<p>I am going to be near Sevilla Spain next month for about a month and will have some free time. I looked at the European travel time estimator and it said Sevilla to Paris was like a 16 hour drive! Is there some kind of bullet train that floats across Europe? Or am I stuck trying to find cheap airfares? I would really like to see Paris while I am over there. Also, if anyone has any good Europe travel websites or suggestions let me know! (especially about excursions into Africa)</p>
<p>I don’t know much about traveling to other countries, but if you want to travel around in Spain, I highly highly recommend you stay in the Paradores - except for the one in Santiago, they aren’t too expensive, and they are absolutely gorgeous. </p>
<p>Santiago would be a good place to visit. Also nice are the Basque country, Barcelona, and Granada (definitely try to visit the Alhambra). I do have a friend who traveled to Africa from Gibralter - it’s certainly possible.</p>
<p>There are plenty of wonderful places to visit in Spain, so if going to Paris doesn’t work, I’m sure you’ll still have a great time :)</p>
<p>Oh I plan to visit Spain extensively of course, I was just curious about if there were any trains to get around or whatever. Those quick ass maglev trains.</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.seat61.com/Spain.htm[/url]”>http://www.seat61.com/Spain.htm</a>
You take an overnight train with beds in it (called “couchettes” in French). The web-site above tells you how to do it from London, but the journey is the same just without the Eurostar bit. You would have to get from Seville to Madrid but that’s easy because it’s the capital.</p>
<p>All French rail travel can be booked from here
<a href=“SNCF Connect : Réservez vos billets SNCF, bus et covoiturage (OUI.sncf)”>SNCF Connect : Réservez vos billets SNCF, bus et covoiturage (OUI.sncf);
If you are 25 or under like me, for 49E you can buy a young person’s reduction card which gives a 50% reduction on all train travel in France. It saves it’s own cost in one journey. Can be bought from the same web-site.</p>
<p>No doubt the air fare would be a lot cheaper.</p>
<p>I flew into Madrid and then caught the train to Sevilla. Took the subway from the airport to the train station; just be super aware of all your stuff while you navigate the subway system. Train wasn’t any bullet! But you get to see the countryside and get off when you want. That stretch has some pretty amazing places. Train from Selvilla to Madrid should be on your “calendar.” Sevilla is probably hot now but what a place!</p>
<p>b to the ump</p>
<p>Both eurail and renfe will run from Sevilla to Paris. Neither, believe me, is high-speed, comfortable, or cheap. The cheapest deal I saw (just a quick look) was something like 79 euros Sevilla-Paris round trip on renfe, around 10 or 11 hours. The cheapest flight I found (again, quick search) was around 30 euros round trip. I’m not sure what a good deal is on a trip to Africa, but you will probably find better deals in Andalucia itself, and I believe a train/bus/whatever to Andalucia and a flight to Africa is cheaper than direct flight from Sevilla or Madrid.</p>
<p>I spent some time in france last summer and wound up on an economy overnight train from paris to nice. 6 beds in one little cove (three per side), but if all you do is sleep it’s really not that bad at all. Surely there must be a similar route between the two countries!</p>
<p>In Paris, right near the Eiffel Tower there is a wonderfully relaxing boat tour of the city. It’s on the long side, but you get to see a lot, and it’s beautiful! Also visit the Palace of Versailles if you can make a day trip out of the city…the gardens are magnificent!</p>
<p>You might want to check out this website for the Trenhotel from Paris-Madrid. <a href=“http://www.elipsos.com/htm/default.htm?lang=3[/url]”>http://www.elipsos.com/htm/default.htm?lang=3</a></p>
<p>This site also shows how to travel between London and Spain, but most trips include a stop in Paris, so it may be helpful. <a href=“London to Spain by train 2024 | Times, fares, tickets”>London to Spain by train 2024 | Times, fares, tickets; </p>
<p>Have a great time.</p>
<p>If you want to see Paris in a weekend, you’ll want to fly. Otherwise, you’ll regret every hour wasted on the train trip.</p>
<p>Spain is isolated by it’s geography - you’ve heard of the Pyrenees? However, a side trip to Portugal is easy, and you may never have as good a chance to go there. The same goes for NW Africa. For visiting Melilla or Ceuta (tiny Spanish holdings in Africa), start with the Spanish tourist board. If you have the time, I think a trip to Morocco is a much more rewarding plan than a quick excursion to Melilla, which is mostly a shipping/shopping destination. <a href=“http://www.spain.info%5B/url%5D”>http://www.spain.info</a></p>
<p>Se sure to save time for Granada, the mountains and the beaches!</p>