TGV vs iDTGV

Nancy, It is not yet 90 days before June 15th (if that matters) ... you've got 2 more days to wait. I'll let someone else answer the iDTGV question. I think Pat knows all about it.

Nancy, even though it's from 2010, this thread from tripadvisor.com might shed some light: http://tinyurl.com/6nold2p

Nancy , I just booked a idTGV train Paris to Nice, and have been on a long ongoing thread on another travel forum trying to learn all about it.
First, idTGV and TGVs can be same train, but different cars, the cars by class 1st or 2nd are the same though , but the method of ticketing is different and when you can purchase it different. idTGVs can be purchased 120 days out, TGVs can only be purchased 90 days out. idTGVs tickets are ONLY print at home,, TGVs tickets can be print at home, collect at station, or even mailed to you. There can be good discounts for idTGVs tickets, but I , like others have found them hard to purchase online, I went through 7 or 8 days of emailing back and forth, phoning my bank , my credit card, changing cards etc.. it finally went through though. Got 1st class tickets Paris to Nice , for 46 euros, but I think they were cheaper when I started the process( prices go up as days go by and tickets sell)

You can book regular TGVs up to three months in advance at either voyages-sncf.com (in French) or tgv-europe.com. To book in English on the tgv-europe site choose Great Britain as your country of residence and France as your ticket retrieval country. You can book iDTGVs up to 180 days in advance at those sites and at idtgv.com. There is no iDTGV service between Avignon and CDG. You'll have to book regular TGV tickets if you want to go directly to CDG. Pat could have tickets mailed to her because she lives in Canada. SNCF won't mail tickets to the US. It's part of their ploy to get people to book on the Rail Europe site which doesn't offer discount fares. On iDTGVs you have the choice of either a quiet atmosphere in a "zen" car or a lively atmosphere in a "zap" car.

Tim, sorry to correct you, but no, one cannot have tickets mailed to you if you purchase an idTGV ticket, there is only one way to get those, you have to print them out,, and they very clear about that.. The mail option is ONLY available to those who purchase TGV tickets. There is a reason idTGV tickets are cheaper, less choices in ticketing. Read the site . It does not matter where you are from or where you want the tickets to be sent, it is not an option.

Pat, If any apologies are in order, I should have apologized for correcting you in my previous post. You're welcome to correct me anytime! However, I didn't mean to imply that a person can receive iDTGV tickets in the mail. My comment was intended to refer only to TGV tickets booked on either voyages-sncf.com or tgv-europe.com.

Sorry tim for perhaps snapping( I do consider you an expert on transportation issues,and myself absolutely a novice) , its just I have literally spent hours on that stupid ticket,, emails , phone calls, etc,, it has been one of the most difficult processes I have every gone through,, I have booked my own air( transalantic and inter europeon) , hotels and other trains for years,, but this was just flat out stupid, lol I am going to book my ticket for Amsterdam to Paris next, and I am just going the easiest route this time, lol ( think thats Thalys right?)

Pat, I certainly didn't think you were "snapping" at me at all. Sorry you've been having such a difficult time with booking tickets. You definitely aren't a novice. Yes, book Paris-Amsterdam at thalys.com as far in advance as possible (up to 90 days allowed) to get a Smoove fare as low as €35.00. The standard 2nd class (Comfort 2) fare is €129.00.