My wife and I are considering an overnight train trip from Nice to Paris According to RailEurope, our sleeping options are:
1) sleep in a second class seat; 2) share a 4 person compartment; 3) share a 6 person compartment. If you have taken an overnight trip and slept in one of these compartments, can you share your experience? We have traveled from Vienna to Venice overnight in 2009 but we had a 2 person compartment to ourselves. We're age 60 and a little concerned about this option. How do you handle security for your luggage? Or, for that matter, yourself? Comments would be appreciated. thanks Tom
Posted by
Greenville, SC, USA
263 posts
Rail Europe doesn't sell everything, and in this case they probably aren't listing the accommodations you desire. SCNF.com is the better resource, unfortunately you'll either need to be able to read French or spend some time translating. From looking at the route on the scnf.com site, it looks like there is a Lunea train that runs from Nice to Paris. I'll bet it has the compartments you are looking for; you just can't purchase them through Rail Europe (which overcharges for most tickets anyway). Sorry I can't be of more assistance, but hopefully this will help you a little bit.
Posted by
Greenville, SC, USA
263 posts
using DB Bahn, the german rail site, I see the following train that runs overnight: NZ 5772 (NZ= Nachtzug or "night train" ; advertised as Lunea 5772 on the French site) Departs Nice Ville at 8:02 pm Arrives Paris Austerliz at 7:47 am
Does not run every day; Between 30. Aug until 29. Sep 2011 it runs Mo - Th nights; also 1. Dec, 5. until 8. Dec 2011 "Couchette train, Subject to compulsory reservation, Global price, Sleeperette, ticket machine on train, parent-and-children compartment" Can't be certain but the "sleeperette" described on the German site might just be the private compartment you're looking for - probably a compartment with a sink, but no shower and no toilet (which will be down the hall). One option is to have Euraide book this for you for their fee of $60.
Posted by
Boston
4132 posts
We have experience in all of the accommodations, though not all in France. We never had concerns about security, only comfort. The various scenarios for theft are improbable (though not impossible) if reasonable precautions are taken. All accommodations you mention are in a compartment with a door and a lock. Your bags are on a shelf by your head. Thieves have easier pickings for the most part. As for comfort: it really varies. I've never arrived well rested, but usually adequately so. Ironically our worst sleep was in the pricey private compartment. It turns out that first class is where all the clueless people travel, and one of them knocked on our door every half hour to see if his wife was behind it. I don't take that experience as emblematic, however. I do prefer the 1st class couchettes to the 2nd, as it cuts the probability that one of your neighbors will be a heavy snorer by 50%. Reserve early, especially of you want to sleep in the same couchette compartment.
Posted by
OP
Southwest, Florida
325 posts
Thank You Adam and Marshall