islandmom

Okay, so we have too much luggage and will take a taxi from the 8e to Gare de Lyon to catch the TGV for an am train to Cannes. How many hours ahead do you leave the hotel? Then we get out of the taxi and have a luggage cart? Go to a ticket window? Is it like boarding a plane? We have first class tickets- what does this mean? Do we have a little room with beds?

Thanks

rex

For starters, you haven't left yet, right? So why are you still saying that you will have too much luggage? The only reason to take "too much" luggage is not knowing better. Now that you do know better, get everyone to do that practice pack - - and make it a fun game - - who can get up and down a flight of stairs the fastest? Get out of helping to clean up the supper dishes for a week before the trip for the fastest!

Now that everyone can manage his or her own luggage, the luggage cart question is mostly moot - - though I suppose there might be some of the types of luggage carts you find in airports. The key is to not need them.

There are no-change departures at 07:54 and at 09:34; because the later departure has a slightly shorter transit time, they only arrrive 80 minutes apart (13:21 vs 14:44). Personally, I would opt for the later departure and have breakfast at the normal hour at your hotel. (Otherwise, your hotel may not offer you anything that you can finish by 7:00 - - which is about the time you might want to be getting into the cab.)

There are long rows of windows at Gare de Lyon - - here is a photo: http://www.paris.org/Gares/Lyon/gifs...lyon.hall.html - - perhaps it would make you feel better to go there the day before and get your tickets purchased - - but really, it would not be such a big deal to arrive 30-60 minutes (30 would be too close for most first-timers) before departure and buy your tickets right then.

From there, you go to the <i><b>quais</b></i> (platforms) - - here is another photo: http://www.paris.org/Gares/Lyon/gifs....depart.3.html - - the train will be sitting there from at least 30 minutes before departure. You simply find your car, and walk on - - nothing like the formal boarding procedure of an airplane.

You stow your luggage overhead and take seats in what will seem like a big roomy tour bus in seating; typically two seats on each side of an aisle. No compartments; no &quot;little beds&quot;; there may be some seats that face each other (as in a foursome) with a little table between them (i.e., directly above where your ankles are) - - less room on it than three airline &quot;traytables&quot; laid end to end.

Others may describe the experience somewhat differently, but that's the general gist.

Best wishes,

Rex

GeoffHamer

Tickets for TGVs need to be reserved in advance but you say you have first-class tickets. Therefore, you do not need to go to a ticket window. At the station, you need to find the right platform and the Gare de Lyon is a big station with a complicated layout (some platforms have numbers and others have letters). The platform for a train is not displayed until about 20 minutes before departure so there is no need to get there any earlier. Huge display boards indicate departure details. Look for the train departing at the time specified on your ticket; Cannes will not be the train's final destination but it will be going on to Nice or Ventimiglia. Once the platform is displayed, there will be a stampede of people heading for the train, but there is no need to rush as your seat is reserved. The ticket shows the carriage number and the seat numbers. Walk along the platform till you find the right carriage, then board the train, find your seats, and put your luggage in the luggage racks. Tickets are checked during the journey. During the journey, you can walk through the train to the bar which has drinks and snacks.

MargrietVanderBanck

There are a couple of other things you should know. First is that as you approach the platform you will see orange machines where you must punch (composter) your tickets (billets) to validate them. You will have to pay a fine if the conductor checks your tickets and finds that they haven't been punched.

Secondly, even in France, train food is train food—expensive and nasty. Look around the station for a sandwich stand and buy freshly made baguette sandwiches and something to drink (wine and beer may be drunk in the carriage).

Have fun!

Margriet.

starrsville

I hope you really do rethink the luggage question. Please know this is coming from someone that overpacks as well - not one of the &quot;I can get everything I need for a month in the tiniest bag possible.&quot; BUT, you are traveling with little ones and it will be an unpleasant adventure if you have more bags/children than you can handle.

I didn't see luggage carts or carts being used. I did see an unfortunate older couple with way too much luggage in the midst of stress and tears because she couldn't help with the bags and he couldn't manage the bags with people departing and boarding the train. You're going to get the bags to the train yourself, up the stairs onto the train yourself and find places to stow the bags on the train yourself. I've taken waaayyyy too many bags to Hawaii before, but I was okay with it because I was traveling in rental cars and willing to tip at the airport and hotel to have someone move the stuff for me. You aren't going to have that option on this train trip.

Those of us suggesting you work on the luggage situation aren't smug know-it-alls dictating our travel syles on you. I am truly concerned (after your first post).

Some frequent travelers ship or FedEx their luggage for domestic trips to their hotel destination and then home rather than deal with checking them on the plane. Perhaps you could ship your Paris clothes home before you head down to the south of France. You REALLY don't want to have too much luggage to deal with as you travel with two little ones.

brookwood

Rex told you the situation quite well. I would like to add that unless you are a weightlifter, hoisting a 45 pound suitcase onto a rack about 7 feet off the floor is no easy task.

If you can handle that with ease, then take all the luggage you want.

And, you will need to hoist it from the train platorm up about 3 feet into the rail car. Then you will move it down the aisle, holding the suitcase semi in front of you.

No, there are no porters waiting inside to help you, even in first class. You lug it yourself.

In fact, I have ridden the TGV from Gare de Lyon several times, first class, and about the only difference I saw was that the first class seats were a little nicer than 2nd class.

I hope you have non smoking reservations. I presume that the trains still have smoking cars. The last time I rode, the smokers in the non smoking car would go to the smoking car for a few puffs and then return. I walked through the smoking car on my way to the snack car, and smokers wagon was a vile pit. I can see why the smokers did not want to stay there; the haze was so thick that I thought I was entering a fog bank. If you walk fast, you can hold your breath from entrance to exit.

rex

I don't know why I didn't read &quot;we have first class tickets&quot; as you wrote it - - I think I was thinking that you PLAN to buy first class tickets...

Assuming that you mean you bought them in advance - - from raileurope? - - the nit's absoutely correct that you don't have to deal with any ticket windows. And validating your tickets IS indeed important; the ticket is good for a cash refund right up til the time you do that.

Christina

Since you have reserved seats, you don't need to be ready to board until they post the quai, but I believe they do sometimes post it for long-distance TGVs more than 20 minutes ahead. Since you don't know your way around the system and place, I'd probably aim to get there about a half hour before the departure time. You won't necessarily have to put baggage on an overhead rack, either, there are other places in the cars to put baggage. There are some places in-between the seats about the middle of a car, for example, and if you get on early you can get that which may be within eyesight of your seat. There are also baggage areas at the ends of the cars near the door. I haven't taken a TGV a whole lot of times with luggage (less than 6), but I don't think I've ever had to put it on an overhead rack when I did.

suze

Another vote of kind encouragement to do something about the &quot;too much luggage&quot; situation. I'm not sure the kinds of things you are packing that are making this so, but you will thank us, believe me, if you can get things to a more manageable amount you are hauling around with you.

I am not familiar with the TGV, but normally train cars are marked on the outside 1st or 2nd.

rex

Although I knew that you were taking children, I had to do some further reading to learn that the children are a baby and a 5 year old.

I seriously think that you need a lightweight (&quot;umbrella&quot stroller. And you need to try to make a serious assessment - - can your 5 year old pull a lightweight rollaboard? and if not, can he be persuaded to ride in a stroller himself?

StCirq

islandmom:

I have done a LOT of train travel in France with young kids, including a lot of TGV travel, and I can tell you to please, please listen to everyone who is giving you advice about luggage!

THERE IS NO ONE TO HELP YOU! You have to do it all by yourself - keep track of the kids, carry your luggage, find the right quai, find the right car, find the right seat, get the luggage out of the way quickly, etc. There will be a mass of people streaming toward and into the train, and they are all going to be in a hurry, have their own luggage, etc. They are not going to be particularly patient while you try to schlep oversized backs onto the train and try to find space for them.

I too have seen weeping people at train stations with kids and too much luggage. I've seen exhausted and exasperated people ON the trains trying to find a place to store their luggage, too. I've seen people holding large suitcases in their laps because they didn't get on the train in time to find a space for it.

Pare your luggage down to the barest minimum. Get to the station at least a half-hour ahead of time. With reserved seats, all you have to do is punch your ticket in the composteur and board the train. No, you won't have a little room with beds unless you're traveling overnight and have paid for some sort of sleeping car. There are several types of configurations of seats on different TGVs. You might have a compartment with opposing bench-type seats, or four seats with a table in between, or four seats two behind the other two.

Good luck and DON'T take too much luggage - you will be very, very sorry.

Underhill

The last time we left from the Gare de Lyon there was a separate section for the TGVs to Provence, over at the left-hand side. Once there you will see posts with diagrams of the train's make-up, with first and second class cars clearly indicated. First-class cars are usually at the front end of the train, facing away from the station. That means you walk farther to board but arrive at the head of the train.

Yes, there are luggage carts available, but you can't take them into the first-class waiting room.

The Gare de Lyon has a nice caf&eacute; at the head of the tracks--so you can skip breakfast at the hotel if you want. But the caf&eacute; is mostly outside, and on a chilly day sitting there can be uncomfortable.

No, you dont'have a little room with beds--that's for overnight trips. You have comfortable seats, and all the cars are now non-smoking. Some of the cars have upstairs sections, which are quite nice but require lugging yourself and your luggage up and down. However, your seats will already be assigned; so you won't have much choice about where to sit.

There are luggage storage racks at the end of each car. Our procedure is to stack them up and run a cable combination lock through all of the handles for safekeeping.

suze

I have not been following the details of this family's trip, but will make my best suggestion. Get rid of at least 1/2 of whatever you are planning to take &amp; figure out where there is a drop-off laundry service a time or two on your trip. You leave your dirty clothes one day, and pick up them up the next day- washed, dried, folded. These are reasonable common in many parts of Europe.

Remember Europeans have children too, you can supplement most whatever you need in a grocery store or pharmacy as the need arises (same for adults).

tuscanlifeedit

We also use a cable and lock for trains and even for the rental car trunk in Europe.

In Italy two weeks ago, each of us (2 adults) had a rolling carry on and a largish shoulder bag. Additionally, we had accumulated dirty laundry and gifts, which were in an opened Totes folding bag.

This was too much stuff! I tripped and fell getting up the train steps, which were steep and high. Walking down the aisles was difficult. It will be hard enough with the baby and child.

Even though we started our trip with very little luggage, we still had too many things. I never wore two pairs of pants, and my husband brought home clean shirts and T shirts. We both brought home clean socks and underwear.

I thought we were packing very light, but we still could have done better.

JeanneB

I-mom:
Someone on another thread said it very well: Each adult should have one rolling bag, one backpack, one child. That's very good advise.

I'm wincing just thinking about my travel companion schlepping her <i>26-inch</i> suitcase on the French trains! We both also had small tote bags. My 22-inch roller was manageable, but still heavy. She was a total wreck, reduced to tears and frustration after just one leg of the journey.

Aren't you passing back through Paris after the Riviera? Take only what you need in the south and ask your hotel to store the rest while you're gone.

LoveItaly

Oh tuscanlifeedit, I hope you were not hurt! Train is fun but it sure requires one to simplify packing. I have been fortunate that I can leave what I do not need with friends and they loan me a small (carryon size) rollerblade wheel suitcase for when we take train trips. And even then, when the train is packed, it can get tiresome.

I have yet to pack without coming home with some article of clothes I did not wear. But I keep trying. And if we could all remember if we absolutely need something we can buy it on the trip. I am reminding myself of that as I am getting ready for a US flight in two weeks. Reminder to myself; do not overpack, LOL.

islandmom

Thank you for the tips and links! I was thinking diapers, formula and wipes etc would take one suitcase. We'll try to have one suitcase per adult. And alas- most of the camera equipment will have to stay home. It was a close tie between that or the child. LOL! Thank goodness I have a huge strong husband. The problem is we have about 5 days in LA weather/wardrobe also.

Art_Vandelay

Sorry, but I thought this was a troll (&quot;Is it like boarding a plane ? &quot;, too good to be true! ). To be honest, it's quite straightforward: you enter the station, there is a big billboard with all the trains, and their platform, you go to the platform, you punch the ticket (well, if you don't, no big deal, the conductor is quite lenient on tourists), then you walk up the platform until you find your car (cars are numbered sequentially, number 2 follows number 1, etc. ), ditto for the seats, and voil&agrave;! I disagree with one poster: there is a big difference between second and first class, as much as on a plane between economy and business (minus potential extra services for first class, which are non existent). The seats are roomier and more comfortable, and, most importantly, the atmosphere is very cosy and quiet, because virtually kid-free, so, even though I am sure your kids do behave, please be aware of the fact that people pay the extra euros to be able to read quietly. Otherwise, all TGVs are now non smoking, so no paranoia to be had on this department.

RufusTFirefly

JeanneB--reduced to tears and a total wreck just because she was dealing with a 26-inch suitcase? She needs some professional help.

We've used 26-27 inch suitcases on longer trips for years and haven't been reduced to tears yet. It hasn't even been inconvenient.

Of course the ideal would be to carry everything you need in your pockets and not have any kind of bag at all. But we're not talking about steamer trunks here.

hopscotch

Islandmom,

I guess you learned that you have too much luggage from your other post about kids and pickpockets, and got wupped again on this thread. Nuf said about that. If you have too much stuff you might even need two taxis.

For a good introduction to using the trains in France and throughout Europe go to
www.enjoy-europe.com/hte/chap17/rail.htm.

For your photography, one or two cameras with 35-105 zoom lenses should cover 90% of you needs. I used to carry 15 pounds of cameras amd lenses but hardly used most of the stuff. You become a donkey.

Traveling with a child is a chore, but a pleasurable one. You automatically need 3 times as much stuff as an adult needs. Been there, done that. Make sure all your luggage has a good set of wheels.