I am turning to holidays in Europe using public transport rather than car or plane – except where there is no option. This requires lots of research and military style planning to ensure that all connections are not missed. I use Excel for itinerary planning which includes the cost, the dates/times, when and who I booked with and booking references – plus a few notes e.g. which Metro train to catch and which direction or end destination I should be heading for.

http://www.tgv-europe.com/en/home/ is where you book train tickets in English paying in Euros – currently a little cheaper than using other sites where you pay pounds. The tickets arrive in the post 2 days later at no extra charge. If smart by booking literally 3 months ahead you may well get deals not to missed. If you put towns in which have no railway, surprisingly this site often gives bus times instead.

I email usually in French, in advance to tourist offices for their town maps and brochures. I use Google street view to find a hotel which often is not quite where Google thinks it is. I make up a holiday pack of pictures hotels tourist brochures info references and emails. This year I used Tripadvisor for restaurant recommendations as well as the Rough Guide.

To drive to Spain or across France is relentless, and I prefer to let the train take the strain. Flying is much quicker to south France, but after paying to get to a local destination outside an airport city, I think public transport is slightly cheaper.

Having had a very successful public transport holiday in Galicia Spain, the following is my plan for South and mid France. I like remoteness and walks, I like attractive small towns and I like the odd visit to major cities mainly for their culture. I don’t like beaches populist places or taxis. I hate hotels with lousy bedside reading lamps and I get very annoyed with rooms which have thin walls.

From St Pancras London to Paris which is crossed by Metro http://www.ratp.info/touristes/index.... (equivalent of London TFL site and helpfully in English), (Bought a carnet of 10 tickets which are valid for a year) then on to Toulouse Hotel D’Orsay just to sleep.  http://hoteldorsay.free.fr/BD/orsay1_...  Then after a quick trot around Toulouse, ( very good natural history museum) train to Pamiers and bus to colourful and vital Mirepoix http://www.tourisme-mirepoix.com/ staying in Le Commerce http://restaurant-hotel.le-commerce.f... where I know the food is excellent, and the varied market superb. Then back to Toulouse and on to Limoges and Bugeat where I get collected by the owner of the Hotel des Touristes Perols http://pagesperso-orange.fr/perolshot...  Very good food according to Rough Guide and superb walks in remote peace.  Now a B&B and known as Chez Pauda  http://www.chezpauda.com/  but with the same menus. Then onwards for a night in Jeanne d’Arc hotel Room 54, http://www.hoteljeannedarc.com/bienve... (avoid the back like the plague) in romantic elegant Paris and then home.

This planning may seem nerdish to some but not all. I have been lost enough times and the worst is the consternation of those with me. Hence my new approach.

Below is an extract from my excel sheet showing trains and bus departure and arrival times and prices. The budget cost is £718 door to door per head for all travel and half board for 12 nights. Plus lunch and personal spending. (Actually some of the budget figures were too high and the whole holiday worked out at £650 all up per person)