Should I jump on the TGV as soon as I land and visit the French alps first?? Do you think this adds more vacation time for Americans(as we land early in the morning and spend our first day as Zombies)?

Yep - why wait to get started?

Stu Dudley

sure, why not -- I've gone somewhere on the TGV the same morning I landed, and I do sort of this that day is kind of wasted anyway, so it is a good way to get somewhere else without wasting a lot of vacation time.

I have no opinion on the Alps, though, or how long it takes you to get there by train.

Frank, if the Alps are in your plans that makes sense rather than rent a car and drive from the airport after a long flight.

We are taking the train from the TGV station at the airport to Strasbourg in May. Unfortunately, we can't jump on a train as soon as we land but will have about a 3 hour wait. I hope you have more train choices than we did Deborah

>>we can't jump on a train as soon as we land but will have about a 3 hour wait<<

At CDG, a 3 hr wait is what I aim for.

Stu Dudley

Stu,
Do you aim for 3 hrs because of possible plane/custom delays?

Christina,
Ive done a train to Tours and a car a few miles to my B&B, but this trip would be 2 hours from Lyon.

Deborah,
I love those villages in Alsace

>>Stu,
Do you aim for 3 hrs because of possible plane/custom delays?<<

Yep. We've had both occur several times.

If you miss a train, you are kinda out of luck (unless you have purchased changeable tickets). If you are connecting to another flight booked on the same airline, they will put you on the next flight at zero cost to you. Several times I've been "expedited" to the connecting flight.

Unfortunately, we can't jump on a train as soon as we land but will have about a 3 hour wait.>

Ditto three hours would be my minimum - esp if i had a non-refundable non-changeable train ticket - miss it and you have to buy a full-fare ticket - ouch.

Well, actually if our plane lands on time and it takes a nano second to get through all the controls and pick up our baggage and get to the TGV station we have a 5 hour wait 8 am arrive, train departs at 12:56pm, I'm dreading the travel lull but my husband opted for this rather than a possible frantic dash into Paris to catch an earlier and more expensive train.

Frank, I am so excited about experiencing the towns in Alsace and the wine and the food. What's not to love, right???

Deborah

I don't think I'd have the energy to do all that the first day if the two hours from Lyon is by rental car. But if it's 2 hrs by another train, I guess. I've gone farther than two hours -- such as to Montpellier, but that was nonstop and easy. I've also transferred flights at CDG and then rented a car in Marseille and drive a few hours, that was actually a bit much.

Sure, hop on a TGV for Lyon and switch to a train for Chambéry or Annecy for example.

TGV departures from CDG TGV station are at 7:25AM, 8:21AM, 9:25AM, 12:58PM, 13:52 etc.