HELP! Online TGV seat reservations!!

Posted by Annie (MPLS, MN) on 03/04/09 06:54 AM

I just recently learned that my stay in Strasbourg, France is the very same weekend as the NATO summit in Strasbourg! I am looking to make reservations for the TGV for April 3rd online before we get there, as I am certain that those trains may be full when we get to Paris. (Does anyone have a comment on this?) Does anyone know of a site besides Rail Europe or seat61.com that sells TGV reservations only (I have a rail pass). Of do you think if we wait that when we first arrive in Paris, we can get reservations at the train station, or is that cutting it a bit too close? Please advise!!!

Thank you,
annie, MN

Posted by Joel

Tempe, AZ, USA

03/04/09 08:18 AM

1266 posts

Annie - You can go the www.tgv-europe.com website. When you get to the route selection page at the bottom of the page where it says 'Select the country for receiving or collecting the tickets:' Chose Great Britian. Doing this will not route you to the Rail Europe web site. Then after you have made your reservation you can chose to pick up your ticket(s) at the Paris train station. As a side note Lee, or Tim will also reply to this message(they are much more knowledgeable about the european train system than I). You may also be able to take advantage of the PREM ticket price and get your ticket(s) at a reduced rate.

Posted by Annie OP

MPLS, MN

03/04/09 08:53 AM

4 posts

Hi Joel--

That lets me reserve TICKETS but all I need are seat reservations. Is there something I am missing?

Thanks!
--A

Posted by Tim

Minneapolis, MN, USA

03/04/09 09:25 AM

8700 posts

Annie,

You can buy seat reservations on the Euraide site at in-Europe prices. However, there is a $50 handling fee so this is only a good choice if you are making MANY reservations all at once. If the only reservation you need with your pass is for the one Paris-Strasbourg TGV ride, then Rail Europe is your best choice.

However, since there are 17 direct TGVs every day for that route plus other options with connections, I think you'll be fine waiting until you get to Paris to buy your seat reservation. You may not get your preferred departure time, but you should be able to get a seat that day.

Posted by Steven

Ottawa, Ontario,, Canada

03/05/09 08:25 PM

521 posts

Annie, are you travelling direct to Strasbourg the day that you arrive in France? If you are arriving a few days before, just go to any train station in the country and make your reservations there for about $4 per ticket. I know what you are saying that they might be booked up, and it may therefore be a good idea not to book same-day... but if you are there a few days before, I should imagine it should be okay. As Tim pointed out, that is a lot of trains in one day...

Posted by Annie OP

MPLS, MN

03/06/09 03:06 AM

4 posts

We arrive in Paris on April 1st, so we are there for 3 days before we leave for Strasbourg. We would ideally like to leave in the evening, as we have many things to see and do in Paris that day. From the sounds of the Strasbourg website, it sounds like the tourism will be at a standstill for much of Friday and Saturday, so I'm not sure why anyone would go there. I'm still open for suggestions and thank you for all of your advice.

--A