Hi Fodorites,
1. Which would cost the least (forget every other factor please) train or car from Nice to Paris?

2. Which would take the most time?

3. Have you ever successfully ordered a train ticket in the USA and had it delivered to your hotel in France? Details please.

Thanks for your answers to these very specific questions.

1) Train - unless there's a coach load of you
2) Car by several hours
3) You can pick them up at the station

Prices vary widely. For example, if PREM (discount) tickets are available on the TGV, they cost E51.40. Regular price is E107.40. A ticket on the new iDTGV, if available, costs E24.90. Travel time on a TGV is around six hours.

The night train takes eleven hours, but you save the cost of a hotel and you have more daylight hours for sightseeing. A 2nd class PREM ticket (bunk in a six-person couchette) costs E35. Regular price is E112. 1st class PREM tickets (four-person couchette) cost E60 (worth it for the extra space and comfort).

All tickets can be ordered on sncf.com up to three months in advance. PREM tickets are non-refundable and non-exchangable and you print them yourself. They sell fast so it's best to order as soon as the three-month window opens. As alanRow says, regular tickets can be picked up at the station. You need to present the same credit card used when you ordered them.

Hi d,

>Have you ever successfully ordered a train ticket in the USA and had it delivered to your hotel in France?<

Many times.

Address: Your Name c/o Your Hotel
Street Address

Let your hotel know, so that they can look for it.

Thanks, to all and especially Ira for answering question 3 precisely. Have you done that recently?


TimS, I hadn't thought about the night train but that's a possibility also.

Again, thanks.

Hi d,

>Have you done that recently?

Is Sept, 2005 recent enough?

Sept. def. good enough, Ira!