TGVs....When to make Reservations?
 

My wife and I are traveling to France and Switzerland in late September/early October. We will be travelling by train using a Europass which we already have. There are three TGV trains which I know we will take. The first is from Paris to Bern leaving Monday at 17:00 (on our way to Interlaken), the second is from Lausanne to Dijon leaving Friday at 13:00 (on our way to Beaune), and the third (which is critical) is from Dijon to Charles De Galle Aerport on Monday at 6:00. <BR> <BR>I am debating whether to make reservations while in the States using a service such as DER Travel or RailEurope or just to wait until I get there. The cost of purchasing the reservations in the states is $10/train and a $10 mailing fee. I think it would be cheaper if I made the reservations when I get their, but I'm concerned about the trains being full and potential language problems in obtaining the correct reservation. <BR> <BR>Any thoughts. If I should get them before I leave any suggestions as to who to use (RailEurope or DER Travel)? Thankz Board

My husband and I took the TGV from Brussels to Charles De Gaulle in May. We had no problem making reservations in Brussels. I have taken the train many times in Europe and never had a problem with the language, I speak some French, and most Europeans speak some English. We felt that the service charge for purchasing the tickets using a service in the US was a little ridiculous. My advice,go to the train station a day or two in advance or your departure and purchase the billets. <BR>Bon Voyage!!!!!

Off season, we've made the reservations the day we were leaving with no problems (even on overnight trains, reserving a sleeping compartment). The trains were not full (even the Paris&gt;Nice train). <BR>Don't worry about language; the train stations in France have agents whose booths are marked with the languages they speak. I can guarantee the Swiss will have the same

Reservations on TGV or any other train may be made when you purchase your Eurail pass (what ever king)for the 10.00 fee and one delivery charge of 10.00 for all documents. However, if you change it when you get there you will have to pay again. I didn't make reservation and could not get on train out of Paris on a busy day

Last June we purchased a 3-day French Pass. We were traveling from Paris to Avignon on the TGV. We were to arrive in Paris at ~8:30am and get the 10:10am TGV to Avignon. We could have made the reservation here in the States on that TGV for a $10/person non-refundable fee but if you missed the train (especially noting that your plane may not arrive on time or your luggage is the last to come out of the carousel) you need to make another reservation at the station and pay another fee. So we didn't make any reservation. At CDG after clearing customs and getting the shuttle bus to the TGV station we were at the counter at10:03. We asked if we could get into the 10:10 train to Avignon and yes! we could. The man stamped our pass, made the seat reservation and we were on our way.We paid 60FF for 3 persons ($10 for 3) By the way my agent also dissuaded me from making TGV reservation especially after flying from the States as delays may happen.My agent also took the TGV from Bern to Paris, making a reservation only at the station, 5 minutes before departure.

We have been to Europe six times, most of our trips were in the fall. We have never made reservations for any trains and have never had a problem getting reservations when we wanted them. <BR>

We have made 5 TGV reservations last month, some one day before, two just minutes before departure on TGV Atlantic section. We (3) always got reservation, but TGVs were well used. Paris-Lausanne was fully booked even in first class, we couldn't see any empty seats, but most folks got off at Lyon, however. <BR> <BR>One warning on WHERE you reserve. Since NO ONE talked about differences in WHERE you reserve, we reserved TGV at NICE, a NIGHTMARE! The NICE reservation window (they have different one for future departures) always had 1 hr waiting after taking dreaded take a number business. The SNCF reservation agents there at Nice were perhaps the only rude French we encountered. During one + hour I waited for my turn, I watched 5 different agents not even saying customary BONJOUR responses to the customers. After this, I made sure to make all TGV reservations in interim small towns where I received normal French politeness. The agents all spoke English (the impatient kind, I would say at Nice.) <BR> <BR>TGV reservations were around 30F (~$5), but less on short sections.