France Train Tickets: How to book tickets on the SNCF website (in French!)
The SNCF station at Charles de Gaulle airport.
By Liz Webber–
As Cheapos know, it’s almost always less expensive to buy train tickets directly through the website of a country’s national rail service rather than through RailEurope’s English-language site or overseas agents, especially for France’s TGV system. Fares can also be cheaper booking online than buying the tickets in person at the station.
However, booking a ticket in another language can be intimidating. France’s SNCF website is fairly easy to navigate, but if your French doesn’t extend much beyond “Parlez-vous anglais?” use this cheat sheet to book day trips from Paris or crisscross the country!
Step 1: Choose where and when you’re going
The SNCF homepage. Be strong!
On the SNCF homepage, there is a box on the left-hand side for quickly booking trains. First, enter the “départ” (where you’re ”departing” from) and “arrivée” (where you’ll be “arriving”).
Next choose your departure date in the box next to “Aller le” (”going the…”) and return date in the box next to “Retour le” (”returning the…”). If it’s a one-way journey (“aller-simple”) leave the return date blank. Note that the dates follow the European format of DD/MM/YYYY.
Also choose your desired departure time for both directions (“à partir de” means “starting from”). Remember that these times will be written in standard 24-hour format.
Specify how many people will be traveling using the drop-down menu next to “Adultes” (adults), and select either first or second class.
For direct trains only (without transfers), click the box marked “trajets directs.” Then hit the orange “Rechercher” (”search”) button to begin searching for tickets.
Note: Under the search box, you’ll notice a tempting array of little flags. If you’re already feeling a bit nervous, you’ll understandably be drawn to the English flag. Sure, clicking it will change the language to English–but it will also send all results through RailEurope, a helpful agency for foreign tourist that usually adds a substantial mark-up to ticket prices.
Step 2: Select your tickets
Now a page will open with options for the first half of your journey. Prices can vary greatly depending on the travel time and the day of the week, and only reflect half the cost of the total journey for a round-trip ticket (“aller-retour”). However, when booking for more than one person at a time the price reflects the total cost for all tickets.
The box at the top shows all the options at a glance, from which you can then scroll down to select the one that best fits your specifications. Tickets are color-coded by price range, whereby orange designates the cheapest fares, blue more moderate fares, and gray the most expensive.
When you check one of the circles to choose a ticket, a so-small-you-might-miss-it box pops up underneath all the options for that departure time that says “Choisir Ma Place” (“Choose My Seat”). From the drop-down menu, specify if you’d like to sit “à côté de” (next to) a particular seat, or simply give a preference for “fenêtre” (window) or “couloir” (aisle). Pretty much all trains in France have assigned seats, so be sure to keep that in mind when you go to board.
Note: If you’ve selected an “iDTGV” train, you will be permitted to choose your “ambiance.” “iDzap” is a train friendly to portable electronics, DVDs, cellphones, etc., while ”iDzen” restricts electronics, cellphones, and anything that makes noise.
Be careful of tickets marked only “non échangeable” (non-exchangeable) or “non remboursable” (non-refundable), though most fares cannot be exchanged or refunded “après départ” (after departure). Certain tickets must be paid for online and printed at home – if so the fine print will read “Paiement en ligne. Billet à imprimer vous-même” (”Online payment. Print your own ticket.”)
Once you have figured out what time you want to leave and have chosen your seat, click the orange box directly underneath marked “Valider cet aller” (”Validate this part of the trip”). Make sure you hit the right one!
You’ll then go through the same process again for the return journey. Again, remember that the price is for one way of the journey.
Step 3: Payment
On the following page, confirm that all parts of your journey are correct then click “Valider votre réservation” (”Validate your reservation”) to proceed.
Next come three questions before the actual payment.
IMPORTANT: Since the majority of SNCF ticket machines do not accept American credit cards, be sure to click “Gare ou boutique” (”Rail station or boutique”) for question 1 in order to pick up your tickets from a ticket window at the station. Also note that if you’re booking an iDTGV (as pictured), you will only be given the option of printing your own ticket.
Question 2 requires the input of a “civilité” (”title”), “nom” (”LAST name”), “prénom” (”FIRST name”) and e-mail address for confirmation purposes.
Under question 3, check the box to indicate that you agree with the SNCF terms and conditions. Then click “Valider votre commande” (”Validate your order”).
Finally, it’s time to enter your credit card information. Note: The card you use to book must be presented to pick up your tickets, so be sure to use the card that you’ll be taking with you on your trip.
After entering all your data, hit the “valider” button one last time to complete the transaction. A screen should pop up with your confirmation code, which will also be sent in an email along with your itinerary. Print either for your records and to bring with you when you collect your tickets.
Step 4: Picking up your tickets
Now comes the easy part! Simply head to your departure station with your credit card and booking number to get your tickets. Many SNCF agents even speak English and so can help you make any changes to your reservation and get you to where you’re supposed to be.
Departure tracks are usually announced 20-30 minutes before the train is scheduled to leave, so be sure to leave enough time to pick up your tickets and figure out where you need to go. And don’t forget to stamp your ticket in the machine by the track before getting on the train!
Bonus tip: Reserve now, pay later
The SNCF website lets you reserve a ticket online without paying for it in advance or even giving a credit card. On the pre-payment page, instead of clicking “Gare ou boutique” under question 1 hit “Option.” The red text lets you know the date and time by which you need to confirm your reservation (usually 24 or 48 hours before departure), and you’ll receive an email with a booking code.
If you’re not sure what your schedule will be like or don’t want to give out your information online, reserve your seat then bring your confirmation number to the station before departure to pick up and pay for your tickets.
Popularity: 12% [?]
Related Posts:
- Paris SNCF: Springtime Train Fare Sale!
- Florence museum tip: Book online, skip the line!
- France budget tip: Cheapo rates on the TGV
- London: The Cheapest Way to Heathrow—Train, Tube or Car?
- Site of the Week: SubwayNavigator.com
Help others find this post:
Del.icio.us
Digg
Technorati
Subscribe to blog
November 4th, 2009 at 4:51 pm
[...] I thought it would be - especially if your high school French is failing you. Which is why I wish this article about using the SNCF website had come out [...]
November 5th, 2009 at 6:16 am
Hi Liz
Great advice. Another trick if is simply to use the ticket machines in the stations - they have multiple languages (the English is fine), the touchscreens are fairly easy to use, and they take credit cards.
November 16th, 2009 at 4:25 pm
I’m confused, the article says >>Since the majority of SNCF ticket machines do not accept American credit cards, be sure to click “Gare ou boutique” (”Rail station or boutique”) for question 1 in order to pick up your tickets from a ticket window at the station.<<
Now you say, they accept credit cards–but not American credit cards? And are the prices higher if you buy from the ticket machines a la gare?
November 19th, 2009 at 11:32 am
An SNCF official has told me that the French station machines will accept all cards containing a “standard international” chip, but I haven’t verified this in practice.
Tickets are not more expensive at the station than on the Internet. But the more in advance you can reserve, the lower prices tend to be. And tickets in the generally cheaper iDTGV trains are only available on the Internet. By the way, each iDTGV train offers both iDzen (quiet) and iDzap (non-quiet) cars.
Another trick is to first use the super-fast Swiss train schedule site at http://sbb.ch/en/index.htm in an exploratory phase. Use it to see where and when trains are running in France and - very usefully - all the places where each train stops. Then go to the French site when you are ready to book.
For a journey involving a change of trains, booking a through ticket is usually cheaper, but sometimes the French site will not offer a through routing you saw on the Swiss site. In this case, you can book the two legs separately.
Thanks for this very informative page, which presents a lot of information I have learned myself the hard way.
November 19th, 2009 at 1:38 pm
Hi Vera and George,
As George points out, the self-service kiosks in the train stations work only with chip-enabled credit cards, which excludes most American cards. (I wrote on this blog about my issues buying a train ticket from the airport into Paris: http://www.eurocheapo.com/blog/paris-transit-buying-rer-and-metro-tickets-with-an-american-credit-card.html)
To get around this, you can reserve online (in advance, to get the best deal) and then pay in the station, paying a ticket agent instead of using the kiosk. The price will be the same, and you’ll be able to use your American card at the ticket counter.
And yes: It’s important to note that if you book on one of the iDTGV trains, you will pay for it online and print your ticket out yourself. (They will email you the ticket and you print it at home on your own printer.) You will not be able to pick these tickets up from a ticket agent at the station.
George, regarding your comment that tickets are not more expensive at the station than on the internet: While that is often the case, there are actually “web only” SNCF ticket offers that will be cheaper than tickets purchased in the station. And of course, the cheaper iDTGV tickets are ONLY available online. Thanks, as well, for the tip about the Swiss site. We’ll check it out!
Finally, Evening Herault: Good point about using the English-language screen in the train station. However, to get the best deals (as we’ve noted) you’ll have to book in advance. And when booking in advance, online, if you click the English flag… you’ll wind up on RailEurope, without access to these deals.
All the best,
Tom
Editor
http://www.eurocheapo.com
November 19th, 2009 at 3:28 pm
Wow! Thanks so much for those replies, George and Tom. I’ll be printing that out and using it as a guide as I plan my trip to France.
Now you have got me thinking, however, about WHY American credit card companies have not started embedding a chip. They probably could get away with charging a premium yearly membership for a special “International” card. Hmmmm….Are you listening, credit card company? You can pay me an idea fee.
November 19th, 2009 at 4:07 pm
Hi! Great guide (and website too)!
I´m trying to buy two tickets to the Paris-Berlin train and I need a little help.
I got this options under “Choisir votre placement”:
* Place assisse 2e classe
* Placement couché
I understand that the first is a regular seat and the second one is a berth, right?
If I choose the berths I got another options: Niveau de couchette
* Indifferent
* Couchette inferieure
I´m travelling together with someone else so I would really like if both berths were together, is there any way I can ensure that? On the other hand… why aren´t there “couchette superiors”?
Thank you!!!
Ana
November 20th, 2009 at 12:05 pm
Ana (above)
Actually there are several options on the Paris to Berlin route, each with its own price band(s).
1. SEATED ACCOMMODATION
As we recall, there are no reclining seats on this route, and each carriage is split into compartments, each with six seats. Terribly uncomfortable if the train is full and all six seats are taken.
2. COUCHETTES
The train has both six bunk couchette compartments and four bunk couchette compartments. So if you book couchettes, chances are that (as with seats) you’ll end up sharing with strangers. On the French booking online system you can express a preference for a lower couchette, but you cannot book a specific couchette. But if you book together as a two-some you will invariably be in the same compartment.
The difference in cost between a crowded six-bunk compartment and the less crowded four-bunk compartment is usually €10 per person.
3. SLEEPING CARRIAGES
These are very comfortable. This train has both Economy and Deluxe sleeping cars, always with two beds per compartment. Ideal for two people travelling together. Even the Economy variant is a HUGE step up in comfort levels from the couchettes. For a really great night’s sleep, we would thoroughly recommend opting a for two bed economy sleeping car.
You may find it easier to book this route on the Deutsche Bahn website at http://www.bahn.de. The various options (with the relevant prices) are set out there more clearly than on the French website. But compare prices carefully. If you are going for the very cheapest option (eg. seats), the fare shown on the SNCF website often undercuts the DB equivalent.
Finally, we would just chip in that Paris to Berlin by day is a good journey, and can be as cheap as €39 one way second class. This cheap fare is available for daytime journeys via Strasbourg or Forbach. It is not valid on the routing via Brussels and Cologne.
We very much hope that these thoughts will allow you to go ahead and make with confidence the booking you need.
Nicky and Susanne
editors / hidden europe
http://www.hiddeneurope.co.uk
November 25th, 2009 at 11:43 am
Hi!
I booked my SNCF tickets last weekend and chose the option of printing the tickets at the self-service kiosk (I must have not been paying attention and just chose that option). Since I paid with my american credit card…what do I do now when I’m at the station and need to get my tickets?
Thanks!
November 25th, 2009 at 12:22 pm
Hi Irene,
First of all, bring any confirmation email or printout with you that shows the reservation number and the credit card you used to make the reservation.
I would recommend first trying a self-service machine at the station. If it doesn’t work with your card (and it probably won’t), just head to the ticket counter. You’ll be able to hand over your card (again, it must be the card you used when making the reservation) and something showing your reservation number and they’ll print out your tickets for you.
Have a good trip!
Tom
December 1st, 2009 at 3:09 pm
No one has mentioned that some fares will allow the option of printing your ticket at home. Do as the French do and print them out. I would caution that the print quality should be very good as the ticket has a machine code on it. The conductor has a little machine that reads the code to verify the ticket. Other than that, you need only a photo identification and you’re good to go!
December 3rd, 2009 at 11:38 am
[...] Paris’ Gare de l’Est, Reims is just 45 minutes on the TGV. The SNCF website is currently offering special fares of €34 roundtrip, but the journey normally runs €40-€50. [...]
December 10th, 2009 at 6:15 am
Thanks, this is very helpful! May I know if collecting a ticket booked online in an overseas SNCF boutique (say, in Geneva) is free of charge for TER trains? The replies above seem to suggest that “collecting at the ticket window” not different from self/machine-collection, and is hence also free. However, there’s a explanatory note on SNCF for the boutique option that says ‘each issue at boutique costs X (6 or
Euros –> acc. to google translate. I’m pretty confused whether this option is free.
I can also have it delivered by post since I live in Germany. But it takes 4 working days and I am going to leave soon so I can’t afford any delays (unless SNCF is extremely reliable on teh 4 working days promise.
I am rambling. This is my primary question: is ticket collection in overseas SNCF boutiques (Geneva in my case) free of charge? Thank you very much!
December 10th, 2009 at 6:19 am
Sorry, I forgot to mention that my trip starts from Geneva, and ends in Lyon, and hence have to collect my ticket in Geneva.
December 10th, 2009 at 12:39 pm
For a while I was having SNCF send me tickets to my home in Switzerland by paper mail, but crossed that off as an option after one time when the postmark showed SNCF took a week to put the tickets in the mail.
The free pickup applies at SNCF ticket machines and SNCF ticket windows *in France*. But according to the TGV Europe website, the SNCF boutique in Geneva will charge you 7 euros for each ticket “withdrawal”.
Assuming you have not yet paid SNCF for the ticket online, it would probably be simpler and cheaper to buy the ticket at the Swiss Federal Railways’ window in Geneva station. (Or at another Swiss station along your route like Basel or Biel/Bienne.) Allow at least 30 minutes for this process. You do not need a reservation on a TER. If you are coming back the same way, buy your return ticket in Lyon.
George
December 11th, 2009 at 7:05 pm
Thanks a lot George! In that case I’ll buy my tickets in Geneva. A TER ticket on Friday evening should still be available if I buy it one day in advance right?
December 12th, 2009 at 2:34 pm
What would be the best (and cheapest) way to train from Vienna to Zermatt, Aug. 7, and on to Paris August 10,connecting from Paris/Montparnasse to Surdon (Granville). Two adults, 2 children 11 and 8.
Any help with this is appreciated!
Elke
January 6th, 2010 at 5:45 pm
The basic idea is to save money by buying (1) in advance and (2) in the country you want to travel in - buying a rail ticket in another country may be more convenient but generally costs more.
To benefit from advanced purchase discounts (APDs), I would proceed roughly as follows: Assuming you don’t have any kind of pass for these countries, I would buy the Vienna-Zurich portion in Vienna (or on the ÖBB website for possible APDs), the Zurich-Zermatt and Zermatt-Mulhouse portions at the SBB ticket window in Zurich (I don’t believe you can get an APD in Switzerland), and the Mulhouse-Surdon portion from the SNCF website (to benefit from substantial APDs).
Mulhouse, France, is about 25 train minutes northwest of Basel, Switzerland. To minimize risk, leave at least 60 minutes between trains in Mulhouse to pick up your pre-purchased tickets at the ticket window. (If you turn out to have some extra time in Mulhouse, you can take a ride through the city on the tram.) You must present the credit card you used for the online purchase and your six-letter confirmation code. Alternatively, you can have the tickets mailed to you, but this is also risky.
Other people reading this may have additional comments and advice.
January 21st, 2010 at 5:43 pm
This is a great site - I am hoping you can help me?
I tried to book a few times (3) for two tickets from Paris to Lyon (return). I am fully fluent in french so the language on the site was not an issue but each time I tried to complete the transaction, using a Canadian visa card, it was “echoue” or refused - pop up message.
I contacted Visa to determine if they had put a hold on my card (I booked hotels immediately before the SCNF) and Visa saw that 3 charges had gone through on my card (so why the error?? )
(Point to note: a charge going through and actually being processed by the merchant (SCNF) are 2 different transactions and that I had to wait a couple of days to see if they post). Anyway, what all of the above boils down to is - how trust worthy is the SCNF website? (I never got any kind of confirmation from SCNF) so perhaps this is just a glitch? Also is there a contact number I could call to actually book the tickets? Has anyone ever experienced this? This is so frustrating!!! HELP!!!
January 31st, 2010 at 5:19 am
Tara. I had the same problem trying to pay for a ticket on an iDTGV train from Paris to Nice.
I contacted Visa and they told me that my card was fine and SNCF had not even tried to complete the transaction. I did some research on the Internet and found a post on another website from a lady in Australia who had the same problem and found out that SNCF knows what country you’re from based on your Visa card number and won’t sell iDTGV tickets to Australians on line. I assume we Canadians have the same problem. Too bad because the iDTGV fares are the lowest.
I tired to book through a Travel Agent in Villefranche and she said she couldn’t get me a ticket at a price lower than the most expensive fare available on line!? Eventually I booked a seat on a TGV train on the SNCF site for a decent price but about 40 euros more than the iDTGV fare and was able to pay for it on line using my Visa card.