Hi, We are planning on taking the train from Paris to Nice to Monte Carlo. There is a huge rate difference between 1st class seat or even a 2nd class ticket and a seat reservation. Is it worth it? What do the first and/or second class tickets give you that the economy seat reservation does not? Many thanks for the advice!

Seat reservations are required on TGVs (Paris-Nice) and are included in the price of the ticket. No reservations are possible on regional trains (Nice-Monaco). Seating is 2+1 in 1st class and 2+2 in 2nd class. When are you taking this trip? If you book well in advance (up to three months allowed) at www.tgv-europe.com, you can get a Prem's fare for around €25 in 2nd class and €40 in 1st class.

Thanks for the info.....however,as a complete rookie, please explain what 2+1 and 2+2 is......we plan on taking the trip at the end of October. What is a Prem's fare? Many thanks.

2+1 = 2 seats on one side + 1 seat on the other.

2+2 = 2 seats on each side of the aisle.

The Prem's fares are the cheap advance purchase fares that you can book over the internet and print the ticket yourself.

At this relatively late date the allotted number of Prem's tickets probably are gone, but you may still be able to get a Loisir discount fare. If you live in the US, when you book at tgv-europe.com say you live in Great Britain to avoid being bumped to the Rail Europe site which doesn't offer discount fares. Pick up your tickets at any SNCF station or ticket shop in France.

One more thing. You don't need to choose your seating for the Paris-Nice TGV. The system will assign you seats that are together.

>Is it worth it? What do the first and/or second class tickets give you that the economy seat reservation does not?

There is no "economy" seat reservation, only a seat reservation for 1st or 2nd class.
And what a ticket (of either class) gives you is a transportation. A seat reservation is an extra you have to buy if you already hold a general ticket (one without a specific train reservation).

Thanks to all! Would you recommend that I use an automated machine to pick up tickets or the train station or does it make no difference?

Ticket machines in French stations only accept cards with embedded chips. If your card has a magnetic strip, you'll need to pick up your tickets at a window where an agent will swipe the card or go to a SNCF ticket shop.

If you purchase PREM fares (which you may not be able to at this late date), you print them out directly from the SNCF website. Otherwise, you need to pick up your tickets at the train station or SNCF boutique and make sure you have the same credit card that you used online to reserve the tickets. You'll need to allow about a half-hour at the station for the ticket pick-up.