Yeh did not think about that and after all-night flight too.

My mum will be flying business class and should have had a relatively comfortable flight from Dulles. So we can promise her the window seat and great views if she'll climb up to the upper floor! But seriously, I think she should be fine, though will of course run it by her.

Thank you :)

Well, google for pictures of them before you buy the tickets. They are not all that easy - some are narrow and curved. And you'll need to get your luggage up there unless you want to leave it unattended below. And you will need to hustle to get off. It's not as though there aren't any views from the ground-level cars. Up to you, of course.

I agree with St Cirq about which level to sit on. We like the lower one. Views are fine, and I have no desire to haul 2 bags up those narrow stairs. And then down them again to depart when there are people behind you trying to do the same & "nudging" you to go faster. My roller bags don't roll well on narrow stairs.

Stu Dudley

I'm in that camp, also, I always book the lower deck just because it is more convenient. I haven't been anywhere in France that had such tremendous views from the train that it made that much difference (it's not like Switzerland). Generally, they can be pleasant views of some farmland or pastures. But often the train is kind of in a "tunnel" of vegetation on either side of the track or some barriers, and I don't thkn you'd have any great views in those cases from the top deck, either, but since I don't sit up there I guess I don't know. I have been in TERs, I think, where the first class was kind of a bit higher than the rest of the car, sort of like a split-level house, but not like those TGVs.

https://www.google.com/search?q=tgv+...ZNYmyVvblLrNM:

Seems that there may be a better view from upper deck but honestly I've only ridden in upper deck and that was a long time ago - maybe duplex TGVs are different now?

Makes sense, will probably go for the lower level to avoid hauling our bags up and down the stairs. We've been on the TGV and similar superfast trains, though not this particular route, and for the most part the view is just a kind of a blur as the train speeds along its way. And one or two of us will most certainly snooze for some or most of the trip, lol!

Actually, the views on that route are quite nice from the lower level. Especially when it crosses the Rhone River. We recently took a train from Brive to Paris & the views were boring.

Stu Dudley

Yes if snoozing the lower level is even better probably - in getting off and on at Lyon- maybe seek out Quiet Cars?

The train is going at the same speed whether you're on the lower or upper level. And the views haven't changed from " a long time ago" except that now you'll see windmills from time to time. And I can't even confirm that there are all that many duplex trains from Roissy to Avignon anyway. Not to mention that there aren't, as far as I know, any "Quiet Cars," which are called Zen, on anything but iDTGV cars.

Well will readjust my take on that - I've ridden several several years ago but always on top and lower level seemed so sunken - but I guess the experts here all agree there isn't a scintilla of difference in views from either level. Will not mention that again. Thanks for correcto! And all being equal should book lower level for easiness of entry and exit, especially with luggage.

I just can't picture "wheelchair assistance" hauling a wheelchair filled with an 81 year old woman up the narrow stairs to the 2nd (1st class) level of a TGV to Avignon.

Right, tomboy, and Pal hasn't been in France for a dog's age and yet keeps offering age-old information. I don't know why anyone pays any attention to him.

Wheelchair assistance from the SNCF in France is wonderful, but they are not going to get onto a train with you and haul you up to the second floor,for obvious reasons. `And no reason they should.

Pal,maybe stop offering advice until you have some recent information.

Will request wheelchair assistance only if we have to change at Lyon, otherwise my mother should be fine, especially since I'll most probably get the lower level. Our bags should be reasonably small, so between my niece and myself we should be fine getting them on and off the train. My sis will help our mom.

Thanks again, we will have a couple of days between Provence and Paris and am looking for suggestions, will be posting again in a day or two...:)