How crucial is it to buy train tickets before I go?

First off it is absolutely not crucial to buy tickets in advance with the exception of night trains. Trains are very frequent with lots of capacity so it is nearly impossible to fill a train. However, most trains are adopting the practice of discounts for advance sales. And sometimes that can be significant. Of course, the drawback is that you lock yourself into a schedule. Got to the national rail sites and price the tickets now and later by using different dates to see the discount price and if it is worth it to you.

You might find some discounts buying in advance. On the other hand, discounted tickets are usually not refundable so you would be locked into those particular trains.

Went for 8 weeks and bought tickets there. I would suggest upon your arrival in Paris purchase the ticket and seat reservation on the TVG for your departure to Avignon. Also, upon your arrival in Barcelona purchase your ticket to Madrid as it is a Friday.

For the TGV, you should check the price of discount tickets about 90 days before your travel date and decide whether the discount warrants locking yourself into a specific train. As Frank from Colorado pointed out, the savings can sometimes be quite significant. I've twice purchased TGV tickets in advance for about half the regular fare. It's well worth considering.

Here's an example of the savings you can have by booking ahead. Depending upon the departure time, the standard 2nd class fare for Paris-Avignon ranges from €79.50 to €106.50. A Prem's fare can be as low as €22.

Does this string apply for buying tickets from Paris to Bayeaux too?

Sharon,

Yes, you can save money by booking ahead for Paris-Bayeux. The standard 2nd class fare is €36.50. The Prem's fare is €25.00.

It's really a choice between flexibility and money. If you're certain you're going to be on a given train, you can save quite a bit by booking early (the earlier you book, the greater the savings are likely to be).

If you miss your train, however, your ticket becomes worthless.

If you wait to purchase your ticket, you may pay two or three times as much for it but you can adjust your schedule at will without worrying about making a train.

It really comes down to which option has greater value to you.

As has been said, the chance of missing a train because it's sold out is rare. It hasn't happened to me yet (but I've missed some trains - maybe that's why I go for flexibility?).

is missed prepaid reservation ticket 'worthless' or are there ANY options?

Bradley...depends on which country you're travelling in, and what class of ticket you choose. Each will have its own rules, usually well posted on the website, as will RailEurope if you happen to purchase through them.

In Germany, Sparpreis and Europa-Spezial ticket can be refunded up to (but not including) the day of travel for a €15 penalty. From the day of travel, they are not refundable, so if you simply miss your train, you lose the ticket. For this reason, I tell people not to try to use them on the day they fly in from here, because of the chance of flight delays. You could build in a large buffer to allow for delays, but often you could get to your destination as soon, possibly for even less, with regional trains and Länder-Tickets.

One exception to the missed train scenario: if it is the Bahn's fault (eg a late arrival of a connecting train), they will put you on the next available train. I had the opportunity to test this last year when my regional train to Northeim was late, and I missed my IC to Karlsruhe. They rescheduled me for the following ICE - no penalty.

However, that IC was the only train I've planned to be on and missed in Germany in 10 years.

It should also be noted that, with a 20% return penalty with RailEurope tickets, you often would lose nearly as much by completely missing (not taking at all, not even a later one) a train that way.

Norm is correct that is varies BUT for all practically purposes, consider it is worthless. Why else do you think you got the big discount? They have been studying the American airline system.

few want refund, I mean, how about earlier, or next train,[or next day?] 'reservation'[reschedule] change while standing at the window [not website], confirmed hard ticket in hand? charge right there fee? and book you on next [if available] as airlines MIGHT do? or, for those so lost as to MISS departure, will they do same for them, standing there forlorn, in person??

24MAR-Firenze,Italy UPDATE: RailEurope tickets-RESCHEDULE

At roma Termini asked conductor about options. informed positively that RE tickets CAN be rescheduled up to [one] hour prior to departure for earlier or later time [or DAY] for NO CHARGE,[ONCE ONLY] . If you miss train, you MAY reschedule for next train or future reschedule as long as no later than 1[ONE] hour after ticketed departure time. After one hour past ticketed departure time :ticket is, indeed, DEAD!

Sorry Frank....I didn't notice that Bradley referred to a deep discount ticket. SNCF, for example, does allow changes or refunds for a certain period AFTER departure for certain ticket classes.
Bradley, you STILL haven't said what country your train ticket involves. If you are still at home, check with the vendor who sold you the ticket (RailEurope, if I remember correctly.) If you are already abroad, (Italy, isn't it), check at the nearest ticket window.

Bradley,

As others have said, it depends upn both the type of ticket and the train company that issued it. I'll use SNCF (French national rail) as an example.

Prem's are the cheapest advance purchase tickets. They are non-exchangeable and non-refundable. If you don't take the specific train for which you booked a Prem's fare, you are out the price of the ticket.

Loisir fare tickets also must be booked in advance. They are refundable or exchangeable at no cost up until one day before departure. On the day of departure they can be refunded or exchanged up until the time of your train's departure, but there is a fee to do so. After departure they are worthless.

Pro rate (standard fare) tickets can be exchanged or refunded free of charge up to the time of departure (and even within the hour after departure, subject to certain conditions). After departure, tickets at the Pro rate can be exchanged and refunded for 60 days, subject to an administrative charge of 50% of the value of the ticket.

I remember, when I lived in Germany in the 1960's, it all used to be so simple: just go to the station and buy a ticket, and seat reservation, if you needed one. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think they had all these confusing rules and different classes of tickets like they do today.

On the other hand, I think prices were a lot cheaper. Rail tickets are expensive these days, and with the introduction of all these discount airlines, such as Ryan Air, in some cases it costs a lot more to take the train than fly within Europe. Many of us "older folk" will remember when flying within Europe was ridiculously expensive and seldom done except by business people.

But, as others have said, you can get big discounts if you book in advance. To me at least, the risk of missing the train, which would make your 20 Euro ticket worthless, is worth it. Sure, if you miss the train you will have to pay a lot more, but having to throw away a 20 Euro ticket isn't a total disaster.

Ah, nostalgia. I surely recall when flying in Europe was completely out of the question. But I also remember our first Eurail pass for 3 months, first class, unlimited travel at $210!

Yes, those were the days...when the Youth Pass, 2nd class, 2 months unlimited travel, was only $125 in 1971,.. when the Deutsche Bahn trains ran on time,.. when you hardly heard over the loudspeaker "hat Verspaetung or ist verzoegert" refering to delayed trains,.. when you could sit in a 2nd class Grossraumwagen night train without a reservation, just using your Eurail Pass.

"when the Deutsche Bahn trains ran on time,.. "

Really? Deutsche Bahn doesn't run on time anymore? I mean, this is Germany we're talking about....

Yes, Virginia, German trains today are not always on time. In the 80s, if a schedule showed the train was going to be at the station at 9:07, at 9:06 you could pick up your bag and walk to the platform, confident it would arrive at 9:07. Sadly, it's no longer true, but they still inform you if it is going to be 5 min Verspätet. They still consider that an exception. The trains are usually on time.