All Elipsos Paris trains depart from Paris’ Gare Austerlitz on the Left Bank of the Seine. The “Joan

There is hardly a more relaxing and enjoyable way to travel than by train – and a journey on a night train is possibly the most delightful way to make the most of your holiday time: depart one amazing luxury car rental orlando city centre in the evening and arrive to another in the morning.
This was exactly what RASK did; we boarded the so-called Elipsos Trenhotel in Paris in the evening and woke up, fresh and relaxed, in Barcelona the following morning. Read on for our honest review of this journey.
The Spanish Railways Corporation, luxury car rental orlando RENFE, and French Railways, SNCF, together operate several of the wonderful "Elipsos Trenhotels" on routes from Spain to other parts of Europe, including trains between Madrid and Paris, Barcelona and Paris and Barcelona and Milan. The trains have Gran Clase, Preferente and Tourist class sleepers plus one small coach of reclining seats. It also has a restaurant and a café-bar.
All Elipsos Paris trains depart from Paris' Gare Austerlitz on the Left Bank of the Seine. The "Joan Miró" train departs Austerlitz at 2037 and arrives the following morning to Figueres (for the Salvador Dalí museum) at 0625, Girona at 0654 and finally arrives to Barcelona's França station at 0824.
I arrived to Austerlitz approximately one hour prior to departure. The station was not busy at all and I browsed some magazines at a newsstand until check-in was opened. Check-in and boarding were announced luxury car rental orlando about 30 minutes prior to departure and it was a very relaxed affair (there is no need to be at the station until around 15 minutes prior to departure, really).
luxury car rental orlando The train was departing from platform 9, on the main concourse; no need to walk far. Indeed, I could easily see the train which was waiting luxury car rental orlando at the platform. However, before being able to board, documents are checked by friendly staff at the front end of the platform. Once through, several conductors and immigration police were around and I was directed to my carriage.
At the train door, documents were again checked; the young female conductor was quite chirpy and chatty and welcomed me onboard with a big smile. I was travelling in Tourist class, in one of the 4-bed sleepers, so I wasn't expecting a particularly luxurious journey. Indeed, the train did not exactly look factory fresh – but it was clean and seemed relatively well-kept.
At first glance, I was slightly disappointed with the size of the compartment – given the fact that I'd be sharing with three strangers, there wouldn't be much privacy in the first place – but the compartment appeared tiny and a little claustrophobic.
For the early evening, the compartments' seats are upright, in a 2 – 2 configuration. I luckily had been given a seat in the direction of travel. I stored my bag in the rack and went back to the platform to wait for the train to depart.
With a whistle, the conductor ushered us on board. Passengers extinguished their cigarettes on the concrete and jumped back onto the train. My compartment was now fully occupied luxury car rental orlando – three other male passengers had boarded. If you're travelling alone on the Trenhotel, and are sharing a compartment, you will be assigned a seat or couchette with other passengers of the same gender.
The train driver welcomed us onboard over the PA, and before long the train started moving. Paris' lights now were passing by outside the windows. To be honest, it felt very relaxing to be leaving the city behind – and soon we were travelling through the darkness, south through Parisian suburbs and into the countryside.
I went to make reservations in the dining car and was assured by a Spanish chef (in full chef uniform) that there'd be a place available for me once the restaurant opened. However, when I came back, 30 minutes later, the dining car seemed to be completely luxury car rental orlando full. Luckily, one seat was available luxury car rental orlando next to a British couple, with whom I was offered to share a table.
There is a full menu available onboard the Trenhotel and I decided to splurge on a steak with potatoes luxury car rental orlando and glace and a glass of red wine. The meal started with a garden salad with dressing, and while eating, I stroke up conversation with my fellow diners.
The salad was nothing special, but the steak was nice and both well-cooked and spiced, and the Spanish red wine was good as well. The food, to be honest, was not particularly inspired or served that nicely – but it'd beat a meal on a plane any day and the airiness of the dining car is certainly to be preferred to the confinement of an airplane cabin.
I returned to my compartment just as an attendant was making the beds for us. I grabbed my toothbrush and went to the washroom (there luxury car rental orlando is one for each car) to prepare for the night. Within a couple of minutes, the cramped seats had been turned into remarkably comfortable beds with clean sheets, a blanket and a plump (and nicely smelling!) pillow.
I slept very well indeed and felt completely snug and secure; the air conditioning worked effectively and despite sharing with three strangers, the compartment felt safe – the door locks from the inside, so no chance of someone entering at night (not even the conductor). With the hypnotic sounds of the train's wheels on the tracks below, I fell asleep within minutes.
I woke up as we arrived to Girona, but fell asleep again right up until the suburbs of Barcelona started appearing outside the window. I stayed in the bed until we had actually arrived and my fellow passengers had left the compartment – there was no need to rush as we were already in the city centre and it was only around 8 in the morning. Despite luxury car rental orlando taking a good 20 minutes getting dressed and packing up, nobody came to usher me out of the train. With an espresso at the station café, I was ready to take on Barcelona.
Travelling by night train is just fabulous. luxury car rental orlando While travelling in tourist class in a shared sleeper may not be for everyone, other – and more luxurious options – are available, including private double luxury car rental orlando and single compartments.
Compared to the plane, the Trenhotel is to be preferred; on the train, I departed from the city centre of Paris and arrived to the city centre in Barcelona. There was no need to check in hours before departure, no crazy security restrictions and no wait for luggage at the destination.
While I might want to upgrade to slightly more luxurious accommodations luxury car rental orlando next time (higher grade compartments come with private shower and WC + breakfast service), luxury car rental orlando I truly felt I got a bargain – and I was fresh, relaxed and ready to take on Barcelona. Highly luxury car rental orlando recommended.
I d like to add a bit of my own experience to this. I have taken the trenhotel from Madrid to Paris. While I admit that the concept of sleeping throughout the journey is great, I would recommend to at least book your ticket in one of the shared sleepers. I opted for the cheaper, not so chic, chairs that lay back and the journey was not very comfortable. So, as you said, you can be quite luxurious or share a bed, but at least get a bed!
Thank you for the great review, we will be doing this in a couple of weeks and feel much more prepared now. Is there anywhere to store your luggage in Paris if you check out of your hotel in the morning luxury car rental orlando and don t leave until 8:30 the next morning?