travel12345

Thank you in advance if you can provide any insight into my dilemma! Serious Thanks!
Purchasing June train tickets from:
Barcelona to Avignon
Avignon to Nice
Nice to Paris
Live in the United States
I Think this is what I have figured out so far...

*For Barcelona, the trains all stop in Nimes then go into Avignon.
I decided that I should just **book ticket to Nimes and then purchase a ticket on the regional to go to Avignon city center, as the combined ticket seemed the same cost, this way I would not be dependent on rushing to catch the next train.

1. I signed in at Capitainetrain with account.
Train leaves at 13:25 arrives16:51
Cost 43 euro, flex 51.60 euro 2nd class, and 54 euro 1st class
Selecting 1st class, I think because it's not much more and, I would not be canceling the 7 days before anyway. This site Allowed me to select seat, window upstairs ...carriage 12, seat 82, but not a solo seat, which I would really prefer, if possible
Says I can print e-ticket.

2. Went to renfe-sncf.com...redirects me to voyages-sncf.com- I like this site.
Ticket Barcelona to Nimes, same time as above
After I put US as my country the site wanted to redirect me to rail europe, I Know... I "told it" no, keep me on voyages and all was fine.
Everything was the same, I think..., but this site also allowed me to choose my place (1st class) as Either window Or upstairs, I chose window and I think it assigned me upstairs as well- coach 12 seat 61
Said I could print e-ticket

My questions are
***should I book all the way to Avignon center, or is it so easy and Not time consuming to buy the regional ticket in the station?
***And, do any of you have information about anything I'm missing? For example when I try to enter my cc info...or anything else
***And, option 1. Or option 2.

So sorry this is long, I actually have two more tickets to purchase but I'm putting that Question in Another question as the next tickets are not crossing the French border and the purchase will be different

Robert2533

Book your tickets from Barcelona to anywhere in France at: www.voyages-sncf.com. It's easy to keep it in French and then print off your tickets.

If asked, which shouldn't happen, make sure you keep the country to collect your tickets "France", otherwise you will be directed to RE, and pay more.

Man_in_seat_61

Ignore voyages-sncf.com, it is full of Machiavellian redirects to Rail Europe.

Simply use www.capitainetrain.com - same prices, same trains, no added fees or markup, just easier with no redirects.

There's at least one direct TGV between Barcelona and Avignon, so see what you get when you ask it for the whole journey.

travel12345

The only direct on to Avignon leaves at 14:00, if I remember correctly.

About the Nice to Paris leg...I thought the tickets would only be open 90 days before, but I see fares for July already released, think they might have been available for a while now, six months in advance!

The rates are 49.90 IDTGV I think upstairs window 2nd class, and 62.00 1st class (euros) carriage 13, seat 101, upstairs solo.
What do you think?
Wish I had known the tickets were released, are the prices now rising?

travel12345

Oh, yes, forgot to ask...my Paris hotel is in Montparnasse.
Do I purchase the ticket all the way through, or just to Gare de Lyon?

travel12345

Sorry for the separate messages, trying to get out the door to work...

I was also asking if I should purchase all the way through from Barcelona Sants to Avignon Center, or just to Nimes and buy my own ticket on when I arrive....

The decision is based on...if booked straight on to Avignon center, the times are preplanned for the regional train connection and I wouldn't want to miss the next train, but if I had to go and buy another ticket when I arrived, that would probably take me a while and some difficulty with language and all.
---
The other question was also asking for comments on *prices and if anyone knows anything about the *carriages and *seating preferences.
It would be nice to have somewhat of an educated guess when offered seat selections.

---
A Big Thanks for helping me plan!
This is only my second international trip. I'm solo and never been to Spain or France

Sarastro

Firstly, you want a train to Avignon, not to Nimes. There is now a shuttle train (no more bus) from Avignon TGV to Avignon Centre which takes only a few minutes; I assume you are staying in the center of Avignon. If you miss one of the shuttles, and it´s unlikely, there are plenty more.

Secondly, PREM tickets go on sale typically 3 months in advance, not 90 days, and it can make a difference. iDTGV tickets are available up to 5 months in advance. Prices start at 19€ and increase as tickets are sold.

As for seat preferences, the iDTGV trains offer environments: basically quiet or lively. From there, you can generally choose upper deck or lower on any TGV. The <i>carré</i> seats are seat pairs facing one another. These seats have limited legroom but there is usually baggage space behind the seats. If I were traveling alone, I would probably avoid these seats.

If you are wondering about seats facing forward or backward in relation to the direction of travel, it´s impossible to tell as cars are turned sometimes at stations.

Lastly, the site www.voyages-sncf.com works perfectly well if you leave it in French and avoid clicking on redirects. You might want to be careful about purchasing tickets for France if you´re entering from another country. Not all tickets are <i>print yourself</i> and some must be picked up in an SNCF station or boutique; something you will not be able to do from Spain.

PalenQ

Ignore voyages-sncf.com, it is full of Machiavellian redirects to Rail Europe.>

Q for Man in Seat 61 - you appear to have Rail Europe as an official sponsor or banner adnvertiser on your site and seem to thus get commissions from Rail Europe, etc - but if they are so Machiavellian why do you take their support - seems a bit hypocritical to me?

And your site www.seat61.com is the best site for learning about discounted tickets and the info you give is invaluable to types like the OP.

One does have to wonder if Rail Europe is stabbing themselves in the back by paying to advertise and be linked to your site?

Christina

Voyages-sncf doesn't do anything Machiavellian, it asks very direct questions (where do you want to pick up your ticket), and if you say North America -- well, guess what, of course it redirects you. If you say France, it doesn't redirect you. There is nothing that seems that sinister to me, it's a fairly simple question. And it can't be "full of them" as it only does it once. In fact, it even has English now, without redirecting you, it didn't used to do that. If you click on the "other countries" flag on the upper RH corner for language (which is what I presume an American would do who couldn't read french), it just quotes rates in euro, gives you fares and asks you where you want to pick up your ticket.

This isn't that difficult a question. It's only aproblem for people who can't answer a straightforward question. And if you pick UK for language (thinking that is English language, I admit that box isn't labelled as to what it is), it quotes rates in GBP, but when you go to pay, it gives you delivery options which can be an eticket, or pick up at a train station. So why that is so difficult, I have no idea.

travel12345

Thanks for the nice and extremely detailed answers! I'm so appreciative.
Yes, Christina, I had no problem with the attempt to redirect, wish I'd taken a screen shot of it, but it basically gave me a warning that it would redirect unless I designated -no. And so, I told it-no. That's what I was explaining up above, no problem.

Sarastro, about the shuttle train, do I purchase the ticket from Barcelona Sants to Avignon TGV, or Avignon Center?

And, I believe each site offered an e-ticket, unless I'm mistaken...question myself now. I also did not put in any false information like typing in Antarctica as I've read to do before. I simply selected USA.

Now, the problem I might have is the unknown, which is putting in the credit card info. I did my practices for every step, except, obviously, the end purchase.
I know I cannot use my credit card for pick up at the on site ticket machines, I did read that alert on their website.


From Nice to Paris, should I purchase a ticket to Gare Lyon and then find my way to my hotel in Montparnasse?

Thanks tremendously! This trip is a huge undertaking, but I love it...couldn't do it without all your help...but, I'm not telling my friends that part they think I'm so brave.

Sarastro

<i>Sarastro, about the shuttle train, do I purchase the ticket from Barcelona Sants to Avignon TGV, or Avignon Center?</i>

You purchase a ticket to Avignon Centre. If for some reason you end up at Avignon TGV as a final destination, a ticket for the shuttle cannot be that expensive; the bus used to cost only 1.20€.

<i>I believe each site offered an e-ticket, unless I'm mistaken.</i>

iDTGV and PREM tickets are print at home tickets but not all tickets are.

<i>I know I cannot use my credit card for pick up at the on site ticket machines,</i>

This is not entirely correct. You cannot use a credit card without a chip to use the automated ticket machines but you can use your credit to pickup tickets if you go to a service window. The credit card you present must be the exact same credit card, not a reissued card, as was used to make th original ticket purchase.

<i>From Nice to Paris, should I purchase a ticket to Gare Lyon and then find my way to my hotel in Montparnasse?</i>

Arrival stations in Paris are a function of your departure location. All trains from the Provence or Languedoc regions arrive in Paris at Gare du Lyon. From there you may take a taxi, bus, or métro to wherever you hotel is.

You might consider booking a van to your hotel at the same time you book your train tickets. The SNCF contracts with several companies to provide inexpensive connections to locations in Paris upon your arrival at Gare du Lyon. A driver will send you a text about 15 minutes before you arrive at the station, alerting you that he is there, and then pick you up on the arrival platform. It should cost about 15€ additional but it is an excellent service.

travel12345

Thanks, again and Sarastro I'm glad you mentioned the van pick up service. I saw the service option as an add on, but would not have chosen it as I'd no information to base trust.

Robert2533

>Ignore voyages-sncf.com, it is full of Machiavellian redirects to Rail Europe.< Is that it, redirects? It's easy to work around. Just do it in French.

travel12345

Bad news, I tried to purchase the Nice to Paris ticket (sncf) and my credit card would not process.
I called my MasterCard company and there are no blocks on purchases, so I sent an email to their customer service department and will wait for their instructions at this point.

If I change my country to another, I fear there would be problems with my identity matching my passport...or perhaps that doesn't even matter, at this point I'm pretty disappointed, as I cautiously searched for just the right time and seat preference.

I could try Capitainetrain, but they do not have all the earlier offerings and all of the seat selections.

Sarastro

Capitainetrain uses the same database as does the SNCF. Capitainetrain will have all of the same choices and at the same prices as does voyages-sncf.com. I woule make another attempt.

If your credit card was rejected by voyages-sncf.com, you must wait 24 hours before you can try it again or you can try using a different card.

PalenQ

everyone says capitainetrain.com is much easier to use than the official SNCF site - www.voyages-sncf.com so it seems that if all else fails you will at least be able to book a ticket - Sarastro is an expert on this so if he/she says you can gert the same options on capitainetrain.com as the official site check again.

Sarastro

I personally use www.voyages-sncf.com because for me it is easier. I have an on line ID with the SNCF and my travel choices load automatically but this site has been difficult about accepting some credit cards.

travel12345

I cracked the code!
Train ticket purchased! I will spare the lament/saga of the hours and hours and numerous lengthy phone calls to make this happen...

Regarding Voyages-SNCF purchases.
I'm posting my experiences, it might help others to find a --possible--solution to the scnf-voyages train ticket purchase dilemma. It is so frustrating to continue to research and follow every single tip to buy a simple train ticket.

At ticket purchase checkout, I kept receiving the following message:
"Your payment was rejected. We regret that we are unable to continue with this order procedure."

If you see this message, your credit card may not be set up for a 3d secure authorization authentication code.

You can go to the MasterCard, or Visa if that is the case, website, and set up your own security code. There is a listing of participating financial institutions, if your financial institution is not listed, then your MasterCard (probably) does not have the capacity, You can check with your bank to be sure, but if you've another card, maybe it can be registered. I was able to locate my other bank in this list, so I registered the secondary card. I was surprised that my secondary card was a participator because it is a smaller institution. When you make a purchase online at a participating merchant, a box will pop up asking for your unique security code.
This might only apply to US purchases, who knows.

Now, sorry if I am being redundant, and somehow everyone else knew this...but me, but there you go.
SNCF has the best seat selection offerings, so I'm glad it all worked out. Now, I have my First Class upper deck single solo window seat to Paris!

On to purchase the next two more tickets...whew!

Thanks to everyone who lead the way! It's so nice when everyone rallies together for a common cause

Sarastro

travel12345 - Thanks for posting what you have found as I had forgotten that when using my Visa on www.voyages-sncf.com, my purchase was accepted only after having completed the <i>Verified by Visa</i> process which is 3D Secure.

Anyone wanting to enroll their Visa cards in Verified by Visa, and there is no reason not to, can do so at this website and select <i>Register</i>:

https://www.mycardsecure.com/vpas/ho...n_US&bankid=16

The Mastercard equivalent is called Secure Code.

http://www.mastercard.us/securecode.html

Getting your card(s) registered can make on line purchases easier as they are more likely to be accepted and the process is overall much more secure.

travel12345

You are quite welcome, Sarastro!

I believe what made this ordeal so perplexing was that I was not reading carefully enough, glossing over the wording that felt familiar and expected.

Each and every time I went through the purchase process, I read those directions as the usual request for the three digit security code found on the back of the credit card, a common step in cc payment.
And so I entered that number..faithfully, every, single, time. Lesson learned.

Good for you posting the precise details for registering the credit cards, I was too exhausted to trust myself to be accurate. I too, suggest everyone go ahead and register their cards, it's a security measure for fraud protection especially important for overseas Internet financial transactions, and literally only took a few minutes.