 Poster: A snowHead
|
Give me your best tips for surviving the 6 berth couchette from Paris to Bourg St Maurice!
Decided to give the train a go next week, travelling mid week for a long weekend and never done it before. Should probably know better after failing to make it on Eurostar at Xmas, but surely it can't go wrong twice 
TIA
Dave
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
Comfy pillow
|
|
|
|
|
|
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
|
|
Earplugs!
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
don't take more luggage than you're happy to share a narrow bunk with
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
|
lock the door from teh inside !
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
|
pam, I'm hoping skis go under the bottom bunk?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
DaveB, unless you're sharing with people you know and the door is locked, everything goes in your bunk with you. Your passport/money/tickets/phone should be in your sleeping bag and preferably attached to your body.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
DaveB, if there's any room under the bottom bunks the occupants of those bunks (or someone who got there before you) might have stuffed their stuff under it. When I did it, we didn't take our own skis. We had everything in backpacks which we used as (rather lumpy) pillows. Don't on any account take a suitcase. You have to assume you have to share your bunk with all your stuff - but you might just strike lucky. On our outward trip the whole 6 berths were full, but our fellow occupants, 4 young Italian men, all wanted to sleep. On the way back I had the entire compartment to myself - OH having had to be whisked home by the insurance company to deal with a freak tornado having blown half our roof off.
Another tip - big bottle of water for the night.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
|
| Quote: |
big bottle of water for the night.
|
Top tip! But go for a wee before you get into bed, especially if you're on the top bunk. And definitely bag the top bunk, to avoid being disturbed by everyone else going for a wee.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Quote: |
And definitely bag the top bunk, to avoid being disturbed by everyone else going for a wee.
|
Or worse, disturbed by those who failed to go for a wee until it was too late
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
pam_w
Don't SNCF still supply water ?
We had the skis balanced from the little shelf thing over the window to the ledge over the door and hung hand baggage from them.
Main tip, whne you get on, be careful to fold the beds the right way. Inevitably some twit releases a bunk so that it gets locked into the wrong thingy and you need a penknife to release it and set it the right way.
It's all perfectly pleasant really, you might wake up in the sidings somewhere. They basically park up for a while and ther's a bit of shunting.
|
|
|
|
|
|
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Thanks, might have to take a special bottle to avoid the loo trip
The skis have to come with me though as I can't really afford the hire on top of the train tickets. Guess I'll have to cuddle up to them.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
When you first get in one with strangers
Get all kit squared away
give polite hellos
Introduce yourselves
Swap a few stories
Then get out your packed lunch
Guiness
tin of cold baked bean
and brussel sprouts
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
|
Go for the bottom bunk, far cooler. Comfy Pillow, ear plugs, water, 500mg of Rohypnol.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
I agree with Frosty. I used a top bunk last year and it was like being in a slow cooker. I also found it quite claustrophobic. Each bunk has a little red light beside it. It is much pleasanter to leave that light on all night.
You'll find the ledge above the door offers quite a bit of storage space. There is also a storage area at one end of the compartment, which would be useful for skis - though I could understand if you didn't want to leave anything there.
Lastly, I'd recommend trying 1st class if you take the train again. With only 4 bunks per compartment, there's much more space and two fewer strangers to worry about. Also, if you are able to book well in advance, you'd be surprised how little it can cost in France.
But, best of all, you'll get to Bourg in the early morning and have a whole extra day in the mountains.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
Thanks for all of the tips. I think every ski trip needs a little epicness, mine will occur in the 6 sleeper couchette quickly followed by the bumps under the Varet bubble 
|
|
|
|
|
|
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
| DaveB wrote: |
| travelling mid week for a long weekend |
Most of the people posting here I suspect have always gone out Friday night.
The weekend trains are always packed. But the midweek trains are much quieter.
Midweek, I've sometimes had the couchette to myself, and never shared with more than 2 others, so there was plenty of room for luggage.
You don't get a bottle of water provided in a 6-berth couchette (2nd class).
But you can get people chatting loudly outside your door well into the night.
My Top Tip: take a sleeping tablet.
I agree with dmac442: well worth booking early and going 1st class.
Much more comfortable and your travel companions usually more interested in sleeping than chatting.
Top or bottom bunk is a personal choice. Just avoid the middle one.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
). Lots of the group had pi$$ soaked laces to deal with next morning.