Two weeks in northern Spain

[kena]

I finally have an itinerary for my trip to Spain in late September/early October. My plane lands me in Paris (frequent traveller ticket from Dad, so I can't complain.) on September 22 and leaves on October 10th

One day in Paris + night train to Barcelona
6 days in Barcelona + sidetrips
1 day travelling through Catalunya (probably with a long stop in Zaragoza) and arrival at night in San Sebastian
2 days in San Sebastian
3 days in a small coastal village (Lekeitio) in the Basque country
1 day in Bilbao (essentially to see the modern art museum)
1 day for travel (plane to Paris, meet with family, car to Ile d'Yeu)
2 days in Ile d'Yeu with family
1 day in Paris

Any comments?

[me]

Hey, Kena!

looks like a fun trip. i didn't have enough time in NE Spain on either trip. [first to Barcelona, 2nd to Bilbao] factors out of my control.

just wondering: why not fly 1½ hrs from Paris-BVA to Barcelona-Girona on Ryanair for €21.86? or, maybe better, 2 hrs from Paris-CGD to Barcelona-BCN on Vueling for €73? <both include tax & fees>

either would be better than 12¼ hrs on a train, imo. i also suspect a train ticket & couchette supplement would cost as much as either of those plus a hostel bed in Barcelona. maybe more. or, will you have a rail pass? [you'd still have to pay for couchette & reservations]

[kena]

I've looked at that option, but the schedules weren't very convenient. I arrive too late for the Ryanair flight, and the Vueling one woud require me to spend the whole day at Charles-de-Gaulle Airport, or go into the city for just a few hours and stress out about not going back on time to the airport. Furthermore, planes give me terrible earaches so by the time I'm landed, the last thing I want is to get into another plane. Plus I like trains - you can look at the scenery, meet interesting people - and I figure I'll be sleeping most of night anyway.

But you're right, it would have been the most cost-efficient way to travel.