Swiss perfection in Geneva
Phil Vintner finds Geneva is a capital destination for a city break.
Geneva repeatedly comes out in the top handful of cities around the globe in quality of life surveys.
The tranquil, picturesque resort houses the headquarters for pretty much every major international organisation you can think of – from the United Nations to the Red Cross. Geneva airport teems with diplomats and businessmen.
However, for those who don’t like to rush, taking the train from Birmingham’s New Street station to Geneva Station with an overnight stop-off in Paris is a relaxing, leisurely way of getting there.
It’s now possible to reach Paris by train from Birmingham in under four hours. Compared to travelling by plane it is a much shorter check-in time at London St Pancras (just a short walk from Euston) and when you arrive you stop at Gare Du Nord, bang in the heart of the city.
So there is probably not much difference between taking the train and taking a plane. When you throw cost and comfort into the mix suddenly the train becomes a very attractive option.
You can take the Eurostar from London to Paris for as little as £140, but if you want to do it in style paying extra for a first-class seat makes the journey that much more pleasant.
Aeroplane food isn’t a patch on the food you get aboard the Eurostar and the leather seats are comfortable and spacious.
When I arrived in Paris about 4pm I was relaxed and ready to see the sights. Unlike London, traffic flows on the roads and that also cuts down journey time. If you are travelling on to Geneva, you can arrive in Paris late in the afternoon and still have time to take a stroll around this beautiful city, perhaps climbing the sparkling Eiffel Tower at night and finishing off with a nice meal by the Seine.
