Some very good neighbors/ friends are off to Paris for the first time - for 10 days in about 2 weeks. They're thinking about going to Marseille for a couple days. I'm looking at the SNCF website - what a disaster and visual mess (Trenitalia's is so much easier) I know the TGV goes from Paris to Marseille - I get directed to Rail Europe when I click either USA or UK (http://www.tgv.com/). Round trip seems to be starting at 88E - is there a local train, possibly 2nd class - they're on a limited budget, etc - staying with an acquaintance in Paris who they met here in NYC, etc etc etc.

On another note - last time in Paris for me was about 15 years ago - I remember visiting a department store with a cafe on the roof, wonderful 360 view of Paris. I'm pretty sure it wasn't Lafayette - was it Printemps? There were signs all around the edge of the terrace with information about all the buildings - I want to say it closed but I'm not sure. Any help would be appreciated.

Can't help you with part one of your question, but the department store is the Samaritaine. Still under construction for renovations, says also Wikipedia.

thank you Cowboy1968

I looked at the SNCF site and it is far too late to get a bargain ticket at this time of year.

In fact 88€ is a better round trip rate than came up when I put in dates for 2 weeks from now.

> Still under construction for renovations ...

And as far as I understand, it will no longer be a department store. Pity, I did enjoy an inexpensive lunch there with a view of La Seine.

> it is far too late to get a bargain ticket ..

Adding to above, discount online tickets (Prem's) are available only between 3 months - 14 days ahead of the date of the trip. Even in that periode, you would have better chance to get good prices (€20 - 25) by reserving earliest possible.

By TGV, it's three hours or so from Paris to Marseille: there's a high-speed line virtually all the way with trains travelling at 186 mph.
There are no slower trains. Before the high-speed line was built, it took six to seven hours even by the fastest expresses.
All TGVs have first and second class. The supplement for using a TGV is relatively small, so using a succession of local stopping trains would only be slightly cheaper. The only way to get a cheaper fare is to book well in advance.

Be sure you select "France" as where you want to have the tickets picked up or delivered
... you get bounced to RailEurope if you pick the US as RE is SNCF's (more expensive agent) in the US.