Chamonix-Mont-Blanc Travel Forum

Train Stuff
Posted: Thu January 10, 2008 06:13 PM UTC

Hi,

I am planning to fly to Geneva in June this year, spend a week in Chamonix and then travel on to Florence for a week, than fly back to the UK.

Can anyone shed any light on the best way to get from Chamonix to Florence. Assume its train but cant find any info.

Thanks in advance

cracker21

5 replies

[Reply]

Re: Train Stuff
Posted: Thu January 10, 2008 06:34 PM UTC

Chamonix-Florence train times/info on

http://www.bahn.de/p/view/international/englisch/international_guests.shtml

7 a day, takes around 8.5 hours, two trains has one change, the others have 3/4/5. Fares not available through this site though.

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leics

[Reply]

Re: Train Stuff
Posted: Thu January 10, 2008 07:06 PM UTC

yes, lot's of changes is probably what'll happen. over 8 hours by train. alternatively you can take the bus to courmayeur (under mont blanc) and on to aosta and take the train from there. it might be a little more direct but it looks like it takes about the same amount of time

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gfinesilver

[Reply]

Re: Train Stuff
Posted: Mon March 17, 2008 02:16 PM UTC

Geneva has EasyJet. You could also consider getting a van transfer back to Geneva airport (1 hour) and booking an EasyJet flight from Geneva to Paris Orly (1 hour), then Orly to Pisa (1.5 hours). Pisa is not far from Florence and you could see the sights there (even spend the night) and then take the train to Florence in the morning. I didn't check the schedules or prices to see what your wait time would be, but it could be faster and potentially cheaper than the 8 hour train journey.

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firechick

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Re: Train Stuff
Posted: Mon March 17, 2008 06:41 PM UTC

The problem is not the length of flights but the check-in times you'd have to allow for. Easyjet close check-in 40 minutes beforehand. So if you did choose a series of flights then you'd have to make sure you allowed plenty of time for going through immigration/ collecting bags/getting to next check-in etc. This would probably end up being as long (or nit much less than) the train journey, and far more stressful imo.

Pisa airport to Florence is only an hour or so by bus or less by train so it would be an easy onward journey once you were at the former, with no need for an overnight stay unless you chose one.

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leics

[Reply]

Re: Train Stuff
Posted: Mon March 17, 2008 06:47 PM UTC

There is no immigration to go through when you are flying between two EU countries. Only from Switzerland into France and I can tell you it's quick if you are from the UK, there will not be a hold up there since the UK is part of the EU, and Switzerland is treated like an 'honorary' EU member when it comes to immigration. The only issue is the flight times which as stated, I didn't look up for you. It's just another option to investigate if you don't want to make dozens of train changes in an 8.5 hour rail journey and can in fact be cheaper if you book far enough in advance on EasyJet. Rail prices are no longer the bargain they once were.

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