The overnight trainhotel (trenhotel) between Paris and Barcelona is the easiest way to travel between the two cities by train. The journey is made on board a rolling hotel, the Joan Miro run by Elipsos.
There are four principal seating options, with the most uncomfortable (for an overnight journey) being a standard reclining seat. Often the cheapest option is to travel in Tourist Class, which is a four-berth cabin with washbasin. Preferente cabins have one or two berths, with a washbasin and breakfast included. The most luxurious class is the Gran Clase, which has one or two berths, a private shower, toilet, and includes breakfast and dinner in the price.
Fare discounts are available if you are travelling as a pair or as a family. See the fare table below, or follow the booking links for further information.
Elipsos Trainhotel
The Elipsos Trainhotel is an overnight sleeper train service that links France, Switzerland, Italy and Spain. In total, there are four routes which are operated by Elipsos; Paris to Madrid, Paris to Barcelona, Zurich to Barcelona and Milan to Barcelona. If you are taking the Elipsos Trainhotel, remember to board 45 minutes before departure (for origin stations).
Onboard the train, there is a restaurant car, serving dinner and breakfast (both meals included in the fare for Gran Class passengers, breakfast included for Club Class passengers). The food is a fine quality of Mediterranean and international dishes, accompanied by regional wines.
Passengers are permitted to bring two items of hand luggage onboard with them (max. dimensions 70x55x25cm each). Bicycles are permitted if an entire cabin has been bought, and must be folded and in a bike bag. Similarly, domestic animals may be brought into a cabin if it has been bought as a whole. There is an additional cost for animals (approximately £37.50), except for guide dogs.
There are four accommodation options available for your journey: Gran Class, Club Class, Tourist Class and Reclining Seats.
Gran Class:
Gran Class, the most luxurious of the fares available, offers passengers a mini suite, with shower, toilet and sink. One or two beds are available in a Gran Class room. Complimentary toiletries and travel kits are included. Passengers receive a welcome drink, as well as an A la Carte dinner, and Continental Breakfast in the restaurant car. Free magazines and newspapers are also available.
Club Class:
Club Class rooms include a washbasin and one or two beds. Toiletries and travel kits are provided for free, as is a Continental Breakfast served in the restaurant car. Free magazines and newspapers are also available.
Tourist Class:
Tourist Class rooms host four beds/couchettes, and a shared sink. Toiletries are provided for free, as are some magazines.
Reclining Seats:
If you are happy to try and sleep in a chair, you can opt for a super reclining seat (20 per train). Each seat has its own reading lamp and footrest, and passengers are given earplugs, water and magazines.
Travellers Tale:
I took the Tourist Class cabin which was very nicely furnished. I was travelling alone so chose a single sex cabin. In some ways I was hoping to have lots of young people to talk to on the train, but it was relatively quiet. Generally, it was, a very classy and relaxed way to travel.
I went to the dining car where I ordered a main meal for about €10 which was very nice. I would have paid that or more not on a train. I was the last to bed in my cabin, which was at about 10.30pm and had a good night's sleep in a nice crisp clean bed.
I had a croissant for breakfast at the breakfast bar and then a lovely day in Barcelona.
This was no party train (this goes between Montpellier and Paris and is a lot of fun), but it was a lovely way to travel and much nicer than flying.