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The Independent
21 hours ago
- The Independent
Is there a luxury train from Paris to French locations?
Q I was told that there is a luxury train going from Paris in September to different places in France. It's first class and the journey is for around six days. Susan Barr A Le Grand Tour, as the venture is known, talks a good game. The plan is for a six-day 'immersion in the French wonders'. Passengers will travel a total of 2,500 miles around France, packing in a host of sites. The experience starts at Paris Gare de l'Est, which I regard as the most elegant of the capital's stations. Day one takes in Reims for lunch (and presumably some champagne), continuing to Beaune in Burgundy, where a private tour of the ancient almshouse awaits. Day two: Avignon, with a rooftop tasting 'of the region's finest wines and produce'. On the same day, the train will reach the southwest city of Carcassonne. For the third day, the first destination is, oddly, Pau: a second-division historical city, though with a decent view of the Pyrenees. In the afternoon, the Bay of Arcachon will improve humours, with a visit to the Dubourdieu shipyards and a boat trip. Maritime appeal continues on day four, with handsome La Rochelle in the morning and a private tour of Chenonceau, the 'Château des Dames' later on. The finale appears to happen on day five. To quote the marketing: 'Le Grand Tour ends with a spectacular journey back in time at Puy du Fou.' This is a historical theme park southeast of Nantes. The sell continues: 'Over the course of a day, history blends with legend to come alive again until nightfall, when the grand spectacle of the night shimmers under the stars.' You might think this an unusual choice of location for the climax (presumably day six is a trundle back to Paris to offload one set of passengers and take on the next lot). But it makes sense when you learn that the trip is promoted by the Puy du Fou enterprise itself. The plan was set out in 2022 and little appears to have happened since. I have checked putative departures up to 2028 and can see none confirmed. So while a first-class trip around France in September sounds like a grand idea, get a first-class Interrail pass instead. Q Our flight from Venice was delayed overnight. Who is responsible for sourcing our accommodation? Ellen Saville A Under air passengers' rights rules, anyone whose flight is delayed overnight is entitled to be provided with a hotel room and meals commensurate with the length of the delay. In addition, the Package Travel Regulations specify: 'Where the organiser is unable to ensure the traveller's return as agreed in the package travel contract because of unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances, the organiser must bear the cost of necessary accommodation, if possible of equivalent category.' Both sets of rules point to the same outcome. Often when a flight in connection with a package holiday is delayed by 24 hours, your stay at the hotel will simply be extended by a night. But the airline or holiday company (which, in your case, are basically the same entity) may move you to a different property, such as an airport hotel, if necessary. I think it highly unlikely that you will be left to sort out the problem yourself; but if you are, pay for the extra stay and meals and present the receipts to the company. Q We are heading to North Macedonia and Albania this summer. My wife is worried about the driving. Is it bad? Richard V A Your wife is right to be concerned. I have consulted the Albanian traffic accident statistics for the past decade. They are tragically high. The average death toll on the roads is more than 200 per year. Adjusted for population, that is about 2.5 times the fatality rate in the UK. In terms of road miles, the accident rate is worse still, since Albania is a small country (the size of Wales) and long journeys are commensurately rare. While I haven't studied the North Macedonia statistics, my observation from travelling around is that driving and road standards are equally poor. The reasons: bad driving (fuelled by alcohol in one in 25 accidents, the statistics relate), inadequate policing and some dangerous roads. Rail travel is not a viable option in either country. In these circumstances, it is wise to rely on professional drivers. In both countries, I travel longer distances by bus or minibus, and make shorter journeys by taxi. This works out better than you might imagine. On arrival at Tirana airport, coaches are usually waiting to run into the capital – or, less frequently, to Durres on the coast. Coaches or minibuses run between larger towns and cities – many minibuses run on demand, departing when full. Crossing between North Macedonia and Albania is straightforward. For shorter journeys, you can flag down a taxi (the North Macedonian capital also has Bolt, which is similar to Uber) or take a local bus. If you plan an excursion taking in three or four locations in the day, your hotel will know some reliable drivers who will offer a fair price. I should stress that I am a non-car owner and a poor driver, and therefore always prefer it when someone else is driving. You can enjoy the many spectacular views – and meet interesting locals.
Time Out
03-07-2025
- Time Out
The incredible 2,500-mile train tour of France launching in September
There's a mountain of things to see and do if you're visiting France, from exploring brilliant cities like Paris and Marseille to soaking up the glorious Provençal countryside. You might think seeing it all in one trip would be pretty much impossible, but think again: a brand-new luxury train tour is launching in September, ferrying passengers around some of the country's most impressive highlights. Le Grand Tour has been organised by the same team behind Puy du Fou theme park, a famous, beautifully restored piece of French history that offers its 2 million annual visitors a flavour of traditional theme park shows. On this journey, according to the organisers, 'France is our biggest show'. The five-night, six-day journey covers 2,500 miles, kicking off in Paris from the Gare de L'est, departing in the early morning and heading towards Reims. From there, you'll stop in Beaune, a town at the heart of France's Burgundy wine region, for a private tour of the secret sites of the famous Hospices de Beaune. Known for its striking design, the almshouse hosted the world's most renowned charity wine auction. Recommended: The 22 best things to do in France. Overnight, it heads towards Provence and arrives in Avignon for a tasting of the region's best produce, before continuing towards Carcassonne and Montauban. Next, it's the Arachon Basin, which boasts 76 km of beaches, for a classic pinasse boat trip. La Rochelle follows and Le Grand Tour ends with a trip to Puy du Fou in les Epesses, which is in France's western Pays de la Loire region. The trains themselves are 'a masterpiece of Belle Époque design which ... at the dawn of the 20th century combined elegant new and tasteful style with plush interiors'. Up to 42 passengers can be carried, and 15 crew members will be aboard too. There are eight cabins, described as 'private salons by day that are transformed into comfortable bedrooms by night', plus a glamorous restaurant car headed by a Three-Michelin star chef. Dreamy stuff, eh? It won't surprise you to learn that this journey don't come cheap. According to the Express, a two-person cabin starts at €8,450, and a suite will set you back around €15,600. It's a lot, but if you've got that kinda cash kicking around, head to the website to find out how to book. The service will launch in September 2025. All aboard Luxury rail travel can be an excellent way to turn your journey into part of your holiday (if you're planning to splash out), so here's our roundup of the .
