Night trains are not so great. I took it once because I wanted to have sex. I didnt. Now I take daytrains.

Another big fan of overnight trains in general, sex and all. Some of my happiest memories of travel - even of life! - involve long train rides & sleeping on and waking up on trains.

Also think there is more to travel than sightseeing -- at least for many many people. There are an overwhelming number of reasons to go to Europe and not spend your time "sightseeing", even in cities. As Yogi Berra said, 'You an observe a lot just by watching." That's the different between travel writers and tourists. The tourists go for the sightseeing, packing a guidebook, but the writers go to look, observe, to interact differently. (And the alcoholics go as an excuse to drink, but irrelevant to the plans of 13 year olds).

I've noticed lots of people filing their trip reports about which sights they saw & which recommended restaurants they went to, but otherwise you'd never know they were in Europe. They never talk about the foreigners they encountered, the differentces in style, manner, infrastructure, amusements, shopping customs, the everyday stuff that makes Europe (and just about anywhere) so different from America or English-speaking nations.

I love to be in a foreign country without a sightseeing agenda. I enjoy sightseeing too, especially related to art and history, but I do understand there is rich rewards for those who go beyond being sightseers when they are away from home.

This is old and it's for boys but gives you an idea

https://www.tripadvisor.ie/ShowTopic...te_d_Azur.html

"And the alcoholics go as an excuse to drink, but irrelevant to the plans of 13 year olds"

13 year olds must be much better behaved than I was :-)

wow! Thanks everyone for your insight. We all read your comments and decided to take the night train:) My husband loves casinos and looks forward to our visit to south. I definitely put the perfumery in the agenda..

Please do report back about your trip, mojgan!

When DH and I went into the Monte Carlo casino, they wanted to see our passports. Because we weren't dressed up, we were only allowed in some rooms. So be aware. Anyone been there recently to confirm this info? Jacket and tie for men?