Yes we went to the Easter game and it was cold.We ended up watching Pia with Maxime G. There were some bars and restaurants open but as you say because of Easter the shops were closed. It's certainly a different experience when the weather is cold but as long as you are prepared-no problem. I am finding it difficult to get flights too because of the time of year!

With the lack of flights to Perpignan, it looks like Barcelona + Car hire is the most likely option ?

Girona is a better bet than barcelona, or even Montpellier, far easier to get away from the Airport than Barcelona.
BTW the motorway is a Toll road but it's way way quicket
r than using the non tolls, and last time I went from Barca (2010) the tolls cost just over 14 euro and last year when I went from montpellier tolls were 11 euro that's an eachway price


and don't speed on the toll roads there are loads of cameras/patrols also they work out your average speed between the toll booths

I'm not familiar with Girona.
How far away is it from Perpignan and which airport/ airline are we talking about ?

Cheers

Jet two and ryan air fom Leeds, it's about an hours drive.

Girona airport is 65 miles from perpignan all motorway takes about an hour
Barcelona airport is 125 miles from perpignan and takes around 2 1/2 hours
Montpellier is 95 miles from perpignan and takes about 1 1/2 hours
Carcassonne is 75 miles from perpignan and takes about 1 1/4 hours

I have made all those drives more than once, have also driven all the way down from the UK and back. IMO Montpellier is the easiest option although the airport is cack


Car hire is cheapish and fuel is cheap, I would defo be going if it would have been later say after 1st of May. you can get some pretty crappy weather down there early in the year

Cheers !
I had a long weekend in Montpellier a couple of months ago and your right about the airport, you can just about get a coffee or a beer and thats it but, it's very easy to get there from Leeds-Bradford and flights are cheap.

I went to last years game via montpellier and although the airport is cack, the car hire from the airport was simple and quick and the drive to canet was about an hour and very easy, only about 2 miles on A roads all the rest motorway/dual carriageway.
Car hire last year cost me 75euro for friday to monday with a brand new (done 200km) Megane, paid a 200euro refundable deposit to cover excess and 20 euro for full insurance with europcar which is the first hire car office as you come out of the terminal and closest to the exit.
The organised tours are great for people who aren't seasoned travellers but the cost is a bit steep, we went last year at a cost of £150 each for flight car hire and digs (for 3 nights) so just food and drink on top, so around half the price of the organised tour


Public transport down there is far superior to the UK so don't be scared to use it, not expensive and very reliable timetables on newish buses/trains, can't see why it's so poor in comparison in the UK

Im a cas fan we landed in Girona it a lot closer than barca where my parrents went from we set of at same time we was there 4 hours quicker than them we stoped in Lorret de mar and catlan tours put 3 busses on from loret to perpignan which took about hour half dont understand why wakie fans dont do this.

.... because there are no flights to Girona in early March!!!

Ryanair fly Manchester to Girona. There is a flight out on Thurday 28th February and Saturday 2nd March and a return flight to Manchester on Sunday 3rd March.

Ryanair do not fly Doncaster to Girona early March.