Where the heck are you looking? I just checked www.voyages-sncf.com and saw at least one train every hour or two all day with prices ranging from 54 euros to about 90 euros.

And no, the prices go UP as you get nearer to your travel dates.

No, don't book a train 2 hours after you land. Allow three at least. There's one just after 11 am. That's the one I'd pick.

I tried going to that site but I know very little French (tho' am starting a class next week) and ran into problems understanding some of the choices. So I went to tgv-europe.com, and selected Canada as my country.

That was your first mistake. SNCF directs you to Rail Europe in Canada, somewhere you do not want to be. Either learn a little French quickly, or have someone help you.

seat61.com will walk you through the French version. But telling it you live in the UK will work, too.

This is a good lesson about what it's going to be like to actually BE in France, where you don't speak the language. Glad to hear you're starting lessons.

There's an English translation for voyages-sncf. Look for the French flag (and the word France) in the upper right corner of the home page. Click on it France and choose "other countries" from the list. The search function is in English.

Your origin (or "from") is Roissy.

Thanks, all. Robert, I didn't get directed to Rail Europe, I kept checking my browser to make sure, having read that would happen if I chose U.S., but it didn't - it stayed with tgv-europe. But I was pretty sure I could do better than what I was seeing, even from CDG, and it sounds like I can.

Adrienne, thanks for that advice, that's very helpful.

StCirq, I've been in a couple other countries with different languages, so I think I have a fair idea of what to expect. I've done fine. My experience is that as long as I try (and previous attempts have also been based on just a beginners' class), which I always do, people are friendly and we work things out.

Ok, went to the site StCirq said, using Adrienne's tip for language, and found 4 tix for 310E for 11:40, so at least that's better than what I'd found before, by 70E. StCirq, I've no idea how you're seeing what you're seeing, unless you weren't looking at departing from CDG?

thursdaysd, I'm going to compare with seat61 too, I'd come across that in a search, but think I'll go back to it and look in more detail.

There's a 12:37 from Paris Gare de Lyon for E40 per ticket. For an E50 cab ride into Paris you have your tickets for a total of E210.