We will be on the Rick Steves tour of Paris and are going on our own to Giverny. I know we need to get tickets online ahead of time but so I need to book train tickets to the Vernon train station prior to our trip? We plan on getting there when it opens. Is the shuttle from Vernon hard to get? I do t think we will be riding bikes.
Posted by
Chicago
9811 posts
I buy tickets ahead having once missed the train due to lines. But now that the tickets are easily bought with US credit cards from machines you are probably safe buying them at the station that day; just give yourself a little extra time to do it. These are commuter trains without reserved seating so there are always tickets. You can buy tickets on line and make it easy. I like trainline.eu for ease of use.
Posted by
Long Beach, Ca, usa
3660 posts
The shuttle is timed to meet the train. I do believe that cash or card is accepted, but I have read (on this forum?) in the past that when there was a problem with the reader, those with cash made it on the train and those without cash did not, at least not immediately. This info may be a little dated, however. It is 5 euro each way and you can buy the round trip tickets for 10 euro to save time buying for the trip back to the train station.
I know nothing about biking from the station, or where you might rent them. Anyone?
Have fun!
Posted by
OP
12 posts
Thank you!
Posted by
67 posts
Get the SNCF app for your phone. It's in English and you can buy your tickets that morning for the train that is most convenient. You'll have a bar code to show, and you won't have to stand in any annoying lines at the station.
Posted by
Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, USA
17558 posts
I also vote for the SNCF train app for your train tickets. You can buy that AM or the evening before. BE SURE to look at the train schedule and get the direct train that takes 45-50 minutes instead of the one with a change that takes 2 hours!
I also recommend you download the BOLT app. It's the uber-type app that my French friends use. Last time I went there were several of us, the shuttle buses were late as the train had been delayed and some of us wound up booking a BOLT to go to Giverny. ON the way back to the station we got BOLT back to Vernon. It was about 15 E each way and was way easier than waiting for the shuttle.
The shuttle does take contactless CCs/Apple Pay.
Last time I saw a number of people get bikes in Vernon. One group seemed to be having terrible times with their bikes...not sure what was going on and whether it was a tire or chain or brake problem but it did not look like they were having fun.
Posted by
OP
12 posts
Thank you for the information! I don’t think we will ride bikes from the station!