London to Nice

[TheBoyFromTheN]

Nice. nice.

any advice on the best routes to get there?
when can you purchase tickets? 3 months in advance?
Looking to travel 19 July and stay a week.

Is it worth first-class/business premier on SNCF/Eurostar?

any advice and help appreciated!

 

[34D]

In my view, First class is worth it. I haven't been on SNCF domestic (yet!) but I have been on Thalys. Both Thalys and eurostar offer very nice complimentary food/wine/etc. As you doubtless know, Eurostar first class is split into leisure premier (with a cold meal) and business premier (with a hot meal).

I'm interested to read further comment on this thread.

 

[Goatboy]

By contrast I recently travelled Thalys and was glad I hadn't opted for First Class. The standard of accomodation in Standard was excellent and First appeared to be almost no different - the same sort of seating/coach ambience only 2+1 instead of 2+2. You seemed to paying for the food and wifi really.

 

[30907]

Start with a look at http://www.seat61.com/France-trains.htm#How%20to%20buy%20train%20tickets%20for%20France
if you haven't already done so.

The obvious routes are via Paris (wider choice of trains, and tends to be cheaper, but change of stations involved) or via Lille.

Eurostar tickets are already on sale, but NOT the onward connections with the exception of the iDTGV (100% online booking) services from Paris.

SNCF may well open bookings more than 3 months ahead, and this page should give you an e-mail alert (in French).http://www.voyages-sncf.com/services...te-reservation

It's a difficult call at this stage whether to book your Eurostar immediately and take a chance on getting a decent fare beyond Paris, or waiting till the SNCF bookings open. Whatever you do, you have to accept that the outward journey is on a busy Saturday (though not the busiest!) and bargains are unlikely.

There is also BTW a night couchette train.

 

[philjo]

I travelled to Carcassonne last October.
I used eurostar standard calsss, changed at Lille (easy change - up the escalator/lift until your platform is announced then back down as there are only 3 platforms for TGV services) then caught the Perpignan TGV & changed at Narbonne. TGV was booked via voyages SNCF 1st class single.
Much more leg room & a whole window to myself in 1st class - single seat. no at seat service on TGV but the Cafe bar was in the next coach so not far to go to get refreshments - though I had bought lunch from M&S at St Pancras earlier so only needed to buy a couple of teas during the journey.

Coming back I was staying in Toulouse so booked using the idtgv site Tolouse via Bordeaux to Paris