When should I arrive at TGV Lyria?

How early should I arrive for the TGV Lyria train?

Fifteen minutes… maybe. It’s enough, right? If it’s the first time, I guess. First times are always a blur, aren’t they?

More time is maybe better. Luggage… I always have too much luggage. It’s heavy. A little extra time is peace of mind, maybe.

Geneva to Paris… TGV Lyria. Is it best? I don’t know anymore. Does “best” even exist?

Reddit… people on Reddit have opinions. Good ones. Maybe. I should check. Need to scroll for answers.

Train travel… It’s just getting from one place to another. Nothing more. Or is it? I miss someone on those trains.

Time to arrive? How long? Enough to breathe, I think. Enough to not feel rushed. That’s all I want.

• Timing: 15 minutes probably sufficient if familiar.
• Luggage: Allow more time for handling excessive luggage.
• First Time: New travelers should aim for more time.
• TGV Lyria: Reddit provides experiences on this.
• Alternatives: Explore other options for Geneva to Paris route.
• Peace of mind: Extra time reduces stress.

How early should I get to TGV station?

Fifteen minutes… feels so… small. In the grand scheme. Especially at night. The station… it echoes.

My first time… Gare de Lyon. Huge. Overwhelming. Needed more than 15 minutes. Just to find the right platform. Lost… felt so small. This was 2023. Still remember the chill. Not the air… the feeling.

Luggage… yeah. Dragging my life across that polished floor. Two suitcases. Backpack. Felt like an hour. Not 15 minutes. Should’ve given myself more time.

Stress… hate that tight feeling. In my chest. Like the walls are closing in. The ticking clock. Better to be early. Sit. Breathe. Watch the people. Than to run. Heart pounding. Missing the train.

• 15 minutes: Bare minimum. Seriously.
• First time: 30 minutes. At least. To find your bearings.
• Lots of luggage: Add another 15 minutes. Maybe more. Depends how much “lots” is.
• Hate stress: An hour. Seriously. It’s worth it. Just to sit. And breathe. Remember that trip to Lyon… Never again. Cutting it that close.

How early should I get to train in Paris?

Ugh, trains. Right, Paris… How early?

• 30 mins should do it, right?

Yeah, 30 minutes. Unless… oh god, security. Remember that time at Gare du Nord in 2023? Missed my Eurostar to London ’cause of those random bag checks. NEVER AGAIN.

• Better safe than sorry.

Maybe 45 mins? No, an hour. Okay, breathe. It’s just a train.

• Definitely arrive at least 30 minutes early.

But seriously, those security lines can be brutal. Especially during peak season – like now, summer 2024.

• Think about it: Finding the right platform is also a thing! And maybe buy a pain au chocolat? Yes, pain au chocolat is a must.
• Okay, new rule: Arrive 1 hour early. Maybe 1.5 hours. Ugh.

Oh, and don’t even think about showing up 5 mins before departure. They will shut the doors on you! I swear.

How early should I arrive to Gare de Lyon?

Gare de Lyon sucks sometimes. Rushed there once, almost missed my train to Nice. Summer 2023. Sweating like crazy. Sun beating down. Should’ve left the Airbnb earlier. Got there 15 minutes before departure. Heart pounding. Almost sprinted. Made it with like, two minutes to spare. Seriously. Train to Nice. Never again. So stressful. Now I always aim for an hour early. Minimum. Especially during rush hour. Gare de Lyon gets packed. Like sardines. No joke. Definitely grab a coffee before hitting the station chaos.

• Arrive one hour early. Peace of mind.
• Gare de Lyon = crowded. Plan accordingly.
• Summer travel = extra chaos. Seriously.
• Check RATP/SNCF apps. For schedules.
• Coffee before, not at, the station. Trust me.

My train was the 14:37 TGV. Ticket cost me 85 euros. Couldn’t imagine losing that. What a nightmare that would have been. So yeah, lesson learned. One hour early. Every time. No exceptions. Don’t wanna end up like that again. Ugh.

What is the difference between TGV and TGV Lyria?

TGV Lyria? That’s just a fancy TGV going to Switzerland, right? Like dressing up your dog in a tuxedo before a trip to the dog park.

Think of it this way:

• TGV: Your everyday high-speed train, like a reliable Toyota. Gets you there, no fuss.

• TGV Lyria: It’s still a TGV but now a Swiss-French lovechild. Imagine that Toyota suddenly speaks French and yodels! It’s a whole vibe.

Lyria is like a boss that orders train staff.

• Staff: One French, one Swiss. Gotta keep that neutrality, you know? I bet their coffee breaks are intense. Wonder if there’s any argument over the best way to make cheese fondue, whew.

Like, it’s all about branding. Think of it like this, “premium” gasoline. It probably just cleans your engine, but who cares about that!

Do trains sell out in France?

French trains? Sell out? Honey, they sell out faster than croissants on a Sunday morning. Think Black Friday, but with berets and baguettes. You snooze, you lose, and end up taking a bus that smells faintly of Gauloises and regret. Très tragique!

• Book early. Like, really early. Especially during peak season (summer, holidays). Think months, not weeks. I once booked a TGV three months out, and it was almost full. My competitive spirit kicked in. I felt like I’d won the lottery.
• TGV, Ouigo. TGV is the fancy one. Ouigo is the budget airline of trains. Less legroom, more screaming children. Still better than that bus, though.
• Weekends, holidays. Forget about it. Unless you’re a time traveler. Or enjoy standing in the aisle with your luggage balanced precariously on your head. My circus skills aren’t that good.
• Popular routes. Paris to Nice? Booked solid. Paris to Lyon? Packed like sardines. Consider a less glamorous destination. Clermont-Ferrand, anyone? Okay, maybe not. But you get the idea.
• Check the SNCF website. SNCF is the French national railway. Their website is your friend. Or your enemy, depending on how quickly you can click “purchase.” It’s like a video game, but with real consequences. My heart races just thinking about it.

My personal tip? Book your tickets the moment you book your flights. I learned this the hard way, after ending up on a bus next to a man who brought his pet chicken. True story. No, seriously. The chicken’s name was Coco.