Train from Paris to Barcelona in Aug 2018 - prices

I see direct trains Paris Gare de Lyon to Barcelona Sants for 79 EUR on August 16. Even in Canadian Dollars, $370 is outrageous. Try: https://en.oui.sncf/en/tgv They run the trains.

Hi Kim. Don't know what web site you were using, but I just looked on the train company web site en.oui.sncf and I see four different direct trains on August 16 for either 79 or 89 Euros. Enjoy your trip!

I was using loco and train.eu and they were both giving me those prices. I will try your links. Thanks SO much!

I was just at www.trainline.eu and I got the exact same prices (in EUR) as the sncf site. Did you put in for 3 tickets and ask to be quoted in CDN? That might explain it.

I just dummy-booked one ticket on loco2 from Paris to Barcelona for August 16th, and the price ranged from 79 to 85 Euros for one ticket.

On the Seat 61 website it said you could get advance 1st class tickets from 59 euros. I was looking at 1st class tickets so we could be upstairs and have a bit of a treat. I'm seeing only 238 euros for two first class tickets.

So am I to assume that these ARE the prices and that they will not be going down later. LOL?

The early and late trains are 199 EUR for 2 1st class tickets.

So you are disappointed with Mr Smith at Seat 61? I believe he never said they were always that price. He said "from 59 EUR 1st class". He also states the flexible (walk-up) price is 221 EUR, so you are still getting them at half price. You are traveling in August. Everybody in France is on vacation, and they're all traveling. Prices are only going up from here.

Oh goodness. Not at all disappointed in Mr. Seat 61. His website and information is AMAZING. I just had questions because this is so new to me. I really appreciate all the help from everyone. Thanks to all... so much!

On the Seat 61 website it said you could get advance 1st class tickets from 59 euros. I was looking at 1st class tickets so we could be upstairs and have a bit of a treat. I'm seeing only 238 euros for two first class tickets.

It's highly unlikely those prices are going to be for travel in August, more likely that it's the lowest price for the least demand period.

Those prices you've found are only going to increase so I'd recommend buying them now.

To akjjjpotter : I've taken this train and sat on the upper deck (nice) in second class. Keep looking.

I've used trains a lot in Europe. I use Rail Europe as my first step and then I go to the SNCF website. I also think I heard the SNCF website has improved. I do prepurchase tickets when I can since they are much cheaper for the longer trips. I enjoy the train rides and the scenery, but you could also check for air travel. I used Vueling to go from Barcelona to Vienna. It was cheaper than the train, faster and I was pleasantly surprised with Vueling and their customer service.

Train ticket prices do not bounce like US airline tickets. For the most part, the rail companies offer a fixed number of tickets per train at the cheapest level. Than another fixed number of tickets at a more expensive level, etc. Once it each group of tickets are sold they are gone. Each fare group comes with a set of restrictions related to changes and refunds. So buy early is willing to accept the terms of the ticket.