Hi fellow travelers,
My husband & I are spending 2 nites in Annecy then heading to Chamonix for 1 night before going to Paris for 3 nites. I don't want to spend a whole day on the train traveling from Chamonix to Paris so that only gives me 2 choices. I can go back to Annecy for the night and catch an early train to Paris. Or there is a night train with couchette. It leaves Chamonix around 7:15pm, transfers around 8pm, arriving in Paris at 6:20am. Never taking a night train before, I don't know if this is the wiser way to go...but I am leaning towards taking it. It sure would save us a ton of money since the train is only about $45.00. Saving the alternate of taking train, staying in hotel, and then taking another train....besides getting into Paris nice and early and having the whole day; instead of arriving in Paris with half the day gone.
But the only info I can get on this kind of train is that 2nd class holds 6 compartments together and 1st class holds 4 compartments meaning we would be sleeping with strangers. There is a door that is locked from the inside but I know nothing else. Where do we put our luggage, where do we change clothes and how? Are you expected to sleep in your clothes since the train arrives at 6:20am and you certainly aren't getting dressed then? Bathrooms, I would imagine are not in the compartment...do you need to walk to somewhere else on the train to use them? And one last question, the last part of the train ride has a time of 8:40pm to 6:20am. Why does that ride take 9 1/2 hours when the ride is only about 4 hours away. I don't know if I'm going to regret this. If anyone has ever taken France's night trains, please help me with this. My itinerary is set so please do not make any changes to the days or locations. Thank you!