The last time I checked, the sncf site asked for my country. When I clicked on USA, I was redirected to RailEurope.com, which is more expensive. How do I get around that ?

May I also ask how to access the Google translation site? Thanks a lot.

You type in FRANCE as the country.

Generally, www.tgv-europe.com (an SNCF website available in English) has all of the same schedule information and ticket availability as www.voyages-sncf.com.

Simply indicate that your country is Great Britain and either print out your PREM or iDTGV tickets at home or pickup your PREM tickets in France at any SNCF ticket window or boutique.

Note: iDTGV tickets must be printed in advance and cannot be picked up in person.

Good to know it can be done so easily. Thanks. Also, I just figured out the Google translation site. Great to find as there are so many phrases I'd like to be able to say in French. My pronunciation is actually decent, but I don't know the words and grammar.

The SNCF website doesn't ask for your country upfront. The TGV website does. The SNCF website merely asks where you intend to receive the tickets, which isn't the same thing as where you live (which is what the TGV website asks you). I never use the TGV website so couldn't figure out why people kept saying they were asked for their country, until I checked that site out once. There isn't any advantage to using it over the regular SNCF website.

So basically, do I just lie and say I intend to receive my tickets in Great Britain and then they will e-mail me my tickets? I print them off and am good to go. I do not need to reveal that I live in the USA? (all above using the tgv-europe site)

MAP, you seem to be getting more, not less, confused. Put either France or Great Britain as the country. It's a website; it doesn't know where you are. They will NOT email you the tickets. They will email you the confirmation of your purchase and you will have to go pick up the tickets. If you purchase PREM tickets, you put France as the country and then YOU print the tickets right from the website and take them with you.

What kind of tickets are you buying?

Once you have done it the first time, it all seems so simple the 2nd time.

"Simply indicate that your country is Great Britain and either print out your PREM or iDTGV tickets at home or pickup your PREM tickets in France at any SNCF ticket window or boutique."

I misunderstood this advice to be that I could print out my ticket at home. So, what I will be able to print out from my e-mail will be the confirmation of the tickets which i will then have to pick up in France. Correct?

St. Cirq, I am hoping to buy PREM tickets on the TGV to Avignon from Paris. It appears prices can be as low as 22euro each way. Wow.

OOps, left this out ....unless I put France in as my country and then I can print out the tickets at home. Right?

PREM tickets - print out right from your computer.

All other tickets - SNCF mails you a confirmation and you go pick them up.

Either way, if it asks, put France in as the country.

It IS an ordeal the first time you do it.

You have not misunderstood.

Firstly, purchase your tickets.

Secondly, if they are either PREMS or iDTGVs, print them at home. If they are some other type of fare, pick them up in France at any SNCF service window or boutique.

Thirdly, if you pickup tickets, you will need:

1. The reservation number
2. To present for inspection, the credit card used in the on line transaction. The cc account numbers used in the on line transaction must match the account numbers on the credit card you present.

Well, needless to say I am saving every word on this thread! Thank you so much for taking the time to help me learn the ropes.

I got the 22 euro Avignon to Paris PREM tickets on the sncf website -- yes, stated "France" in the where are you line, and YES, I got a confirmation by email that included a link to print my tickets on my computer. And YES, I live in Los Angeles.

It IS confusing first time, but stick with it!

This is great! I usually use the SNCF site (in French) to get my tickets, which have always been PREMS, so printed them at home. Didn't know about the site in English, TGV-Europe.com, where you can print any ticket, PREM or not. I like that site! Seems easier to use (maybe because my English is better than my French), and being able to print tickets at home sure beats picking them up in Paris. This Fodor's forum is great - I'm constantly getting useful information on here - thanks!

You betcha the SNCF site is a lot cheaper than Rail Europe - I've just plugged in Paris-La Rochelle for 22 Oct and unless I'm way off beam the 22€ best fare is AUD79 via Rail Europe - about double.

<i><font color="#0000FF">where you can print any ticket, PREM or not.</i></font>

Somehow I doubt this.

The reason why only PREM or iDTGV tickets may be printed at home is because they have no residual value - use them or lose them.

If you could print a regular fare ticket, what precludes your printing two - one copy for travel and one copy to be presented for a refund?

SNCF has already thought of this and does not allow regular fare tickets to be issued more than once.

Sue, I tried TGV-Europe site and when it asks which country to receive or pick up tickets, I select France and it forwards to French site.

I'm leary of proceeding because I understand no French and don't know exactly what I am ordering. Is there a way to stay with the English version and still be able to print tickets (or get emailed confirmation to print)?

cjogo - choose a country whose language you speak, try Canada or Great Britain.

Years ago,the first times that I printed the tickets I encountered some problems only because my PC was getting very old and it would freeze up..

Now I have a different PC and is much easier..I can understand that if you dont know the language it could be very frustrating and scaring sometimes...