France 2008 <IMG SRC="http://www.singaporebrides.com/forumboard/clipart/happy.gif" ALT=":-)" BORDER=

Hi Raymond,

I don't even understand French. How to book online?

Do you understand what they were talking about in the VT forum? Someone mentioned about TCV ticket, and there is a web site to generate a ticket which you can bring to the office to buy.

The same person also said no need to reserve, just go to the station and buy (words in BOLD!)
 


Hi threasher,

I bought TGV ticket from SNCF website before. just go step by step and at the end you can choose to print your own ticket or collect at the train station in France. Most of the trip I just print my own ticket and bring it on board. dont't even need to validate it. However, if your train ticket is collected at the train station, remember to validate in the yellow box befoe u board the train.

though the website is not in English,but the steps are quite simple to follow. You can roughly guess the information. Try it again.
As for the bahn.de website...I used it to check the detailed train schedule for my trip, it is a good source.
 
Hi,

I did a search on the sncf web using example: 17 Apr 2nd class ticket and it shows at 3:26pm you can get ticket at 20Eur from Lyon Part dieu to Tours gare. However this is PREM ticket which mean u cannot change your train timing and no cancellation.
 
Dear Threasher,

No idea about TCV. Well sure, you can take your chances and buy on the spot. But what if all the tickets are sold out due to some unforeseen event? Or what if you have to pay an obscene sum for the last minute tickets? Blame the guy who told you to buy at the counter?
happy.gif


For my F&amp;E trips, I don't like any unpleasant surprises. Can't afford to have them.
happy.gif


Let me put it this way: there are some routes that I am perfectly comfortable with buying tickets on the spot, and in fact, I have done it before. Last year, I bought my Grenoble -> Lyon tickets on the spot. But how did I have confidence that the tickets will not be sold out, or that the tickets will not require me to mortgage my house?

Simple; I checked online, and found that the tickets were ALL the same prices (EUR 17+), and that there were MANY trips every day; even on the next day, the tickets were still available at the same prices. And it didn't matter whether it was March or June, the tickets were all the same prices. The tickets did not require any reservation, so I could buy a ticket and board any train within a month or so. Plus I was in Grenoble for three weeks and I had my laptop with me and free Internet access from the University that I was working at, so I could easily monitor the ticket prices to see if there was any alarming trend. It was almost as if I was a temporary resident in Grenoble (it was such a wonderful stay!). In the end, I bought my tickets a few days before the trip.

So you can do your homework and try checking if your mid-day tickets from Lyon -> Tours are always available no matter how near / far you book, and if they are always the same price. And I hope you don't encounter any unforeseen circumstances.
happy.gif


If you need help with French, try any online French -> English dictionary, or post your queries here. I can help a little, and there may be some others who are experts in French.
happy.gif
 
Hi Peng,

Wow, I finally managed to find that PREM ticket you were talking about, but I had to choose "direct route" before it showed up. Hmm, sneaky website!
 
Dear Threasher,

Here is a step-by-step guide on finding that cheap PREMs tickets from Lyon to Tours.

(1) Go to: http://www.voyages-sncf.com/

(2) Look for "12-25, Famille, Abonnes, S'Miles..." and click on "+ d'options".

(3) Fill in the form.

a. Under Depart, put "Lyon".
b. Under Arrivee, put "Tours".
c. Click the checkbox marked "Trajet direct uniquement".
d. Click the radio button marked "Aller Simple". It means you want a one-way ticket.
e. Choose your date, e.g. 24/04/2008.
f. Under "a patir de", choose 10h.
g. Classe should be left as "2e classe" and Reservation should be left as "Oui".
h. Under "Nombre de passengers", select 2.
i. Finally, click on "Rechercher maintenant".

You will see a screen that says that it is searching for your tickets, please wait a few seconds.

You should then see your EUR 40 tickets; that is the combined price, so only EUR 20 per person. There are two trains, one departing at 15h11 from Lyon Perrache, and another departing at 15h26 from Lyon Part Dieu.

After you're done, you *should* be able to print out your tickets and just board the train. Note that you should check that the allocated seats are indeed next to each other.
happy.gif


I think that's enough to get you started.
happy.gif
 
Hi Raymond,

The below is my partial itenerary. From Chamonix, I want to take train to Tours, but I thought it might be too long a journey. Therefore, I thought it might be better to travel to Lyon first before venturing on the Tours. However, I find that going from Chamonix to Lyon seem difficult. There doesn't seem to be available train for me to take. The best one is departing Chamonix at 10.39am and arrive at St-Gervais-les-Bains at 11.20am, and I have to change to another train departing at 11.30am for Annemasse, arriving at Annemasse at 12.39pm. At Annemasse, I have to change to another train departing at 12.44pm The schedules are too tight.

I am thinking of leaving Lyon out, and instead travel from Chamonix to Annecy instead. Then from Annecy, I can travel onwards to Tours. At least the train schedules for Chamonix->Annecy and Annecy->Tours look better. Lyon isn't a place I had intended to visit any way.

24 Apr Chamonix
25 Apr Chamonix
26 Apr Chamonix -> Lyon
27 Apr Lyon
28 Apr Lyon -> Tours
29 Apr Tours
30 Apr Tours -> Rennes
1 May Rennes
 
I'm going to have my honeymoon in France and Spain. I have a few questions:

1) Did anyone manage to book any good flight deals to Paris at Natas fair?

2) What is the best way to go to Orly Airport from CDG in Paris?

3) Do we need to pay for check-in luggage for EasyJet? Are they strict with excess and pieces of hand luggage?

4) If I'm leaving Lyon for Barcelona but will still go back to Paris to fly home, should I claim VAT at Lyon or Paris airport?

5) Which is more interesting to visit, Barcelona or Madrid?

Wow, that's a lot of questions. Thanks in advance for helping me plan my HM.
 
Hi Threasher,

I used voyages-sncf.com and for Chamonix -> Lyon, found 26 April 2007 at 14h39 for EUR 69 for two persons. That's EUR 34.50 per person.

14h39 - CHAMONIX MONT BLANC

15h20 - 15h20> 15h30 via ST GERVAIS LES BAINS LE FAYET
TER

18922 2e classe Transport de vélo Sans réservation
Durée : 04h08

15h30 - ST GERVAIS LES BAINS LE FAYET

18h47 - 18h47> Null via LYON PART DIEU
TER

96584 2e classe
 
Dear Peng,

Thanks. You're right, it's actually quite simple to use. I figured out how to use the voyages-sncf.com website on my own without looking at forums, with my pathetic French. It's not all that hard.
happy.gif
 
Hi Raymond,

The problem with the schedules you gave is that the train arrives at ST GERVAIS LES BAINS LE FAYET at 15.20, and the next train to Lyon will depart at 15.30. There is only 10 minutes for transfer. Is that enough time, considering that I need to tow my luggage along? Also, I am not sure how far apart the platforms are. They don't seem to have a platform number listed along with the time on schedule planner.
 
Hi Raymond,

I checked with the bahn.de website, for the train leaving ST GERVAIS LES BAINS LE FAYET at 15:30 (96584) on 26 Apr, it does not go directly to Lyon. It actually goes to Annemasse, from which we have to take another train to Bellegarde(Ain). And from Bellegarde(Ain), transfer to another train to travel to Lyon.
 
HI threasher,

maybe u can choose 1639pm timing. This schedule only need to change train 1 time.

chamonix Mont blanc - st gervais le bains
st gervais les bains - Lyon (2047pm)

By the way, 10mins transfer is fine. Railway station is not huge and usually quite easy to find the next platform.
 
Hi Peng,

In Switzerland, all the railway stations have platform numbers. On the SBB web site, if you check train schedules, it will show the platform number of each train. For France, I can't seem to find any platform number at all, only the route number is displayed. How would I know what platform to look for?
 
hi,

when u reach the train station, there will be a big board at the main area and it will show all the train platform number. usually they will only display the platform number 20mins before train departure.
 
Dear Threasher,

(1) I think you should just stick to voyages-sncf.com where possible. This is where the German website shows you too much information. According to voyages-sncf.com, for the 14h39 train, it's just one transfer at St Gervais Les Bains Le Fayet. The train from there to Lyon stops at several places, but you do not need to get off the train. Just enjoy the scenery from within the train.
happy.gif


(2) Peng is right; the transit train station is nowhere as large as Gare de Lyon in Paris, etc. It's just a small train station with a couple of platforms at the most. You may need to drag your luggage down one flight and up one flight of stairs at the most, but nothing that the two of you cannot handle.

(3) With regards to the actual platform, I have one advice: open your eyes when you arrive at the station. There will be ample signs showing you the train number / train destination and its corresponding platform. In the highly unlikely event that you miss the train, you would just have to wait two hours for the next train (and not have to camp overnight!)
 
Dear Threasher,

I just want to add on that Lyon (like Paris) has more than one main train station; in fact, there are two major train stations; Lyon Part Dieu and Lyon Perrache. Make sure your hotel is situated near to the correct one.

If you're staying near Lyon Part Dieu, I can suggest a fantastic brasserie that sells great food at about EUR 22.80 per person for a wonderful three-course dinner.
 
Hi Raymond,

According to the Germain web site, the train from St Gervais Les Bains Le Fayet to Annemasse runs as 96584 up to La Roche sur Foron, then as 96585 up to Annemasse. The end station is Annemasse, not Lyon. At Annemasse, we have to take another train to Bellegarde(Ain). And from Bellegarde(Ain), transfer to another train to travel to Lyon.

How can I be sure which web site is correct? Could it be that the so-called transfer all along is with the same train, and therefore we don't even have to get off?
 
Dear Threasher,

I think it's a simple matter of the German website providing too much information. Anyway, if they do differ, which is more likely to be correct; the French or the German website?
happy.gif


Next question; what are the train numbers in between all the transit stops? Maybe you could copy and paste them all here?

I still maintain that it is only one transfer, and other than that there is no need to get off.
 
Hi Raymond,

Here is the schedule:

Chamonix 26.04.08 14:39 (RE 18922)
St-Gervais-les-Bains 26.04.08 15:20

St-Gervais-les-Bains 26.04.08 15:30 (RE 96584), (RE 96585)
Annemasse 26.04.08 16:33
Note: Runs as RE 96584 up to La Roche sur Foron, then as RE 96585

Annemasse 26.04.08 16:44 (RE 96592)
Bellegarde(Ain) 26.04.08 17:19

Bellegarde(Ain) 26.04.08 17:24 (RE 96588), (RE 96589)
Lyon Part Dieu 26.04.08 18:47
Note: Runs as RE 96588 up to Amberieu, then as RE 96589
 
Dear Threasher,

Thanks, I already saw it for myself at the German website.

And like I said, I think they are providing too much information. Either that or they are wrong.

I did a further check on voyages-sncf.com and made a search for a ticket from ST GERVAIS LES BAINS LE FAYET to Lyon via Direct Route and it still showed up the 15:30hr train. So I stand by my hypothesis.

Junk the German website when it comes to French trains.
 
Hi threasher,

If I am not wrong, the train change their train number when they reach certain station but it is still the same train. I did encounter my train ride previously, as tGVxxx and when they reach certain station, it become their local train number at a slower speed.
 
Dear Threasher,

Take note also that trains can join up with other trains at some main train stations, taking on the new train number. The technology is quite advanced and we did see with our own eyes this "joining" action.
happy.gif
 
Hi Raymond and Peng,

Thanks. I think it is what I had suspected. The train stops at the station for a while, and when it departs again, the route number changes!
 
Dear Threasher,

One last note; I think that the train at 15:30hr is indeed direct from ST GERVAIS LES BAINS LE FAYET to Lyon Part Dieu; the train departing at 17:30hr is also direct, but changes train numbers three times.
 
Dear Threasher,

The next thing to find out is how to collect your tickets. I don't think TER tickets allow you to print them out yourself. You may have to print out some reservation slip and bring it down to collect the actual train ticket at Chamonix.

Peng, any experiences on this?
 
Hi, Yeah not all train ticket can be printed. If they don't allow u to print on the web, there will be a confirmation slip. just print the reservation slip and collect at the train station counter. Do note that u must use back the same credit card to match the reservationslip. U can also collect it from the machine but may be complicated.
 
Hi Raymond,

I tried to find the fare from Tours to Rennes on 30 Apr on the French site, but it always show the message that no train available. Are you able to find it?

Based on my estimates, total trip would easily cost $8K for 2 persons for 15 days of hotel stays. Assume that hotel room cost 60 Euros per night.

I do not believe that you can travel to France for two weeks at $3.5 per person, as highlighted in your page. The EUR/SGD has been going up. It is now 2.116. The air ticket tax also gone up a lot (more than $500). This trip very "siong" on the pocket! You must be quite well off to be able to do it every year! I feel painful on spending so much, and within just 2.5 weeks! Imagine what I could have done with the money!

I can reduce a lot if the TCV ticket is really available.

I don't really feel good about booking hotels and especially train tickets in advance. What if there is a change of plan along the way? For hotels, it has to be booked in advance... no choice. But for train tickets, what happen if you decided at the last minute to change the date or time? I thought for regional trains, no reservation is needed? Unlike TGV, I don't think it requires that everyone must have a seat
 
Threasher threasher...

Things change... the prices I quote was way back in 2005... and there are a few things that you have missed out which I mentioned on my website:

(1) Self-drive, and only in France. Not France/Switzerland/London. And not taking trains.

(2) EUR was then 1 EUR = 2 SGD. It has appreciated; well too bad right? C'est la vie.
happy.gif


(3) Accommodation we used was the cheap kind, EUR 37 per night, not your EUR 60. Not for your honeymoon or married couple. Notice that my original page was written for four persons, and my assumption was that they were the "stay anywhere with a roof but not a hostel" type.

(4) Fuel tax has gone up by a lot since then; and I did mention in my website that it has indeed happened.

So I still stand by my $3.5k per person (back in 2005), and I guess I do expect readers to adjust for inflation and other increases in prices.
happy.gif
 
Dear Threasher,

Aller le Mercredi 30/04 entre 12h05 et 12h09 - prix total pour 2 passagers

12h05 - TOURS GARE

13h08 - 13h08> 14h02 via LE MANS GARE
TER

57012 2e classe Transport de vélo Sans réservation
Durée : 03h10

14h02 - LE MANS GARE

15h15 - 15h15> Null via RENNES
TGV

08021 2e classe Service Handicapé Voiture bar Période de pointe - Réservation obligatoire

Durée : 03h10

+détailsx
52.20 €

1e Passager (26 à 59 ans) : 26.10 €

Tarif normal : Billet échangeable et remboursable soumis à conditions.

Loisir : Service d'échange et de remboursement gratuit jusqu'à la veille du départ, avec retenue de 10€ le jour du départ, non échangeable et non remboursable après départ.
 
Dear Threasher,

I think you are right that you may not need to reserve in advance for certain train tickets, since it may be quite possible to get them on the spot and they are all the same price anyway. It's up to you.

For us, we are driving our own rental car for the majority of our trip, and taking only two TGV train trips, so booking early costs us less; a lot less, as it turns out; they are even cheaper than your TER tickets!
happy.gif
We also don't like surprises; getting stuck in a place without a train ticket out of town and without accommodation, not to mention that you have to forfeit your accommodation in the destination town, and that you may not have grasped the local language yet, isn't our idea of a holiday.
happy.gif


I still have a nagging suspicion that you may be a little on the ambitious side considering this is only your second trip to Europe and you are doing three countries, two of which you have not been to before. But then again perhaps I am worrying over nothing and everything will turn out fine in the end.
happy.gif
 
Dear Threasher,

I think you couldn't see the tickets on 30th April because you selected "Trajet direct uniquement", which means direct route only. As it turns out, there is no direct train from Tours to Rennes, that's why the search returned nothing.

My other advice to you is: please try to learn some French and pronounce the words properly before you go. It will certainly help you to enjoy your holiday a lot more.
happy.gif
 
Hi Raymond,

Thanks. We are actually doing just two countries: France and UK. We are not going to Switzerland again. We fly to Geneva because it is nearer to Chamonix, and at the airport we will exit the French Sector.

The following is our itinerary:

23-Apr Singapore -> Geneva Airport
24-Apr Geneva Airport -> Chamonix
25-Apr Chamonix
26-Apr Chamonix -> Lyon
27-Apr Lyon
28-Apr Lyon Part Dieu -> Tours
29-Apr Tours
30-Apr Tours -> Rennes
1-May Rennes
2-May Mont St-Michel
3-May Rennes -> Paris -> London
4-May London
5-May London
6-May London -> Paris
7-May Paris
8-May Paris
9-May Paris Airport -> Singapore
10-May Singapore

Some concerns:

We travel to Rennes because we want to go to Mont St-Michel. On 1 May, I think it is closed due to public holiday. Therefore, we will visit Mont St-Michel on 2 May. So on 1 May, we will have to be in Rennes, unless we can think of something else. We can also stay one more day in Tours, and go to Rennes on 1 May and visit Mont St-Michel on 2 May. Any thing to suggest?

On 3 May, we will travel from Rennes to Paris to take Eurostar to London. Is this a good idea? Would it be better to stay in Paris first before moving on to London?

For French words, I can pronounce "bonjour" because I have heard so much of it in Switzerland last year.
happy.gif
However, for other words, as I can only learn from a book, I am not sure if my pronounciation is correct.
 
No help? Someone, pls advise?
happy.gif


______________________________________________

Earlier post:

I'm going to have my honeymoon in France and Spain. I have a few questions:

1) Did anyone manage to book any good flight deals to Paris at Natas fair?

2) What is the best way to go to Orly Airport from CDG in Paris?

3) Do we need to pay for check-in luggage for EasyJet? Are they strict with excess and pieces of hand luggage?

4) If I'm leaving Lyon for Barcelona but will still go back to Paris to fly home, should I claim VAT at Lyon or Paris airport?

5) Which is more interesting to visit, Barcelona or Madrid?

Wow, that's a lot of questions. Thanks in advance for helping me plan my HM.
 
Hi Du-ster,

>> 1) Did anyone manage to book any good flight deals to Paris at Natas fair?

I didn't bother to try at the fair. My Air France ticket is already $850, which is cheap enough. Any cheaper, and I would have to go with Sri Lankan Air. For the tax surcharge, it is more than $500. My ticket is about $1396. For any air fare promotion at the Natas fair, the tax surcharge would be the same anyway.

>> 2) What is the best way to go to Orly Airport from CDG in Paris?

I guess the obvious answer is by train.
 
Dear Threasher,

I suggest you spend as little time in Rennes as possible as there is nothing much there. It is better to stay one day longer in Tours. Besides the town of Tours, there are many interesting chateaus around the area.

Honestly I think the London segment bumped up your costs quite a bit. How much does it take to travel from Paris to London, and London to Paris? How about accommodation in London? How much does that cost?
 
Dear Threasher,

On 3rd of May, you're going to have a chaotic time in Paris. You will take a train from Rennes and arrive at Gare Montparnasse in Paris. From there, you'll have about a 10 minute walk to the Metro 4, where you will take until Gare de Nord. Finally you will take the Eurostar from Gare de Nord.

Considering that it is going to be your first time in Paris, and that you are going to have tonnes of luggage to roll around (it's not like SG where there are escalators everywhere; you're going to have to tackle some stairs!), the crowds, and pickpockets at every corner, etc. etc., I'm not sure if this is going to be a great idea. Not that Paris is dangerous or anything; far from it; but pickpockets are experts in picking out overloaded, suaku and blur-looking tourists and targeting them. So be warned, be streetwise, be smart, be less blur, and have a happy time in Paris.
happy.gif


And oh; if you can change your itinerary to a less stressed one, do try. I don't think it makes sense to do the Eurostar twice. Does it save you money in the end? Why not just do the Eurostar once and fly off from London?
 
Hi Raymond,

My itinerary is not fixed yet, so you can give your comments and suggestions.
happy.gif


For London, I find that return tickets for 2 person is more than $300. I am not sure about hotels in London, but I guess it must be more expensive than Paris. Am I right? I have discussed with my wife, and we can leave out London if necessary. Of course, it would be best if we can fly home from London. But our flight home is from Paris (it was originally from Geneva but I changed it to Paris).

OK, so maybe we can stay one more night in Tours. Actually for Rennes, I just take it as base for Mont St-Michel visit. From Tours, where do you suggest we go to next, so that we can visit Mont St-Michel conveniently?
 
Hi Raymond,

Agree with you. Especially in Gare Montparnasse...it is huge with lots of stairs here and there, up and down...quite confusing compared to other metro station in Paris.

Threaser - have u booked all your hotels? I notice there is a jump in hotel price as well.
I feel that it is better to book train in advance. You already plan your itineary so it is unlikely that there will be a change of plans. Train in France is different from Switzerland. It is definitely more crowded and almost always full.
Also timing is not as frequent as swiss train. You might want to take that into consideration.
 
Hi Raymond,

If we leave out London, we will have more days than planned. Where else can we go? We prefer places with great scenery.
happy.gif


So far confirmed: Chamonix, Lyon, Tours and Paris. And of course Mont St-Michel.
 
Hi Duster,

i think u can get good flights when there is promotion so not necessary at Natas Fair.

You can opt for train or shuttle bus from CDG ro Orly.

I think Barcelona is more interesting though I've not been to both.

The rest of the question, I am not too sure.
 


Hi Peng,

Bases on Raymond's comments, if I leave out London, my itinerary would still not be completed.

I want to go to Mont St-Michel, but do not know how to proceed on from Tours. Which place would be a better place for base for visiting Mont St-Michel?

23-Apr Singapore -> Geneva Airport
24-Apr Geneva Airport -> Chamonix
25-Apr Chamonix
26-Apr Chamonix -> Lyon
27-Apr Lyon
28-Apr Lyon Part Dieu -> Tours
29-Apr Tours
30-Apr Tours
1-May Tours -> ?
1-May ?
2-May ?
3-May ?
4-May ?
5-May ?
6-May ?
7-May Paris
8-May Paris
9-May Paris Airport -> Singapore
10-May Singapore
 
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