DaveMM

We are 11 weeks away from our 30th anniversary dream vacation to Paris and Provence. All the big “book ahead” stuff is done. Air, Paris Perfect apartment, Paris hotel, B&B in the Luberon, car rental in Avignon, and yesterday…finally the train.

We booked our “PREMS” (discounted) train tickets from Paris to Avignon and back. Thanks to the posters who explained how to do it. Without that information I would have been pretty confused. So….just in case you need to book a train…here is how I did it.

Three calendar months (not 90 days) and one day prior to your travel date go to the site below. I am in the Midwest US and 7 hours behind Paris, so I logged on to the web site at 5:05PM. The link below is already changed to English by clicking on the British flag at the lower right part of the page.

http://www.tgv-europe.com/en/?rfrr=H...ited%20Kingdom

After you fill in the necessary info be sure to change the “ticket collection country” to Great Britain. If you choose USA you end up on the Rail Europe site and it is more confusing and much, much more expensive because the PREMS fares don’t seem to be available. You end up printing your e-ticket after you pay so you never have to “collect” your tickets. I found the site to be very user friendly. It took about 5 minutes from login to printing the tickets.

By purchasing our train tickets 3 months out…we saved about 44%. One caveat…the tickets are non-refundable and can’t be changed. The PREMS fares seem to disappear within a couple weeks…at least on the Paris – Avignon route.

Now all I really have to do is read more FMT and Kerouac trip reports. ;-)

Enjoy the planning folks.

Jusqu'à ce que nous rencontrons dans Paris. (Just getting into the swing of things...I hope that translates right) ;-)

DaveMM

Michel_Paris

Good french at the end

Exciting times!

klondiketoo

Whoohoo! Happy for you!

apersuader65

Dave:

Did the same thing a couple of months ago using www.voyages-sncf.com for our prems to Normandy. We depart IN THREE WEEKS! It was very simple here as well.

Just wondering, using May 7-14 Paris-Avignon R/T for two sncf gives a rate of 113 Euro. Is that about what you got?

kerouac

Do you have the links to my Avignon reports? ;-)

Christina

I've bought lots of PREMs tickets closer to the date than that, including on that route. I never worry about logging on the minute they are available.

apersuader65

Sorry, used your link and it transfers you to the sncf site.

DaveMM

kerouac....I thought I did. Can you please post the link again? My goal between now and when we leave is to go back to all my bookmarked pages and review them again.

apersuader65...I paid 50 euros for two on the Paris/Avignon leg and 44 euros Avignon to Paris. Being a wiz at math...that is 94 total.

Christina...you have done this many more times than me so I have no doubt you are right. It may just be the days I am traveling or the site I am using since I noticed when I click on the British flag the site changes from www.voyages-sncf.com to the one I reference above. As I was preparing to book the trip I noticed the PREMs price either goes up or disappears around 10 weeks out. On my particular travel days the PREMs fares are still available but the week before they aren't. Like I said...it may just be how I am going about booking the fare.

kerouac

Well, here's one of the links that shows what is happening in July: http://anyportinastorm.proboards.com...ad=4257&page=1

DaveMM

kerouac...I did read that one and loved it. I really wish that was happening in early May.

FrenchMystiqueTours

DaveMM - Thanks for the name drop. I'll have more reports for you to bookmark in the upcoming months so you better plan on extending your stay now. I hope you have the best time imaginable on your trip and here's an early congrats on your 30th anniversary.

trvlgirlmq

How exciting. I have my calendar marked to log on at 5 pm on April 1 and then again a week later for our return. I could probably still get the best fare the next day but I am so anal about this stuff that I don't want to take a chance!

wenday

Hi Could you explain what PREMS are??

DaveMM

trvlgirlmq....you and I are alike. I just liked ticking that item off my list.

wenday...PREMs are discounted fares. Each train only has a certain number of discounted tickets that once they are sold...they are gone. Perhaps some of the more experienced travelers can add more insight.

FMT I would love to extend my stay.... annoying things link work and money just get in the way.

ardithl

DaveMM -- Congratulations on your anniversary and your success with the PREM's tickets. We are 15 weeks away from OUR 30th anniversary dream vacation to Paris, Provence and the Loire Valley. I have the calendar marked to purchase our first PREM's tickets on February 26. I'll be buying several tickets over a two week period, so I hope it goes as smoothly for me as it did for you.

DaveMM

Congratulations to you too ardithl!!! 30 Years is quite an accomplishment. I hope you are having fun planning your trip.

We vacation in a very relaxed style and we have had to fight the urge to try to squeeze everything in. We know we won't see everything and that is okay. On past vacations many of the best memories came from the "unplanned." We are leaving plenty of room in our itinerary for spontaneity.

Enjoy yourselves.

DaveMM

twk

Bookmarking for reference. My train trip (Nice to Paris on June 23) comes after the dreaded semi-annual schedule change date, so I'm not sure when we'll get a chance to book it.

dondonandjj

Bookmarking too