penance.

gordongekko

seanmacc wrote: »

Plymouth-Santander or Portsmouth Bilboa would get him close enough the only thing would be getting to Plymouth or Portsmouth by train. They don't connect well from the ferries into Holyhead or Pembroke/Fishgaurd.

Then again when you go to Lourdes it is a pilgrimige and the travel time could be good penance.

ah I think it was bilboa alright. Maybe they should just go to knock

thee glitz

Thanks guys. I know it would be a LOT less hassle to fly but it's not going
to happen - it would be the most amazing u-turn I've seen from anyone, ever.
It looks like a train to Plymouth would be hard work in itself, probably changing
at Crewe, Birmingham and Bristol.

Another option would be to get the ferry from Dover. The sail-rail
to London would cost the same as Dover (or Plymouth). At the
moment I think it's between that and sail from Rosslare and get
a train then as the parents are well in their 60's and the less hassle the better.

skibum

Just did a quick google for "coach pilgrimages to Lourdes", one of the results was this:
http://www.kensingtontravel.com/itinerary/lourdes5Days.html

Try Joe Walsh tours, they specialise in pilgrimages.

Fratton Fred

If you take the evening rosslaire to fishguard ferry, then take the train to Paris gard due nord, then take the train from montparnasse to Lourdes you will be there at 11:30pm so 26 hours travelling.