Travel to USA with 2 pre-school children

[Busymom]

verykiasu2010:

probably not 2.5 hours

may be 2.5 hours to Lyon only. you should check out the SNCF site for ticketing to confirm it

and TGV has reached the south (Marseilles) but not the east (Chamonix)

The one who told me this is a French, and he actually checked the ticketing website. Can't be wrong, right?

Anyway, thanks for your info. Will check up again.

[Busymom]

2ppaamm:

Busymom:

Would anyone have any advice for me, is NY or some French alps like Chamonix more suitable for pre-schoolers? We are planning to go in early Dec and hoping to see some snow.

To see snow for younger kids, I like to go to Bear Mountains. Visit Disney Land (Anaheim) and then head up to Bear Mountains for skiing. My kids like that place. We stay for a week and head back down for other 'sunny' attractions like the usual theme parks and all.

Thanks 2ppaamm for the suggestion. Will study that option, although we are also planning to visit some friends in NY.

[verykiasu2010]

Busymom:

verykiasu2010:

probably not 2.5 hours

may be 2.5 hours to Lyon only. you should check out the SNCF site for ticketing to confirm it

and TGV has reached the south (Marseilles) but not the east (Chamonix)

The one who told me this is a French, and he actually checked the ticketing website. Can't be wrong, right?

Anyway, thanks for your info. Will check up again.

I rechecked the SNCF website, TGV service to Lyon is slight above 2 hours, from Lyon to Chamonix you need to transfer to Ter train, the journey takes another 5 hours plus including waiting time (slow train)

Leaving CDG2 at 9.25am arriving Chamonix at 18:00 hours, second class tickets clost about EUR70+

I done booking at SNCF.fr before. You can try it
map :
http://www.voyages-sncf.com/var/vsc/storage/fckeditor/Flash/espaceTgv/lignes_tgv/page_map_search.swf?rfrr=HomeTGV_body_Le%20r%C3%A9seau

it is actually faster to drive from Lyon to Chamonix

[minnie2004]

Busymom:

Would anyone have any advice for me, is NY or some French alps like Chamonix more suitable for pre-schoolers? We are planning to go in early Dec and hoping to see some snow.

Are you planning to take the kids for skiing in Chamonix? If you're traveling from Lyon, you may want to visit Annecy on the way, which is a very pretty lake town with mainly local tourists. I was there during summer almost 10 years ago and used it as a base to go to Chamonix. Had a great time riding a bike along the lake :love:

[Busymom]

minnie2004:

Busymom:

Would anyone have any advice for me, is NY or some French alps like Chamonix more suitable for pre-schoolers? We are planning to go in early Dec and hoping to see some snow.

Are you planning to take the kids for skiing in Chamonix? If you're traveling from Lyon, you may want to visit Annecy on the way, which is a very pretty lake town with mainly local tourists. I was there during summer almost 10 years ago and used it as a base to go to Chamonix. Had a great time riding a bike along the lake :love:

Hi minnie2004

Haven't \"spoken\" to you for quite a while. No, we are not skiing, planning to wait another year as DS is still young. One of our friends' kid at 3+ was not able to handle the lesson well; don't want to make the same mistake and one of us ends up baby sitting DS.

We haven't really done our research yet, so thanks a lot for your suggestion. If you have any itinerary, please share with me too. My friend suggested Chamonix as an alternative to NY or Switzerland/Sweden (my original idea). He also strongly recommended Villard le Lans which is not too far from Chamonix. Have you been to this place before?

Of course, another way is to follow verykiasu2010's suggestion by flying to Zurich and make the way to Chamonix from there. But Paris is probably very pretty during that time with Christmas decoration and not to mention, I can do a bit of shopping too :rubhands:

[minnie2004]

Hi Busymom,

Indeed I haven't been a frequent visitor of KSP a lot lately as I'm too busy farming (on Farmville and Farm Story :oops: ). How have you been btw? Your DD doing well in JXC?

Back to your holiday plans. I think if you're not skiing, it's better to visit Chamonix in the June school holiday as it won't be freezing cold and the kids still get to see the snow on the mountain. Also, the luge d'ete will be open in summer and i think the kids will find it more fun. If you guys are really keen to see snow and experience a snowy winter, then Japan maybe an easier option at this age.

When I was there 9 years ago, I flew from London to Nimes in the south of France on Ryanair (i booked online and only paid like GBP40 for taxes!). Then went to Avignon and Annecy on TGV. Charmonix was a day trip from Annecy. The mountain train was slow but quite interesting and an experience itself. Finally to Paris from Annecy. It was a great trip and the best thing was Euro was like 90cents vs USD back then

[verykiasu2010]

hi Busymom


I have done both Paris - Lyon - Annecy - Geneva - Zurich and vice versa

Chamonix is on a short detour from Annecy and is on the way from Annecy / Geneva to Italy (Milan)

If you fly in from Zurich, you can still fly out from Paris without sacrificing your Paris shopping, but minus the time-wasting back-tracking of a holiday. Open-jaw ticketing does not cost more

Both Zurich and Paris are served by SQ Airbus 380 (now think twice after Qantas scare, haha, or would be much safer than before)

As another forumer posted here, Annecy is a nice place to explore, love the lake side al fresco dining

For official snow activities with the local ski schools / resorts, it only opens from 4 Dec in Swiss and from 16 Dec in France…but there are other activities with snow before 16 Dec, eg huskies ride. Chamonix is where Mont Blanc is (French) and on the Swiss side is the Zermatt…, and Les 7 Laux Prapoutel near Chambery in France is cheap and good too…short drive from Geneva or Lyon or Annecy

I am going Zurich - Geneva this monday. If you see the very kiasu person on flight, it is me

[verykiasu2010]

sorry to borrow the US thread to talk about Europe

[Busymom]

minnie2004:

Hi Busymom,

Indeed I haven't been a frequent visitor of KSP a lot lately as I'm too busy farming (on Farmville and Farm Story :oops: ). How have you been btw? Your DD doing well in JXC?

Farming... hmm... I think my kids are playing that, but I haven't tried yet

Yes, DD is doing well in JXC. It is a bit slow-moving for her, but her teacher is allowing her to go at a faster pace than the rest of the class. I'm happy for that, although ultimately, I'm not sure what good that will be as she would have to finish the course at the same time as the rest anyway. :roll:

minnie2004:

Back to your holiday plans. I think if you're not skiing, it's better to visit Chamonix in the June school holiday as it won't be freezing cold and the kids still get to see the snow on the mountain. Also, the luge d'ete will be open in summer and i think the kids will find it more fun. If you guys are really keen to see snow and experience a snowy winter, then Japan maybe an easier option at this age.

I agree with you there, that June school holiday for this place probably makes more sense. Hence am currently looking at other alternatives. As for Japan, that was DH's original idea, but we have gone to Japan quite a few times already, including Hokkaido. Not to mention that the exchange rate now is really not attractive.

minnie2004:

When I was there 9 years ago, I flew from London to Nimes in the south of France on Ryanair (i booked online and only paid like GBP40 for taxes!). Then went to Avignon and Annecy on TGV. Charmonix was a day trip from Annecy. The mountain train was slow but quite interesting and an experience itself. Finally to Paris from Annecy. It was a great trip and the best thing was Euro was like 90cents vs USD back then

Oh yes, Euro was really at the lowest... but too bad didn't do much shopping at that time when I was in Paris Thanks for sharing. If I go there next year, will look into these places and DS will love the train ride!

[Busymom]

verykiasu2010:

hi Busymom


I have done both Paris - Lyon - Annecy - Geneva - Zurich and vice versa

Chamonix is on a short detour from Annecy and is on the way from Annecy / Geneva to Italy (Milan)

If you fly in from Zurich, you can still fly out from Paris without sacrificing your Paris shopping, but minus the time-wasting back-tracking of a holiday. Open-jaw ticketing does not cost more

Open-jaw? I ithought they do cost more (on SQ at least)?

That's quite a lot of driving, right? Don't' think DH wants to spend so much time on the road. But your suggestion of not missing Paris shopping is good...

verykiasu2010:

Both Zurich and Paris are served by SQ Airbus 380 (now think twice after Qantas scare, haha, or would be much safer than before)

hmm... I may even have to take a Qantas A380 soon, if it is not grounded by that time...

verykiasu2010:

For official snow activities with the local ski schools / resorts, it only opens from 4 Dec in Swiss and from 16 Dec in France....but there are other activities with snow before 16 Dec, eg huskies ride. Chamonix is where Mont Blanc is (French) and on the Swiss side is the Zermatt...., and Les 7 Laux Prapoutel near Chambery in France is cheap and good too....short drive from Geneva or Lyon or Annecy

Yes, Mont Blanc, was planning to see that from Aiguille du Midi. Will take note of these places if we don't go this time.

verykiasu2010:

I am going Zurich - Geneva this monday. If you see the very kiasu person on flight, it is me

I'm late in wishing you this, but hope you would have a very enjoyable and safe trip! See you back in January.