European Rail Travel - Booking TGV train tickets online - some questions?

The beginner's guide to buying tickets on French TGV trains is quite useful:

http://www.seat61.com/France-trains.htm

As indicated on the other thread, I plan to buy tickets for myself and my wife:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/european-rail-travel/1233466-eurorail-pass-vs-buying-individual-tickets-cdg-lille-brussels-brugge-brussels-cdg.html

The link on buying French train tickets suggests we (in English) use the tgv-europe.com web site

(eg: http://www.tgv-europe.com/en/train-ticket/results?rfrr=RechercheEnCours_body_click%20here&hid=AUJ),

rather than the rail europe web site:

http://www.raileurope.ca/canada/point_to_point/ptp_results.htm?execution=e3s1&resultId=35640948&noLock=1

as the tgv web site might show cheaper fares.

Questions:

1. The problem with the tgv web site is that the fares (even though I have stated that the point of sale is Canada) is quoted in euros. No problems there - I can always calculate the price in Canadian dollars. However, all of my credit cards charge a conversion conversion fee of at least 2.5%, if not more.

2.The Rail Europe Canadian web site does quote fares in Canadian dollars. I am looking for first class fares - is a "comfort" seat the same thing as a "first class seat"?

3. Should I buy my tickets separately on-line, for each of the legs of the journey, or book a multi-segment itinerary, and then purchase the tickets (ie for CDG to Lille, Lille to Brussels, and Brussels to CDG?).

I think it would be easiest to just buy the intraBelgium tickets : Brussels to Bruge to Brussels, at the train station there (or through the hotel concierge?)?

4. Can I print the TGV tickets? - or do I have to pick up the tickets at the train station (ie CDG, soon after arrival?).

5. For the tgv europe site - why the marked difference between loisir tickets, and normal adulte tickets - as if one wants to cancel the loisir tickets, the penalty is only 10% - so why would anyone want to buy a normal adulte ticket?

6. The promos for 65% off first class seem to be for Thalys trains. I am trying to find promos for the TGV trains.

thanks.

Hi,

To your Question 2 - Thalys calls the classes "Comfort 1" and "Comfort 2", yes it is first and second class respectively.

To your Question 3 - I think the SNCF website allows you to book several tickets on one booking; you may also consider booking separate returns CDG-Lille-CDG and Lille-Brussels-Lille (all trains serving Brussels-CDG stop at Lille; make sure you book the same train to and from Lille to stay onboard), but I don't think you will win anything price-wise (as used to be the case some time ago).

As for Brussels-Brugge - yes, you can easily do this in Belgium (and don't pay the full price - buy "weekend return" on weekends, "summer ticket" on weekdays). You may also consider taking a normal (non-high-speed) train between Lille and Brugge (1 change) skipping Brussels, if this suits you better. Check timetables on b-rail.be.

As for the French ticket conditions - don't ask me, they are not always logical...

And the concierge would not help much - organise it all yourself;)

Take care!
nofrills

Regarding intra-Belgian trains, you can buy them at the train station of course, but you can also buy them at b-rail.be and print them at home.

Hi,
I just try to add some aspects to the already comprehensive answers from nofrills.
@3 It depends. Since the price systems of european trains is not really comprehensible, you should play around with this, especially with the stoppove point.
@3 most TGV-Tickets can be printed online.
@5 The loisir tickets are not available on all trains, esp. the commuter trains. If youn can take one of the cheaper ones, take this one (probably also less occupied)
@6 If you can at least understand french a little bit, I definitly recommend to use the french sncf-page, they are offering more promos.
http://www.voyages-sncf.com/promotion-train/tgv-prems.html?rfrr=FormulaireStandard_ColC_FRANCE_T1

Hi,
I just try to add some aspects to the already comprehensive answers from nofrills.
@3 It depends. Since the price systems of european trains is not really comprehensible, you should play around with this, especially with the stoppove point.
@3 most TGV-Tickets can be printed online.
@5 The loisir tickets are not available on all trains, esp. the commuter trains. If youn can take one of the cheaper ones, take this one (probably also less occupied)
@6 If you can at least understand french a little bit, I definitly recommend to use the french sncf-page, they are offering more promos.
http://www.voyages-sncf.com/promotion-train/tgv-prems.html?rfrr=FormulaireStandard_ColC_FRANCE_T1



I have decided to take a CDG to Brussels trip, followed by a Brussels to CDG train a few days later. So, there is no issue of stopover.

I would go from CDG to Brussels in early afternoon next week Wed, and coming back from Brussels to CDG the following week Sun (mid-afternoon). Between first class and second class, how busy would be the trains, if I buy the tickets at the last moment - would the price increase significantly, compared to buying the ticket soon.

I have decided to take a CDG to Brussels trip, followed by a Brussels to CDG train a few days later. So, there is no issue of stopover.

I would go from CDG to Brussels in early afternoon next week Wed, and coming back from Brussels to CDG the following week Sun (mid-afternoon). Between first class and second class, how busy would be the trains, if I buy the tickets at the last moment - would the price increase significantly, compared to buying the ticket soon.

The Wednesday train will probably be rather busy. I would buy those tickets as soon as possible. Try to buy second class and if it is sold out, then you have no choice but to buy first class. The Sunday train should not be too bad.

Discounts before travelling can be quite significant - 50 percent or sometimes even more. However, if you are travelling next week, it is unlikely that any discount tickets are still available now.

Generally, you should buy train tickets as soon as you have decided to definitely travel. Usually within three months before the trip is the best time to buy.

I have booked tickets via voyages.sncf.com but remember also (not sure anyone else pointed this out) that if you book tickets that you cannot print at time of booking you cannot use a US credit card in the machines in most of Europe and will need to go tot the ticket office wherever you are. Can add a lot of time to the process so plan for that.

That being said. in France at least, unless you are getting a PREMS fare, just buy the tix at the train station (again at the desk, not the machines)

YMMV

TGV is just a specific group of trains under SNCF. There's another pretty good post on Fodors forums http://www.fodors.com/community/europe/morganbs-french-rail-sncf-booking-guide-version-2.cfm