Paris trains, what is PREM?
Mar 6th, 2006, 08:25 AM
#21
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What discount site? The SNCF site? No, it's not just for locals. Anyone can purchase from that site. I would definitely check with the hotel to accept the tickets on your behalf. I asked my hotel and they were glad to help me out in that way.
Mar 6th, 2006, 08:29 AM
#22
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TimS
Thanks for the "English" phone number - I don't know how you managed to find it.
MorganB
Thanks for yur detailed procedure on how to "print" the tickets. Maybe I will try it next time.
Actualli I encountered the same "problem" while trying to book at the Trenitalia site. They have "magic tickets" that you can buy, but they will only mail the tickets to an address in Italy. Bu the time I found someone in Italy who was willing to re-send the tickets to me, the discount tickets are gone!
Thanks for the "English" phone number - I don't know how you managed to find it.
MorganB
Thanks for yur detailed procedure on how to "print" the tickets. Maybe I will try it next time.
Actualli I encountered the same "problem" while trying to book at the Trenitalia site. They have "magic tickets" that you can buy, but they will only mail the tickets to an address in Italy. Bu the time I found someone in Italy who was willing to re-send the tickets to me, the discount tickets are gone!
Mar 6th, 2006, 08:38 AM
#23
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sorry to "highjack" this post again ...
on asking hotels to mail the tickets.
I guess it all depends on the "hotel". For us, we will be renting apartments through VRBO, ParisBy etc., so the owner's address is not always the same as the address of the apartment you'll be renting. If the owenr is willing to do that - that's great.
Another comment on hotel: it may work with a smaller hotel; but if you are dealing with a big, chain hotel, forget it. I remember a couple of years ago I stayed at the Westin St. Francis in San Francisco, and when I checked out I left my cell phone charger in the room. When I got home, I called the hotel and asked them to mail it to Westin in San Diego because I would be going there the following week. After much talking they finally agreed to do it, but they charged me some $20 to mail it. You would think that they would perhaps do it free for a customer who had just spent 4-5 days at their hotel. Talk about business sense!
on asking hotels to mail the tickets.
I guess it all depends on the "hotel". For us, we will be renting apartments through VRBO, ParisBy etc., so the owner's address is not always the same as the address of the apartment you'll be renting. If the owenr is willing to do that - that's great.
Another comment on hotel: it may work with a smaller hotel; but if you are dealing with a big, chain hotel, forget it. I remember a couple of years ago I stayed at the Westin St. Francis in San Francisco, and when I checked out I left my cell phone charger in the room. When I got home, I called the hotel and asked them to mail it to Westin in San Diego because I would be going there the following week. After much talking they finally agreed to do it, but they charged me some $20 to mail it. You would think that they would perhaps do it free for a customer who had just spent 4-5 days at their hotel. Talk about business sense!
Mar 6th, 2006, 08:53 AM
#24
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Johnmango: You are probably encountering the little problem I encountered last week when purchasing PREM tickets. I opted to buy the cancellation insurance, and thereafter found it was impossible to get the print your own tickets option. Just don't opt for the cancellation insurance and you'll be able to print your tickets.
Mar 6th, 2006, 09:05 AM
#26
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Hi again, John. I rememebered that someone had posted the English SNCF phone number on another thread. That's how I found it. StCirq is correct that choosing cancellation insurance negates the option of printing your own ticket. When you see your choices for ticket prices, the highlighted PREM choice usually says you can print your own ticket. However, in the case of your particular route, the PREM box omits any reference at all to printing your own ticket. Again, I have no idea why.
Mar 6th, 2006, 09:25 AM
#27
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".. choosing insurance negates the option of printing the tickets".
There is always something we can learn everyday. I just wish that I were rich enough so that I don't have to spend some much energy and time on this just to save a hundred dollars here and there. But others may see that as a challenge!
There is always something we can learn everyday. I just wish that I were rich enough so that I don't have to spend some much energy and time on this just to save a hundred dollars here and there. But others may see that as a challenge!
Mar 6th, 2006, 09:34 AM
#28
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Keep in mind the system is NOT designed to be used by those in the US. It is only for those who's countries appear in the drop down list of countries. So when they book if mailing is the only option, they simply choose to have them mailed.
Those in the US are trying to "work the system" to get the best price by avoiding RailEurope. Frankly we are luckly they dont simply block US residents from the site all together.
Those in the US are trying to "work the system" to get the best price by avoiding RailEurope. Frankly we are luckly they dont simply block US residents from the site all together.
Mar 6th, 2006, 09:46 AM
#29
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I agree with Morgan, one of these days I expect they may do that (although I'm not sure how they would) since a lot of people don't follow directions, expect SNCF to mail tickets halfway around the world (which I find an amazing expectation, try to get Amtrak to mail tickets for free to Europe), and make phone calls to ask for special treatment. For example, a lot of people claim they enter US addresses in cases where addresses aren't even required.
SNCF isn't a "discount site", it's just a regular rail site and Raileurope is a private travel agency, basically. Travel agents have no incentive at all to get you cheap rail tickets, so why would they do anything but use Raileurope, which is very user-friendly for English-speaking North Americans.
SNCF isn't a "discount site", it's just a regular rail site and Raileurope is a private travel agency, basically. Travel agents have no incentive at all to get you cheap rail tickets, so why would they do anything but use Raileurope, which is very user-friendly for English-speaking North Americans.
Mar 6th, 2006, 11:05 AM
#30
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My 2-cents worth .. . I'm not trying to start a debate here, just some observation
Like what I read about income tax: tax avoidance is legal, but tax evasion is not.
People will always try to get the best deal for their money. I don't see any wrong with "working the system". The sncf site has not stated that "this site is not open to North American travellers etc. etc.". So as long as people follow the rules of the website and are successful in obtaining a discount ticket (i.e. working the system", I'd say all the best to them.
A similar situation is that Eurostar train has lower prices when you buy a return ticket. if I don't want to return the same route I can buy a return ticket - which is usually much cheaper than buyer a one-way ticket, and discard the return portion.
I also agree also that sometimes people can be unreasonable and demand that the agents at sncf mail the tickets to US or Canada. Many countries have separate, lower prices for their own residents which many tourists may think of as discriminatory. I guess that's an old topic which had generated many postings and heated debate.
Like what I read about income tax: tax avoidance is legal, but tax evasion is not.
People will always try to get the best deal for their money. I don't see any wrong with "working the system". The sncf site has not stated that "this site is not open to North American travellers etc. etc.". So as long as people follow the rules of the website and are successful in obtaining a discount ticket (i.e. working the system", I'd say all the best to them.
A similar situation is that Eurostar train has lower prices when you buy a return ticket. if I don't want to return the same route I can buy a return ticket - which is usually much cheaper than buyer a one-way ticket, and discard the return portion.
I also agree also that sometimes people can be unreasonable and demand that the agents at sncf mail the tickets to US or Canada. Many countries have separate, lower prices for their own residents which many tourists may think of as discriminatory. I guess that's an old topic which had generated many postings and heated debate.
Mar 6th, 2006, 01:02 PM
#31
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Actually in the terms and conditions it says:
"Voyages-Sncf.com's services and Terms and Conditions of Use exclusively apply to clients who are residents of the countries listed in appendices 1, 2 and 3."
The United States is not in any of the appendices.
The french version of the site says:
"Pour les pays d'Amérique du Nord (Etats-Unis,Canada), l'Australie et le Japon, veuillez effectuer votre réservation sur le site http://www.raileurope.com"
For North American countries, Australia and Japan, please make your reservation on http://www.raileurope.com
Thats why USA isnt in the list of countries. I don't think its really a problem nor to I think it is wrong to use the sncf site to book. However, the complaints about the difficulities encountered while using the site are a bit unjustified as the site was not designed with north american residences in mind. Hence all the jumping through hoops to try to get a printable fare.
"Voyages-Sncf.com's services and Terms and Conditions of Use exclusively apply to clients who are residents of the countries listed in appendices 1, 2 and 3."
The United States is not in any of the appendices.
The french version of the site says:
"Pour les pays d'Amérique du Nord (Etats-Unis,Canada), l'Australie et le Japon, veuillez effectuer votre réservation sur le site http://www.raileurope.com"
For North American countries, Australia and Japan, please make your reservation on http://www.raileurope.com
Thats why USA isnt in the list of countries. I don't think its really a problem nor to I think it is wrong to use the sncf site to book. However, the complaints about the difficulities encountered while using the site are a bit unjustified as the site was not designed with north american residences in mind. Hence all the jumping through hoops to try to get a printable fare.
Mar 6th, 2006, 01:03 PM
#32
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Christina,
When you use the net your IP address reveals your location. For example, I am in France and am not allowed to access the showtime website. When I go to that site it says:
We at Showtime Online express our apologies; however, these pages are intended for access only from within the United States.
When you use the net your IP address reveals your location. For example, I am in France and am not allowed to access the showtime website. When I go to that site it says:
We at Showtime Online express our apologies; however, these pages are intended for access only from within the United States.
Mar 6th, 2006, 07:14 PM
#34
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If you go back to the beginning of this thread, you'll see that the second post (mine) gives you the figures. For Paris-Bayeux it's 20.30 E for a 2nd class PREM ticket and 30.40 E for a regular 2nd class ticket.
Mar 7th, 2006, 02:09 PM
#38
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I went to SNCF a moment ago. While there are some individual PREM tickets left, DISCOVER TOGETHER tickets (two or more people traveling together) is currently your best option for Paris-Bayeux on either April 23-25 or April 30-May 2. Total RT cost for all four of you is 91.20 E.
At Rail Europe all I was offered was four regular-priced tickets for a RT cost of 400 US. Yes, Rail Europe will mail your tickets to the US. But why would you want to spend all that extra money just to have the tickets in hand before leaving home?
Go to the SNCF site, book your tickets, and choose the option of picking them up at any SNCF train station or ticket boutique. All you'll need to pick them up is the credit card you used when you booked them.
At Rail Europe all I was offered was four regular-priced tickets for a RT cost of 400 US. Yes, Rail Europe will mail your tickets to the US. But why would you want to spend all that extra money just to have the tickets in hand before leaving home?
Go to the SNCF site, book your tickets, and choose the option of picking them up at any SNCF train station or ticket boutique. All you'll need to pick them up is the credit card you used when you booked them.
Mar 7th, 2006, 03:04 PM
#40
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Well, Tim, at this kind of savings, I will certainly check out the SNCF price. I was thinking if it wasn't that big of a deal, I would have TA do it, so I would have tickets in hand when I go on the trip. But for that kind of savings, better go in the SNCF site and do it.
So, arrange to pick up the tickets at the train station? (Sorry, one more annoying question) not to print them out at home?
So, arrange to pick up the tickets at the train station? (Sorry, one more annoying question) not to print them out at home?
