Okay... I have an idea regarding our trip to Europe over Christmas next year. I am toying with the idea of taking the train from London to Strasbourg from December 24 - Decmeber 26. I would love to see this area and feel it would be great over Christmas itself (could be wrong and am open to hearing that).

We will not be renting a car - I would like to take the train some place for an additional 2 nights before our 5 night stay in Paris.

I have searched the board but might not be using the correct search term - any ideas? Thanks again for everything!

Well, Strasbourg is only 2h20 from Paris. I don't know how far it is from London.

Strasbourg is excellent for Christmas.

HI D,

From Strasbourg you can visit Colmar and Nancy.

However, with just two nights and no car, it is probably best to just stay in Strasbourg and visit other parts of Alsace and Lorraine on your obligatory return trip.

You might want to go to www.whichbudget.com and see if there are cheap flights from London to Strasbourg, too.

thanks everyone. You are all wonderful. I did realize that it might be best to add one more day onto Strasbourg and one day onto Paris. I have emailed the apartment we have in Paris to see if they can take us one day early.

I checked out flights and it is slightly more to train. I hate to fly, take drugs to do so, and would like to train.

I am confused on the train though - it appears that I have to change train stations in Paris. I might be reading wrong..

I haven't actually looked at the train timetables but from London it makes perfect sense that you would have to change in Paris. I can't imagine there would be a direct train.

If you are there for Christmas Day it could be an idea to look into restaurants that are actually open on that day. (That is of course if you wish to have a Christmas lunch somewhere) We had Christmas Day in Salzburg and found nearly everywhere was closed expect the big hotels.

Schnauzer

The Eurostar arrives at Gare du Nord and the TGV-Est leaves from Gare de l'Est. Not a big problem because they are only about 300 meters apart -- a short walk, or a metro ride for just one station.

I did not mind changing trains. I was confused on changing "stations"...does that makes sense? It appears (thank you Kerouac) that they are close by (the stations).

You are all fantastic.