4 adults will be traveling within France from September 12-October 2. The Flexi Passes offer 4 days in a month. "Dumb Question" is: Does that mean 4 days riding the rails in September only? Or, does 1 month mean 30 consecutive days? Will we have to buy an extra day to cover the October date? Or, because it's October do we have to buy just point to point tickets for that final leg of the trip?
Thanks!

Hi mk,

You get 4 days of travel in a 30-day period.

Before buying any railpasses, however, enter your itinerary at www.railsaver.com and click "only if it saves money".

That is for a one month period, from the time you validate it. If you validate it on your first day, September 12, your valid period lasts until midnight October 11.

One month should mean ~30 days from the day you activated your pass.

Have you already bought the railpass? Because French railroad system is not that expensive as well as SNCF often offering discount tickets, it is hard to break even compared to the point to point.

Where are you going to use your pass? Consider that if your trip involve mostly TGV, you need to pay additional for reservations. SNCF offers cheap PREM tickets to many destinations.

If my trip plan is fixed, I try to buy all PREM tickets online which include reservations. Just hop on the right train with home printed ticket; no need to spend any time visiting ticket counters.

Thank you both for your speedy reply. Yes, I know about 'validating' date begins the month. I just didn't know if it was a calendar month or a consecutive 30-day month. Thanks too, for the point-to-point site info. I'll check it out. However, our itinerary isn't nailed down yet and I'm hesitant to book specific rail dates. Buying PREMS is always least expensive, right? But you have to have specific dates to buy them, right? Another dumb question: Can you use the Flexi Pass on the TGV trains? Thanks again!

yes

Two sites you need to study: www.eurail.com, and www.ricksteves.com - he has a great way of explaining the passes and how they work etc.

WK

Hi M,

>Can you use the Flexi Pass on the TGV trains?<

Yes, but you will have to purchase a seat reservation beforehand.

You can get them at any train station or SNCF boutique.