I have been trying to access train reservation information for specific dates in July 2011. Travel will be from Amsterdam to Paris, and later from Paris to Arles and back. I am unable to find schedules and/or actual availability of seats for firm ticketing. Thanks for your help.
Posted by
Lakewood, Colorado
19099 posts
On the German Rail website you can find schedules for July, but for routes entirely outside of Germany, you can't book online. And if you could, only less than 92 days in advance. You'll have to try the Thalys website for Amsterdam to Paris. I don't know how long in advance they allow booking. Someone else will have to give you the website for Paris to Arles. I think SNCF.fr will just sent you to RailEurope. One reason for the difficuly in finding schedule is that most European railroads update their schedules in June, and they might not have been loaded yet.
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23282 posts
Other than discounts, there is little advantage to early reservations as trains seldom if ever sell out.
Posted by
OP
REDMOND, WA, USA
2 posts
I wondered about that. But I am still hesitant to book a hotel, if I'm not sure I'm going to get there!
Posted by
Minneapolis, MN, USA
8700 posts
The standard 2nd class fare for a direct Thalys train from Amsterdam to Paris is €130.00. However, if you book well in advance (up to 90 days allowed) at www.thalys.com, you can get a Smoove fare as low as €35.00. Choose "paper ticket" and print it yourself. Depending upon the departure time (peak or off-peak), the standard 2nd class fare for Paris-Arles is ranges from €80.00 to €100.00. If you book well in advance (up to three months allowed) at www.tgv-europe.com, you can get a Prem's fare for around €35.00 (or less). To keep the site in English and to avoid being bumped to the Rail Europe site which doesn't offer discount fares, choose Great Britain as your country of residence. You may be able to print your own ticket. If not, pick it up at any SNCF station in France.
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
32801 posts
But I am still hesitant to book a hotel, if I'm not sure I'm going to get there! Why would you think that you would be unable to get from Amsterdam to Paris or Paris to Arles, both lines with frequent and fast trains every day? You may not get the exact train you want, or the ticket price you want if you don't book early enough but I can't envision that you would not get there very near to when you want to. On the other hand, when hotels fill up they are full.