swandav2000

Hi MorganB,

Big thank you for this incredibly helpful info!!

I'm researching a trip from Paris to Geneva and was trying to snag an iDTGV fare. I re-read your instructions and all the following replies, and went to the iDTGV site. I discovered that my route is not eligible for that fare.

So your information saved me hours of frustration! Thanks so much!!

s

GaryCA

You were right about the timeframe for buying, Morgan. Mission accomplished. Thanks again.

MorganB

swandav: Glad you found it helpful and good to hear you got your tickets.

Gary: I've never really figured out the exact formula for the ticket sales starting. Some say 90 days, some say 3 months. However, the way I knew it was going to happen the next day is by looking at days prior to your date of travel. Since the day before your date of travel had all booking options available, I knew that on the following day, your date would open up. Is a handy little trick if you want to be sure and grab the tickets the day they go on sale.

GaryCA

I was starting to feel like an obsessive/compulsive trying to get access to those tickets, but now I see the PREM's tickets are getting snapped up already, so I guess it wasn't so neurotic after all.

BTW, do you know Lille-Flandres station well enough to know if a 5 minute connection between trains is OK?

MorganB

Hi again Gary,

Yes the selection can go quickly so good to buy them early for maximum choice.

As far as a 5 minute change, if the SNCF sells it that way then yes its enough. They will probably have the trains right across from each other on the same platform. I have never taken the train to Lille so cant speak to the station however.

cjm311

Thank you so much for all this information! I do have one question that I haven't seen addresed. I have problems with motion sickness when I travel in a seat facing backwards. Is there any way to reserve a TGV seat that faces the direction of the train? Thanks!

blh

SNCF has a new weekend special "Flash" that has great rates. 30E and 40E for two. Now I wish I had waited!

MorganB

Hi CJM:

You can request seats in the direction of travel on certain TGV but only if you travel in first class. You select it when you click on the seating options during the booking. Otherwise just try to move if you get a backwards facing seat.

VeeBee

I'm thinking of buying a great prems fare for Paris-Milan on artesia night train for my mom for June 3 (only 35 e!) Rest of family (DH, self, 3 kids) will be travelling on Eurail passes - and booking our couchette reservation separately ($35 couchette reservation fee w/ railpass).. think there is any problem with getting Mom to be able to switch with someone to sleep in our 6-person car? Assume no way to specific this when ordering prem fare tickets thru SCNF? I'm right at 90-day window to buy ticket - do you think it matters if i wait 3-4 days to book her prem ticket after we make our reservations for couchettes? Can you make reservations only on scnf site w/railpass (similar to raileurope site) or just for purchase tickets? thanks-- veebee

VeeBee

hit the button before i finished.. or maybe if i call scnf english number they could accomplish both for me - reserved couchettes with railpass and prem fare for mom? HELP!!!

MorganB

I would suggest you call. That way they can book you all in the same cabin at once. If they cant help you with the rail pass reservations , do that via rail europe asking for an empty cabin then call sncf and tell them where your family is to add yourself. As far as waiting a few days after the PREMS are released, its really hard to say, they can go quickly or they can stay for weeks and weeks , depends on the demand for the route.

JimF

MorganB, I have hit a snag that I did not expect. My wife and I and two granddaughters are traveling Rome to Paris via the overnight train. We have finally entered the 90 day period for 2 June travel, but the computer will not book all four of us in the same cabin under the couchette for four arrangements. Elsewhere on Trenitalia's site I read that there are cabins reserved for all ladies on the coach. Does this mean that the only way we can travel and be in the same compartment is to go first class?

I have also noted that it is MUCH easier to manuever through these options on the SNCF site, but you write that we could not pick up our tickets in Rome if they were purchased from SNCF, correct? I am curious because they do show an option on the site for selecting a place to pick up tickets other than France.

Thanks for your excellent guide.

Jim

VeeBee

thanks - i'm going to make all my bookings/railpasses Monday via BudgetEurope travel and then call SCNF to try to purchase Prems fare and get 6th person (my mom!) in same cabin...don't know with Prems fares if you basically get what you get.. but we'll find out! All the info has been great - i wouldn't have even ckd out the scnf site and paid LOTS for ticket direct with raileurope or budgeteuropetravel!

MorganB

Hi Jim,

If you select Italy as the country where you would like to collect your tickets, they will be mailed there. You cant pick them up at the ticket window if purchased from the SNCF site. If you want to buy your tickets from the SNCF you can order them via phone and have them mailed to you in the US. Mailing to the US only works via phone, not the sncf site.

I cant really help you on the layout of the night train as I have never taken it. Hope you are able to work it out!

Morgan

JimF

Hi, MorganB

Well, I broke through, much much more than I wanted.

Something is amiss with their server and it continued to show me that my attempts to purchase tickets (first class, double sleeper) were denied by my VISA, then MC. Outraged, I called VISA. Oh, sir, they replied, but you have TWO purchases approved tonight. I suspect same happened with MC. The Trenitalia's customer section and its links where one can check purchases, etc., show no reservations or tickets, but apparently I have bought at least 12!! The purchases were going through, but their server would not (and still has not) acknowledge them.

Banks' advice is to get them on the telephone line with a conference call and have them agree to rescind the charges. So far, I can't get them to respond to my FAX...

Ahh, the trials of international travel...

Thanks for your help. I will let you know how this one plays out.

Jim

jenblase

Hi MorganB - need some quick help. I bought my TGV tix from Paris to Avignon the other day; no problem with those. However I'm now attempting to purchase tickets from Lausanne to Paris. Since my travel is not originating in France, it does not give me the option as it did with the PREMS fares (I'm getting Piccolo fares though). So, my question is, should I choose France or Switzerland for the country where I will collect my tickets? I'm thinking I should change it to Switzerland, but if I do that, my only option is to have them sent free by post. If I still choose France, it asks if I want to pick them up at the ticket counter. Which option do I choose?

MorganB

Hi Jim, I dont know alot about the Trenitalia website. Hope you get it all straightened out!

Jenblase: If you are going to be in France before the Lausanne - Paris leg you can pick them up at anytime in France. Otherwise, you would need to call and book your tickets over the phone with the SNCF and have them mail them to you. You can't really use the website if you are originating in another country unless the tickets are printable.

Another option would be to book via the swiss train website. I have never used it so cant really help you with that.

VeeBee

well - I called SNCF English number - got thru - booked my prems fare - gave cc# - but then when she asked where i wanted tickets mailed - said they no longer mail to US - went to ask her manager - who confirmed - no mailing to US - also could not print due to fact they are Paris - Milan (tried this online)...so she gave me a confirmation number and told me i could pick up in France at a rail station.. I'm a little uncertain and asked her whether prems fares could be picked up and she said "It's OK - dont' worry - i confirmed with my manager" and said to bring my amex and confirmation number. However, I am worried!! Asked for email to confirm - she said they didn't do this - so i am going to send my own confirming email via SNCF website (since she also did not get any contact info from me if cc transaction has problems??) and maybe bring my amex statement confirming the charge? WOuld you be worried? We do not leave for trip until May 30th so will have plenty of time to hit my statement..??

mauitammy

Bookmarking

MorganB

VeeBee, I wouldnt worry at all. When we book over the phone here in France we can pick up our tickets at the station with the reservation and credit card. You can also pick them up from any train station or SNCF boutique prior to travel. You dont have to wait for the day of travel. Interesting that they wont mail them anymore. You should be able to consult your reservation here:

http://www.voyages-sncf.com/dynamic/...mp;_AGENCY=VSC