MaineGG

Reservations and information -
http://www.idtgv.com (French)
http://www.idtgv.com/en/ (English)

kerouac

One should be aware that the idtgv trains are limited in their destinations and schedules, even if they are often cheaper than a normal TGV.

I know that some people are obsessional about planning their trips, but I would suggest psychiatric assistance to anybody who feels compelled to book a train ticket for September right now.

MaineGG

Ouch, kerouac. I'd better call a shrink. Oh, wait. Could there be some folks who have their plane tickets for June and July and their rentals or hotels booked who are ready to buy a train ticket now? I think you might not be as aware as some of us how far in advance certain components of our travel itineraries have to be confirmed.

And yes, the iDTGV routes are limited, but if your destination is served and the schedule is convenient, it can certainly be a good option for you. It certainly was for us when we traveled 1st class on an iDTGV from Paris to Lyon for only €7 per ticket more than the 2nd class TGV PREM fare. By the way, the iDTGV cars were part of the TGV train on which the fares were higher.

I find the iDTGV site very easy to use, and it's a very quick search to see if there's something there that works for you. For our upcoming trip, we are using a TGV for one trip and an iDTGV for another. It pays to look at both options.

kerouac

I can generally find my first class tickets for less than second class fare, but then again I have nerves of steel and don't mind checking fares every day or two for a month. The computer changes the fares every day. It is very rare when I buy my tickets more than two months in advance, and it is also rare for me to pay more than 30€. But of course one of the reasons that I get good fares is because other people are willing to jump on more expensive fares in panic.

So thank you very much, MaineGG.

MaineGG

K, I don't doubt your success in finding some good buys, but I just looked again at the train we're taking from Toulouse to Paris in early May. We paid €46 per ticket for 1st class when we bought the tickets in January. Now the fare is €49.90. 2nd class is €39.90. TGV fares for the same train are now €71.00 for 2nd class, €82.00 for 1st class. So, in this case, the fares have increased on the iDTGV, and are significantly higher for the TGV on the same date. So buying earlier does not illustrate "jumping on more expensive fares in panic." For the sake of research, I'll keep looking at the fares on this train to see what they are as we get closer to the date of travel.

MaineGG

Just reporting that as of today, the TGV we booked from Paris to Angoulême for the last week in April for €40 per ticket in 1st class now shows no PREM fares, and €52 in 2nd cl./€71 in 1st cl. Glad we bought when the PREMS were still offered.

For our Toulouse-Paris train, 2nd cl. is now €46, with 1st cl. holding at €49.90 (Who would buy 2nd cl. tickets when for €3.90 more one could ride in 1st cl.?)

So far, jumping on earlier fares seems to be paying off.

MaineGG

Today the Paris-Angoulême TGV fares are still €52/€71.

The Toulouse-Paris iDTGV fares are now €46/€56. The TGV fares for the same train are €78/€82.