iDTGV vs TGV

iDTGB is simply a brand name for certain TGV trains or carriages in TGV trains which are sold separately at advanced budget fares. You can book either "Zen" seats in areas where electronic devices are not allowed or "Zap" seats in areas where they are allowed.

Some US travellers have reported particular difficulty making iDTGV bookings using US credit cards - in extreme cases you may have to contact SNCF directly by email to make the transaction go through.

leonrex I took the iDTGV from Paris to Nice in summer of 2012. Yes I did have some trouble using my card to book,, but I did eventually manage.. and was glad I did.. I pad 40 euros for first class .. I booked months in advance.

The trains are the exact same trains,, except for inside decor I guess. In fact the TGV train and iDTGV are connected.. we simply had to walk down to a farther car .

I would book and use iDTGV again for the savings. We sat near folks who booked and paid only 2 weeks in advance of trip and they paid 200 euros.. to sit right beside us who paid 40 euros!
No matter what you use.. booking ahead as far as you can is the key to best prices.

Ps we took the Zen car.

Thanks for the clarification, Phillip and Pat.

Just to amplify one point of Pat's post (although I think she made it perfectly clear). France is one country where the price difference on fast trains between advance purchase and last minute purchase can be gargantuan. Furthermore, if you buy tickets right when they go on sale, you can often get first class for only a few euros more than second class (assuming you can live with non-refundable tickets). Very much like airfares, French train fares really "punish" those who don't book far enough ahead and/or who need changeability in their tickets.

pat: how did you manage to charge your train tickets to canadian credit card?

I think just like an American, entered the cc numbers, exp date, and ccv into the information block on the purchase page. And she contacted the credit card co first. Am I right?