TGV to Nice
 

We are travelling to Paris in September arriving CDG around noon.
The quandary is this: should we attempt to catch an Air France flight at 3:15 onto Nice? Take the 3:15 TGV to Nice?
Or have a leisurely night in Paris and head out early the next day?
We normally fly to Nice and avoid CDG but for all kinds of reasons, primarily cost and the allure of a direct flight from western canada to Paris, we are doing something different this year.
The day we arrive is my husband's birthday and we have not been to Paris for years; perhaps the evening in Paris is a good idea.
My question is primarily one of logistics. We've had horrid customer service frankly from Air France in the past and my husband has some mobility issues which make running through the terminal to catch a flight while handling luggage difficult.
I think the TGV has a station right in CDG? If we spend the night in Paris we will have a driver pick us up and take us to a hotel.
And hotel suggestions would be appreciated as well. No need to be close to the Gare de Lyon as we find this location not the best.
Thanks as always for great travel suggestions.

My thoughts:

• You cannot guarantee that your trans-Atlantic flight will arrive on time, so, if you're planning on the TGV, spend a night in Paris.
• If you buy a through plane ticket to Nice from a single airline, and your trans-Atlantic segment is late, the airline will put you on the next available flight to Nice without extra charge...which might just be later the same day.
• A day (to two or three) in Paris is always a good idea, regardless of any other considerations. :)

ssander

I would just connect and fly.

I don't understand this "mobility issues" business. People with mobility issues are taken in wheelchairs or on carts to the connecting flight -- there is no running involved.

I would connect and fly.

Thin🛀

I have flown Air France a gazillion times and never had any customer service issues. And I've taken advantage of the reduced mobility options as well, with perfectly fine results. Nobody has to run through the airport - they provide gracious and attentive people to escort you in wheelchairs or carts.

I would just connect and fly, too, but if you do decide to spend the night in Paris, there is no reason for a private driver. Stay at the Sheraton, which is IN the airport (as is the TGV station), then take a TGV in the morning.

I can see why you might want to go into Paris itself if it's your husband's birthday (but even for that there is absolutely no need for a private driver), but frankly I usually suffer enough jetlag to be a zombie by about 5 pm the day of arrival, so a nice birthday dinner wouldn't be in the cards for me that night. Save it for when you're refreshed.

I always fly if I'm connecting to southern France, I do take the TGV to a place like Lyon etc. But then I fly Air France and it doesn't usually cost much, if any more, for me to fly to Nice or Marseille as to CDG itself. And they are responsible if you don't make the connecting flight. That's just a very long train trip after a long flight, not sure you realize how long it is to Nice.

In any case, yes, there is a TGV station right in CDG. That train ride is going to take you at least 7 hours and involve a transfer. I don't think you are aware, you cannot take a direct train from CDG to Nice, you have to transfer at Marseille (most of them) or Lyon (one in the afternoon does that). So think of how much trouble that is going to be for your spouse.

The TGV to Nice takes quite a long time, have you checked timetables? It might make flying more appealing. You do get to see the scenery on the train but the last few hours before Nice are quite slow. I think there is a different track or something. I guess you know that if you book two separate tickets (in to Paris and then on to Nice) then if you miss the second flight you'll have to buy another ticket. If the flights are booked together, the airline should put on the next available flight.

Have just realised I'm reiterating what others have said, but don't think that matters :)

Kay