TGV tickets in France

Giverny is no problem. However TGV tickets require reservation and advance purchase is recommended especially right now because August is the month of vacation for the French and many use TGV. Space runs out quickly this time of year. I would suggest going through Rail Europe only because the SNCF site has been up and down the past few days.

Set your tickets up for pick up in France.

Hmm buying ahead might be tough now, becuase there wont really be time to have them shipped to you. You can buy the tickets when you get in to Paris, and Giverny will still be cheap, just go up to the counter at St. Lazare, however your ticket to Lyon, will most likely be much more expensive than if you had booked it ahead of time and got a prems (discount) ticket.

I ordered my tickets for travel in Sept on Monday from Rail Europe and they were delivered via UPS yesterday...

Depending on your budget, and your travel dates, you might want to persist on the SNCF site (www.voyages-sncf.com) to try for tickets to Lyon. For some days in the first half of August, you can still find some deals in second class, one-day, from 22 euro ($35) compared to $79 at Rail Europe. As Jona notes, August is THE vacation month for the French. You'll stand a better chance if you take the train during the week.

Just remember Rail Europe is a travel agency dealing in rail tickets and charges a substantial premium for their tickets.

There are many TGV trains to Lyon and if you don't care about exactly which one you are on or how much you pay you can buy your tickets in Paris at any train station.

I don't think the train to Vernon (the stop for Giverny) is a TGV at all.

And, there are no trains to Honfleur of any kind.

Someone said the SNCF website is acting up, but definitely try to use it if you can...Note: choose the option to pick up your tickets in France at any rail station rather than having them shipped to you.

Dont put in your country as being US, you will be re-routed to the more expensive Rail Europe website.

See the great tips on www.seat61.com which has step-by-step instructions for buying tickets on SNCF as well as the DB (Germany) websites.

At the end you print out your receipt and reservation info and claim them at a SNCF ticket window by presenting it and the credit card you used for purchase.

Adam is right about the train to Vernon. It is not a TGV. To get to Honfleur take a train (also not a TGV) from Paris to Trouville-Deauville and Bus Verts du Calvados #20 from Deauville to Honfleur.