Planes, trains and automobiles: A rocky road to Montpellier
The few optimists prior to the victory over Harlequins could have booked a return ticket from Shannon to the French city for €80. However by lunchtime yesterday the price of a one-way flight from Shannon (departing Friday morning) had tripled in price while the return flight on Sunday increased three-fold its original price.
Unless more flights are put on by the relevant carriers, fans planning a French invasion in three weeks’ time had better think fast but there are ways and means. Here are some of the options available...
Fly Ryanair from Shannon to Montpellier on Friday April 26, return for €355, departing at 10.10am and returning Sunday (to Shannon) afternoon at 5.25pm. There are no direct flights back to Ireland from Montpellier on the Saturday night but Toulouse to Dublin with Aer Lingus on the Sunday (10pm) is a possibility, and costs €200. Factor in an overnight stay in either Toulouse or Montpellier. A double room at the three-star Holiday Inn in Toulouse starts at €74, Montpellier rates are slightly more expensive, but there are regular trains (two hours) from Montpellier to Toulouse and will set you back €25 each way.
Dublin to Rodez (180kms north of Montpellier) is €100 with Ryanair, departing Saturday morning at 6.50am. You’ll need to rent a car here though, because the rail network south is poorly serviced.
Still, a 3-door hatchback for the weekend won’t cost more than €100 but there is one toll bridge (€6). Returning; Easyjet fly from Marseille to Gatwick on the Sunday morning at 10.25am for €75 and onwards to Cork (from Gatwick, with Ryanair, departing 10pm) for €45. Note the considerable waiting time at Gatwick. A train from Montpellier to Marseille after the game costs €26.50 and takes 90 minutes.
A double room in the three-star Holiday Inn in Marseille costs €108.
Another option, though you’ll be taking one more flight, is a Dublin-Gatwick-Montpellier and back option. Dublin to Gatwick with Ryanair on the Saturday morning, leaving at 7.40am, costs €55.
Then in Gatwick, get the 12.35pm flight to Montpellier with easyjet for €155, arriving two and a half hours before the game. Coming back the following day, fly with easyjet again (from Montpellier) to Gatwick for a tenner, departing at 5.20pm, and get the 9.25pm flight from Gatwick to Dublin with Ryanair, for €95.
Staying overnight at a three-star hotel in Montpellier will set you back around €100.
Fly Dublin to Montpellier (Ryanair) return, departing Friday at 4.40pm, coming back Sunday evening at 6.50pm for €400.
Alternatively, fly back to Dublin from Toulouse on the Sunday evening at 10pm for €200.
Or else, fly Ryanair from Shannon to Montpellier on Friday April 26, return for €355, departing at 10.10am and returning on Sunday (to Shannon) afternoon at 5.25pm. Factor in an overnight stay in either Toulouse or Montpellier. A double room at the three-star Holiday Inn in Toulouse starts at €74, Montpellier rates are slightly more expensive, but there are regular trains from Montpellier to Toulouse and they will set you back between €21 and €34 eaway.
Fly out Friday morning from Shannon, with Ryanair, departing at 10.10am for €172. Fly back to Dublin from Toulouse on Sunday evening (10pm) for €200, with Aer Lingus. Alternatively, Easyjet fly from Marseille to Gatwick on the Sunday morning at 10.25am for €75 and onwards to Cork (from Gatwick, with Ryanair, departing 10pm) for €45. Note the considerable waiting time at Gatwick.
A train from Montpellier to Marseille after the game costs €26.50 and takes 90 minutes. A double room in the three-star Holiday Inn in Marseille costs €108.
* The Stade de la Mosson is 17 kilometres from Montpellier airport.
* The main train station in Montpellier is seven kilometres from the stadium.
* A two-course meal in the city for two, costs roughly €35. Imported beers around €3, a capuchino around €2.20.
* The city, with a population of 258,000, has a car-free centre, which makes it one of the cleanest cities in Europe.
* At the time of writing, there has been no word from any airline with regard to laying on extra flights for the big match but this could yet change before matchday.
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