MorganB's French Rail SNCF Booking guide version 2
Mar 25th, 2008, 10:58 AM
#242
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If you use Firefox as a web browser, there are a couple of add-ons that will allow you to translate whole pages of text to/from English.
I use on called simply "translator" found here: http://www.google.com/search?q=firef...ient=firefox-a
Works pretty good
I use on called simply "translator" found here: http://www.google.com/search?q=firef...ient=firefox-a
Works pretty good
Mar 26th, 2008, 09:12 AM
#243
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The only thing I see that can be done to get the site in English now is to go to http://www.voyages-sncf.com , click on "train" at the top middle, then you got up to the URL and change LANG=FR to LANG=UK then refresh. After that it should all be the same as the old instructions.
Otherwise we are stuck with the french version
Otherwise we are stuck with the french version
Mar 26th, 2008, 03:05 PM
#244
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So, I got my 2 sets of tickets, but I didn't see any place to select seats when I made them. I do see "Voiture 11 Place 12 Assise," so I assume this is Car 11, Seat 12, and I'm all set.
Are seats automatically assigned if you don't select?
One more thing... I printed the PREM "tickets" -- do I take these to the ticket window along with my credit card and they give me a "real" ticket? Or is what I have all I need?
Thank you for this thread. It is very informative!!
Are seats automatically assigned if you don't select?
One more thing... I printed the PREM "tickets" -- do I take these to the ticket window along with my credit card and they give me a "real" ticket? Or is what I have all I need?
Thank you for this thread. It is very informative!!
Mar 26th, 2008, 07:09 PM
#245
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Thats all you need. You can just head onto the train and you will show that as your ticket. You've got the car and seat right. If you dont choose the seat time it does indeed just assign one. Glad you found the post helpful.
May 7th, 2008, 10:18 AM
#251
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Thank you MorganB for all your helpful tips. Re your point below, if I am finding the same fare options on both SNCF and Rail Europe (perhaps due to not booking way ahead), is there any reason not to book on Rail Europe? Thanks.
Question: Why would I want to go through all this trouble when I can just use Rail Europe?
Answer: Rail Europe does an excellent job providing train tickets to those in the US. They offer a service and their prices reflect that. There is nothing wrong with booking with them. However if you want to save money and dont mind doing it yourself, booking with the SNCF is much cheaper.
Question: Why would I want to go through all this trouble when I can just use Rail Europe?
Answer: Rail Europe does an excellent job providing train tickets to those in the US. They offer a service and their prices reflect that. There is nothing wrong with booking with them. However if you want to save money and dont mind doing it yourself, booking with the SNCF is much cheaper.
May 13th, 2008, 01:31 PM
#252
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Not that I can think of..... Rail Europe being closer in price to the SNCF is fairly new. Seems that they haven't updated their prices to fully reflect the movement of the dollar.
The one advantage to Rail Europe is they are in the US so it might be easier to iron out any problems. I've never dealt with them but they are the "official" seller for the SNCF in the US. I believe they are partially owned by the SNCF.
The one advantage to Rail Europe is they are in the US so it might be easier to iron out any problems. I've never dealt with them but they are the "official" seller for the SNCF in the US. I believe they are partially owned by the SNCF.
May 13th, 2008, 03:02 PM
#253
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Thanks. I ended up getting better fares on sncf after all, though the experience was very frustrating, not least of all because this special 40 euro "evasion en duo" (escape for two, I assume) fare kept appearing and disappearing (eventually disappearing entirely and being replaced by a 56 euro fare for two -- still not a bad fare, but they got my hopes up with the 40!). Also, I was unable to print the second leg of our tickets, but I emailed them and they replied in about a day and told me they had a computer glitch and that I can just print them out at the station.
Sep 3rd, 2008, 07:32 AM
#254
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MorganB-
Wondering if you still do not recommend that people choose to have tickets mailed to the US?
I have a month before my trip and it <i>says</i> on the SNCF site that tickets outside France will take 7 business days.
I don't have the option of printing-no PREMs available on my route/time/day.
Wondering if you still do not recommend that people choose to have tickets mailed to the US?
I have a month before my trip and it <i>says</i> on the SNCF site that tickets outside France will take 7 business days.
I don't have the option of printing-no PREMs available on my route/time/day.
Sep 9th, 2008, 06:34 AM
#256
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dawnie, you can buy your ticket that starts in France on the French rail site - they will sell 'international' train tickets. You have to wait until 90 days from your departure, though, not sold any further in advance than that.
Sep 10th, 2008, 07:08 AM
#258
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dawnie, I gave you the tip on your other 'French train' thread:
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=35155327
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=35155327
Dec 14th, 2008, 12:59 AM
#259
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a tip to add to this helpful thread:
i needed to book TGV tickets from germany to france. i used bahn.de for booking, since it gives me the option to read in english and also have my tickets mailed to me in USA. i never had problems getting the tickets via mail in the past from them. i think this is the better way to go for anyone who books germany to france tickets well in advance, instead of using SNCF.
i needed to book TGV tickets from germany to france. i used bahn.de for booking, since it gives me the option to read in english and also have my tickets mailed to me in USA. i never had problems getting the tickets via mail in the past from them. i think this is the better way to go for anyone who books germany to france tickets well in advance, instead of using SNCF.
