Travel To Majorca, By Train ?

[mikey4444]

Is it possible to get to Majorca, from Britain, other than flying ? My brother has been told that he shouldn't fly.

[mikey4444]

Yes...thanks Chris !

[Prudie]

You can also take a car ferry to Santander from Portsmouth or Plymouth, drive across Spain and get the car ferry from Barcelona or Valencia. Would be a long and expensive journey though.

[-Talbot-]

I don't find driving in the EU expensive.
Calais to Barcelona, 4 hours driving each day, there in 4 days.
about £250 in diesel and 4 hotels to pay for.

I love road trips.

[alavahalf]

That would allow you 1 day in Majorca before making the return trip ... if you went for a week ?

[sunny-dave]

Mappy - nice site :

https://tinyurl.com/kreern2

[bednobs]

he'd probably also have toconsider if the problem that means he can't fly would also stop him from reasonabl travelling for a long time by car or train

[DTCwordfan]

mea culpable if the Welsh Thomas the Tank....doesn't negate spending time in Barca though...... (for the food and wine, mikey, not the Brains).

[DTCwordfan]

and the Gaudi and architecture....

[EDDIE51]

Mikey, I also went on a school trip to Switzerland in 1966 and went to the Jungfrau. We went by train as well. Took just over a day if I remember. I went again in 1967.

[mikey4444]

Wow Eddie...what a coincidence !

Yes, the trip up to the Jungfraujoch took effectively all day. The part inside the face of the Eiger, from Kleine Scheidegg was very long, although you could stop every half hour or so, to look out over the Valley from windows in the north face of the Eiger.

When I did the trip in 1990, we skied at the top, on the side of the Rhone Glacier. This is easily one of Europe's greatest railway journeys.

[EDDIE51]

The best bit for me was when we had to go on the Alpine railway where the train 'locks on' to cogs on the track to negociate the steep incline.
I will always remember the view!

[mikey4444]

Switzerland is one of the greatest holiday destinations IMHO.

[mushroom25]

the number of overnight sleeper or couchette trains operating in Europe has reduced dramatically over the last few years; only 3 "socially necessary" services will last beyond this year (paris to rodez, briancon and latour de carol), and the once marvelous tren-hotel services to spain ended when the AVE line from Barcelona to France opened. however one of the remaining couchette trains can get you to Barcelona overnight from Paris in 16 hours with a change at Latour de carol - the scenery on this route is particularly magnificent.

[mushroom25]

***only 3 "socially necessary" services IN FRANCE...***

[mikey4444]

Thanks everybody....very interesting comments all round.

[bhg481]

Switzerland should carry a health warning - it's addictive.
I went with the scouts to Kandersteg in 1958 and fell in love with the place - Jungfraujoch, Grindelwald-First, Spiez, Reichenbach Falls, Trummelbach Falls, the Lakes Thun and Brienz, Brienzer Rothorn, Niederhorn etc. We got our first new car in 1985 and I just had to take my wifr there. With one exception, we've visited Switzerland for anything from 3 days to 3 weeks each year ever since.
Back again later this year.

[mikey4444]

BHG....my experience exactly ! You may be pleased to know that Kandersteg is still used a Scout Camp all these years later.

I have travelled a lot in my lifetime, and I would still put Switzerland at the top of any list. It is very beautiful at all times of the year, but especially now, as the snow line is quite low.

[237SJ]

Who told him that he shouldn't fly?