StCirq

There is also no need for "schlepping" much if you pack efficiently. Unless you have an appointment with the Prime Minister, or are going on a lengthy high-end cruise beforehand, or are performing at the Opéra, a small rollaboard and one small daybag of some kind is really all you need.

nanabee

As I recall the trip from Paris into the airport took an hour on the train. Then you have to arrive at the airport early (let's say an hour) and by the time you check in, fly out, and land, deplane, then more time from airport to hotel...

I'd add up the cost & time for both. If you left on the train really early in the morning you could sleep on the train and arrive mid morning and still have the rest of the day to sightsee.

nanabee

If you are worried about luggage - pack lighter.

PalenQ

It makes sense today on Nice to Paris to take the train - it's a no-brainer even though a 5.5 hours train ride sounds long - it could take about as long by plane and not nearly as conveniently as getting on a train in the center of Nice and getting off in the heart of Paris. A real no-brainer regardless of how much luggage you are 'schepping' around IME.

flanneruk

It's an infallible sign of having no brains to call the decision to decide on trains from Paris to Nice a "no brainer." And it's no coincidence that the two posters here making such imbecile claims are both train obsessives (itself a pretty good guide to intellectual deficiency.)

As a rough guide, once a train takes four hours or more between city centres, the case for using planes - even between city centres - begins to be worth taking seriously. No-one actually wants to travel just between two railway stations, and stations themselves take time to pass through, even on some routes imposing checkin times and/or baggage checks. Luggage - especially on the European continent, where trains and railway platforms were designed for maximum possible passenger inconvenience - can often be tougher to deal with on trains - and it's up to the traveller, not busybody third parties, to decide how much baggage to take.

From a hub airport (it IS a minimum of eight hours from CDG to Nice by train, and where does the poster say he's starting in central Paris?) to an apparently nearby city, it practically never makes time sense to travel by train if there are regular connecting flights to that city.

Add to that the simple fact that there's a great deal more to deciding how to travel than the simple arithmetic of elapsed time. When I used to commute between Edinburgh and London, it always made better sense to fly than get the train, even though I lived at Kings Cross and my office was adjacent to Waverley: there was no train option for making an 0900 meeting, no sense whatever in wasting money on a hotel or sleeper, and it would have been despotic to expect my staff to waste a morning waiting for me to turn up.

Almost always, an apparently "longer" train journey allows greater productivity, while the relative costs of train and plane vary by the nanosecond on most routes these days.

Most railway journeys - especially on French high-speed routes - are vastly over-rated from a scenery point of view, and the alleged ecological argument for French trains works only because France uses nuclear fuel (and only if you ignore completely the damage France's mania for building unnecessary railway lines does to its countryside), and the French haven't yet even begun to think through the environmental consequences of decommissioning those power stations.

Simple answer to the poster's question: there IS no best way: on this subject, as in everything else in life.

PalenQ

Some folks want to see the France in between Paris and Nice - the journey can be part of the exploration - seeing only airports and tarmacs in between is blah - there are other reasons for taking the train - like a once in a lifetime journey to see the gorgeous France in between Paris and Nice.

Now for utilitarian reasons then flying may make sense if it is quicker overall - which in this case is dubious.

PalenQ

If taking the TGV again be sure to get a seat on the upper deck - on the sunken lower deck you can only see mainly rail line retaining walls/wind blocks and can see very little of the nice bucolic scenery at all. And sitting on the left side going to Paris is nice when the train goes right along the Riviera coast much of the way to Marseilles.

HappyTrvlr

St-Cirq, I always travel with a 21" roll abroad, whether for a week or six weeks.. I have had difficulty boarding trains in the past and getting the luggage on quickly even though I carry on for my flights. So I fly and rent cars now.

PalenQ

I think TGVs now are flat floor entry trains - just roll those wheeled luggage on - I've never had any problems on TGVs - trains with the old two steps up and yes if lots of folks going on can be a hassle - but not like dealing with airports or airplanes and having to get out there, etc with luggage.

Now yes if picking up cars at airports you do not need to go through all the hassle getting to and from the airports but those going via public transit often do struggle - of course you can take taxis but that pushes the cost of the flight up a lot if you do that on both ends.

StCirq

I always travel with a 22"rollaboard, too. Never have any trouble getting on and off trains, whether TGVs or TERs or Intercités. There can be a bit of a crush boarding and deboarding, but nothing problematic. What I DO find nearly impossible, even with a small rollaboard and daybag, is using the RER at rush hours in Paris.

PalenQ

You do have to clambor either up a few stairs or down a few stairs on TGV Duplex trains (double-deckers) I believe if I recall correctly but a wheeled luggage can easily do that. Aisles in 2nd class can be rather tight, especially if others' bags are sticking out into them.

Bertrandfr

Bonjour, Hello

I can recommand tgv, fly is expensive in France maybe with Ryanair is not expensive.

If know this travel because i'm French and i leaving in Montpellier.

Sorry for my bad language, i learn English actualy.

Goodbye

iris1745

Bert; You are doing fine. Welcome.

Never got to Montpellier, although my daughter has visited when a friend of hers was living there for a short time.

pureleigh

Wow, that's a lot of replies. Thank you everyone for your opinions and suggestions. : ) If nothing else, reading all of the comments brought a smile to my face.


And Great English, Bert!

Bertrandfr

Hello,

Thank you iris1745,and pureleigh, nice too meet you.

Montpellier is very good place in France, sun, happy life ...
But no many monument, it is not very historical city.
Maybe for nightclub, and studies is good.

Next to Montpellier, there are Carcassonne end Aigues Mortes, citys very historicals.

I known every countries in France, if you have quetions you can ask me, for my praticte of English is good.

I want talk with Américans people, because you want live in USA for working.

"Great English " i don't known !!!

Thanks you dear miss.

iris1745

Hi Bert; This is our villa in Nice for next year. www.niceholidayvilla.com

After 4 nights in Paris, we probably will take the train to the center of Nice, rent a car and find the villa.

StCirq mentioned rush hour. Travel day will be Saturday at 7:45am, so I think it will be OK.

I know I will enjoy the ride.

Bertrandfr

Hi iris,

Paris and Nice it's a good choice, if you can, go to visit " Eze ", it's a little town next to Nice.

It's a very very beautiful place ( 25 minutes with a car ).

For rush hour it's right but is not a really problem.

iris1745

Thanks Bert. We have been in that area twice before and have stayed two nights at Chateau Eze.

It is a beautiful place looking down at the sea.

Bertrandfr

Iris,

Ok is not a first travel in France, you like my state. You know other countries in France ?

StCirq

Bonjour, Bertrand. Je voulais vous dire que j'adore votre ville, Montpellier. C'est un endroit très chaleuruex et plein de toutes sortes d'activités culturelles q'on ne trouve que dans une ville avec une vieille université (c'est la plus ancienne en France, n'est-ce pas?). Et les merveilleuses crustaces de Bouzigues ne sont qu'une quinzaine de minutes sur la route!

Bienvenu à Fodors.