The flight from Chicago to Washington, DC was late because of a mechanical and United substituted equipment that just arrived from Heathrow. No big deal since we were on an early flight. The United flight from Washington, DC to Paris taxied out to the runway and then the pilot’s voice came over the intercom. The manifest had an unaccounted suitcase without the passenger on board, and we’d have to taxi back to the terminal to unload this suitcase.

Now, the flight is running one hour late and I’m beginning to stress that we’ll miss the 9:25 a.m. train from Charles de Gaulle Airport to Lyon. That would extend the day by a minimum of three hours until the next train from the airport left for Lyon. Trains leave every hour from the Gare de Lyon in Paris and I did not want to deal with taking the RER to Chatelet, dragging suitcases and changing lines into the Gare de Lyon. That is a big pain in the butt. The shining light on this debacle in the making was the United Airlines flight was oversold and they upgraded us to business class! This is why we stick to one airline.

incredible highway systems of France
Even when things go perfectly, it’s a very long nite and day of travel. Touched down at 7:50 a.m, bags came through at 8:10 a.m. and ours were among the first five off the plane (miracles of miracles). Hauled butt through customs, down elevator, on the inter-terminal train between Terminal 1 to Terminal 2 where the TGV’s and RER (to get into Paris) leave from and got in line to validate the France rail pass. Download Sheila’s Easy Guide: European Trains. Would you believe that by 8:40 a.m. our rail passes were validated, train pulled in on time, and we were off on another marathon traveling day to Chamonix? We’d still have to change trains twice more! S-I-G-H…

With one hour between trains in Lyon, I fortunately stood in line to get seat reservations for the return trip to Charles de Gaulle Airport in two weeks, and the agent told us that next train to Chamonix wasn’t operating today! Possibly because of problems on the line. Instead, we’d have to go outside sortie (exit) Villette, the bus transport area, and a bus would take us to Bellegarde, leaving at 12:52 p.m. at no extra charge. No where was any information about the non-operating train posted in the train station and it always pays to ask.

The bus was loaded with every seat taken. The route to Bellegarde twined through the mountains and tunnels of the beautiful and scenic Jura Mountains. Dropped off at the train station in Bellegarde, showed tickets to the police (a constant presence in French train stations), hauled bags down one flight, through an underpass, up another flight of steps, across gravel and the 2:35 p.m. train to St. Gervais Les Bains-Le Fayet roared in. A TER (French regional train), we pulled out sandwiches and began snarfing down. Very hungry because the driver screamed there was no mange (eating) on the bus to Bellegarde. Ate, dozed and gawked at the beautiful mountain scenery while the train made a trillion stops on the way to St. Gervais/Le Fayet-Vallorcine. Off that train and the little red train to Chamonix arrived five minutes later for the 45-minute train ride to Chamonix.

The train ride to Chamonix was unbelievably scenic with glacier sightings…View image…(it’s evident how many have receded), little villages and even great views of Mont Blanc on the way. TIP: Print off a town map and instructions on how to find your hotel before you leave home. It is invaluable.

Mont Blanc area from the train in France
It was now almost 6:00 p.m., bright daylight (sunset isn’t until around 10:00 p.m.), and very hot. Inside the Chamonix train station, there is a McDonald’s poster pointing the way to McDonald’s, 200 m ahead that brightened up my outlook. Instructions to find the Hotel de L’Arve clutched in my sweaty hand, we set off down the pedestrian only main street in the center of Chamonix, right on Rue Joseph to a small street called passage Anemones and there was Hotel D’Arve. Hordes of people were walking, slurping ice cream cones, sitting outside small cafes, shops galore, and wherever you looked, the majestic mountains of Chamonix.

pedestrian area in Chamonix, France
The room was nice, but small and I regret that I didn’t pay an additional 10 Euros per day for the Mont Blanc view. Economy…economy…economy. Given Chamonix Tourist Cards that entitled us to free bus and train transport throughout the valley, unpacked and took a sleeping pill. Another marathon traveling day was over…

 

What a day. Airline problems. Train problems. But we’re here and by tomorrow morning, all the stress will be forgotten…
Save up to 40% off last minute fares with low Hotwire Hot-Rates!