I am trying to get my train tickets online from Paris to Lyon and I am not sure which train station I need - I am staying at Hotel La Residence, which is close to the center of town, but which station is closest - Port Dieu, or Perrache? Thanks

If you go to the hotel's website you'll find it is closer to Perrache.
www.hotel-la-residence.com

Yup, it's definitely Perrache. But all trains from Paris to Lyon stop at both stations, so it doesn't really matter what it says on your ticket (it's the same price!!).

Intrepid is right. I have been to Lyon more than a few times and once stayed at La Residence on Rue Victor-Hugo. An easy 5 minute-walk straight on from Perrache Station. Don't get off at PART-Dieu.

Yahoo!!! it worked. I printed out my ticket (from the English site!) and it couldn't have been any easier. So now, my print-out shows an official looking ticket at the top of the page with Conditions D'Utilisation: at the bottom. Is this all I need? Do I just board the train with this and not have to check in anywhere, or validate before boarding in one of the machines? Also, does this mean I do not have an exact seat assignment and just have to find a vacant seat anywhere (2nd class)? Sorry to ask such dumb questions, but I've never done this before.

I suspect you'll probably still have to validate the ticket in one of the machines at the head of the platform. Unless a specific space and car nuumber are on the ticket it must be an un-reserved space..first-come-first-served provided the seat you pick isn't already reserved for someone else.

I thought those tickets you printed out were totally nonrefundable and for a specific train and time, so you wouldn't need to validate them? I don't know as I haven't done it, I just thought that was the rule. It wouldn't hurt to stick them in that machine, it just puts a date and time on them. The Conditions d'Utilisation must tell you, though, don't they?

Christine - yes they are nonrefundable, etc., and for a specific time and date. Unfortunately the conditions are in French and I can only translate a few words here and there. Well, I guess it can't hurt to stick it in a machine.

Well, I just purchased a ticket also from CDG to Lyon, and printed it out myself. If it does need to be validated, I'm wondering whether I should cut the ticket part out, since the whole thing with all the listed conditions takes up an 8-1/2 x 11 piece of paper. Or can I just stick the top of the piece of paper into the machine and it'll print the date on the ticket part??

My question too. Sandyh - did you get a seat assignment, or did you have the choice of one? I did't see that option, but maybe that's only for 1st class. I was hoping to get a window seat. Oh well, maybe the train won't be full.

Barb - Make sure you reconfirm La Residence! (And probably make sure you are not staying on Friday night of a French long weekend.) Have fun. Lyon is a neat city. CJ

Barb, I didn't get a seat assignment, nor did I see any opportunity to ask for one. I hope the same thing you do -- that the train won't be full!

Barb are you taking a TGV or a regional train (TER) to Lyon. Everything on the SNCF website says seat reservations are mandatory on the TGV.

If you are on a TGV I wonder if you have seat assignments, but just don't know what they are because it wasn't printed on your receipt?

My ticket is for the TGV, and I can't find anything on it about a particular seat. However, I did find a little clause: 'Ce titre est dispense de compostage.' That is, I DON'T have to have it validated.

WAIT! I just discovered: 'Voiture 8 Place 81'. Now that I see it, it sticks out like a sore thumb; how did I ever miss it? This is Car #8, Seat 81, right?

Yup, that's it. Now if only seat 81 meant anything to me...

Here's a link to a thread that lists the SNCF English language phone number. If you're really curious you could call and ask.

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34410458

Oh well, at least I know I have a seat.

Ok, now I feel stupid - I just saw it too, Voiture 18 Place 63. I guess it helps if you can read French. CarolJean - I did reconfirm and have printed that out. I will be there Oct.2 and 3rd. The 3rd is a Friday - is this a French holiday weekend? Porquoi?

Looks like you're clear on the holiday. This link shows holiday calendars for some of the European countries:

http://www.timeanddate.com/calendar/...&country=5