What is best way to reserve for Train Travel coming from US
 

I am going with my family of four to Paris arriving on May 24th. We plan to stay in Paris a few days and them go to Aix en Provence. I have spent some time on the SNCF website trying to figure out how to book a train. It appears that there is a discount for 2 or more persons traveling together and discounts for reserving in advance. BUT it appears that you can't book more than 3 months out. (although you can request trains that far out it always comes up that they are booked or unavailable). I did find in a FAQ that you can't even book on SNCF from North America and that you must use Rail Europe. <BR><BR>My question is is that correct? It seems reading other posts that some people have booked via SNCF from the U.S. It certainly seems cheaper to do it that way. Do I just need to wait till closer to departure time and book online not worrying about the restriction? Based on the Rail Europe site fares for 2 adults and 2 children on a TGV from Paris to Aix and return is going to run about $500 which seems pretty steep for 475 miles.<BR><BR>Any advices will be appreciated.<BR><BR>Tony

I don't want to sound dismissive - - but just wait until you get to Paris to get them - - you will save yourself $100 or more.<BR><BR>And I think there is very little risk of your getting shut out of getting the reservations/tickets you want, buying a day or two ahead of time.<BR><BR>Best wishes,<BR><BR>Rex<BR>

I basically agree with Rex regarding booking whilst in Paris. <BR>I think the maximum book ahead period is actually 2 months.<BR>From my experience in May and June, you would be very unlucky to strike a TGV train that is anywhere near fully booked, apart from maybe the odd Friday evening, or holiday weekend.

I think your dates would be okay to wait until you get to Paris as the last May French holidays are 19th and 20th (I think). YOu can't book more than about a week ahead of time from the US because there is a limit on when you must pick up the tickets in France after ordering online, and that limit is a week maximum (it's only 2 days if you reserve 3-8 days ahead). If you were in France, you could book way ahead and go pick up the tickets locally within a few days, but from the US, you can't. I have booked online from the US ahead of time, but only about a week before getting there as those are the regulations. I don't know about all the discounts for extra people, however, but you can't get the huge discounts for booking way ahead from the US due to pickup time limits.

You CAN book more than a week ahead of time from the US, you just have to pre-pay in full. <BR>You do save money booking in advance on most routes, but generally there's no point in booking for more than two weeks ahead.<BR>If you pre-pay, you can pick up your tickets at any TGV/SNCF station up until the train departure. You just have to present the credit card you used on sncf.comto pay for the tickets. If you don't want to get to the station ahead of time fearing long lines, you can pick up your tickets at TGV station at CDG airport the day you arrive to Paris. This way you will have all your tickets right away.