MickMouse

I am unable to purchase online two tickets (seniors over 60) Leaving Gare de Lyon at 15hr07 and arriving Avignon 17h46 even though the weekly schedule indicates the train is available. SNCF website won't acknowledge the posted schedule. www.raileurope.com/us
is the website I used. How can I get from Gare de Lyon to Avignon April 3? Arriving CDG at 1:00 (must go through customs). The posted schedule indicated that the cost is low if I purchase the tickets 60 to 90 days ahead. Are there senior discounts?

DebitNM

DO NOT use raileurope! Do not list USA as your country, Canada will work.

Use this site but tickets are available 90 days in advance, so it is too soon--

http://www.voyages-sncf.com/?rfrr=Ho...etouralaccueil

or this one:

http://www.voyages-sncf.com/promotio...-odv-printemps

The low cost tickets are often less than senior tickets.
Using the above site, tickets for the train you want are available and are either 29.9 or 36 euros. This site opens up up to 5 months in advance, but has limited trains per day.

BUT -
I don't think you will make a train at 15:07 if you are arriving at 13:00.

I would choose the one at 17:07 from Gare de Lyon.

DebitNM

Read this for a better understanding on which sites to use and how to buy tickets, step by step:

http://www.seat61.com/France-trains.htm#How to use voyages-sncf.com

StuDudley

The earliest you can purchase your tickets is 3 months in advance (not 90 days). So for your situation, start looking on Jan 2 at 3:05PM eastern US time (which is 12:05am April 3 in France). Actually, start "practicing" on Dec 31.

If you don't find the PREM (cheap) fares, wait a couple of hours or so until the PREM fares are updated. Like Deb said - don't use Raileurope unless you want to pay more money.

Stu Dudley

MickMouse

DebitNM Great help. I tried to book the later train from Gare du Lyon to Avignon, but it didn't show up. I used the French site, too. How do I get the later train leaving at 17:07?

Another question: I made reservations using my American Express Card. According to the voucher that I just printed, I must show them this same AMEX card. I'm wondering about the special gold security thing or something that credit cards used in Europe must have. Does this apply in this case? Will they accept my plain ol' AMEX card with out the special security dealy?

MickMouse

StuDudley..I appreciate your advice. Shall I use the French site, too?

kerouac

You can find *some* trains six months in advance on http://www.idtgv.com/en/

IDTGV is a different section of the same normal trains but is marketed only over the internet and saves money a few other ways like checking your ticket before you board so there is no need for ticket checkers on the train itself.

You don't need a chip on your American Express card unless you want to get the ticket out of a machine at the station. You can print most main line tickets at home in any case.

Chris_Cutler

I used the TGV site and bought tickets for mid-April from Paris to Avignon last week. I signed up for their emails and found out they are selling some cheap tix for certain routes already.

Here's the link to that site: http://www.tgv-europe.com/

And, as the others have told you, don't put USA as your country. I used Italy once and Spain another time.

Good luck!

DebitNM

Chris - that links leads to the idtgv site, which only has 1 train on the date listed by OP; which is too early in the day given the arrival time at CDG.

StCirq

Mick: Yes, use the French site. Yes, your Amex card will work (though it's irrelevant, because if you buy PREM tickets, you print them out at home and don't need to show a card to anyone at the station). And it's still too early to buy your tickets - you have to wait until 3 months out from your date of travel.

DebitNM

Mick - you can't get the later train on the idtgv site; you will have to use the other link WHEN the date opens (see Stu's remarks as to the date and time). Idtgv only has LIMITED schedule, a train or 2 a day (to each destination)and that is why you don't see the later train listed. Hope this helps. We printed our tickets at home, so no worry about not having a chip and pin card.

If you are interested , Andrews Fed Credit Union has one that we used a lot on our trip.search on here, "chip and pin" and apply sooner rather than later.

Southam

The iDTGV trains for Paris-Avignon are on sale now, for travel through mid-June. And they definitely apply to a smaller selection of departure times.

StuDudley

MickMouse

Why are you trying to catch the TGV from the Gare de Lyon station in Paris instead of at the CDG TGV station?? Also, no idTGV trains depart from CDG.

Stu Dudley

DebitNM

Stu - Can he get the TGV train from CDG to Avignon? I thought one had to get the train to Avignon at Gare de Lyon??

StuDudley

>> Can he get the TGV train from CDG to Avignon? I thought one had to get the train to Avignon at Gare de Lyon??<<

Of course - we do that quite often. Also to Nimes, Aix, Lyon, Bordeaux and other locations.

Make sure the destination is the Avignon TGV station - not Avignon Centre.

Stu Dudley

StCirq

No, he can get a TGV from CDG straight to Avignon. I missed that he was traveling the day he lands. You just plug Roissy in as the departure point when you book.