Getting to Dordogne

Q: We have to go to Abjat Sur Bandiat. It looks as though we have to fly to Paris and then make our way from there. Please could you tell us the easiest/least expensive way to do this? - Phil Norman

A: Abjat Sur Bandiat, which is located in Dordogne in the Aquitaine region of France, is relatively simple to get to, but it is not a quick trip. It is probably best to fly from South Africa to Paris. From Paris you can fly to Limoges irport, which is 48 kms from Abjat Sur Bandiat. You will probably arrive in France at Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris. However, the flight from this airport to Limoges is via Lyon and takes 3 hours 25 minutes. The cost is around 180 Euros (R1730). It is far cheaper to fly to Limoges from Orly Airport. A ticket costs about 60 Euros (R576), but then you will have to change airports. There is an Air France bus between the two airports. If you would prefer to go by train, you would have to get into central Paris and take the Corail service to Limoges, as the high-speed TGV does not cover this route. The service leaves from Paris Austerlitz station and takes two hours, thirty minutes. If you buy it on the www.raileurope.co.za website, a one-way ticket costs from R184 to R390. An alternative would be to fly from South Africa to London, as Ryanair flies from Stansted Airport to Limoges, Tickets start at 26 British Pounds (R290). However, this would also mean a change of airport as flights from South Africa arrive at Heathrow or Gatwick. (20/3/11)