ggreen

Giulia, I can't help you with the ticket prices (though I completely agree I've never paid prices like the ones you're seeing). But for translations, I find Google Translate (translate.google.com) <i>really</i> helpful! Try copy/pasting the French from the train site and seeing if that helps.

Askar

<i>For Reims you don't want the TGV either - it will leave you farther outside town than you need/want to be.</i>

There is also a TGV to Reims-Gare (center of town). It takes only 45 mn from Paris-Est.
The TGV station you mention is Champagne-Ardennes TGV (about 8 km from the center)

GiuliaPiraino

Askar, the tickets I was looking at were to Reims-Gare.

Betty1

Go to http://seat61.com/France-trains.htm#in English, scroll about half-way down the page to "How to use voyages-sncf in French" and the "man in seat 61" will walk you through it. (Print these directions if you can or open another window for voyages-sncf.) I wouldn't bother with seat selection for that short a trip and you don't want the insurance so untick that (those)box(es). When it comes to how to receive your tickets, choose to print them if you have that capability and it's offered. If not, choose to pick them up at a station or sncf boutique. If you do this you should be able to get both of you to Reims and back for 99 euros (less if you want to leave very early). It would probably have been a lot less if you'd bought them a few weeks ago.

As others have said, you don't need to buy Chartres tickets in advance.

Hope this helps.

Askar

I have just checked the price for Reims. This is what I get:

Paris <> Reims
21/03/2011
06:57 Paris Est
07:42 Reims Gare
..............
21/03/2011
Reims > Paris
17:15 Reims Gare
18:00 Paris Est

2 passengers - 2nd class
Total 79 €

I must admit that voyage-sncf is VERY confusing, even for a French (like me).

Christina

well, some of those fares you were quoting didn't seem that outrageous once you realize they are for two people and with the bad USD-euro exchange rate right now AND that they were for both ways, if I understand it. But the Chartres one seemed really out of line, but there isn't any reason to buy that ahead of time, anyway. You don't get any deals on short distance tickets like that being bought ahead of time on the internet that I know. And you can't print them, so what's the point, you'll have to go to a ticket window anyway to collect them.

The original quote of $124 for two people RT to Chartres doesn't really seem that outrageous, it's only $62 per person or $31 one-way, which is now only around 23 euro. Sure, it's a bit of a markup over buying in France because it's Raileurope, but that isn't really that outrageous.

I never have much of a problem using www.voyages-sncf.com, most of these issues are because people are using a different website, tgv-europe or something, and can't read French.

So now it seems to be 40 euro per person to Reims from Paris roundtrip? That doesn't seem high to me, seems about right.

GiuliaPiraino

We did work things out to get to Chartres, it was 14 EUROS each way, so 28 each person. Sadly we were REALLY disappointed. I was sorry we spent the time and the money. It was not our cup of tea at all. Now I am worried about Reims, if it's the same as Chartres I'll cry.

mamcalice

Not your cup of tea? What did you expect? It is a magnificent Gothic cathedral in a small and vaguely charming town. The windows amaze. The last two times we have been, they have been cleaning both the windows and the facade - both look wonderful. Sorry you didn't appreciate Chartres and hope Reims is more your cup of tea.

GiuliaPiraino

Forgot to mention Betty1, thank, you for your advice in using www.seat61.com, the screen shots of the French website in the step by step instructions were just what we needed. Using the French site the tickets went down to $87 Euros, it was originally 85 but for 1 Euro more each way there was an upgrade to first class so I figured why not.

Mamacalice, the cathedral was exceptional we really enjoyed it tremendously. It's not that the cathedral itself was not our cup of tea, it was Chartres as a day trip in general that wasn't a good match for us. I know everyone is very passionate on this forum, I appreciate your opinion. I meant no disrespect to Chatres!

PalenQ

Reims as a city is bigger than Chartres and if you did not like Chartres - to me a sweet regional French city IF you know where to go - like the Little Venice area that most tourists miss - you will likely not like Reims either though Reims has a lot more to see and do than Chartres.

clareita

GuiliaPiraino,

I'm planning a day trip to Chartres as part of a Paris trip this May. Can you be more specific about what you found disappointing about it?

I hope you enjoyed Reims.

kismetchimera

clareita, take a look at this web and tell me that Chartres cathedral is NOT worth visiting. I love Chartres.


http://images.search.yahoo.com/searc...tres+cathedral

GiuliaPiraino

Clareita, the cathedral was lovely, we really enjoyed it. All I can say is that having gone to Reims, which also has a cathedral that to me was even more beautiful than Chartres, I would have skipped Chartres and spent more time in Reims (we were only there 5 hours, not nearly enough time). If you have a lot of time in Paris or perhaps are doing a driving tour, or touring by rail, then a stop in Chartres might be lovely for you. I am definitely in the minority not being thrilled with Chartres so it's probably better for you to listen to everyone else!

Gretchen

Did you take the tour of the Chartres cathedral--the explanation of the windows?
There is nothing disappointing about Chartres. All the cathedrals are beautiful.

kerouac

I'm glad you enjoyed Reims. I would have been very disappointed otherwise.

Christina

I agree with Giulia about Chartres vs. Reims. I would much rather visit Reims so if you had one day trip, I'd choose that over Chartres. And I also did not have time to see everything I wnted in Reims as I was there for a day trip. They have several good art museums. I also really enjoyed the recapitulation museum or whatever they call it (Eisenhower headquarters), that was fascinating, the map room and film clips there were great. And I didn't even go to any champagne houses as I don't particularly like champagne, but I would have just to see how they do things if I'd had time. BUt I did go to the REims main fine arts museum, which has some nice works. I wanted to go to one or two others, though.

Chartres? I went to the cathedral and looked at the windows.

GiuliaPiraino

Gretchen, yes we did, that was amazing, the cathedral was truly incredible!