I bought a Eurorail pass for France-Italy. I need to travel from Paris to Chamonix, France. Is there a way I can get a ticket reservation from Paris to Chamonix, or do I have to keep station hopping and reserve tickets from one startion to the next till i get to Chamonix? In other words, with a rail pass, what is the easiest way to schedule train rides. There has to be a simpler way of scheduling my train ride, but I just can not seem to figure it out. Can anyone help me in this rather confusing e-mail? Thanks.
Posted by
Nederland, CO
1521 posts
Mike, are you using the DB website for planning? Here's a link: http://reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/query.exe/en
I think there is a pointer to it from this website if you go to "plan your trip" then click on Deutsche Bahn on the left.
When you get to the DB website after entering your departure and destination cities, and date and time 3 or four choices will come up. Click on "show details for all". The trains that require a reservation will say "subject to compulsary reservation." If it doesn't say that then you can hop on and off any train with just your pass handy to show to conductor.
For the most part reservations can be purchases just before departure, but you'll want to give yourself a few extra minutes for this. We were able to buy a few reservations right on the train.
You should read all the info under railpasses on this website.
Have Fun!
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32320 posts
Mike,
In the same circumstances, I'd probably just take an hour or so and get all those details sorted when I arrive in Paris. You can either visit an SNCF Boutique (check This Site, there's lots of them) OR the nearest large station and buy your reservations. It would also be a good opportunity to validate your Rail Pass (present the Pass and your Passport to the ticket agent, and it will be "stamped").
Provide them with your destination, and the reservation should cover the entire distance, even if it does involve multiple changes.
Incidentally, you might want to check the bahn.de website to check out the trains on that route, so that you can find one with minimal changes. For example, I found one departing Paris Austerlitz at 07:10, arriving Chamonix-Mont-Blanc at 13:11 (time 6H01M, 2 changes in Bellegarde(Ain) and St-Gervais-les-Bains). There are others on that route, many with 3 changes.
Happy travels!
Posted by
OP
Huntington, IN
5 posts
Thanks for the info. It has helped and i think i am on the right track now!
Mike