I asked earlier about getting a senior SCNF discount card and was advised I'd need to do so in country. My question is: can I buy the card in the CDG train station? If not, where would be convenient--we will be staying in the Marais.
Thanks for help,
Cynthia
You may purchase a Carte senior+ at any train station or SNCF boutique. The cost is 60€ per year.
I don't think you will use the 60 EU for travelling in the Marais. And I don't think you will get to travel much with it. There are better plans for the SNCF.
There is a SNCF boutique on rue de Saint-Antoine.
Cynthia. How many actual trips will you be making on the French rail system? If only one or 2 then the 60Euro per person isn’t worth it. As others have said, there are senior fares available. Prior someone mentioned if you enter the ages of all passengers you are purchasing tickets for - and they are 60 or over - you automatically get the reduced senior fare.
I have the app OUI.com. Very handy. It also shows a chart with strike days and will show which trains are running on those days. The app easily lets you exchange tickets if your train is not running because of strike conditions.
Hope this helps.
This was discussed in an earlier thread but the card senior+ offers discounts on any train and even to PREM fares. Some of the TER trains have senior pricing without the card but these discounts are offered on only some trains at selected times.
I should think that one would need to travel a bit more than what most tourists would be traveling to make the Carte senior+ an attractive purchase but individual needs vary.
Sorry for the confusion here. We will be in the Marais before taking 3 train trips--short hop to Vernon and then to Provence, where we rent a car and back to Paris for flight out of CDG. The cost of the card is worth it when I add it up. SO the question is about where I may purchase it.
As posters have noted--would not be worthwhile for a trip in Paris only.
Thank you to all for advice.
Cynthia
I always price things out. See what prices you can get without the card just using your age. It might not be worth the price of an annual card for just a couple of trips.
I agree with Brad.
But if you do decide it's worthwhile: I bought mine at the train station at CDG because I was going directly from there to Lyon by TGV. Otherwise at whatever mainline station you will be departing from on your first rail journey. Have ready a passport-size photo. Validity is for one year from date of issue.
The carte senior+ gets you at least a 25% discount on any second class ticket, 10% on PREMS. At 25% discount, you would need to spend in excess of 240€ just to break even. It would very likely be cheaper for you to simply purchase tickets in advance using one of these websites:
