TGV reservations- Is it worth doing in advance?
May 2nd, 2004, 02:20 PM
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TGV reservations- Is it worth doing in advance?
We are planning to take the TGV from Paris to Avignon, stay a week, then return to Paris by the TGV. I have been on the SNCF website to search for fares, but I am unsure whether it is really worthwhile to book from home (Canada) than to book while we are in France, as the guidebooks suggest that we can get deals there too. Any suggestions? The current rate for the trains we are looking at are about 290 euros for two persons, even using the (limited) PREM rates available on the site.
May 2nd, 2004, 02:33 PM
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I would certainly recommend making your TGV reservations as far in advance as possible; seats sometimes fill up very quickly on popular dates.
You might think about calling SNCF (there are English-speaking operators if needed) and asking for any special rates available, such as those for 2 or more people traveling together, for seniors, and other possibilities.
You might think about calling SNCF (there are English-speaking operators if needed) and asking for any special rates available, such as those for 2 or more people traveling together, for seniors, and other possibilities.
May 2nd, 2004, 04:38 PM
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One issue that I encountered when booking a trip to Lyon from Paris is that they would not mail tickets to Canada (almost every other country on the planet was on the dropdown list). Prem fares were not available. With these discount fares you print your own ticket. I got around the problem by having the tickets mailed to our hotel in London. As Underhill indicated the trains can be full on busy travel days, ours certainly was.
May 3rd, 2004, 12:34 AM
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hi
You should definetly book in advance. I used the train last year from Paris to Dijon, it was fully booked. I reserved and paid online by credit card. All you have to do is print the confirmation message for each ticket and show it on board of the train. www.sncf.fr
You should definetly book in advance. I used the train last year from Paris to Dijon, it was fully booked. I reserved and paid online by credit card. All you have to do is print the confirmation message for each ticket and show it on board of the train. www.sncf.fr
May 3rd, 2004, 05:51 AM
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Remember also that fares drop considerably within 60 days of your travel dates. Not even worth trying to book before then. You should be able to do much better than 290 Euros, and it is well worth it to book your tickets from home assuming you can get a reasonable fare.
-Kevin
-Kevin
May 3rd, 2004, 12:20 PM
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I thought I had my tickets all reserved by internet. Went to SNCF boutique in 7th to pick them up. Waited in a very long line. then got a lot of "oh no, you can't do this", change, change, credid card swipings. Ended up on a very slow train Paris to So. France. Had tried to do by phone earlier (for $23), but with six in a 3 generational family, we couldn't straighten out the old folks, young folks, family members discounts. I really messed it up. Hope you do better. Everyone on this board said don't use rail europe, too many fees. With the mess I made, I might have been better off.
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