Lourdes & Fatima

[Dee Sa]

I have two relatives coming to London to stay for a month, during that time they want to go to Lourdes & Fatima.
Having been to Fatima we went by coach from Lisbon on a day trip, I explained there wouldnt be much else to do there other than visit the shrine and suggested they did it from Lisbon , no they want to stay in Fatima for 2 days, same with Lourdes, budget airline comes to mind but how to get to Lourdes I dont know.
Suggestions pls, they will be two ladies travelling on their own.

[boxtops]

Here's some info about flying into Lourdes http://www.skyscanner.../lourdes-airport.html but it doesn't seem to be covered by many airlines direct from the UK.

[Dee Sa]

many thanks

[Buenchico]

Only one airline flies from London direct to Lourdes airport, and that's Ryanair (from Stansted). However you can't solely use their service for a two-day stay, as it only operates on Tuesdays.

BmiBaby is the only other operator from the UK but their flights operate from Manchester, on just 2 days per week (Monday and Friday).

The easiest way to get from London to Lourdes is with Eurostar. On the random date I checked (5th July), the departure from St Pancras at 0922 will get you into Gare du Nord at 1247. Then you need to get across to Paris Montparnasse using one of these methods:
* From Gare du Nord, take Métro line 4 towards Porte d'Orléans, this will take about 40 minutes.
* Or you can take RER line B towards Robinson/ St Remy to Denfert-Rochereau, then Metro line 4 towards Porte de Clignancourt. This will take about 15 minutes.
* A taxi will take between 40 and 50 minutes depending on the time of day.
* Or you can take bus route 96 which will take about 50 minutes

From there, take the 1440 direct train to Lourdes, arriving at 2014.

The return service, two days later, leaves Lourdes at 1116, arriving at Paris Montparnasse at 1723. The departure from Gare du Nord leaves at 1913, arriving at St Pancras at 2034.

The fare is £89.50 in each direction, making £189.00 in total.

Chris

[sandyRoe]

Would they consider visiting the Tomb of St James in Santiago de Compostela in Northern Spain. Along with Jerusalem and Rome this was considered one of the major sites in Christendom.

[Buenchico]

The nearest airport to Fatima is Lisbon. The following operators have direct flights from London:
BA (Heathrow)
easyJet (Gatwick & Luton)
TAP Portugal (Gatwick & Heathrow)

The Carris Aerobus (no 91) operates from the airport to the city centre.

The Rede Expressos coach service operates frequently from central Lisbon, directly to Fatima:
http://www.rede-expressos.pt/default.aspx

Chris

[Buenchico]

Lourdes hotels:
http://www.tripadviso..._Pyrenees-Hotels.html

Fatima hotels:
http://www.tripadviso...tremadura-Hotels.html

Chris

[Dee Sa]

Thanks everyone for your help.We have managed to find Kensington tours who will take them from Westminster Abbey [ only 30 mins by car from us] by coach & ferry to Lourdes, its a five day excursion 2 night in Lourdes and on the way back they will go via Paris, meals included except on the journey which is over night and they wont have to do anything but sit there, so they cant get lost !!!!!!
I agree that Fatima its best to fly to Lisbon and take the day trip which your hotel will arrange, I have done that from Lisbon and some other nice trips from there too Obidos was worth a visit.
They have both applied for UK tourist visas and we cant book anything until they actually get the visa.