Seat Reservations
 

I have a first class SNCF pass from Paris to Nice in June. Do I need to make my seat reservation now or can I have the hotel in Paris make it for me? Thanks!

Hi paula,

What do you mean by a "SNCF pass".

If you will be traveling on the TGV, you usually have to buy your seat reservation at the same time you buy your ticket.

yeah, I wondered what you have, also, because I assumed you meant you had a France Railpass -- but those aren't for a specific single trip, so I guess you have a ticket for a trip.

If you somehow got a ticket without buying a reservation (which I didn't think was possible, either), you can make the seat reservation whenever you want -- the later you do, the better seats may be gone if it's a crowded run.

It is a 4-day france-Italy rail pass. I bought it from SNCF. Thanks!

Hi paula,

I didn't know you could buy a railpass from SNCF, only from Raileurope.

You should make your reservations as early as possible. You will have to pay a fee of about 12E for each reservation.

Trains are busiest around weekends, generally on Friday afternoons and evenings, Sunday afternoons and evenings, and on Monday mornings. At other times, you normally don't need to book far in advance. It also depends on how flexible you can be. If, for example, your chosen TGV from Paris to Nice is full, you may be able to go on an earlier or later train, or take a TGV to Marseille then change to another train. Unless you are travelling at a very busy time, I doubt whether all first class seats will be booked in advance.

How much did you pay for this SNCF 4-day France-Italy pass? In what country do you reside? Did you buy it by mail, e-transaction, or in person?

Sorry for a lot of questions, but it seems to defy conventional wisdom that such a thing exists.

Best wishes,

Rex

OK- I was not awake when I wrote this-We did buy it from RailEurope. We paid 198.00 each for a 4 day pass. paris to Nice.....Nice to Ct...and CT to Venice...Venice to Florence. We put in what saves you money-so I take it we can go where ever we want in 4 days. Does that make more sense?