Hi Rose,

>we've decided to take the train and I'm leaning towards the sleeper car.<

Don't just lean, take a compartment.

The couchettes are the coach class of train travel.

((I))

Hi All,

Just piping in here to nix the Christmas in Geneva idea -- if you're looking for snow and don't want rain. Geneva is in a mild climate area and usually won't have snow.

You could, however, stop in Brig or Zermatt, which of course are in a mountainous area. The train from Paris to Brig will be about 6h30 with a change in Lausanne; continuing from Brig to Rome will be about 7h30.

The Swiss rail site is at www.rail.ch (English) or www.sbb.ch. I find it to be the easiest to navigate!

BTW, I'd do the night train if it were my trip!

Good luck!

s

Thanks everyone - it's done! Ira I'm pleased to report that I somehow managed to purchase first class tickets. I tried to buy them last night, 2nd class as no 1st class were available. But my security conscious bank wouldn't allow the purchase to go through. This morning, all squared away with the bank, there were first class tickets on SNCF. And voila! We'll be on the night train with a nice bottle of wine in 2 months.