Cheapest way from Munich to Montpellier Saint Rochelle

extra-ordinary_

I'm flying into Munich near the end of July and need to get to Montpellier in the South of France as quickly and cheaply as possible. I had a look and on first impression, plane and train look really expensive. Could anyone give me any suggestions?

jjbrien

extra-ordinary_ wrote: »

I'm flying into Munich near the end of July and need to get to Montpellier in the South of France as quickly and cheaply as possible. I had a look and on first impression, plane and train look really expensive. Could anyone give me any suggestions?

Can try Eurolines Bus looked up going at the end of July would cost 101 euros and take 18.5 hours. eurolines.de

munchkin_utd

You do realise that it's a savage distance. Flying would be the quickest obviously.
The problem is that if you are going one way it'll cost a fair amount. If you book a return and don't just fly back then you can get it much cheaper.
Or by train get to Strasbourg which should be available from 29euro on bahn.de and then on French rail get a direct train to the south coast. Not sure if there's direct trains to Montpellier but fairly sure a few connections over day are there to marseille.
Alternatively possibly a cheaper option, get the bus to Zurich for a tenner or so and get tgv to Montpellier.

munchkin_utd

did a little research.
Theres loads of connections from Zurich, but price is from 110. And you have to pay 10 or 15euro more to get a bus from Munich.

by train via strasbourg isnt as simple to get for cheap as I would have thought thanks to timetable changes, but you can get from munich (11.30am) to Lyon(arr 7.50pm) with 1 change for 79,00 EUR on some dates in July, and then its €25 for the next direct train to Montpellier at 8.10pm.

and after all that looking, I now see you can get from Munich to Geneva for 39euro (leave at 6.30am arrive at 1.15), and from geneva(dep 1.30) to Montpellier (arr 6.50pm) direct for 42euro so €83 for the full journey and its the most direct route.

BTW, the journey is over 1000km so it is just a long journey and theres no way of avoiding that fact. In Irish terms its like going from Derry-Belfast-Dublin-Wexford-Waterford-Cork-Limerick and back up via Galway and Sligo to Derry - all in one go which is a tad over 1000km too.

extra-ordinary_

munchkin_utd wrote: »

did a little research.
Theres loads of connections from Zurich, but price is from 110. And you have to pay 10 or 15euro more to get a bus from Munich.

by train via strasbourg isnt as simple to get for cheap as I would have thought thanks to timetable changes, but you can get from munich (11.30am) to Lyon(arr 7.50pm) with 1 change for 79,00 EUR on some dates in July, and then its €25 for the next direct train to Montpellier at 8.10pm.

and after all that looking, I now see you can get from Munich to Geneva for 39euro (leave at 6.30am arrive at 1.15), and from geneva(dep 1.30) to Montpellier (arr 6.50pm) direct for 42euro so €83 for the full journey and its the most direct route.

BTW, the journey is over 1000km so it is just a long journey and theres no way of avoiding that fact. In Irish terms its like going from Derry-Belfast-Dublin-Wexford-Waterford-Cork-Limerick and back up via Galway and Sligo to Derry - all in one go which is a tad over 1000km too.

I really appreciate that research you did. Where did yo see Munich to Geneva for €39?

Would it be better booking well in advance or do you think I could book at the time?

munchkin_utd

if you see an offer for a certain time at a certain price that suits then you should book straight away. When cheap tickets are sold then they are gone and only a completely new promotion will bring a fresh contingent - so you are gambling on the (very) unlikely happening, and even then you wont be saving any cash over a good advance booking deal.

If you book at the time youre looking at paying an undiscounted price which will be more than if you just book a flight now. I amnt going to look it up but you would be looking at between €200 and €300 if not more depending on what route you take - meaning your only affordable option is then the 17hour bus.

munich-> geneva was available on bahn.de
geneva->montpellier I saw on french rail

youre doing well with that connection too the way it works out.
The leg to Geneva is within the german speaking world (ignoring that they speak french in geneva, but switzerland as a country is mainly german) so the close copperation there means great cross border deals between germany and switzerland.
And Geneva is bang on the french border so you are getting a French domestic deal there.

schemingbohemia

Do you mind me asking why you're flying into Munich to get to Montpellier?

extra-ordinary_

schemingbohemia wrote: »

Do you mind me asking why you're flying into Munich to get to Montpellier?

We're visiting someone in Munich and then continuing on to our holiday destination in Portiragnes. I've a flight into Munich and a flight home from Carcossonne already booked.

munchkin_utd

extra-ordinary_ wrote: »

We're visiting someone in Munich and then continuing on to our holiday destination in Portiragnes. I've a flight into Munich and a flight home from Carcossonne already booked.

that train from Lyon actually continues on along the coast to Beziers which is a spitting distance from your actual destination.

munchkin_utd

ach jaysus, heres IS the way to go.
Fly Memmingen (Munich west) to Girona which is just south of the french border. Thats 33euro on a wednesday afternoon in mid/ late July. Bus to Memmingen airport is 15 Euro.
TGV from Girona town to Beziers is only 1 1/2 hours. Cost is about the 30euro it seems and theres connection options in Perpinan should you need a later journey.

It actually isnt all that much quicker than going via Geneva by land but you are on planes trains and automobiles for a shorter time.

extra-ordinary_

munchkin_utd wrote: »

ach jaysus, heres IS the way to go.
Fly Memmingen (Munich west) to Girona which is just south of the french border. Thats 33euro on a wednesday afternoon in mid/ late July. Bus to Memmingen airport is 15 Euro.
TGV from Girona town to Beziers is only 1 1/2 hours. Cost is about the 30euro it seems and theres connection options in Perpinan should you need a later journey.

It actually isnt all that much quicker than going via Geneva by land but you are on planes trains and automobiles for a shorter time.

Thanks, you've been a great help, I was going to go Munich - CDG - Montpellier for just under €200 but Girona is way more cheaper and convenient, thanks again.