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Travelling to the French & Spanish Pyrenees
getting to the pyrenees
Getting to the French and Spanish Pyrenees is quick, easy and inexpensive. Whilst you make your own travel arrangements, we will be happy to offer you help and advice. Here are the options:
Immense Flexibility & Choice - on Dates, Travel and how you spend your days.
- Fly-Drive - fly to one of many airports that serve the Pyrenees and then hire a car. Our closest airports are Pau, Biarritz, Toulouse and Zaragoza.
- Train - take the Eurostar and TGV from London via Paris.
- Self-Drive - take a ferry to the north coast of France or Spain.
Flights
Flight Routes are added on a daily basis. Online prices are often below £100 return. Visit www.skyscanner.net for an overview of low fare services, but keep an eye open for new services too. You might also consider charter services into Lourdes - call your local travel agent for details.
| www.easyjet.co.uk | (tel. 0905 7500 100) | www.ryanair.com | (tel. 0906 270 5656) | |
| www.jet2.com | (tel. 0871 226 1737) | www.hlx.co.uk | (tel. 0870 606 0519) | |
| www.flybmi.com | (tel. 0870 607 0555) | www.thomsonfly.com | (tel. 08701 900 737) | |
| www.ba.com | (tel. 0870 850 9850) | www.lufthansa.co.uk | (tel. 0870 837 7747) | |
| www.alitalia.co.uk | (tel. 0870 554 6003) | www.aerlingus.com | (tel. 0845 084 4444) |
| Other useful websites: | |||
| www.opodo.co.uk | www.expedia.co.uk | www.ebookers.co.uk | www.skyscanner.net |
Rail ~ Eurostar & TGV
In under 10 hours the Eurostar and TGV will take you from London (via Paris) to Lourdes, Pau, Tarbes, Bordeaux or Toulouse. Visit www.raileurope.co.uk or www.sncf-voyages.com for more information. Tickets can be booked up to 90 days in advance and are generally cheaper the earlier they are booked. If hiring a car for your onward journey, Pau alone is best for Panticosa.
Flydrive & Car Hire
Having your own transport in the Pyrenees will greatly enhance your stay and gives you total convenience on your days of travel, whilst guaranteeing your participation on our Organised Walks.
You can fly-drive via Pau Airport in the south of France. Nevertheless, your UK airport of choice may bring a host of other convenient airports into the equation, such as Zaragoza and Bilbao on the Spanish side and Biarritz, Toulouse, Carcassonne, Bordeaux and Bergerac on the French side. Or you can pick up a car from near a train station or a ferry port. In addition, car hire is available for those arriving by TGV at Pau (near to the railway station).
We offer a competitive, comprehensive and safe car hire package through Holiday Autos, for whom we are agents, whether you require a hatchback or a people carrier. Weekly prices start from about £225 in Spain and France. These include the all-important Damage Excess Waiver (D.E.W.). There are no hidden extras.
Driving conditions are excellent here. The journey from Pau to Panticosa are less than two hours on provincial roads in delightful scenery. The drive from Zaragoza to Panticosa is similarly easy and attractive.
Just let us know you would like to hire a car and we will do the rest. Three weeks before you travel, we send your car hire voucher along with step-by-step directions (and arrival instructions). Payment for car hire is due with your holiday balance, 8 weeks prior to your departure.
*Collett's can arrange car hire from any European airport or city. We can also arrange one way car hire within France and Spain - i.e. pick up at one airport, drop off at another.
Self-Driving & Ferries
Self-drivers should allow 12-14 hours from ferry ports on the north coast of France. The idea of meandering down over a couple of days or more is bound to appeal to some people given the many beautiful parts of France you will pass through. Others might choose to take a relaxing cruise style crossing to northern Spain and reduce the drive at the other end to about 5 hours (perhaps dropping into Bilbao's world-renowned Guggenheim Museum on the way through?) For Portsmouth to Bilbao, try www.poferries.com or tel. 08705 980 333. For Plymouth to Santander, try www.brittany-ferries.co.uk or tel. 0870 9 076 103.
As agents for Eurotunnel and Sea France Ferries we can obtain Channel Crossings at favourable rates. Just let us know you would like to self drive and we will send you a form (by post or online) with prices, times and other useful information. Complete the form and return it to us and we will confirm your booking. Three weeks before you travel, we will send your voucher along with directions to Panticosa. Payment for Channel Crossings is due with your holiday balance, 8 weeks prior to your departure.
Holiday Insurance
We recommend you buy a good insurance package at the time of booking (or certainly prior to purchasing flights or booking ferries etc.), so that you are covered in the unlikely event of you having to cancel for an 'insurable' reason. Global Travel Insurance provide Collett's with a tailor made policy, which includes cover for Mountain Rescue as well as the usual things you expect from your policy. There is no increase in premium for people over 65. Full details of the policy are available on request and we automatically send these to anyone who books a holiday with us. Our insurance will also cover any holiday prior to (or after) your time with Collett's, which is part of the same period away from your home, unless dangerous sports are involved.
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- Mountaineering & Climbing - cover for up to 4500m is available at a supplement of 100%.
- Family Policies - apply to 2 adults and any number of their children under 16 on the date of travel.
- Pre-existing Medical Conditions - medical screening is not required, as the policy clearly sets out the extent of cover provided.
Collett's in the Pyrenees
- Self Guiding for Independent Walking
Extensive information and excellent material is available to all our guests
so that people who prefer to walk independently can benefit from our unrivalled local knowledge. - Organised Walking Holidays
Five days a week (not Wednesday or Saturday), our staff offer two stunning walks
one more demanding than the other. - High & Moderate Level Walking Holidays
Spectacular all day itineraries in the valleys and on the peaks in the world's most unique mountain range.
Five days a week - Panticosa ~ Valle de Tena, Aragon, Spain.
Collett's is Bonded with ABTA and AITO
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Collett's is a regulated, independent holiday specialist committed to the highest levels of personal care and attention to detail. Abroad, we respect the people, character and local customs of our featured destinations. We are a member of the Association of Independent Tour Operators abiding to its Quality Charter and encouraging high standards of quality and service. Finally, Collett's is bonded through ABTA and guarantees the protection of all holiday payments. Collett's Ltd. is registered in England No. 3467538 @ Lake House, Market Hill, Royston, Herts, SG8 9GN Directors: N.R.Baron, T.J.E Collett & P.Melia.
