justineparis

First.. children are FREE at Versailles.. ( under 18). Train to Versailles is called the RER , ,and cost is about 8 euros each. So Versailles is a good daytrip( its only about 45 minutes from Paris) .

You keep talking about staying near station.. really doesn't make much sense since you will travel all over paris every day. not just hang out in the area of your hotel, and when you leave you leave.

There is plenty of hearty French food.. its not all fancy pants restaurants that serve a teaspoon of food with a garnish.. lol .
Common dishes include roast chicken, pork or duck dishes, French fried potatoes are common side, street food cheap lunch is a crepe from a stand, I love the ham and cheese ones.

I have taken my kids at 11 and 13.. they loved the Invalids Army Museum ( and kids are free there too) , tons of medival type weapons,,samurai swords,, horse and human suits of armour, battle axes, lances etc etc.. goes right from ancient weapons to WWII.. its a great museum,, no crowds or long lines either.

Hotels for four are harder to find.. I took each child one on one to Europe as we had three kids and rooms for five are almost impossible, so never needed to book a bigger room.

Suggest you look at booking.com. enter your info and see what they come up with.. but then google the hotel name and look at their official website to see if you can better deal.

SKPKCP11

Thanks for the quick reverts. If we are to fly into Lyon and spend 3 nights in Lyon, which place should we base ourselves after Lyon to do the cable car.
Many websites recommend Chamonix. Is this place terribly pricey? Or should we consider Annecy?
We will be dependent on public transport?
Which other side trips do you recommend in this region?
Do I look at the sncf site for train and bus connections? We seem to get very high fares? Am I doing something wrong?
Look forward to your guidance.
Kind regards,
SKPKCP11

PalenQ

Chamonix is no more expensive than Annecy I would think and Chamonix is the awesome dramatic glacier-girdled high Alps - Annecy is on the edge of th Alps so lacks the woo-woo awesome high Alps aura that is found to the hilt in Chamonix.

jamikins

We loved our time in Annecy...some pics here

https://www.flickr.com/photos/pug_gi...7644911393183/

kerouac

Just for the record, here is my old report about Strasbourg: http://anyportinastorm.proboards.com...ptember?page=1

bilboburgler

Chamonix guests http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worl...-Russians.html

SKPKCP11

Thanks for the quick reverts.
We are planing to arrive in Lyon.
Any recommendations for hotel are welcome.
Then move to Annecy or Chamonix or maybe both. Hotel recommendations for both please.
Suggestions for things to do in Annecy.
In Chamonix we do not ski or hike but want to do the following sightseeing. Which are the must dos? Please give your inputs.
Take cable car to Aiguille du midi all the way to Helbronner on the Italian side. How does one come back?
Mer de glacé by Montenvers rack railway.
Brevent cable car
On another website readable about the Bellevue cable car from Les Houches. How do we do this from Chamonix?
From St. Gervais take the Montblanc tramway.
Which do you recommend?
Is there a Chamonix tourist website who can help with accommodation and clarity for the above rides.
I am looking for train connections from Lyon to Chamonix but getting very high fares. Can someone give an indicative train fare? Also do we need to book in advance to get the cheapest fares? Please advise.
Kind regards,
SKPKCP11

neckervd

At which dates will you travel? All the mountain railways and gondolas you mention don't run all the year round!
Link to the official Chamonix website:
http://www.chamonix.com/welcome,0,en.html
There you will see that all the cog wheel railway and gondola trips you mention will cost 220 USD/pax

The cableway leg from Punta Hellbronner to Rifugio Torino is actually closed for works. It will most probably reopen in summer 2015. Until then, you can go from Chamonix up to Punta Hellbronner and back the same way. Once the works finished, you can go down from Punta Hellbronner to Courmayeur (Italy) and turn back to Chamonix by bus (through the 5 miles long Mont Blanc road tunnel).

The "normal" airport for Chamonix is Geneva: direct buses and all sorts of semi private transfers Geneva - Chamonix. From Lyon, you will have to take the train, with 3-4 changes.

PalenQ

Take cable car to Aiguille du midi all the way to Helbronner on the Italian side. How does one come back?>

I took the cable to Helbronner and back and it was the most awesome thrill ride ever - Nervous Nellies stay away - the small gondolas often stop over the glacier when folks are boarding at either end. Yup expensive but don't miss this thrill ride.

FrenchMystiqueTours

Every city/town/village in France that attracts tourists has a tourist office website and they are the best on-line resource for planning your vacation in France. You can google the tourist office websites for any region, département, city , town or village you may want to visit. You will find loads of info on these websites including hotel/accommodation and restaurant info as well as what to see and do in the area. Occasionally the websites have English versions. In doing a google search enter the words "office de tourisme" followed by the name of your region, département, city, town or village and this will bring that place to the top of your search.

FrenchMystiqueTours

In regards to trains, the easiest website for you to use will be www.capitainetrain.com. You must buy tickets up to 3 months in advance to get the cheapest prices (most train schedules aren't available more than 3 months in advance) for any TGV train travel and many Intercités trains. The local TER trains have fixed prices and no seat reservations so you can buy those on the day of travel.

It will take 4-1/4 to 4-3/4 hours to get from Lyon to Chamonix with 2 transfers. These are local TER trains (and buses) so you don't need to buy in advance. The fare will be about 43€ for adults aged 26 to 59 and about 22€ for those aged 12 to 26.

PalenQ

The fare will be about 43€ for adults aged 26 to 59 and about 22€ for those aged 12 to 26.>

Question s'il tu plait! For the youth discount you do need to purchase a Cartes Jeunes right - or do you simply get the discount just by showing proof you are under a certaina age?

kerouac

I'm spending next weekend in Annecy. I know that I'll be going to Geneva but have not quite decided if I will go to Chamonix or not -- it will depend on the weather. In any case, I will make a report about it sooner or later.

FrenchMystiqueTours

I've got a report about my two week vacation at the Lac d'Annecy and it includes a day trip to Chamonix:

http://tinyurl.com/k9y7s9w

PalenQ - I really don't know about the Cartes Jeunes for those under 26 so maybe someone else can answer that. I think that's a good point to raise.

PalenQ

http://www.voyages-sncf.com/services...nt-train/jeune

Seems to cost 60 euros and gives reductions of uo to 50% but only in 'blue periods' or off-peak trains it seems - I did not read it all but think you need to buy the Carte Jeune before you get a discount based on age being under 28 (used to be 26 I believe).

Christina

You don't get any special discounts on SNCF just for showing up and showing proof of age, whether youth or senior. You have to buy a card that is an annual fee. And none of those give discounts on every fare or train.

SKPKCP11

Dear All,

Thanks for the very good inputs. Really appreciate it.

Some clarity required for the following :
1. Travel time to Chamonix from Geneva looks less. Would it be cheaper to travel from Geneva to Chamonix by train or should we continue with original plan of arriving in Lyon. Would you recommend staying in Chamonix or Annecy.

2. After we finish Lyon / Chamonix we wish to go to Dresden.

3. Which is the point in Germany closest to Lyon for onward connection to Dresden. Any suggestions for doing the journey in cheap way by train. No overnight journeys.

Kind regards,
SKPKCP11

adrienne

3. I don't understand the question about the closest point in Germany. Why not take the train that offers the fewest changes or the least amount of time rather than the one that stops at the closest point to Lyon?

To answer your question, it looks like Karlsruhe.

Consider flying due to the long train journey.

You've had several posts, above, directing you to the least expensive way to buy train tickets.

PalenQ

go to www.bahn.de/en for all train schedules and routings.

SKPKCP11

Hi All,

Thanks for the good inputs.

I have been reading about food in Lyon and Chamonix. We eat mostly all stuff but I am doubtful whether we will like to have intestine and pig snout and ears. Where can I familiarise myself for name of dishes. We enjoy and love to eat pork meat especially Schwein haxn / koleno. What is it called in French?

Can you recommend some budget not high end names of places where we can get eclairs and other pastries. Love the desserts in Prague and Germany.

Kind regards,
SKPKCP11