Leburta

I tried to get to Strasbourg on the new TGV route last year, but was unable to use my ticket for health reasons. I want to try again in November, but unlike the last time, the TGV website no longer seems as user friendly. I had no trouble the last time checking the train scheduled and purchasing my ticket on line and printing it up on my computer. I even got a prem fare back then!

I don't seem to be able to navigate my way through this time. Does anyone have any hints?

swandav2000

Hi Leburta,

Yes, the site has become pretty difficult for non-French speakers to use. A few weeks ago I bought my ticket for travel to Strasbourg on 27 Oct and got a good deal -- but I can get through it in French. For the first time, it allowed me to print the ticket on my computer (instead of picking it up in Paris), so I really enjoyed that!

Here's a site with some information and suggestions for geting through the site now:

http://www.seat61.com/France-trains....yages-sncf.com

Good luck!

s

swandav2000

p.s.

At that site, go down a bit more than halfway, to the heading blocked in red that says "How to use www.voyages-sncf.com in French." It should help!

s

Rumseydog

With a little trepidation, I too recently bought three round-trip tickets from Paris Est to Strasbourg for a trip in early December using the voyages-sncf website. While I know very little French, I made liberal use of Google's "Language Tools" to translate words and sentences on the voyages-sncf website as I moved from page to page. My only major challenge was the difference between "nom" (last name) and "prénom" (first name) -- an important detail that must go on your ticket correctly.

As a frequent user of various travel websites, I was able to pretty much figure everything out and successfully print my tickets -- which totaled 114€ round-trip for the three of us on iDTGV.

Give it a go -- you'll likely be rewarded with tickets that are significantly less expensive than those you'll get from RailEurope.

ira

Hi L,

Start at www.voyages-sncf.com.

Enter Paris and Strasbourg and your date.

Click 'continuer'.

At the next screen, go up to the header that shows the URL

http://www.voyages-sncf.com/dynamic/...mp;_AGENCY=VSC

change "LANG=FR&" to "LANG=UK&"

From then on, you will be able to operate in English.

TimS

As mentioned, the seat61 site will help you with booking in French.

However, there is a way to get the SNCF site to switch to English and stay in English for booking. Go to www.voyages-sncf.com. Click on the "Train" tab at the top of the page between the "Accueil" and "Hotel" tabs. On the new page click anywhere in the long URL at the very top of the screen. Find LANG=FR and change it to LANG=UK. Hit the Enter key and you'll be taken to a booking page in English. Leave France as the default country for ticket retrieval and do NOT choose cancellation insurance.

ira

Hi TS,

You can now print PREMS tickets online even if you do buy the cancellation insurance.

LoriNY1

what a great help this info is. i was tearing my hair out trying to get from paris to reims in November..thanks

Intex

Try this site:
[email protected]

It has some great promotions. I travelled to the Loire on the TGV for about 19 Euros, when I picked up the ticket, even the station ticket counter couldn't believe the rate. They had some rates from 15 Euros to Strasbourg.

Intex

Or try this site:
http://www.voyages-sncf.com/leisure/...eu_Supp_Soleil

And look at the right side under BON PLANS

TimS

Hi, ira.

Thanks for the update.