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Is my question not right? PalenQ or somebody

Is my question not right? PalenQ or somebody

Old Feb 17th, 2011, 09:51 PM
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Is my question not right? PalenQ or somebody

Hi Fodorites again, I am trying not to repeat previous questions but at the risk of repeating previous ones, I have been looking at Eurail Passes and point to point tickets and buying them on-line. I have definitely found that point to poitn would be the cheapest if I purchase then in advance. My problem is, is it safe to have the tickets posted (to Australia) or purchase them on-line and pick them up at a station (which one?) in Paris. We are travelling Paris - Zurich, Zurich - Austria. I am worried that my credit card (Visa) will not work overseas. Or that if my credit card does work can I print out an eticket - because the TGV site suggests that not all etickets are able to be used on all destinations. I know that if I buy a Eurail Pass I will have to reserve seats and pay a further fee. Leaving that till we get to Paris there may not be seats on the days we wish to travel.
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Old Feb 17th, 2011, 10:13 PM
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Hello Pharos - FWIW, my recent experience -

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...pe-booking.cfm
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Old Feb 17th, 2011, 10:25 PM
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On the side matter of your credit card: if your credit card has a chip it will work fine. Most Australian banks will reissue you a credit card with a chip nowadays, and you need a 4 figure PIN, which I think is mostly standard in Australia. Another thing we found helpful on a trip a while ago - our bank was pushing Visa debit cards combined with the ordinary EFTPOS card. It means you can use this card overseas as a Visa - it functions as a credit card does, so we thus had an extra 'credit card' so if something terrible should happen to your credit card while you are travelling you've got a fallback. In any case it is good practice to photocopy your credit cards and keep a copy somewhere in your documents in case of emergency - helps to replace them. Also let your bank know you are travelling so they don't start to worry that your card is being used for buying train tickets in Paris!

Lavandula
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Old Feb 17th, 2011, 11:08 PM
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It's not that your question is wrong but you waited to post until many people are sleeping on this side of the world. You couldn't wait for day time to get a response so you started posting the same question several times.

The title of this thread won't get you much help since it doesn't indicate what you want and it will be ignored by many people.

You didn't put any country tags on the thread.

Try to be more patient. Some people sleep during the night. Some people go out in the evening. Some people work during the day. Be more patient.
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Old Feb 18th, 2011, 12:23 AM
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Good advice Adrienne, I live in Sydney and I've learned to be patient when I need help on Fodor's.

And no offence pharos, but your post has a dopey title. As Adrienne says, be more specific and tag the countries you are going to be visiting.
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Old Feb 18th, 2011, 02:25 AM
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Ok guys. I guess I forgot about the sleeping part. Will try to be more patient in future. Not quite sure about what titles I should use at this stage but any help you can suggest will be taken on board. I will remember to put in a tag in future.

I am going to see the travel agent tomorrow so I needed the info asap so that I could either opt to buy my own train tickets or pay a kazillion dollars to let them do it.

I basically am a bit edgy about buying on line and losing my money.

thanks again.
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Old Feb 18th, 2011, 02:25 AM
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Ok guys. I guess I forgot about the sleeping part. Will try to be more patient in future. Not quite sure about what titles I should use at this stage but any help you can suggest will be taken on board. I will remember to put in a tag in future.

I am going to see the travel agent tomorrow so I needed the info asap so that I could either opt to buy my own train tickets or pay a kazillion dollars to let them do it.

I basically am a bit edgy about buying on line and losing my money.

thanks again.
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Old Feb 18th, 2011, 02:27 AM
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Sorry double posted. I really am dopey cathies. Still learning!!!
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Old Feb 18th, 2011, 02:39 AM
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pharos,

it will depend on your credit card as to whether you can pick up the tickets overseas. I have a St. George visa which does not have a chip so I can't use it overseas at machines, ie the ticket machines at the metro in Paris for example. however, there are now many visa cards in Australia with chips, so that will be your first question - do I have a chip?

This always seems to be a dilema for people. I know we bought some train tickets through the travel agent for Genoa to SMLiguria, we paid top dollar over here but it did mean we didn't have to queue etc at a possible quick change over from airport to train. But that did stick in my throat to be sure. Normally I book over the internet and print my tickets off. Can you not check which stations accept the etickets?

Don't rush to get the travel agent to get them for you. When are you travelling, do you have the time to work this out properly to save money?

Schnauzer
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Old Feb 18th, 2011, 02:47 AM
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Hi Schnauzer you are going to laugh but we are not leaving until August.

I have booked all my accommodation on line so am worrying that we won't be able to travel on the days we need to to get to the various accommodations. I thought it would be so simple just to get tickets on line. I though it would be just like airline tickets, order them, pay and print them out and just check in. I have checked the places that accept etickets but is doesn't appear as though zurich is one of them. My credit card does have a micro chip, but last time I travelled I advised the Commonwealth Bank where we were going etc. Got to Rome, tried to buy a train ticket from Rome to naples using the C'w Bank Visa and it was refused. It turned out that they didn't record that I was overseas and after a lengthy mobile phone call back to Aus they said they would fix it. They didn't and I couldn't use the credit card at all until I got back to Aus to sort it out. So there is a valid reason for me to be so nervous about all this.

cheers
pharos
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Old Feb 18th, 2011, 02:57 AM
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pharos,

Before booking your tickets, call customer service for your credit card provider amd tell them you are going to make an overseas transaction. If you don't, their computer may block your card for an unusual and potentially fraudulent transaction. Do the same before you leave for Europe and tell them where you'll be and how long you'll be there.

If you book well in advance (up to three months allowed) at www.tgv-europe.com, you can get a Piccolo fare as low as €36.00 for a direct Paris-Zurich TGV. If you get that fare, you can print your own ticket. Or you can pick it up at any SNCF station in France by presenting the card you used to book it. French station ticket machines only accept chip and PIN cards so don't choose that option.

You didn't say what your destination is in Austria so I can't advise you on any discount fares from Zurich.
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Old Feb 18th, 2011, 03:01 AM
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Oops! I was writing my note when you posted your latest one. I see that your credit card DOES have a microchip.
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Old Feb 18th, 2011, 03:03 AM
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Hey Tim,

thanks, travelling Paris to Zurich and then a few days later Zurich to Salsburg for another few days and then Munich and Germany for a couple of weeks.
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Old Feb 18th, 2011, 03:43 AM
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You're welcome.

If you book Zurich-Salzburg on the Austrian Rail site rather than the Swiss Rail site, you can get a SparSchiene fare as low as €29.00 for a direct Railjet train.

For Salzburg-Munich buy a Bayern-Ticket from a German Rail ticket machine in the Salzburg station. The cost is €28 for 2-5 people traveling together. Good only on regional trains after 09:00 on weekdays and anytime on weekends. It will also give you unlimited rides on the U-Bahn and/or bus on the day you arrive in Munich.

Where else are you going in Germany?
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Old Feb 18th, 2011, 03:46 AM
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Pharos check www.seat61.com for pass discussion CC purchase

Generally any Verified by Visa CC works best for me.

Though I almost always do better waiting training like

a local on regional intercity trains far less hassle never

completely booked cheap flexible free.

Avoid pass almost always a rip-off due to high daily cost

and lots of surcharges/supplements.
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Old Feb 18th, 2011, 04:04 AM
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Thanks so much for all the advice. I can't thank you enough. It has been so much help. Feeling more relaxed about it now.
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Old Feb 18th, 2011, 04:10 AM
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Tim in answer to your question.

We are going to Nuremburg, Wurzburg, Noerdlingen, Dinkelsbul, (please excuse the spelling haven't got a map handy)Worms and up the Rhine on a day trip and generally travelling wherever we can until we leave from Frankfurt. Basically just the bottom end of Germany this time. Only staying in four places along the way and seeing as much as we can and playing it by ear.

thanks again.
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Old Feb 18th, 2011, 04:36 AM
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Except for Worms and Frankfurt, all your stops are in Bavaria so you can use Bayern-Tickets for Munich-Nuremberg, Nuremberg-Wurzburg, Wurzburg-Noerdlingen, and Noerdlingen-Dinkelsbuhl.

If you book well in advance (up to 92 days allowed) on the German Rail site, you can get a Sparpreis discount fare for Dinkelsbuhl-Worms. You could get a Sparpreis fare for Worms-Frankfurt, but the standard fare is only 50 eurocents more and doesn't lock you into a specific departure date and time like Sparpreis tickets do.
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Old Feb 18th, 2011, 04:38 AM
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See what a difference 12 hours makes? And I can't believe you're traveling in August and yet you're panting for answers in February!!
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Old Feb 18th, 2011, 04:41 AM
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Or if you want to keep things simple, you could buy a Eurail pass for Germany alone for as many travel days as you wish. Since Salzburg is a border station, the pass would cover your ride from there to Munich. The pass would allow you to take any trains you wish, including high-speed ones, and you could depart as early in the morning as you wish.
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