This question seems like I'm over complicating things; but what I need to know is this: We plan on buying the France Rail Pass. I know where we want to stay and which days we want to travel. How do we reserve/purchase tickets when we have a pass? Is there a place to click that says, "we don't have to buy them, because we have a pass!" Or something like that?! I've traveled all over but this is my first pass.
Posted by
OP
Seattle
3 posts
Okay, another question for the travel wizards: If we have only France rail & drive passes, and we wish to rent a car in Geneva and drop it in Avignon before railing it to Nice, do we way some sort of different fare for the wee bit of Switzerland we'll be traveling in? And, on the contrary, when we are headed back to Basel from Cannes, how do we pay for the amount of time we're actually in Switzerland? I don't want the two country pass because it's not as cost effective as point-to-point tickets in the 1 destitnation we have in Switzerland.
Posted by
Lake Forest, CA, USA
1633 posts
I like to use the Deutsche Bahn website to research and printout train schedules before I leave the States. You can access it under "Favorite Links" on this website. If a circled R appears on the particular train you want to use, then a seat reservation is required. A reservation is usually required for the high speed trains like the TGV or trains that are during commuting hours. You can make these reservations at a train station there in France at the ticket window. These reservations will require additional money. Also, if you want an overnight train and one in which you want a sleeper car, you need to make these reservations from the States. Lee, our fellow train specialist, can give more info on this process. Have a great trip!
Posted by
Lake Forest, CA, USA
1633 posts
In ref to the car rental, we rented a car through AutoEurope. We picked up the car at the rental car agency on the French side of the airport. Since we returned our car in France, we did not pay any extra fees because we returned the car in the same country we rented it in. Call AutoEurope to get full details.
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
33842 posts
The key is in the previous message. In Geneva you can rent on the French side or the Swiss side. That choice will make a difference in money.
Posted by
Loveland, colorado, usa
14 posts
Hmm, one of the replies was a "sleeper train must be purchased in the states". Is this true? Can't you purchase a sleeper ticket, using a eurorail pass, in Europe when you get there (assuming there is space of coarse)?
Posted by
Lake Forest, CA, USA
1633 posts
Dave, like you said, you can purchase tickets for the sleeper car when in Europe. However, as you pointed out, sometimes those sleeper cars fill up fast especially if the train you are planning on going on leaves within a few weeks. Also depends on the time of year. Lots of variables to consider.