1. I THINK I understand that I can buy French tickets ahead of time on SCNF site if I indicate another country other than USA or Canada and elect to pick up tickets in France. Are there any tips, anything special I need to know about doing this? 2. Since a few French trains I need are TGV, do I buy TGV tickets on the SCNF site or TGV site? Do I make seat reservation at the same time?
3. If I wait and do not buy online, can I buy point to point tickets and make TGV seat reservations on same day I want to travel? 4. If I buy two country rail pass (Germany and France), how do this affect buying tickets for France online ahead of time and making TGV seat reservations online? 5. I buy a point to point ticket that has several transfers. I miss a transfer. Is my ticket good for the next train, same route, same destination? How about, is it good for the next train, different route but same destination?
Posted by
Minneapolis, MN, USA
8700 posts
Booking tickets well in advance for trains that require reservations (like TGVs) will be much cheaper than a rail pass. There is no discount for advance booking on regional trains and no reservations are possible. Buy those tickets at the station. 1. You can book all your tickets for any kind of train (includng regional trains if you wish) at tgv-europe.com which is an English site for voyages-sncf.com. Uncheck the box that says "Direct trains only" and choose France as your ticket collection country. To get the lowest fare (when offered) book ASAP (up to three months allowed). 2. If you buy a ticket online or at a station for any train that requires a reservation, the reservation comes with the ticket and is included in the fare. 4. SNCF limits the number of seats it allocates to passholders on trains that require reservations. To be sure of getting a seat, you would be wise to buy your reservations well in advance at raileurope.com. 5. If a train is late causing you to miss a connection, you should be allowed to exchange your ticket with no fee for one on the next train going to your destination. If missing a connection is your fault, you might have to pay a fee. And if you have a discount fare ticket for the second train which is for a specific departure date and time and is non-exchangeable and non-refundable, you'll be out the price of the ticket.
Posted by
Windsor, Ontario, Canada
4088 posts
You can also choose Canada; the automatic bump to RailEurope from Canada was eliminated some time ago. TGV is part of the SNCF system. TGV trains, and some others in France, require reservations and those are included when you buy your ticket directly from the company. Basic source for research: www.seat61.com
I don't use rail passes but many reports indicate that France has withdrawn from a number of schemes. Better to go to the appropriate Internet pass sites and read up-to-date rules.