Travel from Lyon & St. Etienne

Am hoping someone can help me with an itinerary please.

Am flying from the US and need to get to Lyon, it seems my easiest option is from the UK and fly into Lyon from there. (Or is flying to Paris easier?)

Will be staying in Lyon for a day and then onto St. Etienne.

Have a few questions, what would be the best way to get from Lyon to St. Etienne and then back.

I am attending 2 concerts, 1 at Le Transbordeur in Lyon and the other at Le Fil in St. Etienne. Any suggestions on where to stay that would be nearby these venues or if there is a trendy part of these cities with recommended hotels?

Any help greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

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If you take AirFrance (possibly Skyteam partners) your Paris to Lyon is virtually free as this is called a stop over. AirFrance rate is the same whether you do US to Paris or US to any french airport. The advantage is that if you have a day to spare, you can stop over in Paris (maybe catch another concert?) and continue your onward journey the next day. Same thisg on the return portion. But this must be set up at the time you book or it will be considered a change.

Lyon St Etienne is best either by train or rental car, very short distance.

Can%26#39;t help with hotels.

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There are plenty of trains between Lyon and St Etienne and you do not need to book in advance. There is also a well developed and effective bus service from Lyon Aeroport into the city centre.

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There are plenty of trains between Lyon and Saint Etienne, the cost will be 9.80€ one way (a little more expensive at peak time, could be 10.20 or 10.70€), you can check all schedules and prices here :

http://www.voyages-sncf.com/

I don%26#39;t know which concert you are going to attend at Le Fil, but the last train is at 22h18 (that is 10:18pm), so you will definitively have to stay in Saint-Etienne for the night. I suggest you post on Saint-Etienne forum for hotel advice.

Regarding Lyon : the closest hotel to le Transbo is an high end hotel, (you don%26#39;t mention your budget!) : Hotel de la Cité is 5%26#39; walk to le Transbo, it is expensive though:

http://lyon.concorde-hotels.com/en/

But there are convenient busses to/from this area, so you can stay in any hotel in the city center. What is your budget range and what do you expect ?

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Thanks so much for the advise everyone. It has been very helpful.

I think I have been able to find a flight from the US that stops over shortly in Brussels into Lyon and thanks for your advice on the trains.

Now just debating if I should stay in Lyon for 2 days or St. Etienne. I have a day off in between concerts or if there is more to do in one city versus the other?

Hotel wise I am looking for medium to better hotels. 3* %26amp; up.

But most important is that the area is on the safer side for a woman on her own. Thanks for the heads up on the Concorde.

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There is more to do in Lyon.

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%26quot;if there is more to do in one city versus the other? %26quot;

There is definitively much more to do and to see in Lyon. Please have a look at the official websitesto make up your mind, and/or buy a good guide book: :

http://www.en.lyon-france.com/

lyon.fr/vdl/sections/en/tourisme/fil_quartier

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And there is no safety issue in Lyon city center.

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Thanks so much. These are all so helpful. Really appreciate it and so looking forward to my trip!