Wow - France train confusion
 

Really, I underestimated how difficult it would be to buy train tickets for our upcoming vacation in France. Encouraged by all the great train reservation help I've seen people get on this site, I'm throwing my request in the mix.

Trying to book:
May 22nd
one-way Paris to Nice
2 people, 1st class

Here is what I have found so far.
If I book on raileurope.com, the price is twice as high as the price for the same trip tickets at voyages-sncf.

However, my preferred train would be the 9:42 a.m. train that shows up at raileurope.com. I can't even get this train to show up on voyages-sncf, for any price. What's going on here?

If anyone could help, I would really appreciate it.

Thanks,
Laura

IME the raileurope.com web site is probably inaccurate

check schedules at www.bahn.de - the German rail official site that has schedules for trains everywhere in Europe and IME has been infallible

At least you'll know if there is that train for the date you want or not

The 9:42 train shows up on www.bahn.de.

Can anyone get it to show up through sncf?

I had no problem. First class PREM available for 45E

Paris
Nice Ville
22/5/2008
9:42

Hi lauraallais,
I have just had a look and can see PREMS for 154 Euro for 2 people, 1st class to Nice from Gare de Lyon at 0942 (TGV 06173), is that the one?
Keep checking, SNCF is a bizarre site.

StuDudley - thanks. I've gone on that site about 30 times between yesterday and today, and now that departure all of a sudden shows up! Is that a common problem?

Though the PREMS I see are for 154E for both of us. Do they fluctuate during the day, or just keep going up?

lauraallais, I've found that train on the voyages-sncf.com site. Did you remember to select 9h00 as your time of departure? (It's easy to overlook that.)

The train you say you want has Prem's for 154€ (both tickets). There is also an IDTGV at 8:04 (arrives 13:36)for 109.80€ and a TGV leaving at 11:46 (arrives 17:25)for 134€.

Unless it's the time choice, I don't know why you can't bring that train up.

I now see that some others have posted since I started this reply and that you have found the same info I did. The SNCF site has been really tricky the last few days. It wouldn't hurt to check 2-3 times before you pull the trigger.

I left the "number of people" at 1 and STILL get a 45E 1st class fare. I guess that if you enter 2 people, you get different fares. Perhaps only 1 PREM fare is left at 45.

For a 100E/$150 saving I wouldn't mind not sitting together. There may only be 1 first class car.

Stu Dudley

My savings calculation is incorrect.

I also did not check "first class". That might have had an effect. Leave it at second class & see what happens if you purchase two 1 person first class PREM tickets. If there are 2 PREMS at 45 available, you save 65E. If only 1 PREM at 45 is available, the saving is 49E.

Stu Dudley

Another correction

If you enter 1 person traveling first class, there is at least one 45 E seat available, and at least one 85E seat - total 130E so a 24E saving at least. Still 65E savings if there are two 45 E seats available.

Stu Dudley

Thanks for all the calculations, StuDudley. We'll have to consider our options. It's a pretty long ride to sit apart.

lauraallais, I've come up with the same as previous post for your trains. All I can say is too keep trying...it took me about a week to finally get what I needed for our trip from Paris-Bayeux-Paris. I finally ended up doing each segment separately and it worked out. Not sure if I have any suggestions since you have a thru train to Nice, unless you can book the Paris-Avignon part and then the Avignon-Nice part and get what you want. I did that trip about a year ago but I did spend a few days in Avignon before moving on to Nice. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you...keep trying.

Laura,

Why not book the 08:04 iDTGV and get two 1st class tickets for 109.80€? That's almost as good as two 45€ 1st class Prem's--which are no longer available as a pair for the 09:42 TGV anyway.

TimS - are the idTGV seats/cars as nice as the regular TGV?

I haven't taken an iDTGV. You can read about the trains here: http://idtgv.com/165i.html.