Since I quit using Rail Europe years ago, all the tickets I have bought for France have been PREMs; upcoming trip involves a non-PREM journey, Paris to Cosne-sur-Loire. Am I still able to print that or must I pick up ticket at the station? I know I could probably figure this out on the sncf site, but having made a costly mistake a year ago, I want to make sure I know what I'm doing before I hit the button. Merci for patience with another ticket question.

PREM'S are the only tickets you can print. You'll be given three choices for ticket retrieval. Choose the option of picking up your ticket at a station or SNCF boutique.

Bonjour Grandmere,

I'm pretty sure you can't print out non-PREM tickets, but you'll know for sure if the SNCF site doesn't give you the option.

-Kevin

Nope, you can't print a non-PREM ticket. Choose the option of picking up at the station or DNCF boutique, print your confirmation, and get to the station a bit early to stand in line to obtain the ticket. You'll need to composter the ticket, too, unlike PREM tickets, so don't forget that.

I think there are tickets you can print out that are not PREMs, but that one isn't one of them, or you'd be given a choice. I think you can print some other type of special fare tickets, in addition to PREMs FWIW (ie, idGTVs?)

Hi G,

Before you buy, you will see the options.

You can print tickets that are good for only one train, but not those that can be used anytime.

You can also have your ticket delivered to you c/o your hotel.

Well, I completed the process, I hope, but have to pick up tix at automated machine a la gare. I assume I could do so ahead of time at one of those boutiques I read about here, but where are they located? I am staying in the 6th.

There seemed to be no option to print the ticket or have them sent to me, although there was mention of tickets being sent outside France but no place to tick that choice.

I guess this will work seamlessly; don't want to turn into one of those ladies d'un certain age who obsesses about these types of things

Thanks, everyone!

Do you have to use a credit card to retrieve the tickets from the machine?

From what I read, yes, and the same credit card I used to buy the tickets online.

OK...I'm asking this (of the others) in case there might be any difficulty using your credit card in the machine (vs. going to the ticket window and having it swiped) to pick up your tickets. Just want you to know all the possibilities.

grandmere,

The reason I suggested you choose the option of picking up your ticket at a station or boutique is that the ticket machines only accept chip & pin credit cards--and US cards are not so equipped. I think you'll have to go to a station or boutique.

Exactly!

My printed ticket confirmation says that I may "pick up this item in a SNCF boutique or in a train station." I hope this means a non-automated pick up since, as Tim and Dukey are mentioning, I don't have correct type of credit card.
Surely I have not messed up yet another sncf transaction.

No, you haven't messed anything up. Either go to a ticket window at the station or go to a boutique and you'll be fine.

Ok, I'm obsessing, but used pagesjaunes to find boutiques and only found 1 other than the train station; I had assumed they were at many places around Paris?

http://www.megacomik.info/boutiquesn...e%20et%20Loire

You can enter above and click on 75 (for Paris). There are more than 20 addresses in Paris including 2 in 6th.

Merci, merci; it should be hard *not* to find one with all the choices!

Hi G,

>...where are they located? I am staying in the 6th.

Where are you staying in the 6th?

Ira, staying at Hotel du Lys (rue Serpente, very near Pl St. Michel) for first 6 days then changing to Hotel des Marronniers for couple days before going to Sancerre to language school for a week.

Gave friends (their first time to Paris) choice between du Lys and Bonaparte, and they liked charm of du Lys online better. When they leave I am going to Marronniers b/c I like rue Jacob and think it is a better location for me, solo.

Will probably go to rue de Rennes boutique.