we are looking at a train from Basel to Paris...the rate we chose was 143 per person yet when we proceeded into the booking process it changed to 180 per person...no explanation ...am I missing something?
Posted by
Lakewood, Colorado
19274 posts
" am I missing something?" I don't know. Were both 180 and 143 in the same currency. 143€ is about $176 today. On July 4, 143€ it was $180. What website were you using. If RailEurope, were shipping charges added? What's "sub"?
Posted by
OP
Carlsbad, California, usa
87 posts
It appears as though they are discounting single tickets but when you add a second traveler the rates go up...this was on sbb.ch....
Posted by
Lakewood, Colorado
19274 posts
Use the German Rail (Bahn) website. Put in Paris to "Basel Bad Bhf" and enter "Freiburg" as a stopover. The Bahn will route you through Strasbourg and Mannheim. Basel Bad Bahnhof is a station run by German Rail in Basel, a few km from Basel SBB. It will take a little longer that way, but the Bahn can sell you the ticket for 129€ full fare, or as low as 49€ (maybe 39€) with an advance purchase fare, and you can print the tickets at home. "this was on sbb.ch" Michael!
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
33847 posts
Or since the trip is entirely within France (except about 5 km) why not look for prems on TGV?
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
33847 posts
they ask the ticket collection country It means where you tell the website that you will collect your ticket. The previous advice is good.
Posted by
Minneapolis, MN, USA
8700 posts
If you book far enough in advance (up to three months allowed) on tgv-europe.com, you can get a Piccolissimo fare of €25.00 for a direct TGV from Basel to Paris. Print your own tickets. The standard 2nd class fare on the Swiss Rail site is 131 CHF. It looks to me like the fares you quoted were discounted 1st class fares. If I'm right, then the reason the fare went up when you checked a second time is that the allotted number of tickets at the lower fare sold out between the first time you checked and the second time.
Posted by
OP
Carlsbad, California, usa
87 posts
We tried the TVG site and found the ticket price to be lower however for some reason it will not accept our credit cards...we have tried a couple of different ones...not sure what the problem is ...they have some special secure payment process that our banks must not like I guess...we have tried Rail Europe and they have it cheaper but want to mail us our tickets and we have less than 2 weeks before leaving...not sure what to do now...
Posted by
OP
Carlsbad, California, usa
87 posts
On the TVG site they ask the ticket collection country....would that be where we begin our trip and they collect the ticket or where we are purchasing the ticket? If we hit the US it redirects us to the Rail Europe...if we hit Switzerland it won't take our credit card...could this be why?
Posted by
Green Bay
21160 posts
Try using UK as ticket collection country from the TGV-europe website.
Posted by
Minneapolis, MN, USA
8700 posts
A computer probably is blocking your credit card for what it sees is unusual use. Call your credit card provider and inform customer service that you are going to make an international transaction. Have customer service monitor everything while you try booking again. On tgv-europe.com to avoid being bumped to the US Rail Europe site choose Great Britain as your country of residence. Then choose to stick with tgv-europe rather than being re-directed to the UK Rail Europe site. Then choose France as your ticket collection country. You will be able to print your own tickets.
Posted by
OP
Carlsbad, California, usa
87 posts
Tried it even after calling credit card company...looks like we are locked out and will have to try again after 24 hours...just wish they would give us a reason why the transaction is being rejected
Posted by
OP
Carlsbad, California, usa
87 posts
Success.... the transaction went through on the TVG site and we got First Class for 148 eu each...many thanks for the help and tips...I love this site...