I'm curious whether I need to purchase my tickets early. Given the possible strikes/slowdowns and our own schedules changing - I'd like the flexibility to wait until the actual day.
Saturday 6/26 (or should I say 26/6) Paris to Chartres
Saturday 7/9 Nice to Paris
I also assume there shouldn't be any problem (unless a strike happens) getting to and from CDG from Paris.
Thanks
The ONLY reason to purchase tickets early, generally via internet, is to take advantage of any discounts that might be available. However, those discount tickets will come with restrictions concerning changes and refunds. It is easy to buy tickets a day or two before travel or day of travel. Trains rarely sell out and trains with open seating never sell out. Schedule changes are only from one half year to another and those changes tend to be minor. So you are fine waiting till day of travel.
Paris to Chartres is unreserved - no discount for buying ahead, and the tickets are good on any train (must validate before boarding).
Nice to Paris would have been much cheaper bought a few months ago. But looking now, I see that you don't save that much with advance purchase for June 26, so if you prefer to wait, you can. Note that one train for that day is already sold out (the 15:51 departure). So, if you have your heart set on a particular departure, you may want to buy it in advance.
To look at prices and buy tickets, you can use SNCF http://www.sncf.com/en/passengers (click "Reservations" on the left) or Captain Train https://www.captaintrain.com/en
Once in France, you can buy tickets at stations, but also at SNCF Boutiques, which are "train ticket stores." At the Boutique, you take a number (like in a bakery), and wait in the semi-air conditioning for your number to be called on the display. You then sit at a desk to complete your transaction. It's nicer than standing in lines at stations. They're all over Paris; it looks like the one in central Nice has closed, so the station is your best bet there.
It is already 'last minute' for any travel in June when it comes to saving money so no advantage now in locking it down except to be sure of a ticket. Look at flying from Nice to Paris on a budget airline. I have a niece currently stranded in Nice with her family due to strikes in Italy so it is important to roll with whatever this odd strike climate produces.
Agreed, any discounts for a Nice/Paris route in July evaporated months ago. Now you should just be looking at whether tickets will be available. Hopefully yes, but maybe no (as Harold pointed out, one train has already sold out). Budget airline tickets will already be high as well. You're talking about high summer season between two of France's main points for sending and receiving tourists, in just a few weeks from now. Wait much longer and you won't have any options at all!
Thanks all. I prefer trains over planes as I fly most weeks for work. I will check out the train store - sounds like fun.
Paul
