We will be traveling from Paris to Caen, then on to Rouen this September (from 9-15 to 9-20). Before I pay for advanced tickets, which can be cheaper sometimes if you buy before you go, has anyone had a problem buying tickets on the travel day? I'm having problems with Voyages-SNCF's website, so I'm thinking why not wait and buy these at the station. We will travel from Paris to Chartres for a day visit, then Paris to Caen for 2 days. Next up is Caen to Rouen for 3 days before heading to Beauvais' airport.
Thank you for your advice, as I find this forum better than SCNF's.
Steve
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16895 posts
voyages-SNCF.com doesn't tend to take many US credit cards and they only take PayPal for a limited group of advance fares (specifically, the "Prems" fare). Trains on these routes (both InterCity and TER) do not require reservations and cannot sell out, so buying at a train station or "SNCF boutique" in town should be easy.
Posted by
Kansas
1175 posts
Many of us use captaintrain.com, a lot easier than the SNCF site when buying advanced tickets. Sometimes you can get 1st class tickets for just a little more than 2nd class if you buy them 90 days prior to travel when they first go on sale. We try to do that for high speed trains when the travel is over 3 hours. Worth it IMHO. Go to www.seat61.com for all you'll ever need to know about European train tickets.
Posted by
shingle springs, CA, USA
782 posts
I used Capatain Train for train travel in France and from St Malo to Cologne with no problem and they take our credit cards.
Mike
Posted by
New York, NY, USA
11294 posts
To see if there's any financial advantage to booking ahead, look at prices for today/tomorrow vs prices for your travel dates. If there's no difference, you can buy when you get there. If there is a difference, buy on Captain Train if you can't get SNCF to work.
Posted by
OP
Park Ridge, IL, USA
69 posts
Thanks for everyone's words of wisdom. Will try these recommendations!
Safe travels to all.