Hello everyone,
My family is taking a trip to Paris at the end of April. We are going to take the train from Paris to Caen (Normandy) on one of the days we are there. Is it better to buy the tickets now since the Dollar is not strong against the Euro? If so, should I buy from Rail Europe? Suggestions are appreciated! Thanks!

Buying from Rail Europe is going to be your most expensive option. For a train to Caen you are fine waiting until you get to Paris to buy the ticket.

Or if you want to buy now (and you probably could save some money doing so with a prem fare) book it on the SNCF site.

I would love to hear how it went after you get back. My family is doing the same thing in August, and the train websites have me confused.

What exactly are you going to do in Caen, and for how long? Are you spending the night (you say "on one of the days&quot. The reason I ask is, if you are doing DDay sites/tours, you might do better just booking a bus trip from Paris. I would also think you can just show up at the train station (Gare St. Lazare) and buy tickets. There might even be a family discount ticket.

The fare for Paris-Caen is so cheap that i would not bother about online discounts if you find www.voyages-sncf.com tough to make work as many do.

This is not a TGV line and only Corail TEOZ trains on the route demand reservations others do not.

Taking the train from Paris to Caen is very easy. The only thing is to be sure you have a tour guide lined up before you get up there. We didn't but lucked out that there was room on another tour for us to join in. Our tour guide was Rosine Martel. She was absolutely fantastic. She took us back roads to the sites so we could experience the countryside. Her email is [email protected]. She was educated in the US and grew up in the Normandy area. Hope this helps.

Hi T,

If you purchase your tickets online at www.voyages-sncf.com you will find PREMS fares available for 15E instead of full price of 29E.

You can print your ticket online at home.

This is directed to IRA or anyone else who knows. Perhaps you can tell me, step by step, how to locate fares on www.voyages-sncf.com and print them out at home. sncf keeps transferring me to the Rail Europe web site, when it comes to the point where it asks where the tickets are to be delivered.

Ira will help out but i think you put down France and then print them out at home?

I agree with booking now to get the PREM fares. We saved a lot by doing this last year. There is a really good thread by MorganB which is a tutorial on how to buy the tickets. We did what PalenQ said, and it worked.

And they say i believe to print out at home you should decline the insurance

While the main page is in French, click on train and the text will be in English:

http://www.voyages-sncf.com/leisure/uk/launch/home/

Can you please tell me how long the train trip takes. It sounds wonderful.

Paris to Caen is about 1:50 to 2 hours. Paris to Bayeux is a little over two hours direct, but often a connection in Caen is more convenient. Thus the trip time varies with how long the connection in Caen is.

Last summer we took the direct train from Paris to Bayeux and I believe our trip was 2 hours and 4 minutes.

Going to the American Cemetery from Paris?
To get to Normandy from Paris - Take the train from Paris to Caen and then to Bayeux OR Paris to Bayeux. Then you will need to hop on the bus to get you to the American Cemetery.

hop the mini-buses that is - no real dependable regular bus service - some spotty services but for most the mini-bus tours offered by several companies, including one right at the Bayeus train station (actually in a old hotel behind it) will take you to the cemetery and other key D-Day sights at a reasonable rate.

For lots of great info about French trains - check out www.seat61.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.voyages-sncf.com - the official site of the Societe National des chemins des fer francaises or the SNCF, the French National Railways.

<B>outdoor7or24:</B> Welcome to Fodors. I sort of doubt the OP is still looking for advice/suggestions. The trip was 3+ years ago.

Oops look for janis Luv to point out what eluded us other dolts!