I've been looking at the raileurope site for this, intending to buy tickets ahead to get the best price (ecomomy second class is what I'm talking about). My date- in summer- didn't have prices available yet, but dates just a bit ahead did. When I checked today, they did have the trains listed, but the best fare was only the very earliest train, or late in the afternoon. The others were either more expensive, or went through Lausanne, adding an hour to the trip. (And isn't that the wrong direction??) Weird thing is, when I looked again later. it was back to saying not available yet!

Anyway, I've been reading other posts, and am wondering if there are actually more choices than are listed? But how does that help me if I want to buy the tickets online while the good prices are available? Does everyone actually buy these 3 months out to get the best price?

I'm new at this- thanks for the help. By the way, we'll also be wanting Paris-London tickets a week after this, and there are lots available at the good price.

How far in advance are you trying to buy the tickets? Usually tickets are not sold more than 90 days in advance I have been told.

The best price I got for Geneve to Gare de Lyon was on a Saturday leaving in the afternoon. The cost one way was €39.50.

Prices at other times during the week are higher by quite a bit.

If you leave at other times it looks like you will pay more.

Are you trying to do business with Rail Europe?

If so that may explain some of the difficulty.

The 90 day rule isn't exact. And some tickets go quickly - 92 days before my Nice-Paris trip, the tickets became available. By 20 hours later all the cheapest €25 prems ones had been sold. This wouldn't always be true of course, but if you are sure of your travel dates buy soon.

Hi nvl325,

Last August I got a Piccolo fare from Paris to Geneva for 20E. Pretty good deal!

I got it buying 90 days in advance through the SNCF site (www.voyages-sncf.com).

Good luck!

s

Hi N,

>I've been looking at the raileurope site for this...the best fare was only the very earliest train,

Raileurope is a marketing agency intended to fleece Americans.

The early and late trains are the ones with the special fares.

For Geneva to Paris, go to www.voyages-sncf.com

Enter Geneve/Paris and a date up to 90 days in advance.

On the next screen, change the country to "Suisse".

You will be taken to another site.

Continue.

You will find 1 Cl tickets for less than 2cl tickets - about 70 CHF.

You can have your ticket delivered to your hotel in Geneva, or you can get them from the SNCF boutique in Geneva.

However, I did see a $64 2cl ticket for G/P via Lausanne @ 12:10 on the Raileurope site.

Hope this helps.

That dastardly sncf site is a bear to use.

When I tried, Paris and Geneve were not adequate. I had to fish around and put in the exact station.

I put in Gare de Lyon and for some reason that idiot site did not even like that. I had to scroll down the list and find their entry for Gare de Lyon.

As you sure the "raileurope" site is the way to get the best price for train tickets? I thought they had significant mark-ups.

I'm no expert, but for single point-to-point tickets I've waited and bought them at the train station once I was in Switzerland a couple days before traveling.

For train schedules, it's better to use www.bahn.de which lists all schedules whether tickets are available or not.

thanks, everyone. I'll check out those other websites to see what's up-

bob brown - when I was checking tickets from Paris to Nice I had the same problem, but discovered that ANY Paris station was acceptable, I just had to select any, it didn't like me inputting it myself, even if spelt correctly. Going Paris to Nice, sncf offered lots of Paris & Nice stations. I chose Paris nord to try it out, & it worked fine- even though of course none of the trains to Nice go from Paris nord!