Trying to book a one way trip Nice-Monte Carlo on Friday, August 10. On the SNCF site it shows most trains sold out.

is this possible? Is it because all of France is on vacation in August?

we have to get to our hotel in Monte Carlo from our hotel in Nice on the 10th. If the trains are solidly booked is there a suggestion on how to get there with bags?

Those mainly are regional commuter trains that cannot sell out because they do not even take seat reservations and anyone can board - TGV and IC s trains on that route may well sell out but they are marginally faster only and no need to take them. Again just buy ticket at station - no benefit of buying ahead of time and negatives if you do as then you will be stuck to a specific train at a specific time. Yes, check www.oui.sncf for schedules and be sure you can board any train if buy ticket at Monte Carlo station. And you do have to cancel your own regional train tickets before boarding by sticking them in a composteur (sp?) dae-stamping machine at entrances to platforms for the tickets to be valid. Those trains only cost a few eurs - TGVs can be much more and again they are no faster really. Trains can be very useful along the coast - is that your only trip? For lots on French trains and what to expect on the TER or regional trains check www.seat61.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.

Thanks so much.

There are about four dozen trains every day, maybe every 15 minutes. Takes about 30 minutes to get there. There are machines in the terminal that require credit cards with chip and pin numbers. And, to the left of the Nice terminal, there is a newer separate building that is more like a motor vehicle office. You take a number and sit until your number pops up. It is quick and civilized. As indicated above, you won't have trouble getting on but the trains often are crowded. There also are good buses as an alternative.

The #100 bus takes a lot longer but goes along the water with some terrific scenery. The train isn't scenic at all - somewhat in a tunnel as a recall. I took the #100 to Monaco (with a stop in Villefranche-sur-Mer) and the train back to Nice at the end of the day.

Yes trains quicker but go thru tunnels and away from seaside - great idea from andrew.

I would alert you to several cautions with Bus 100, with luggage, in early August. That bus is a normal bus, and leaves from the Port, and gets quite crowded. I think there is also a possibility of an extra baggage fee, depending on the number (more than 1) or size bags. You can also consider Bus 100X, the express (same bag surcharges) from the Vauban bus terminal or the luggage-friendly 110 express from the Airport (but at a high fee). A local train will end up being more comfortable and quite cost effective

You can also take a private transfer (like Friend in France or others) or an Uber (they can deliver in Monaco but not pick up).

Monaco-Nice ain't that far and as trains and buses can be crowded - not nice with bags - consider a private taxi or car service IMO.

"All" of France has not been on vacation in August in 30 years, so people should update their knowledge of the situation, even if the guidebooks don't.

1. Factories don't close for a month anymore. (And of course factory workers would be unlikely to go on vacation in that area anyway.)
2. When the legal minimum vacation changed to 5 weeks in 1982 (at the same time the work week went to 39 hours), the French began splitting their vacations into two or more parts.
3. When the 35-hour work week was implemented in 2002, most workers continued to work more or less 39 hours but were given quite a few extra days (called "RTT") to compensate -- usually between 11 and 22 days. You can do the math -- this means far more than a paltry 5-week vacation period. And of course many companies were even more generous with seniority and other such things. Frankly, by the time I stopped working, I had 10 weeks of paid leave, so it would have been kind of hard to squeeze it all into the month of August even if I had wanted to.

So forget this idea of the French all being on vacation in August... They are on vacation, okay, quite a bit in July and August -- the school vacations -- but they are also on vacation all through the year when they feel like it.

This said, Nice to Monaco is a tiny little commuter line of no importance, and I would absolutely take the train between the two cities. There is a train every 10-15 minutes during the day.

Value of a car service of course is door to door - nice with bags - trains are easy once you get to station.

It all depends on exactly where the hotel is in relation to the train station. I am confident that the OP has researched this detail extensively or otherwise would have never asked a question regarding train travel.

Yes I agree - question was about getting on trains not getting to them or from them. No problem getting on and no pre-booking possible except on TGV or faster trains that do serve that route but then that is a complete hassle -booking specific train non-changeable well in advance.

Ca y'est!

I’ve pretty much decided on taking a car service from hotel to hotel. Should be a lovely drive and not terribly expensive. Considering using Blacklane car service.