I have found a great price for tickets from Paris to Mulhouse, France in early August, 19 euros each. What is the difference between iDTGV and TGV? Anyone experience iDzap? We actually want to continue to Basel, but the price from Paris was quite a bit more. It appears cheaper to take a local train to Basel from Mulhouse. Any thoughts or suggestions?
Posted by
Ottawa, Canada
4555 posts
iDTGV is a marketing ploy by SNCF (The French national rail company) to attract younger riders. The iDTGV trains are basically TGV trains for young people, altho anyone can ride. Their paint schemes are more "modern," and they save overhead by only selling tickets on the web. iDZEN is a subset of iDTGV which is supposed to be quiet...no mobile phones, no noise, magazines to read, a "sleep kit" for sale, etc. iDZAP is the opposite...play areas for kids, PSP video games and DVD players and movies for rent. Whichever one you choose, it'll get you to where you're going just as quick as the regular TGV. iDTGV is only available on some routes.
Posted by
Minneapolis, MN, USA
8700 posts
iDTGV cars are designated cars on certain routes on regular TGV trains. As you've discovered, if you book far enough in advance, you can get a great fare.
Posted by
OP
wauwatosa, wi
3 posts
Thanks, this now makes sense! I guess I should have hit the zen icon vs the zap icon. Oh well, I will bring extra ear plugs along! Appreciate your responses.
Posted by
Park forest
4 posts
If you are going from Mulhouse to Basel as cities on your trip plan, this may not help. If you intend to go from Mulhouse SNCF station to Basel (the airport is called Basel/Mulhouse but the cities are about 20 or so miles apart and in different nations) there is fairly frequent and moderately priced shuttle service Mulhouse and the airport. The airport is officially in both Switzerland and France and there are peculiarities in the way they do business. For example, Swiss taxes on a car rental even if you are driving into France which is a very short distance. There is a bus schedule if you go through the airport site. You will have to search some. I don't know how exactly I found it. Let Google or Yahoo search for you.
Posted by
Nice, France
49 posts
Actually, if you go from Mulhouse to Basel, you should take a TER (local) train. It would be stupid to pay for a TGV, when TGV isn't any faster than a "normal" train between these two towns.
(Because a TGV needs special rails to go fast, and after Strasbourg they haven't done any rail works..)