Re: Catalans away July 8th : Tue Jan 17, 2017 11:50 am  

moto748 wrote:

Seems like, however they organise it, *everyone* stays in Spain? Is it not feasible to stay in France? Perpingnan, Carcassonne (which I'm told is lovely), etc?

Carcassonne is indeed lovely but IIRC the cost of the train to Perpignan is ridiculous (well over 100 Euros). Plenty of cheap hotel rooms in Perpignan and although the town is fairly quiet it is still a very pleasant place to spend a weekend.

Re: Catalans away July 8th : Tue Jan 17, 2017 11:53 am  

Perpignan itself isn't much of a tourist town, but it is a good place to use as a base to explore that region from (car required). Best restaurants are in what looks at first glance to be a side-alley behind the Castillet. Don't bother with the more touristy stuff on the main drag by the river.

Re: Catalans away July 8th : Tue Jan 17, 2017 1:15 pm  

NickyKiss wrote:

It is but I think a lot of people who go have stayed in France a number of times in the early years and like us have now changed to go to Spain instead. I think the main reasons really are availability of flights (there's far more choice to Spain then that area of France) and the general cost whilst over there (food/drink is far more expensive in Perpignan then it is in a Calella/Lloret). I also like staying in Lloret because it gives us the opportunity to do a day or stay a night or two in Barcelona.

If you were going for the first time though it would be nice to experience staying in Perpignan for a couple of nights.

Thanks, Nicky (and aboveusonlypie and CPM), that makes sense. I speak a fair bit of French but no Spanish, which perhaps makes me a little more comfortable there. Although I've been to Barcelona before, the Ramblas, the Sag Fam, Gaudi Parc etc, and I realise *everyone* speaks English there.

I know France isn't cheap but 100 euros! I'd have thought hiring a car wouldn't be much dearer than that.

Re: Catalans away July 8th : Tue Jan 17, 2017 2:24 pm  

Last year I stayed in Spain for first time. Upon getting to Perpignan for the match, the beer in city centre was double that in Spain. Soon mounts up!

Re: Catalans away July 8th : Tue Jan 17, 2017 3:54 pm  

Aboveusonlypie wrote: Carcassonne is indeed lovely but IIRC the cost of the train to Perpignan is ridiculous (well over 100 Euros). Plenty of cheap hotel rooms in Perpignan and although the town is fairly quiet it is still a very pleasant place to spend a weekend. £44 return fare if booked in advance https://uk.voyages-sncf.com/en/?prex=T_ ... g!!+trains +to +carcassonne&ectrans=1&ef_id=Vtmg6AAABAYCJHhk%3A20170117153459%3As&gclid=COSB39fAydECFQ6NGwodossCbg#/proposals/Carcassonne/Perpignan/2017-01-17/16:00/2017-07-08/06:00/passengers:senior;60;1/class:Economy/direct:0

Aboveusonlypie wrote: Carcassonne is indeed lovely but IIRC the cost of the train to Perpignan is ridiculous (well over 100 Euros). Plenty of cheap hotel rooms in Perpignan and although the town is fairly quiet it is still a very pleasant place to spend a weekend. £44 return fare if booked in advance https://uk.voyages-sncf.com/en/?prex=T_ ... g!!+trains +to +carcassonne&ectrans=1&ef_id=Vtmg6AAABAYCJHhk%3A20170117153459%3As&gclid=COSB39fAydECFQ6NGwodossCbg#/proposals/Carcassonne/Perpignan/2017-01-17/16:00/2017-07-08/06:00/passengers:senior;60;1/class:Economy/direct:0