becNwil

Late Sept, plan to travel Avignon TGV to Nice Ville and continuing the same day to Alassio, Italy. Spend 2 nights. Then train Alassio to Pisa.
Should I book the TGV train Avignon to Nice as one ticket on scnf site. Then book Nice to Alassio on Trenitalia?
I am a novice at booking train travel online in advance.
Please some help from folks with experience.

TimS

I just checked sncf.com. You can book the entire route there so you might as well do it all at once. Leave France as the default country, do NOT choose cancellation insurance, and choose the option of picking up your tickets at a station or SNCF boutique.

TimS

One more thing. Besides the convenience of booking both tickets at the same time on the SNCF site, you'll avoid the often frustrating--and sometimes impossible--task of registering on the Trenitalia site.

becNwil

You are a fast one TimS..already answering my next question. Will I not get the option to print tickets on this trip? My husband is 85 and wants to go first class for the added seat comfort..I guess the TGV tickets always come with seat reservation. I can pickup the tickets at Avignon TGV station in advance of boarding?
THANK you for the help.

RonZ

If you decline the insurance you can print your ticket.

greg

Print the ticket by all means.

While the Avignon TGV station is not a busy station, I have had unexpected long lines at ticket windows at other stations.

If you HAVE to pickup your tickets, don't wait until the day of departure. If you are at a station with no line or in a city with an SNCF off station boutique outlet, pick up your tickets there -- you should not let go a chance to pickup your ticket easily.

ira

Hi B,

You do not always have the option of printing your ticket at www.vyages-sncf.com.

If you find a PREMS fare, you can now print your tickets, even if you DO choose the insurance.

If you can do both legs of your trip from SNCF, it will be easier than using Trenitalia.

TimS

PREM'S are the only tickets you can print and PREM'S are not offered for Avignon-Nice or for Nice-Alassio. So you'll have to pick up your tickets at the station.

ogni_asuob

You can also book the entire route at http://www.raileurope.co.uk/europeantickets/default.asp

TimS

becNwil,

You have probably found that the 2nd class fare on the TGV for Avignon-Nice is €42.80 and the 1st class fare is €70.40.

I assume that you want to take TGV 6171 that departs Avignon TGV at 10:34. That train starts in Paris. The PREM'S fares on that train for Paris-Nice are €25 2nd class and €45 1st class. Although I've never tried doing this myself, I don't see why you couldn't book PREM'S for Paris-Nice and just get on the train in Avignon. Do any Fodorites have an opinion as to whether or not this would be "legal"?

becNwil

Interesting idea. I will wait to hear others opinions. Our train travel experience is very limited and this will be our first trip to travel on a TGV train.
We will ultimately travel from Alassio to Pisa and on to Siena by train. Then get our rental car and begin 2 weeks in South Tuscany with Untours. Noticed Trenatalia allows some ticketless travel similar to eTickets for airlines. Considering whether to book entire train trip ahead online or wait and buy point to point tickets at station.
Thanks to all.

PalenQ

Do any Fodorites have an opinion as to whether or not this would be "legal"?

there has been a traditional 20 min time limit or so for no shows then the conductor can give the reserved no-show seat away. (folks are allowed to board TGV with 'sur-reservation' (sp?) tickets where you don't have a seat assignment but sit on folding seats between cars or in no show seats.

I don't know how this applies to TGVs but i expect that seat would be occupied if the train was full by the time Avignon rolled around.

But i really don't know but pose the possibility

TimS

Based on what PalQ said, I guess I wouldn't wantto chance having my seat re-assigned to someone else.

Once you're in Italy, buying tickets at the station a day or so ahead of each trip will work fine. (Or buy them all at once when you get to Alassio.) There is no need to struggle with registering and booking on the Trenitalia site.