TGV from Zurich to Paris

First class has slightly wider seats, may be less crowded, and may possibly have a slightly classier fellow passenger.

Angela,

This is Rick's advice on first or second class (I hope he doesn't mind me copying it here):

Differences between first and second class: Normally, first class is configured with three plush seats per row (whether in compartment or open-style seating) and second class has four skinnier, basic seats in the same space. Remember that nearly every train has both first- and second-class cars, each going at precisely the same speed!

I'd suggest the train from Zurich to Paris, departing at 07:02, arriving Paris Est 11:34 (no changes, time 04H:32M, reservations compulsory). I used an "arbitrary date" of 2 Nov. - the times may be different on other dates. If you choose another train this may arrive at Gare de Lyon rather than Est.

You'll have to get from Gare de l'Est to Gare St. Lazare, where the trains to Normandy depart. I'd use the Metro, but you'll have to determine whether your Mother would have any difficulty with that. It would be a good idea to pack light!

Bayeux would be my choice as the "best base" in that area. You can see the famous Tapestry while there. There's a direct train departing Paris St. Lazare at 15:10, arriving Bayeux at 17:15. That should give you lots of time to travel to Gare St. Lazare.

There is a car rental agency in Bayeux, but you may want to reserve from home as the staff didn't speak ANY English (my Hotel set up the rental for me on my last trip). A GPS unit would be a really good idea, along with a good Map for "backup".

An alternative to self guided travel would be one of the D-Day tours. BattleBus is highly recommended by most here. You could take one day on a guided tour and one day on your own with a rental car?

Happy travels!

Hey, I just did this trip one week ago. I left Zurich at 6pm and arrived at Gare de l'Est at 10:30pm. It was dark so I was unable to see the blurred fields as we raced past at nearly 300km/h. The actual TGV didn't arrive in time for our departure at 6pm so they had a replacement train to take us to Basel where our TGV was waiting for us. This replacement wasn't any slower because in that part of Switzerland you don't travel at those superfast speeds. The TGV train took us from Basel to Paris in 3.5 hours.

I travelled 2nd class, and it was very full. Hardly a seat left. I took the 6pm train because the 2pm train was booked out, but there was space in 1st class, but I waited for the next train. So, 1st class is much less crowded, probably no crying babies, more quiet and comfortable. But it is 50% more money.