I agree with Jon, this is not the best crossing, slow and boring, and the ship is not the best, or wasn't when I used it a couple of years ago to return from Spain.
Training it to the south of France
- Thread starter Andy B
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I agree with Jon, this is not the best crossing, slow and boring, and the ship is not the best, or wasn't when I used it a couple of years ago to return from Spain.
spot
Registered user
No personal experience but people speak highly of the train from dusseldorf which goes to austria croatia and i think turkey. If i had the money i would get the traindown.Im a bit fed up of north europe motorways now and would prefer to be able to ride to say syria or morrocco next time rather than up and down the autobahns. Another option is to put swmbo on a plane and meet her at say barcelona,zagreb or wherever. they are both only 24 hrs or so away if you give it some welly and i dont mind the mileage but its a non starter 2 up with swmbo.
Bastille
Registered user
Myself and four others did the Paris to Nice train, we did enjoy it and all went well. I found that the guy strapping the bikes in was much better at it when he saw the ten Euro not I had in my hand.
There are a couple of things you may wish to think about. On our trip, maybe not on all, as said in previous post, everything must be fixed to the bike. Nothing removable. The maximum height for the bike is approx 1.5 metres as the upper deck is very low. We put the bikes on one train which left at about 5pm, we then got the shuttle bus, included, to another Paris Station where we had to wait until 9pm before the Sleeper train departed. We made good use of this as a few of us went into central Paris for dinner and beer. Whilst this may sound great there is a downside. Unless you want to spend all of your waiting time in your bike gear, with helmet and wearing boots etc, you need to allow space to pack it on your bike securely! Two of our guys wanted to wait at the station therefore we were able to leave the kit with them.
When on the train they provide ear plugs etc which I would advise you use as it is a bit noisey whilst sleeping. Another thing is that we arrived at 8am in Nice. The bike train arrived after us and we didn't get the bikes until noon! This was a pain. However, it was a good trip, we enjoyed the train etc. A big bunus we felt was that in Nice the sun was shinning, the sky was blue, we were fresh and the ride was spectacular. I hope this helps. Ah! Take lots of water on the train. They give you a small bottle but it isn't enough. We took some baguettes as well. Enjoy.
There are a couple of things you may wish to think about. On our trip, maybe not on all, as said in previous post, everything must be fixed to the bike. Nothing removable. The maximum height for the bike is approx 1.5 metres as the upper deck is very low. We put the bikes on one train which left at about 5pm, we then got the shuttle bus, included, to another Paris Station where we had to wait until 9pm before the Sleeper train departed. We made good use of this as a few of us went into central Paris for dinner and beer. Whilst this may sound great there is a downside. Unless you want to spend all of your waiting time in your bike gear, with helmet and wearing boots etc, you need to allow space to pack it on your bike securely! Two of our guys wanted to wait at the station therefore we were able to leave the kit with them.
When on the train they provide ear plugs etc which I would advise you use as it is a bit noisey whilst sleeping. Another thing is that we arrived at 8am in Nice. The bike train arrived after us and we didn't get the bikes until noon! This was a pain. However, it was a good trip, we enjoyed the train etc. A big bunus we felt was that in Nice the sun was shinning, the sky was blue, we were fresh and the ride was spectacular. I hope this helps. Ah! Take lots of water on the train. They give you a small bottle but it isn't enough. We took some baguettes as well. Enjoy.
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Nice to paris autotrain
I have used this service for the last two years and think its brilliant, this year we rode south via The Black Forest, montreux, then picked up the G.R.D.A. in Thonon Les Bois. We took our time [approx four days] to reach Nice, but this allowed us to explore many of the pretty villages on route, stopping for relaxed lunches, taking many photo opportunities, and enjoying some very pleasant evenings in the ski lodges who appreciate the summer business.
Once in Nice you can load your bikes on the autotrain from lunchtime onwards, unlike Paris the separate overnight sleeper train leaves from the same station, so you can get rid of all your riding gear in the left luggage lockers. Then its off into Nice for a few afternoon drinks and a meal before boarding the sleeper about nine pm, sleep off the excesses of Nice wake up in Paris about eight am, cushty.
This september we had a little side show to amuse us before we turned in. A number of french police boarded at the last moment in Nice then conducted a search of the train looking under beds, in toilets etc, twenty minutes later the train stopped and they had found about twenty folk [all young men] who I presume were not holding E.U. passports.
I have used this service for the last two years and think its brilliant, this year we rode south via The Black Forest, montreux, then picked up the G.R.D.A. in Thonon Les Bois. We took our time [approx four days] to reach Nice, but this allowed us to explore many of the pretty villages on route, stopping for relaxed lunches, taking many photo opportunities, and enjoying some very pleasant evenings in the ski lodges who appreciate the summer business.
Once in Nice you can load your bikes on the autotrain from lunchtime onwards, unlike Paris the separate overnight sleeper train leaves from the same station, so you can get rid of all your riding gear in the left luggage lockers. Then its off into Nice for a few afternoon drinks and a meal before boarding the sleeper about nine pm, sleep off the excesses of Nice wake up in Paris about eight am, cushty.
This september we had a little side show to amuse us before we turned in. A number of french police boarded at the last moment in Nice then conducted a search of the train looking under beds, in toilets etc, twenty minutes later the train stopped and they had found about twenty folk [all young men] who I presume were not holding E.U. passports.
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