I've been looking at the websites for TGV.com, idTGV.com and SCNF.com.
The train we want to take is a TGV leaving Avignon at 14:05 on Oct 1(Sat). There is a PREM fare(or was last night) that looks very good, but I have a question about the actual process of purchasing.

I would like to buy the tickets online and print them. Also, DH and I are 60+ can we get a discounted fare, or do I have to purchase an annual pass for a discount? Since I don't want the pass,(unless it offers better flexibility) do I just enter us as adult(25-59)

Is it best to go through the French site and if so, how do I print off the tickets. I can read the basics on the French site, but I'm not fluent, so don't want to mess up.

Thanks,
Barb

I don't use any site but www.voyages-sncf.com so can't answer any questions about the best site.

However, there is no need to lie about your age, in any case. When you search, it offers you all possible choices of tickets, and if there were a decouverte senior fare available, it would offer it along with all other options. YOu do need an annual card that costs around 60 euro to take advantage of those fares. I've read you can get them with proof of age without that card on some particular trains and times, But I don't know.

I don't think you can ever get discounts on PREM tickets, they are already deeply discounted. And there is no offer of a decouverte senior on that day and time, anyway, so I don't think you even have that option. And I don't think you can buy that card outside France, anyway, so you couldn't use it to book online now, as I understand it. But I'm not expert on trying to get senior discounts on SNCF, I just don't think it's possible and think it would be unrealistic to expect a discount on tope of the heavily discounted PREM fare. The senior discounts are not off that.

If you can't read French well enough to figure out the site and how to print the tickets, better not. Because you have to specifically enter that option and answer questions about where you intend to pick up the ticket, etc.

I'm sure others will have some comments who may not use the main SNCF site like I do, as I'm not familiar with other options.

I, like Christina, use www.voyages-sncf.com.

The fare, 39€, shown for the Oct 1st 14h05 departure is a PREM fare meaning that it is non transferable, non refundable and therefore eligible to be printed at home. The senior discount applies to full fare tickets, not discounted tickets (there is no discount on the discount). PREM fares only increase so if you want to take advantage, you must purchase these now.

If you would prefer to work in English, you can use this site:

http://www.tgv-europe.com/en/

You choose Great Britain as your country, then choose the option to continue with the purchase in euros on the TGV-Europe site (rather than being transferred to the UK Rail Europe site). After that, you proceed with the order and choose the E-Ticket Service option to print your tickets.

PREM fares offer no flexibility, but are less costly than the more flexible discounted fares. If you enter your ages as 60+, you will see the Loisir fares along with the PREMs.

The Carte Senior discount card cost €56 and gives you 25-50% fare reductions for one year depending on the type of train and date/time of travel.

http://www.senior-sncf.com/carte/avantages/default.aspx

There have been several recent threads about buying French rail tickets online.

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...edit-cards.cfm

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...s-question.cfm

If you do a search on the forum, you will find many more.

Thanks for the replies. I went to voyages-scnf.com and purchased the PREMS fare(110 euro for 2 tix), deciding to buy 1st class as a treat for my DH, who is 6'7".

As always, Fodorites are a huge help! My somewhat limited knowledge of French served me well, and the process allowed me to select e-billets.
Thanks,
Barb