bck

How reliable are TGV trains with their schedule? The one I have from Lyon to CDG takes two hours. I am good if the delays can be less than 30 minutes.

marvelousmouse

I don't know, I did the Orsay in an afternoon. Admittedly, I basically spent a few hours in the extremely crowded special exhibit and then the rest of the time gliding between stuff that interested me, but I saw quite a bit.

I would be in line before opening though. Do your tour of champs elysees at night. (Well, actually, I'd skip it, I hated it BUT even if you love it you shouldn't waste Museum time). If you don't have a pass, you could easily waste an hour in that line as well.

The Louvre though, on a free Sunday, sounds like my idea of hell. Egypt is cool but I agree this is going to take up way more time than you expect, and that you need a backup idea if Egypt is closed. An alternative, if you find yourself tired- the Branly Museum near the Eiffel Tower closed later, had fewer people, and was perhaps more interesting than the Egyptian wing at the Louvre, (but I have seen many fine Egyptian exhibits; Branly's collection is less common). It's African, oceanic, americas indigenous art. Stunning collection, fantastic building. Or another amazing museum is the technology/science museum. Part of it consists of an old church, and they've an amazing collection of vehicles displayed there.


I found the trains fairly reliable but as Palen said, crap happens. It's not anyone can predict a suicide in the tracks. I do not think I would want to be that far away from the airport, and I personally would not do that for such an early flight. That gives you no wiggle room at all. What if you oversleep? Get lost somehow? Getting to an airport only 2 hours before an international flight is risky to begin with.

I don't see where you said you were staying, but if it is airbnb, I agree, I think a well located hotel would be much better for your itinerary. You need convenience more than anything else at the speed you want.

I did not find the fork useful for finding food. I did use it for Rez. I did a lot of research on line; all of my good, moderate price places came from blogs or sites like thrillist.

I speak very little (terrible) French. They are nicer when you say "bonjour" and make a fool of yourself trying, so it pays off to do so. But as someone else said, English is very common. Parisian service is not the chirpy overbearing service so common here. But it's good in its own way. If it's horrible, you may be in a tourist trap like a champs elysees restaurant!

Sounds like a wonderful trip!

FuryFluffy

No one can guaranty the TGV schedule. Normally the trains are good and with less than 30 mins of delay, but there are plenty occasions that they take longer than that. I myself have encountered it several times. In general, cautious people don't stay in another city until the very last day of their trip: a long train ride to the airport at the last minute is not really a good option. If you're adventurous and want to take the risk, it's up to you^^

yestravel

I love Lyon and think there is much to see and do there. We spent a week there and enjoyed it. We had some great meals and they were not expensive. many restaurant sites have online reservations you can make yourself. Click on my name for my TR in Lyon.

I agree with the others about the risk taking the train to CDG on the morning of the flight. Additionally last time I was in Paris thus past winter, security lines at CDG were unreal. I have never seen lines line this, so you could conceivable need every minute of the 2 hour time allotment and still not make your flight.

Have fun!

fuzzbucket

I would give yourself a lot more time to get through CDG. Security is much tighter now, so delays are common. I don't think you'll make it.

Depending on your address in Paris, flat fees are in effect. Just go to the taxi stand in CDG and wait. It's a good idea to hand the driver your address, complete with postal code, so their won't be any misunderstanding. 50 or 55 EU for two people with luggage.

Shuttles are notorious for not appearing when they should, and they take too much time for unloading other people's luggage. Even if you are prepared to deal with mass transport, some RER B stations are closed for work. RoissyBus may or may not be anywhere close to where you are staying.

It is true that AirBnB and other vacation websites are becoming complicated, especially in October, when the owners will have to register for a number which is tied to their financial information. If you do not see this number on their website, it is illegal.
If you get in early, you will run the risk of having to haul your belongings around until your apartment is ready. No fun, hanging around all day, if it's raining, or if your manager is late.

Honestly, I would look for a budget hotel, instead. There are plenty of them, if you pull up Google Maps and look in the 5th, 11th and 12th arrondissements. Most are cheap.

If you want to make reservations at restaurants, all you have to do is walk in, say "Bonjour" and ask to make one. Someone always speaks English. Make sure to use "military time - 8 PM = 20 hours" Or you can use TheFork.
Not every restaurant has to cost 50 EU. There are usually "menus" or "cartes" with reduced prices. Lunch is the cheaper option, Dinner is more expensive. But if you go to Lyon and Dijon and don't experience a meal in a "bouchon", you will regret it.
If you go to cafes, you can get a salad or sandwich with a non-alcoholic drink for around 12 EU.

In my experience, Yelp is only reliable in French.


The train to Lyon takes 2 hours. Strikes are very rare. You have to be at the station platform 20 minutes ahead of time. Compost your ticket in the machines before boarding. If you have a refundable ticket, you will get your money back, or can get on the next train.

I would not try the Louvre on a free Sunday, when it will be very crowded.

fuzzbucket

The cost of an RER ticket, plus Metro/Bus ticket is around 24 EU for both of you. Plus the aggravation of waiting around on a Sunday, when the buses aren't moving much.

...and that should be "there" won't be any misunderstanding.
With luggage, I would take a taxi and you can economize by eating sandwiches or crepes for lunch.

StCirq

`The TGV trains, and I have taken hundreds of them, are totall reliable.

PalenQ

http://www.sncf.com/en/timetables-updates-traffic

keep updated on your train's progress and check day(s) before for any possible disruptions.

Yes normally TGVs on time and SNCF has price refund guarantees I believe for more than few minutes late but still 30 minutes is not much leeway.

Nothing in this world is totally relliable IME.

Judy

I have always had reliable service on TGV's. My point wasn't so much about the train but planning to arrive at CDG 2 hours before an international flight.....I'd want more time for check-in, passport control and security, none of which can be counted on as reliable and speedy.

janisj

IME you need 3 hours at CDG for a US-bound flight, and even then you might use every minute of that.

PalenQ

Yup 2 hours is really cutting it close - there can always be longish lines at passport control and you may have to walk a ways from TGV station - get off the train as soon as it stops and they could well be a few minutes late.

Still suggest just staying in CDG area hotel rather than Lyon the night before - I would.

<Normally the trains are good and with less than 30 mins of delay, but there are plenty occasions that they take longer than that. I myself have encountered it several times.>

`<The TGV trains, and I have taken hundreds of them, are totall reliable.>

Two very different experiences on French TGVs - apparently not all are totally reliable and when needed most...

Bellarosa70032

The last time we took at TGV train from Nice to Paris, there was a 45-minute delay because of an accident on the tracks. You need to take everything into account--no way of predicting that a truck would actually hit the train!

janisj

Bottom line - you need to be in Paris the evening prior to your flight home. Unless you can afford to 'eat' your ticket and purchase a very expensive walk-up fare.

Coquelicot

The Air France check-in line was chaos on Thursday. All the machines that the public could use were down and the desks were under-staffed. We spent about 1.5 hours shuffling in a long line with our luggage just to check in.

After that, getting through passport control, security, and the shuttle to our departure lounge took about 15 minutes.

You never know what will be the big hold-up at CDG; you just know there'll be at least one.

Also, Air France changed the departure lounge without notifying anyone. My husband noticed it on a walk through the terminal and came back and told everyone waiting in T50. We all had to hustle to T25. Nobody we talked to got a notification. Finally, just before boarding, an announcement came over the intercom that our flight was departing from T25.

KTtravel

I agree with the others about not taking the train from Lyon to Paris the day of your departure unless you have extra funds to pay for a flight home should you miss yours.

KTtravel

I just checked the train schedule. If you must take the train that morning, I would take the 5:50 AM train to give you more wiggle room.

fuzzbucket

But if they arrive in Paris at 11 AM, that won't do them any good...

AJPeabody

These forums have always tried to help first time travelers avoid disaster and improve their trips. Think about what has already posted on your question. I'll add a few more things.

We are just back from Paris. On arrival to CGD we had a 90 minute wait for passport control, as only a few of the inspector stations were manned (lunchtime). On our return flight we had a delay when my wife was randomly selected for extra screening. I didn't see her again for over an hour. On both legs we had pre-printed boarding passes the day before, saving a line.

For a first time visitor with no French, a hotel offers significant advantages over an apartment rental. The front desk is faster than google for all questions, can call a cab, do a wake-up call, fix anything that goes wrong with the room, guard your luggage before or after checkout, make recommendations in French, etc. Apartment: You are on your own, and if your cell phone or that day's manager's cell phone or English are not working, well, you are really on your own. And if the apartment is suddenly uninhabitable (repairs, legal problem with the building management, fraud, someone who wants to pay twice your price, etc.) you are SOL. If a hotel has a room problem they get you another room.

Every museum and department store had a security check before you could enter. Things are slowed down.

I am gratified that you did not say "stroll along the Champs Elysees" but the equivalent is on your list. No first time tourist listens to those who say it is no big deal, so I will just say take a bus down the CE and be done with it.

Every travel day to a new location uses at least half a day in packing/checking out, getting to transport with some slack time as not to miss the train, getting to the next bed, checking in, and getting lunch, and even longer if there is any glitch. For your time in France, fewer locales means more time beyond travel day overhead to do stuff. Pick Paris and one other location (Burgundy? the Loire Valley?) and you will have a vacation rather than a logistics workout. And for heaven's sake, stay in Paris your last night.

Heed the warnings given and have a better trip.

AJPeabody

Let me add that we had a 1 pm departure from CDG, got up at 6 am, checked out a 8 am, had a cab waiting courtesy of the front desk, were on time for boarding. We had an hour for lunch at CDG, which would have been our slack time if the cab hit traffic on the 45-60 minute ride to the airport from the Left Bank. Do you think you can do that from Lyon?

StCirq

If I want to seek out bargain/discounted meals in France, I check La Fourchette.

I would never take a train from Lyon to CDG the same day as my departure flight. I don't ever want to be farther away from the aiport than a taxi ride. I speak from many years experience on French trains. All it takes is one perturbation, one medical emergency on board, one cow crossing the tracks, one technical issue, and there goes your flight. I've encountered all of those over the years.