Bonjour from Canada.
I am starting my trip from the Netherlands. I have purchased a trainpass which only allows me train between Holland, Belgium, and France. Which is why I am trying to avoid going though Geneva. Although I%26#39;m sure its a beautiful city as well.
I am curious what might be the best way for me to get to CHAMONIX from LYON
Or is ANNECY better than getting off at LYON?
I would like to stay in France ( if possible)
any suggestions?
Is there a bus service to Chaminox from Lyon?
Or
Is there a bus service to Chaminox from Annecy ?
Merci / Thankyou,
Marty
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Is there a cheaper way to get to Chamonix from La Fayet than using a taxi?
I%26#39;ve learned that I am able to take a TER-SNCF train to LA FAYET from Lyon. Then from there I can take a TAXI for 40Eur each way using http://www.chamonix-transfer.com/
:)
I just wanted to mention, I was a little disappointed as I had called the travel and tourism office and had asked for suggestions on getting to chamonix from Paris. They suggested getting off the train at LYON and taking a bus the rest of the way. Well, the only bus I could find was 400-500EUR/X2 people. It would have been cheaper to rent a car or fly. Im glad I looked into it more. What a crappy suggestion.
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Bonsour from a fellow Canadian originally from Toronto (now living in the USA - still a canuck citizen though!).
We%26#39;ve taken the train (TGV and regular) from Paris and Lyon to Chamonix several times. If you are coming from Lyon (I love Lyon!), take the train to St.Gervais/Les Bain. Then the Chamonix train (world%26#39;s steepest regular train - wonderful scenic ride through the valley) from St.Gervais to Chamonix. Note that from Lyon, it will not be the TGV; it%26#39;s a regular train and makes stops at every little town. Although it still goes over 100 mph in places. It takes 3 hours and 20 minutes (Lyon to St.Gervais).
If coming from Paris, take the TGV to St.Gervais (beautiful fast ride - 180+ mph), then the Chamonix train.
There are bus services from both cities you mention but why bother if you have the trainpass? By the way, not sure if you%26#39;ve travelled by train in europe, but the %26#39;economy%26#39; seats (Class 2) are just fine - much nicer than Amtrak. Although, we%26#39;ve mostly travelled in the Class 1 cars. The food is also way better than Amtrak. Viva La France!
On y va ou bien?
On the previous poster%26#39;s comment that the Chamonix tourist office isn%26#39;t helpful with directions from Paris - I agree 100%.
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Forgot to add:
You can check possible train routes online via www.raileurope.com. Don%26#39;t bother with the french SNCF website. In fact, eventually SNCF will link you up with raileurope.
One thing I found out on our most recent trip to France (last month) - train bookings are a LOT cheaper booking in person at a train station (Gare) than online. Don%26#39;t know why. Not all the agents speak english at the train station, so be ready with some french. But you don%26#39;t need any french to get around the train station and figure which train/platform you need. And people (other passengers) are usually very friendly and helpful as needed. We love France!
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Thankyou / Merci IT expect.
You%26#39;re advice was very helpful.
In the end we found a train that still runs to Saint Gervais Les Bains - Le Fayet during the time of our visit. So we%26#39;re taking the express train from Paris to Lyon and the switching trains up on arrival.
Once we%26#39;re in Saint Gervais Les Bains - Le Fayet
then we%26#39;re still able to catch Mont-Blanc Express.
I think I paniced based on my conversation with the tourism board representative.
But thankfully,
all the trains are still running during my visit.
Happy Travels to you and your friends.
Marty
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I%26#39;m posting this for future readers with the same query about getting to Chamonix. Even for travel in France, we found the Swiss rail website (http://www.sbb.ch/en/) to be the best source of info, especially because it includes bus connections (raileurope did not).
We got from Annecy to Chamonix with a combo of bus and rail. The bus in Annecy left from the train station and dropped us at the train station in St. Gervais, where we caught a connecting train. Overall, it took a few hours to get to Chamonix, but it%26#39;s a pretty scenic ride. The main train station in Chamonix, by the way, is Mont Blanc; a new Chamonix Sud station just opened.
We learned the hard way that machines that sell bus and train tickets in Annecy (and elsewhere) don%26#39;t take American credit cards OR paper Euro money-- just euro coins. Unless you%26#39;re carrying lots of coins, buy tickets when the station is staffed (the ticket agents DO take American credit cards).
We also used the sbb website to find trains from Chamonix to Geneva, where we caught a flight. Be careful about how you travel to Geneva. Some of the trains from the French Alps take you to an out-of-the-way station in Geneva, where you%26#39;d need to catch a tram to get into the city. Others take you to the main station and the airport.
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