I am also exploring Voyages-SNCF. If you use the "print out ticket," do you validate that print out in the "compostez" machine at the station? If you are not able to print out the ticket at home, what type of information are you provided that will allow you to get the ticket at the ticket office, e.g., in Paris, and then validate that ticket? Also, a great website is www.seat61.com % Mark Smith. Thanks for the help.

We received an email with a confirmation # and were told to put the conf. #in the machine at the station to get our tickets. When this didn't work at the station, we just went to the desk and they printed out our tickets for us----no trouble at all, very easy.

In my experience, the tickets I could print out have been non changeable, non refundable tickets. These tickets expire on its own in addition to not being able to use on any other train. I think for this reason these tickets did not need to be validated. I simply hopped onto the correct trains with just the printouts and the conductors were always satisfied with what I got.

On routes I could not get PREM tickets, I have always used collect ticket at SNCF option and collected at an SNCF boutique or a SNCF station ticket window using the same credit card I used to purchase the tickets online as an id. The automatic dispensers never worked with my U.S. credit cards.

If your itinerary is solid, the print your own ticket option avoids problems with not being able to use U.S. credit cards on SNCF ticket machines.

TPAYT & greg!

Thanks so much for your helpful responses.

Hi! I've continued my exploring of the Voyage-SNCF website. I think I have the "how to" covered at this point. It seems to me that the main "risk factor" at this point is the exchange rate of the Euro vis-a-vis the dollar at the time one choses to purchase the ticket(s). Also, has anyone bother to purchase the "L'Assurance Annulation" or the "L'Assurance Serenite?" Would appreciate comments on thes point. Thanks!!!

No ordinary currency fluctuations can compensate for having to buy the regular fares instead of the PREMs.

While I have never bought the insurance, I think doing so prevents you from printing the tickets on your computer.

greg,

Again thanks for responding. Yes, the discounts on the PREMS are significant. I just have to get use to the idea of the "non exchangable, non-reimbursable" aspect of the PREMS. But, then I have that type of airline ticket so why not the train ticket as well. I might get coverage for the totally unexpected through Travel Guard... I'll check with them. Again, appreciate your taking the time to respond.