I hope this isn't a dumb question, but would would like to know if it is always a lot cheaper to purchase an online train ticket in France, months in advance.

The reason I ask is that I have seen some fares posted on this forum that don't seem the same as the prices on train websites.

We are travelling from Paris to Brussels - and I saw a post saying fare was about 20E ... but when I looked the price was 78E??

We don't want to try and order tickets online, as it seems that you have to have an address in France, which is difficult when travelling between hotels.

Is there any way to just show up at the train station and get a reasonably priced ticket ?

Thanks for any help with this

There are some "pay in advance" non-refundable train tickets that do offer a considerable discount over your walk-up train fare. However, you need to know that the value in the ticket cannot be applied to *anything* else ... even an upgrade from second to first class on the same train.

If you are clear about your itinerary, it can be a good choice!

Hi Meg,

> if it is always a lot cheaper to purchase an online train ticket ..<

Not always.

However, SNCF does offer many discounted fares.

Look for them at www.voyages-sncf.com
Click "Toutes nos promos Train"
Click "Toutes nos offres Prem’s"
Fares between Paris and Brussels are as low as 15E.

You can have all of your tickets mailed to your first hotel in France.

Also, if you buy PREMS tickets, you can print them at home IF YOU DON'T BUY THE INSURANCE.

>Is there any way to just show up at the train station and get a reasonably priced ticket ?<

Not for travel that week.

Hello Ira

Thank you for the info. I went to the site, and did as you suggested:

Look for them at www.voyages-sncf.com
Click "Toutes nos promos Train"
Click "Toutes nos offres Prem’s"
Fares between Paris and Brussels are as low as 15E

When I got to the "Toutes nos offres Prem" I could enter PARIS as a departure - but no option for either Brussels or Brugge in the drop down arrival menu??

Not sure what I'm missing?

Also, if somehow I can sort this out, do you have any idea how long after buying the tickets they would be mailed to a hotel in Paris? I would have to email them and see if they would hold them for us.

Thanks again Ira

The french vesion of the site works with french spelling : Bruxelles or Bruges

Generally, the sncf mails the tickets immediately, they arrive at a french adress between 1 and 3 days later.

Thanks Norween

I'll give that a try and see if it works.

Nope neither of those are in the arrival list either.

We are trying to go from Paris to Bussels then Bruge in the a.m. April 17th.

I checked both prem, idtgv, and what looks like regular - with no luck. Certainly there must be trains doing those routes - not sure why I can't find either destination under arrival menu??

Damn, this train business is frustrating!!!

Ok, i can see why, the afore mentionned special is from Roissy CDG (not from Paris) to Bruxelles. If you use Roissy as departure, Bruxelles is listed (betweeen Bourg Saint Maurice and Cannes) in the arrivals list.

You can also try the Thalys website. www.thalys.com