Is the TGV worth it?
 

We're considering taking the TGV from Paris to the south of France (final destination is Cavalaire, smack dab between Marseille and Nice). Obviously, flying is the cheaper way to go, with EasyJet offering rock bottom fares (Paris-Marseille, $25 one way including tax). The TGV will cost about $115 each. We are definitely flying back to Paris, but trying to decide whether to take the TGV south, just for the "experience." We have a 7 year old, who hasn't actually taken more of a 30-minute train ride in his lifetime (the TGV route we're taking--Paris to Toulon--is 4 hours). The total cost difference is $340 for the train; $65 for the flight. Would love to hear from parents with experience on this one. Thanks!

It is an experience--however,you are going so fast that the countryside just flies by. In some ways it isn't really even a "train experience". Adding to that the amount of time your child will need to be entertained, I might take the plane.

We haven't ridden the TGV, but we've travelled a lot with our kids, and I'd vote for giving your son the train experience!
In May, we took the overnight train from London to Inverness, and our kids (9 and 10) thought it was one of the neatest parts of our trip.
Annette

I am assuming you will not be beyond the EasyJet luggage weight limit and will not be contributing to that particular "revenue center" for the airline which will, of course, bump the price up considerably....right????

Children react differently to different experiences (as do many adults)..my child's reaction to the TGV "experience" may not have been the same as yours. If your 7-year-old doesn't rid the train will s/he care? Have you asked him or her about it..perhaps they would prefer to fly. Since it is supposedly all about the child then I think you might want to consult them..otherwise make the decision for the child and move on.

Thanks everyone!

And yes, Intrepid, we know about the EasyJet luggage issue--we're leaving half our stuff in Paris. As for letting the child have input, I had to smile at that (we lead a child-centered homeschool life). I asked his opinion right away and he said he'd like to take the train "as long as it didn't cost over $99." (That's always his criteria for everything.) He's the one who pushed me to go with EasyJet, just because he doesn't want us to spend a lot. Perhaps it's my husband and I who want that train experience for our own "inner child." ;-)

Skateboardmom,

Have you checked the TGV prices on www.sncf.com ?

No way that the tickets will cost that much! That said, EasyJet will probably be cheaper if booked very far in advance.

Hope this helps,
Andre

I'd do the train over the flight any time, but then that's me.

Are you allowing for the added time and expense getting to/from airports?

When I do a search at voyages-sncf.com, the 2 adult + 1 child fare options I get (total for 3 persons) are 92 EUR, 138 EUR and 195 EUR. Where didi you get your $115 each quote?

skateboardmom,
We took to TGV from CDG to Nimes (and back) last October and found it to be thoroughly enjoyable and relaxing. It was very smooth and quiet and scenery was outstanding. I believe that it was 33E each way per person. Go for it!
JoeG

How I got that total: I plugged in our info at www.raileurope.com. The total price for the three of us, first class, was $340 USD after conversion from euros. (The $115 I mentioned is the average price per person after diving $340 by 3.)
The easyjet flight is from Orly, which I hear is about a $40 taxi ride from the 7th?
(By the way, regarding baggage allowances on Easy Jet, I misread it the first time. It's actually less restrictive than I thought. Each person can bring a carry-on with max weight of 11 pounds, and check-in luggage with max weight of 44 pounds. That allows a total of 165 pounds for the three of us. I think we can handle that, even with my skateboards. :-)

If you research French rail travel on this forum, you'll find that RailEurope is a big rip off. Although some people are willing to pay more because they find it easier to figure out than the sncf site. TGV was really a wonderful experience, especially after being on a plane all night.
JoeG

I think I'd take the train if you haven't done so, especially if it's only 4 hrs. Kids usually love trains and that is a pleasant trip. I think it is a lot easier than the rigamarole with flying, also.

I think your prices are not the best measures in several ways, however. First, the TGV doesn't cost that much, even on Raileurope. You can get cheaper tickets in Paris or on www.sncf.com but if you have trouble with internet, that might not be best idea. Raileurope itself has cheaper prices, I just checked. They are only $50 for kids and $99 for adults on that route, second class. YOu don't need first class for a four hour trip and you sure won't get it on that flight, so that is the best comparison, about $250 total for train tickets even on Raileurope.

In Paris, you'd get those tickets for less due to Raileurope's markeup -- maybe $150, but I haven't checked.

Also, I don't think you three can fly for $65 total, I don't understand as you said the Easyjet was $25 per person right there and the taxi fare will be about $30-40, probably. Maybe I missed something as to how you got $65. Sometimes those special fares aren't really available, anyway, once you try to buy them.

Thanks everyone, especially Andre who first brought up booking on sncf.com, which I rushed to right away.
Big "duh" for me, I just figured RailEurope would be the same price as sncf. Anyway, I already bought the tickets--for 149 euros for all three of us on TGV. Thanks!
As for EasyJet prices, it's true--there are 4 and 5 euro fares if you buy early enough (we nabbed the 4.20 euro fare for our flight back to Paris). Of course, airport taxes add up to more than the fares but still. we got three airline tickets for a total of $60. sheesh!

Glad you went with the train. You'll enjoy it. The seats will probably be at a little table that can fold up small or stay larger...I think your son will get a kick out of that. You may want to bring along a picnic meal -- it's available on the train, but with not much choice so better to plan ahead. We enjoyed watching the scenery although you really do speed along, it's not so much that you won't notice the difference as you get further south, and you'll pass towns and farms and vinyards, etc.

Glad I could help - have a great trip!

Andre

We just had a rather peculiar ride on the TGV from Paris to Beaulieu-sur-Mer, France. My husband sat by the window opposite a French woman d'une certaine age[over50 or 60]. We are a bit older, if that matters in this scenario. She sat for the entire 4 plus hours with her legs out into his territory. He is just under 6 feet tall. He got terrible leg cramps from being to cramped but wouldn't switch with me because he was afraid of an international incident. She also had her approx. 2 foot by 2 foot bag sitting on the table by the window, again encroaching on what was his space and blocking our view of the French countryside. I finally asked her in French if she would please put it on the seat next to her [the man with the dog sitting next to her had left]. She graciously did so. The strange part of this is that when we go towards Nice we were really in the dark as to whether the train would go on to Beaulieu. I had a map out and I finally asked her. She couldn't have been more helpful, even describing how we would have to get off at Nice Ville and go under the station to the other side to catch the train to Beaulieu. Did she really not realise how she was cramping us or are we Americans just too fussy about having "our space"?

I second the idea to take a snack or lunch if your train time coincides with a meal.

I was on a TGV from Paris to Angers a couple of years ago and the line was really long in the bar/snack car. Later that trip I took a TGV (Thalys) from Amsterdam to Paris and the same thing happened. The line seemed to move extra slowly due to using multiple currencies since we went through the Netherlands, Belgium and France. Maybe that's improved with the Euro.

Another thing that took me a while to figure out was the two electronic notes that would sound occasionally. I think it means you're going to take a bit of a curve for a train going 180mph so you might want to grab onto something. It's not like it would throw you off your feet, but if your hands are full of stuff from the bar car it might be unpleasant.

I'm glad you went with the train option. It's one of my favorite things in Europe.

daph, I don't think you should try to read anything into that to draw conclusions on nationality or age, if that's what you are thinking. I don't see what the age has to do with it at all. I ride the train/metro a lot and probably over 50 pct of passengers (really maybe 75 pct) are oblivious to things like that in the US and you have to ask them to move something if you want it moved. A lot of folks just don't think of things like that. It isn't an American/French incident nor related to your age, or hers.

I did the TGV once alone and loved it, you do see some beautiful countryside but not like in a car driving. I sat at the food bar eating a snack and got to talk to alot of french people and like Christina says out of line judegement about age. I found some of the younger ones with their loads ...

Hi I took the TGV from Paris to Avignon and back this summer. I loved it...kind of exciting with all the strikes and having to change stations but I loved the scenery and the trip went quickly. Alsotook the AVe from Paris to Madrid and that was more luxurious! Headsets, a movie, lunch, drinks .. Enjoy

We just got back from France. We took the TGV from CDG airport down to Avignon and enjoyed it. The cost was 64 Euros each. We took Easyjet back to Paris from Toulouse and the cost was 32 Euros each (half of which is taxes). I couldn't believe they didn't charge us extra as our one bag was way over limit with all the treasures I had bought over the four weeks we were in France but they didn't.
The TGV was comfortable and a great experience. I guess you have to decide if you want the experience or you want to save time and money.
I'm glad we went down by train but in future I would always fly.