Hi, we are leaving for France on Sept 22, arrive at 9:30 The next morning. We will be catching the train to Lille from CDG. It looks like price wise it would be wise to buy our tickets now. 20€ per person now., I'm guessing they won't stay at that price. They have trains at 10:37, 11:07, 11:57.....what would be safe time to choose, not wanting to have to rush but not having to sit around for a long period of time either. It seems it would be better to wait until we got there to buy the tickets since we can't be sure of airport delays but looking at prices 3 days out right now, we are looking at over 60€ per person. Any advice?
We are going to visit our daughter who will be moving up to Lille from Lyon in a few weeks for school. We are flying in and out of CDG and plan to use trains to get around mostly. Though renting a car is tempting.
Posted by
Florida (previously California)
3692 posts
The usual recommendation is to schedule 3 hours between scheduled flight arrival and the departure time for your train. Are you checking luggage? On one flight to Paris from the US, we arrived 2.5 hours late and then to top it off our luggage was "lost" for about an hour. It should be around €88 for two tickets if you buy them on the day versus around €40 if you buy non-refundable tickets ahead of time. So ultimately you have to decide if you want to save the euros and have to worry about being missing the train and losing your money or waiting around at the airport. In the scheme of the cost of a trip to France, you may decide that the savings are not worth it or you may decide that they are. If they are, then buy tickets for the 1:16 train.
Posted by
Green Bay
20084 posts
Looking at www.capitainetrain.com, they show the 11:57 available for 15 euro pp Prems, 48 euro full price. My philosophy would be to buy the Prems and hope you make it. If you win the bet, the price to Lille is 30 euro, if you lose the bet, the price is 126 euro. What are the odds you will be 2 hours late getting out through customs with your luggage? My experience is maybe 10 % of the time. This is betting proposition, make no mistake. I'd do it, but then I've been known to frequent racetracks.
Posted by
Pensacola
9110 posts
The eleven o'clock train is fifty-fifty and I'm pretty good at scooting around Roissy.
Posted by
Green Bay
20084 posts
Another factor for your calculation is what airline are you arriving on? If Terminal 1, add a half hour to get to the TGV station at Terminal 2.
Posted by
OP
NH
219 posts
Thanks for the link! If you buy from there do you print them yourself?
We are flying Air France from Boston non stop. We are checking bags.
I actually work at a racetrack though I don't gamble myself.
Posted by
Green Bay
20084 posts
You print the tickets at home and bring them with you and hand them to the conductor when he/she comes around once the train is under way. The tickets will have assigned seats and you should show ID if asked.
Posted by
OP
NH
219 posts
I bought tickets on the 11:57 through Capitaine Train, just waiting for the confirmation email:)
Thanks for the help. Much appreciated.