Buying tgv tickets on train to bayeaux

what do you mean by "rds"? No, you need your tickets first. Why not order them online?

You could be hit with a big fine, at least 50 euros per ticket, no matter how innocent your intentions. Last summer we had 50% off tickets when we were entitled to only 25% off but didn't notice until the controller came around. This was for a day trip on the regional train to Paris. My French husband kept his mouth shut while I exaggerated my Hoosier accent in French to get us out of the fine. The controller finally got exasperated with me and walked away. Going home in the evening, I went to the controller (different person) BEFORE the train left the station, and explained what had happened and offered to pay. He was firm and said I'd have to pay both the fine and the ticket difference. It did turn out ok, but our good intentions didn't count with him.

Thanks. I thought rds said somewhere that if I found the conductor first, it would be ok but I can't confirm this anywhere.

Daniel, what time is flight arriving at CDG... sometimes you can get luggage and be through immigration in 1/2 hr, sometimes its 2 hours, and keep in mind, what if you lose a piece of luggage and have to go file a claim, yikes. I suggest you relax, go have a coffee or meal and get the next train unless your flight is arriving really early. Most arrivals from north America are early morning ones, so lines for immigration can be long if another jet with 300 people arrive just before you!
Keep in mind if you miss train you will have to repurchase full price tickets , while pre purchasing tickets can save you quite a lot of money. Just a thought. If money is not an issue then just play it by ear, but I personally would not board a long run train without a ticket but perhaps someone who has done that before can chime in with different experience then poor Bets.

Thanks. We are scheduled to get in at 8:30 am and we will our back packs with us. We are not fancy travelers so that's one less hassle. I was also thinking it is safer to buy ticket on train because of pickpockets. So we will buy at counter and take our chances.

To ride a genuine TGV you need both a ticket and an advance seat reservation which at the station will involve lining up for a ticket agent or an advance Internet purchase. It is possible to travel by SNCF train from CdG to Bayeux (note sp.) but you will have to change trains en route at least once and frequently twice, depending on the routes, which are all rather roundabout. I could see nothing on the www.TGV-europe.com site that took under 5 1/2 hours. It's more common to ride the regional RER commuter train to Gare du Nord and then another RER to Gare St-Lazare. From that SNCF station there are frequent no-transfer trains to Bayeux, probably an Intercites train that doesn't go "at grande vitesse" but will still get you to Bayeux much faster in total time expended and cheaper too. Some Intercites tickets can be exchanged for later trains although you pay a premium for flexibility. http://www.tgv-europe.com/en/train-ticket/result?hid=L1I#journey_0 Here is the RATP page detailing the route from the airport to St-Lazare. You must go to the RER station at CdG, not the TGV station, for RER B, then walk through Gare du Nord to Magnetta RER station for train E to St-Lazare, where there is a short walk to the SNCF train station. http://www.ratp.fr/itineraires/en/ratp/resultat-detaille/start/Aeroport+Charles+De+Gaulle+1+%28RER%29%2C+Tremblay-en-France/end/St-Lazare+%28METRO%29%2C+Paris/is_date_start/1/date/2013-03-19/time/18%3A55%3A00/route_type/plus_rapide The RATP site estimates 45 minutes but that's for someone who knows the territory. To help, take at look at www.parisbytrain.com which explains the various train terminals complete with photos.
And to help navigate the airport itself, www.aeroportsdeparis.fr

Thanks. I'm taking the Roissy bus to opera and then metering to gare saint Lazard where are several non stops and also some 1 stops to bayeaux. I don't have a chip and dip card so I will wait on line even tho rds says you can buy ticket from conductor without penalty if you find him first

Typo sorry for Rick Steves in his new Paris guide book

We used to find the conductor in the old days, pre-TGV, pre-ticket machines, if we were running late, but my experience on the local train last summer says times have changed.

The fastest route from CDG to Gare Saint-Lazare is the one given by Southam: RER B to Gare du Nord and RER E from Magenta to Haussmann - Saint-Lazare. The fare is €9.50. There is no TGV service to Bayeux. For some departure times you can take an Intercites train all the way to Bayeux. For other departure times you need to connect to a regional train in Caen. The standard 2nd class fare for the 12:10 direct Intercites train is €38.20. The cheapest Prem's discount fare is €15.00. If you book at tgv-europe.com, you can print your own tickets and not have to stand in line at a ticket counter. The Prem's ticket is non-exchangeable and non-refundable. If you miss the train, your ticket will be worthless. However, with 3 1/2 hours to get from CDG to Gare Saint-Lazare, I'd take the risk and book and print Prem's fare tickets. If you don't want to risk it, book and print standard fare tickets. You can book tickets up to three months in advance. When you go to tgv-europe.com, choose Great Britain as your country of residence to avoid being bumped to the US Rail Europe site which doesn't offer discount fares. Then choose to book on tgv-europe.com rather than on the UK Rail Europe site. Even though you'll be able to print your own tickets, choose France as your ticket collection country.

hi, just an fyi, on my trip overthere last march, i purchased my train tickets as many different ways as i could just to see how it differs and if there were any +/-. getting an E ticket works as well as buying @ the counter. You can also choose to have the ticket machine dispense your ticket once you are there too, but i think having an E ticket is the best. you have it in your hands now and dont have to wait in line for anything or anyone. happy trails.