RailEurope Rail Pass question France/Belgium
Jul 1st, 2007, 02:59 PM
#1
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RailEurope Rail Pass question France/Belgium
We are having a hard time figuring out how to determine if we should buy a Railpass or not. Here is our schedule CDG to Brussels Brussels to Brugge and back then Brussels to Paris, Paris to Dijon and back and Paris to Caen and back. We tried to plot this out on RailEurope.com but we can't figure out if the pass covers all the routes. Does anyone know if standard pass covers raileurope railway lines? Thanks so much!
Jul 1st, 2007, 03:01 PM
#2
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Hi M,
You can get prices at www.voyages-sncf.com for trains to/from and within France.
www.b-rail.be/main/index.html for Belgium.
You can get prices at www.voyages-sncf.com for trains to/from and within France.
www.b-rail.be/main/index.html for Belgium.
Jul 1st, 2007, 03:10 PM
#4
Enter your intinerary at www.railsaver.com and click only if a pass saves me money.
Jul 1st, 2007, 11:25 PM
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>Once we buy the passes what is the best / easiest way to make reservations or do you even suggest doing that?
All TGV and Thalys trains will require reservations. Whatīs worse, the number of passholder seats is limited - so it can be that you can get on a particular train by buying a normal ticket, but cannot reserve a seat with your pass.
In any case, RailEurope wants huge surcharges for the reservations, so you might be better off by calling SNCF and making your reservation by phone.
(!seemingly NOT possible online!)
All TGV and Thalys trains will require reservations. Whatīs worse, the number of passholder seats is limited - so it can be that you can get on a particular train by buying a normal ticket, but cannot reserve a seat with your pass.
In any case, RailEurope wants huge surcharges for the reservations, so you might be better off by calling SNCF and making your reservation by phone.
(!seemingly NOT possible online!)
Jul 1st, 2007, 11:35 PM
#8
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>I checked and it is better to buy the pass
I would rather really do the math and look for real prices at www.voyages-sncf.com instead of price estimation at railsaver (itīs in their interest to sell the passes). Plus, by booking in advance you can get really low prices.
I would rather really do the math and look for real prices at www.voyages-sncf.com instead of price estimation at railsaver (itīs in their interest to sell the passes). Plus, by booking in advance you can get really low prices.
Jul 2nd, 2007, 06:24 AM
#9
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Hi M,
>>I checked and it is better to buy the pass.
Hmmmmmm, I did the numbers and found that 1cl PtP tickets for all of your travel came out to be $20 pp less than a Select Saver Pass for 2.
In addition, you don't have to pay the extra fees for reservations on TGV and THALYS - which will be another $75 pp, or so.
>>I checked and it is better to buy the pass.
Hmmmmmm, I did the numbers and found that 1cl PtP tickets for all of your travel came out to be $20 pp less than a Select Saver Pass for 2.
In addition, you don't have to pay the extra fees for reservations on TGV and THALYS - which will be another $75 pp, or so.
Jul 2nd, 2007, 06:54 AM
#10
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<$20 pp less than a Select Saver Pass for 2>
France-Benelux pass is not a Eurail Select pass - are you comparing the right passes?
France-Benelux has a Saver rate.
The route CDG-Lille-Bruges would not entail a Thalys surcharge but a simple 3 euro reservation fee and is just as quick as taking the Thalys
France-Benelux pass is not a Eurail Select pass - are you comparing the right passes?
France-Benelux has a Saver rate.
The route CDG-Lille-Bruges would not entail a Thalys surcharge but a simple 3 euro reservation fee and is just as quick as taking the Thalys
Jul 2nd, 2007, 10:41 AM
#11
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Thanks. We must have done something wrong (maybe because we wanted first class?). Anyway we already bought the tickets last night before the others replies were posted. I think we also paid for some insurance we didn't need either. I am glad you told us about the reservations needed on TGV and Thalys. What happens if we miss the train we are reserved on?
Jul 2nd, 2007, 10:51 AM
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>What happens if we miss the train we are reserved on?
If yu have a railpass: you need a new reservation.
If you have a full price ticket: you need to rebook it at the counter for the next train with available seats, possibly paying again for the reservation.
If you have a PREM; SMILYS or similar advance discount thing: tough luck, new ticket.
Though if you miss a connection because your previous train was delayed, you will not be penalized.
If yu have a railpass: you need a new reservation.
If you have a full price ticket: you need to rebook it at the counter for the next train with available seats, possibly paying again for the reservation.
If you have a PREM; SMILYS or similar advance discount thing: tough luck, new ticket.
Though if you miss a connection because your previous train was delayed, you will not be penalized.
Jul 2nd, 2007, 12:31 PM
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<Why would you miss a train?> Ira you sound like a novice traveler
i can think of a very possible scenario - if your connecting train is late and you've scheduled the next optimum connection without waiting another hour or two
i can think of a very possible scenario - if your connecting train is late and you've scheduled the next optimum connection without waiting another hour or two
Jul 2nd, 2007, 01:23 PM
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>if your connecting train is late ...
...and your ticket contains the next leg as well, you have to ask the conductor on the first train that it is delayed, and can take the next available train to your destination without penalty. Though of course the seat reservation will be gone.
...and your ticket contains the next leg as well, you have to ask the conductor on the first train that it is delayed, and can take the next available train to your destination without penalty. Though of course the seat reservation will be gone.
Jul 3rd, 2007, 05:55 AM
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highwall:
say connecting TGV to Paris then Thalys to Amsterdam - TGV is late good luck getting penalties waved - waved goodbye i think.
Yes i know what you mean - if you have a thru ticket but this is not possible i believe with trains like Thalys and its Byzantine pricing/penalty structure.
And with a pass the reservations will simply be lost unless i think you change them at a station before the train's scheduled departure.
say connecting TGV to Paris then Thalys to Amsterdam - TGV is late good luck getting penalties waved - waved goodbye i think.
Yes i know what you mean - if you have a thru ticket but this is not possible i believe with trains like Thalys and its Byzantine pricing/penalty structure.
And with a pass the reservations will simply be lost unless i think you change them at a station before the train's scheduled departure.
Jul 3rd, 2007, 09:09 AM
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>this is not possible i believe with trains like Thalys
Not possible online.
If you buy at a station or from a licensed travel office, it is very well possible.
I realise it isnīt of much importance to overseas tourists...
Not possible online.
If you buy at a station or from a licensed travel office, it is very well possible.
I realise it isnīt of much importance to overseas tourists...
Jul 3rd, 2007, 12:47 PM
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it seems that if you get say a cheap SMILYS fare that is not changeable or refundable and you miss the connection say a TGV from Bordeaux is seriously delayed you would be out the Thalys ticket no matter where you bought it - and the SMILYS priced fares would not be available on the next trains. PREM fares similarly i really wonder if you can change these due to late connections. I don't know you may well be right but i just wonder.
Jul 3rd, 2007, 01:30 PM
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>PREM fares similarly i really wonder if you can change these due to late connections.
PalQ, you make me doubt myself!
I haven't tried it out yet, so calling out to the French and Belgian frequent train users - is it possible to book a PREM for a connection that contains a train change, or are they only sold piece-wise? In Germany there is (was?) an APEX 30 and APEX 8 offer for train trips to France - a discount of I think about 50 resp. 20%, also fixed to a certain connection but available from any statiion in Germany, thus often with one or more changes.
PalQ, you make me doubt myself!
I haven't tried it out yet, so calling out to the French and Belgian frequent train users - is it possible to book a PREM for a connection that contains a train change, or are they only sold piece-wise? In Germany there is (was?) an APEX 30 and APEX 8 offer for train trips to France - a discount of I think about 50 resp. 20%, also fixed to a certain connection but available from any statiion in Germany, thus often with one or more changes.
Jul 7th, 2007, 09:25 AM
#20
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I am more worried about reserving our train tickets and having our plane delayed. Last year we arrived to Rome 20 hours later than we were scheduled. So I guess my real question is.... How far in advance do you have to get your reservations? We are going straight to Brussels via TGV and we arrive to CDG around 10a and there is a 12:20 train. If we don't buy before we go, can we just go to the ticket counter and purchase an hour prior to the train departing?
