I just called rail europe to make some seat reservations for the train from Cassis to Toulouse. She sent me an email with the information on it and (when/if I pay) the charges are 13.00 for each seat plus 18.00 for shipping/handling and 15.00 for call service fee!! 59.00 for seat reservations when I already have the rail pass! Is there any other way to make reservations for our seats? Please help. Thanks,
Tesa
Posted by
Austin, TX, USA
492 posts
Have you tried the TGV-Europe site? http://www.voyages-sncf.com and select English. Tell the system you live in Great Britain but will pick up tickets at a French station.
Posted by
Austin, TX, USA
492 posts
Also check out this link- http://www.seat61.com/Railpass.htm#reservations%20or%20pay%20supplements, he has some good info on how to deal with supplements, how much they should cost, etc. if you are using a railpass.
Posted by
Ottawa, Canada
4555 posts
unfortunately, you can't make reservations only on the TGV-Europe website. Euraide is about the only other option....but while their reservation prices are far lower than RailEurope's, they charge a bigger up-front fee, so it's only better if you're making several reservations.
Regrettably, you've fallen into the trap facing many passholders these days...the requirement for compulsory reservations and/or supplements on the fast trains now covering much of western Europe. Your only option to ensure a reservation before you leave appears to be RailEurope. Or you can try to make a reservation when you arrive in France for the Marseilles-Toulouse leg.
Posted by
OP
Fox Island, USA
88 posts
Thanks for all your suggestions. I went ahead and reserved with raileurope. Seems like a racket. But at least it's done.
Thanks again.
Posted by
Minneapolis, MN, USA
8700 posts
It might be more trouble than it's worth, but you could call Rail Europe and ask if you can cancel the reservations. (If they allow cancellations, I expect they'll charge you a fee.) Then do what Norm suggested. When you arrive in France, go to any SNCF station and buy your seat reservations (3-5 euro) for the Marseille-Toulouse leg. The Cassis-Marseille leg is a regional train and reservations aren't even possible.