Booking train tickets - is it important?
 

We are traveling from Paris to Chamonix in late June. We will fly to Paris, and will continue on by train on the same day. I know that we can reserve tickets online, however I am reluctant to do so: what if our flight is late? Is it reasonable to count on buying tickets on the same day? I have very little knowledge of French; however can communicate basics when necessary (I hope to learn even more before the trip).
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Argus

I would say that you should be able to buy tickets on the spot in late June, except if you travel on the last week-end of the month (for instance, on friday 26, in the evening) when there might be plenty of people going there for their vacations).


However, I'm always reluctant to give such advices because no one can guarantee that the train won't be booked. All I can say is that personnally, I wouldn't worry much if the day and time aren't peak time.

Hi argus,

I looked up the train from Paris to Chamonix-Mont Blanc.

Is this your trip?

SNCF says that there is only one train, te 22:26 night train with a change at St. Gervais.

What time does your flight arrive?

topping for argus.

There are multiple trains from Paris to Chamonix-Mont Blanc, including several that go direct from the Charles de Gaulle Airport to Lyon, without requiring a change of train in Paris.

Thank you for your replies. I am considering two possibilities now: take a train from the airport to Chamonix via Lyon, or take a train to Geneva and a bus from there to Chamonix. Have you ever taken either route? Which is preferable?

Argus

I have never travelled either route (Paris-Lyon-Chamonix or Paris-Geneva-Chamonix) but the fact that you can get a direct train from Charles de Gaulle Airport to Lyon without going through Paris would cause me to lean toward this option.

Thanks for the info, Thomas.

The SNCF site didn't show this route, but the Bahn.de site does.