How soon ahead would we need to book a TGV train from Beziers to Paris? Should we book it before leaving USA? We will be in England June 6 to 11 and France June 11. We would need to take the train about mid-day on June 20? Could we wait to book it when in Europe? If booking from USA, should we use RailEurope Web site? Is there much difference between 1st and 2nd class? Thanks!
Posted by
Boston
4132 posts
There seem to be many of these throughout the day, so unless it's important for you to be on a particular train, I think you will be safe buying your ticket in France.
You may be able to score discounted (and restricted! No refunds) PREMS tickets online at the TGV web site. It's tricky, though--you have to tell the web site you are British--but if you get PREMS tickets you can print them out yourself.
PREMS tickets sell out early.
Rail Europe charges a hefty markup over the regular price and also doesn't list every train. It's hard to see what the added value is there, but someone who wanted tickets in hand before departure, and who didn't want to go through TGV.com, might choose Rail Europe.
Second class is of course cheaper than first and reasonably comfortable, and both classes arrive at the same time. First class usually has bigger seats, fewer people per car, and more leg room.
Posted by
Minneapolis, MN, USA
8700 posts
If you book NOW (site says "last seats avaiable") on tgv-europe.com, you can get a 2nd class fare of €45 or a 1st class fare of €55. Leave Beziers at 12:20 on a Corail train and connect in Montpellier to a TGV to Paris. As Adam says, choose Great Britain as both your country of residence and the country in which you'll retrieve your tickets. Don't worry. You'll still be able to pick up your tickets at any SNCF station or boutique in France, even though you originally chose Great Britain.