We will be on the GAS tour in Sept. and we are not seasoned travelers. I am wondering if anyone has flown into Paris and taken a train to Trier (where the tour begins) instead of flying in Frankfurt and taking a train to Trier? It looks like the distance is about the same from either city to Trier, but wondering if there are reasons to fly into Frankfurt instead of Paris? For example, is there a substantial price difference between the two train rides? Is it more complicated to travel from CDG to the train station than from Frankfurt? Any other considerations we should think about? Thanks in advance!
Posted by
🏝️ Hobe Sound, FL⛱️
3279 posts
Taking the train from CDG necessitates going from the airport to Paris Nord, then Paris Est. Next stop Luxembourg where you change for the train to Trier. It's about a 5 hour trip. If you land in Frankfurt, you get on to the train at the airport and take it to Koblenz where you change trains to Trier. This takes about 3 hours. Taking three trains and changing from one station to another in Paris would not be pleasant after a trans Atlantic flight. The only way I would fly into Paris is if I could stay for a few days before traveling on to Trier.
Posted by
franktown, colorado
2252 posts
Just another thought...when we took this tour, we flew from Denver into Amsterdam. Spent a few days and then took the train to Trier from Amsterdam's Centraal train station. It involved one very easy train change and a truly beautiful and relaxing train journey. I know this isn't answering exactly what you asked but presenting my experience and possibly an alternative? BTW, we loved the GAS tour!
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16895 posts
Trains from either Frankfurt or Luxembourg are faster and cheaper to Trier, even at full price, which is nice if you need to buy a train ticket upon arrival. If spending a few days in either Paris or Amsterdam first, then you can cut the ticket price by booking reserved, non-changeable train tickets about 3 months ahead.
Posted by
Gator country
176 posts
There is a TGV-ICE-RE train from CDG @ 12:45 arriving Trier @ 16:28 (3:43 hours) where you can bypass the Nord/Est changes.
Posted by
Florida
610 posts
Hello,
I am not sure if you are talking about spending any time in Paris or not. We did this tour and we started with 4 days in Paris and loved it! The trip from Paris to Trier was an easy half-day journey with a short stop in Luxembourg. I don't know if it would be worth it to fly into Paris otherwise, but if you could spend a couple of days there I think it would be a great addition! Pam did this too and thought it was an easy trip. I can't speak to the price different between flying into Paris or Frankfurt. Also, we took the trip to Trier from our hotel in Paris rather than from the airport, so it was easy to do. Hope you have a lovely trip! this is a wonderful tour!
Posted by
New York
1206 posts
Hi, I took the GAS tour in September 2016 and loved it! I was super afraid of taking the two trains from Frankfurt to Trier and put off this trip and went to Ireland instead, the year I was planning to go on the GAS tour. Finally, I said, ok now I really need to take the GAS tour as I had taken other tours after Ireland. If I can take the two trains alone you can too! If you want to spend time in Paris, then by all means go to Paris and then on to Trier! But if you are not going to spend time in Paris, then by all means take the two trains from Frankfurt and a cab to the hotel in Trier! It really is not hard to do. I went to the ticket booth in the Frankfurt airport, bought my two tickets from a very nice patient man who spoke perfect English who directed me to the first train. Took the first train then got off and followed my RS excellent directions to the second train, asked someone if I was going in the right directions, the worker said yes, went down a very long hallway where my train was at the very end, you take an elevator up to the train tracks and wait for the correct time to take the red train. Do not get on any train as there are other trains that use the same tracks and when it pulls in at the correct train time, you board that train and the scenery is lovely. Get off the second train, find where the cabs are and take a cab to your hotel. Very easy. I am telling you if I can do, so can you!!!
Posted by
USA
211 posts
I took this tour last July and we took a bus that is not listed in any Rick Steves publications.
https://meinfernbus.de/ (click the English version)
It picks up right outside the Frankfurt airport and drops you off at the Trier train station. It takes about 3 hrs including a couple stops, but its direct so you stay on the same bus. It's much cheaper than a train (only 10 Euros if you book early), but the departures may not be as frequent as a train.
If you're staying at Residenz am Zuckerberg, it's a 20 min walk or a 5 min cab ride (they're usually waiting outside the station) to the hotel.