Lourdes Travel Forum

My husband wants to go to Lourdes when we visit Paris this Summer. We have to board our cruise on Thursday and this means we have to leave Paris for Venice on Wednesday. Every tour that I am looking up is 2-day tour leaving Wednesday and come back on Thursday. Is it possible for us to take a trip to Lourdes on our own at any giving day since our time/date is very limited? Will we survive to take a trip by ourselves as we are non-French speaking folks?:-) I would appreciate any information!

The reason it is a 2 day trip is it is 850 km or 530 miles. Five and a half hours at best by train (TGV - at least 5 departure times each day of the week) probably eight hours at best by car. Could be too much travel time for a day trip?

It could be done, not difficoult getting there by plane to Tarbes-Lourdes from Paris by airfrance, trains, also TGV, and buses. I've never been there but i heard it's better to have booked everything before, August it could be a month with a lot of people there.

if you were not non-French speaking you better contact some specific travel agencies for organized Pilgrim groups.
more info here
www.lourdes-infotourisme.com

in a 2-day tour one night should be slept there.

You don't say how much time you have in Paris so it's hard to judge giving any advice. We've been to Lourdes and it was inspirational. However, if you only have 3 to 5 days in Paris, there is so much to see and do there that it would be a shame to take the time to visit Lourdes. Could you perhaps plan a separate trip including some other things you want to see either nearby Lourdes or on the way to and from Lourdes? This could be a future plan.

On the other hand, if you have a week and want to take the time to visit, it is a very meaningful place. You could, as advised above, fly to Pau and take a bus or train on to Lourdes. To see what you want to see and not be totally wiped out before your cruise even begins, you should seriously consider staying overnight in Lourdes and returning the following morning. This may be more time than you want to spend.

As far as language, it depends on how comfortable you are with asking for help. If it doesn't bother you (as it doesn't bother us), you will be able to manage. There is nearly always someone around who speaks some English and even if they don't, people can be very helpful.

If I had to make a cruise, I would save the trip to Lourdes for a future trip to France. It would be much more relaxing and for that reason, more meaningful. It really is quite a distance. France is a much larger country than most people realize.

Fly to Pau, which is only 27 miles from Lourdes. The train takes 30 minutes and a taxi would not be all that expensive if you really needed to see Lourdes.

If you want to go to Lourdes in a day under all circumstances and not just drive back and forth, you have to fly to Tarbes. The airport's name is Aéroport International Tarbes-Lourdes-Pyrénées, and it is only 10 or 12 kilometres from Lourdes, and the trip takes only 10 min. For this short way you could even take a taxi, so you would be independent from bus timetables, and it would be cheaper than to hire a car. Absolutely no need to spend money on pilgrimage tour operators.

In Lourdes you get information in all languages, which, of course, íncludes English. Also menus in the restaurants are available in English. Whereas you can find many places in France where you would have communication problems, Lourdes surely is the big exception.

Yes, Lourdes is a huge exception when it comes to English. I was there in January, and everyone I spoke spoke English and without the kind of rudeness you may find elsewhere in France.

It might b helpful for you to know in advance that neither the Tarbes-Lourdes nor the Pau airport has ground transportation, so people have to take taxis to and from the airport. I was lucky enough to find someone to share expenses, as it would have cost 25 to 30 euros for each journey.

I am English speaking and have been to Lourdes several times.There will be no problem in being understood as the Sanctuary area,(Grotto,Bath's ect.)cater for all nationalities. Also I have found that english is understood by hotel staff and shop assistants+ cafe and resturant staff no problem. it is not to be missed,go for it! The evening Torchlight procession and afternoon Eucaristic procession are great events.

Ah, roamingpaddy makes a good point. The torchlight procession. That alone would make it worthwhile to spend the night there. It is amazing.

Have you checked the Lourdes website? http://www.lourdes-france.com/index.php?texte=1&langage=en

you will flying to Tarbes,and train to Lourdes, as told already ,good advise.
its might be quick for one day, but its a surreal place of great faith, if you do have it, you go.

You can do on our own, and English will be good, the place is for all.