I think after much deliberation my wife and I have decided to take the train from CDG to Bayeux instead of renting a car. I have read that it is a good idea to buy train tickets ahead of time. Do the trains to and from Bayeux sell out in March? It would be hard to guess what train we will be taking to Bayeux since I don't know if our flight will be on time and how long it will take to get out of the airport. I could buy tickets in advance from Bayeux back to Paris but don't want to be locked into a schedule. Do you think I will have any problems getting tickets when we get to the station?
Posted by
Florida, USA
12172 posts
The train probably won't sell out but the cheap seats will sell first and it will cost more to wait. Problem with the cheapest tickets is if you miss your train, you end up buying a new ticket at the higher price.
Ideally, you can give yourself plenty of time to get to the train. I accomplish that by staying in Paris a few nights before moving on.
I don't know about trains from CDG but there are a variety of options from Gare St. Lazare downtown. Some of the options involve changes and more stops and can be quite long. The best options don't require a train change and have fewer stops so take significantly less time. When you search SCNF, it pays to check earlier and later than the handful of options that pop up first. Those aren't the only options and often aren't the best options.
Posted by
Knoxville, TN, USA
7209 posts
Buy them only if you want to save money and if you can commit to staying on schedule.
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16893 posts
Second-class tickets on this route cost 44 euros full fare per person and for travel in March some of the cheaper rates could still be available on short notice. These trains don't require seat assignments and cannot sell out.
Posted by
Chicago
8060 posts
We paid 15 Euro each way by buying early -- you will pay at least double and probably triple if you wait.
Posted by
Olympia, WA, USA
6510 posts
As you probably know, you have to get from CDG to Gare St-Lazare in central Paris after your flight lands and you clear passport control and retrieve any checked baggage. All that can take awhile, so be careful about allowing enough time -- several hours I'd suggest -- if you're going to buy advance train tickets. If you don't mind paying walk-up fares, you won't have to buy in advance.
While the train from Paris is a good idea, a car in Normandy is also if you want to explore the countryside, beaches, etc. It's easier to rent one in Caen than Bayeux, and Caen is on the way to Bayeux, so maybe just train to Caen and drive from there.