Hi,
Can someone tell me what I'm looking for if I want to get tickets for an overnight train from Paris to Nice? I was hoping for a bed, would I get a "couchette" or a "sleeper" or are they the same thing? Or if it's a lot cheaper, is it fairly comfortable just sleeping in a regular seat?
Thanks!
Karen
Karen,
Is there a specific reason why you're choosing a night train for that trip? Using an arbitrary date, I found a direct train (with Couchettes) departing Paris Austerlitz at 22:25, arriving Nice Ville at 08:47 (time 10H:22M, no changes, reservations compulsory).
Due to the distance and travel time on that route, my preference would be a day train. There's a TGV departing Paris Lyon at 07:46, arriving Nice Ville at 13:17 (time 5H:31M, no changes, compulsory reservations).
Note that these times may vary, depending on what date you're travelling.
Happy travels!
A couchette is a bunk that is a bit harder and smaller than a bed in a sleeping car, but still lets you lie down. The bed clothes are minimal and you're expected to sleep with most of your clothes on. French railways no longer offer full sleeper accomodation on domestic trains, only couchettes.
As Philip says, there are no sleepers on the Paris-Nice night train. Your choices are 4-bunk couchettes, 6-bunk couchettes, and reclining seats. All couchette compartments are the same size so you'll have more elbow room and luggage storage space if you book the 4-couchette version. IMO, saving money by booking a reclining seat is not a wise choice. Couchette doors lock from the inside. Both you and your luggage will be more secure in a couchette. And you'll sleep a lot better on a bunk than in a reclining seat.
