European Rail Travel - Advance purchase - Barcelona to Nimes?

Hi, I am planning my daughter's spring break trip. She will stay in Barcelona for 2 nights and then wants to visit Nimes on the way to Arles. It appears to me that there is an 8:16 am train and then a 12:25pm leaving Barcelona that goes to Nimes. Since she wants time in Nimes, I think the 8:16 is best (as grueling at that might be).
So, now my question - I see this ticket available from RailEurope for $63. I have tried to go to Renfe - but I can only find a ticket from Barcelona to Fiqureres Vilafant (the connection for the train to Nimes). The price is 22 euros for this one leg. I know I will pay more for the RailEurope ticket, but since this involves 2 countries...is there any other way. I am hesitant to have her buy at the station as catching this train is imperative in order to tour Nimes.
Any advice is very much appreciated!
Thank you!

It prices out on SNCF's website. You should see if the advance price is cheaper than $63. I believe you will need to get a paper ticket from SNCF mailed to you (not 100% sure on this).

If the advance price is not too much cheaper, go with the RNE's ticket. Otherwise just buy the ticket in Barcelona (the ticket doesn't have to be bought on the day of, and unless there's a big holiday or something, chances are -- it won't sell out.)

There are one or two day buses and 1-3 overnight buses (leave at 22h00, arrive at 04h00). Those are around 40€.

Thank you! Can you direct me to SNCF's english booking website? When I go on the English version, I can't see where to book tickets. I can see this on their main website though - but I can't read French. :-o
Also, do the prices jump 30 days in? I am going to be out of town this weekend and won't be able to book this until she is less than 30 days from this train trip.
Thank you again for your help!

Thank you! Can you direct me to SNCF's english booking website? When I go on the English version, I can't see where to book tickets. I can see this on their main website though - but I can't read French. :-o
Also, do the prices jump 30 days in? I am going to be out of town this weekend and won't be able to book this until she is less than 30 days from this train trip.
Thank you again for your help!

See this post (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/17956683-post27.html), and others in the same thread (and also http://www.seat61.com/Europe-train-tickets.htm) for a discussion about using www.voyages-sncf.com, www.raileurope.com and other related sites.

Looking on www.raileurope.com for a random date in March, I see the $63 fare for Barcelona-Nimes, broken down as follows:
$32 (~€24) Barcelona Sants - Figueres Vilafant
$31 (~€23) Figueres Vilafant - Nimes (Non-refundable, non-exchangeable fare, book at least 15 days in advance; +$15/+$40 for more flexible tickets)

The Barcelona - Figueres Vilafant fare is basically the same as you were quoted by RENFE (€22), and the discounted €23 fare for Figueres Vilafant - Nimes is presumably the same as you would get on www.voyages-sncf.com (although I haven't actually been able to check).

So, unless www.voyages-sncf.com is showing you a much better price for the whole journey than $63 ~ €48, then you presumably may as well book on www.raileurope.com . I don't think there's any way to book in English on www.voyages-sncf.com - it will always re-direct you to www.raileurope.com (USA) or www.raileurope.co.uk (UK). However, if necessary you should be able to work it using the translate feature in Google Chrome.

If you want the $31 discounted fare Figueres Vilafant - Nimes, you should book it as soon as possible. In addition to the 15 day advance purchase requirement, it is presumably also 'yield managed', so the cheap fares may get sold out even in advance of the 15 days. (On the day I was looking at, it said "only 4 seats left at this price").

Thank you for the detailed response! I was out for the weekend - but today I can look into this more. I really appreciate the help!