Using Paypal

You should not have any issues with purchasing tickets on the SNCF website: https://www.sncf-connect.com/

If you do, try:

https://www.saveatrain.com/

You do not need a credit card with a PIN to make purchases in Paris.

I had no problems paying for train tickets using my credit card. And no problems using my card in France, including Versailles. There were times that I had to sign a paper receipt in stores, but other than that it was the same as using the card at home.

You can request a pin from your credit card company. I did this, but I can’t remember ever using it. Maybe for gas for the rental car? It wasn’t an everyday thing.

I remember being presented with the "opportunity" to use PayPal several years ago. I read their contract closely, and when I got to the part where, if there's a dispute over charges, they get to keep the money unless they -- and they alone -- deign otherwise, I decided never to use PayPal.

Perhaps they've changed their agreement. Perhaps not. But that thumb on the scale in their agreement revealed quite a bit about their corporate culture, and I can't imagine ever trusting PayPal with any of my money.

I've never had a problem buying a TGV ticket with an American credit card (which I did frequently before moving to France and opening a French bank account). The only glitch was using a kiosk rather than a window at the train station -- you may need to use a window, or guichet.

A couple of BnBs and tours have sent us invoices through PayPal. I use a credit card linked to PayPal, so ultimately I would think I can still dispute through credit card. IF you use PayPal, be sure to click the pay in Euro option (it defaults to USD). My credit card doesn't charge international conversion fee, but PayPal does. Example, the PayPal total using USD would have been $133, whereas my final cc total was $126.

I have had an issue or two using my Chase Visa card to make purchases on the French train website in the past, so now I just go ahead and use the AMEX card and it always goes thru for the French and Belgium train systems. At times in the past when there were issues with the Visa card, I'd get Chase CS on the phone while I tried to make the purchase. THey could tell if the issue was something they could solve or if it was declined before it got to them.

No problem at all using a US CC to purchase Museum or event tickets even when I'm in France.

I agree with the others who say no need for a PIN for normal purchases in a restaurant, shop, etc. I think the pin might be needed for gas stations but I've never rented a car so can't say for sure.

I have always used my U.S. credit cards to buy tickets on SNCF. If you have a problem, it is more apt to be with your credit card company than the train company. Make sure you have a card that doesn't charge a "Foreign transaction fee" or something similar. All those little fees add up. I have a Barclays Master-card that is my go to for transactions in France and have never had an issue. My BOA Debit card charges a fee, so I avoid it.