My family of four will be traveling from Bayeux, France (after seeing Normandy) to Nantes, France. Is the best way to book ahead on the TGV website? One way on July 10. Thanks so much!
Denise
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23626 posts
Yes. Used Great Britain as you home so you didn't get forwarded to the RailEurope web site.
Posted by
victoria, Canada
11507 posts
Denise with most train tickets ( except the local commuter types etc) it is always better to book ahead if price and time is a concern..
As said, do use UK as your country, its not a big deal, it just saves you from being redirected to RailEurope. RailEurope is not horrible, but they often do not show all the offered trains/times and sometimes are higher priced ( sometimes are same)
Posted by
Windsor, Ontario, Canada
4088 posts
On www.tgv-europe.com specify any country other than the US to avoid being bumped to the less-useful RailEurope site. I get a giggle out of choosing Antarctica for ticket pickup. You will see a variety of services offered by SNCF. Some of the trains are TGV requiring reservations. Others are regional where seats are not reserved. It is too early to book TGV for July which are available approximately three months out. Do it as soon as you can for the easiest and cheapest itinerary.
For reassurance, look at www.seat61.com, the encyclopedia of rail travel.
Posted by
Elk Grove, CA, USA
6898 posts
Denise, I can see the runs on www.tgv-europe.com. About 4hrs travel time with 1-2 train changes. You can buy these tickets online but you won't be able to print them out at home because there are regionale trains involved in the journey. If TGV only, you could buy and print out the tickets at home but not when combined with a reginale train. You can pick up your tickets at any staffed train station in France. I say "staffed" as you cannot use the automatic ticket machines as they require chip and pin credit cards for ID. you'll have to get your tickets from the agent.
Posted by
OP
Castle Rock, Colorado
69 posts
Great helpful information everyone! Thank you so much. I'd like to ask one more question. We fly into Brussels to see friends. Then train to Paris before traveling to Bayeux.
Should I buy a train ticket from Brussels to Bayeux, and stop over in Paris. Or is it better to buy a ticket Brussels to Paris, then another ticket Paris to Bayeux?
Posted by
Minneapolis, MN, USA
8700 posts
You will need to book separate tickets. Brussels-Paris will be on a Thalys high-speed train. Book ASAP (up to 90 days allowed) on thalys.com to get the cheapest discount fare. Standard fare tickets are expensive. Your train will arrive at Gare du Nord. Paris-Bayeux will be on SNCF (French National Rail) trains. Depending upon your departure time, you will either travel directly on an Intercites train or connect to a regional train in Caen. Book ASAP (up to three months allowed) on tgv-europe.com to get the cheapest discount fare. Your train will depart from Gare Saint-Lazare. Discount fare tickets are for a specific departure date and time and are non-exchangeable and non-refundable. Be sure you can commit before booking.