I just learned about a great site which allows you to purchase train tickets for travel in Europe at the same prices as the European site offers without the hassle many have experienced using your credit card. As I learned, I could not purchase tickets on the Voyages-SNCF site as they didn't offer an e-ticket option for my schedule and only offered pick up at a kiosk; however, they specify you need a credit card with a chip and PIN to pick them up at the self-service kiosks in France. Since the US doesn't offer credit cards with a chip, I was at a loss. Also, they will not mail to the US as they redirect to Rail Europe. Rail Europe does not offer the same inventory as the European site and charges much more money. So, I found out about www.capitainetrain.com which allowed me to purchase my tickets at the same prices as the European site and I was able to use my credit card without a hitch. They send an authorization code for you when e-tickets aren't available to use at the kiosk so you don't have to worry about the credit card without a chip problem. Wanted to pass this info along as the site is easy to use and other travelers who have used the site to get their tickets have had nothing but compliments. Surprised Rail Europe is still being touted as the best option for US travelers when this is available.
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16893 posts
Capitainetrain is new this year and seems to work fine for those who have tried it. Nice to have options. Hopefully, Rail Europe will soon offer the Prems fare, which is the main type they don't offer now (along with some cheaper departures called Ouigo and iDTGV).
If Prems was sold out on SNCF, then it wouldn't have been available on Capitainetrain, either. I have not found any other examples where RE is charging "much more money." Print-at-home or pick up in station options are commonly available for French trains.
Posted by
Green Bay
20032 posts
Who's touting Raileurope, except maybe that there is a link on this website. Many people on the Helpline have been recommending Capitainetrain for over a year now. They've been pretty good.
Posted by
Knoxville, TN, USA
7209 posts
RailEurope is mentioned all over the place in these forums. I don't know why. Maybe it's because Rick Steve's website sends you directly there:
http://ricksteves.raileurope.com/rail-tickets-passes/swiss-pass/index.html
Posted by
OP
2 posts
I had a direct experience with Rail Europe where they did not have access to all the trains available on the SNCF site. When I called to discuss, they told me they only had access to one time, whereas SNCF had access to several departures of the same itinerary. And the cost was higher with Rail Europe because they charge extra for reserving seats. When I asked about this, all the rep would say is "I can't comment on another company's website". This really bothered me because SNCF refers to Rail Europe as their "sister site" and will redirect US customers. I was unhappy with their response and glad to find another option which I hope you can let your readers know about.
Posted by
L'Occitanie, France
10176 posts
Thanks for bringing this back to people's attention. The other new site which is a good alternative is loco2.
Posted by
Eugene, Oregon...Formerly Ventura, CA
2261 posts
I just used Capitaine Train last week, it works great, the user interface is very straightforward. But I was certainly aware of the warnings away from Rail Europe, and as Tim points out it is still pointed to by RS folks. This brings up another topic for me, which is that RS promotes rail passes a lot, on the regular site and in responses here by Laura and other RS staff. But just about all I read here, and elsewhere, is that in many/most cases, a rail pass is not a good value, and it's hard to "make it pay", plus the fact that there are often additional fees associated with passes that a lot of people seem to not be aware of. People think pass means pass, but it doesn't really.
Why so much promotion of what seems to be a mediocre product, in both cases-Rail Europe and rail passes?
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
32713 posts
Why so much promotion of what seems to be a mediocre product, in both cases-Rail Europe and rail passes?
A:
Because instead of being independent as they once were, RS has formed a business relationship with them, and because they make a pretty penny for the bottom line which enables this big website to exist.
B:
Or because they provide a one-stop-shop and that is easier for first time travelers to deal with rather than doing the legwork to deal with all the different national companies, currencies, and languages.
A or B? Or some of each?
Posted by
northern CA
2450 posts
I would respond with choice 'B' above:
My quick look on the SNCF site showed prices that for my dates/stations were only a few (literally, like $3) less than the prices through the RS/Raileurope link,
and I both appreciate the advice that RS web pages give, and not having to remember or re-set my verified-by-VISA password, as I have had to do multiple times in the past when dealing with the official sites for trains in Spain.
I'm as interested as the next person in getting the best possible prices,
but I also want to encourage and show some gratitude to organizations that give good free advice like RS.
RS says more than once that France should be ~penciled out~ to see if a pass is worthwhile, so I did, and found that point-to-point worked better for me.
Now, if I'm really missing out on a whole class of cheaper fares, that does perk up my ears -- is there something better than 'loisirs' or however it's spelled?
Posted by
L'Occitanie, France
10176 posts
There are "prem" fares that are the cheapest, but they sell out very fast.
There are senior fares for 60 years old and over (-25%), and duo fares for two people traveling together.
Loisir fares are usually pretty good.
Posted by
Happy Valley, PA
672 posts
Bought Torino to Paris TGV tickets from capitainetrain.com a few months ago and it was not only very simple, but I saved quite a bit by buying the tickets as soon as they became available (90 days pre-trip).