Hi,
I%26#39;m trying to plan my honeymoon and will be in Paris and Monaco and then Rome. I was trying to book tickets via the website http://voyages-sncf.com, which was referenced in a few trip advisor posts.
I needed some help with booking the tickets from Paris to Monaco. Is anyone here familiar with the site? Is it legit? It seems to be much cheaper than raileurope but I am not familiar with the european rail system at all, so I am hesitant to buy tickets. I believe I found 2 premium tickets for 158 Euro for two people.
Since I am also going to Rome from Monaco would it make sense to buy a railpass? Sorry for all the questions just trying to figure out the best and least expensive option.
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Yes SNCF, no to a rail pass.
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You shouldn%26#39;t have any concerns booking with Voyages SNCF they are the French Railway%26#39;s Travel Agency
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Thanks for the info. Is there any reason to choose 1st class over 2nd. Is 2nd class safe to travel on? Also, how do you book sleeper seats for overnight trains?
Thanks
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bboy1977--read the second %26quot;sticky%26quot; at the top of page 1 and check the link to Morgan B%26#39;s excellent post on booking with SNCF.
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%26gt;%26gt;%26gt;Is there any reason to choose 1st class over 2nd. %26lt;%26lt;%26lt;
Only if you enjoy paying more for things.
%26gt;%26gt;%26gt;Is 2nd class safe to travel on?%26lt;%26lt;%26lt;
It%26#39;s no less %26quot;safe%26#39;%26#39; than 1st class. Where exactly do you think you%26#39;re going, Rwanda?
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%26gt;%26gt;%26gt;Thanks for the info. Is there any reason to choose 1st class over 2nd. Is 2nd class safe to travel on? %26lt;%26lt;%26lt;
For a trip as long as one from Paris to Monaco (approx 7 hrs)...depending on your travel budget...and the sort of advance-purchase discount available from SNCF for the train(s)you will be travelling on...1st Class MAY be worth the extra cost. But for the most part, there really isn%26#39;t that much difference between 1st and 2nd Class. BOTH are equally SAFE.
As previously noted SNCF is the French National Railways. RailEurope is simply the US %26#39;..ticket agent..%26#39; for the Eurail network...and for the little (or no) convenience they may provide, they add on thier own ticketiing / reservation commission / fee to the transaction. Unless you are making several / many one-way rail trips, where one of their Eurail pass products is a good deal...you should avoid purchasing point-to-point tickets through RailEurope..as you would a plague. Apart from reasons of ticket cost, RailEurope doesn%26#39;t necessarily provide you with full schedules and available fare discount options.
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Thanks for the info KDKsail. I%26#39;ve read MorganB%26#39;s post on booking and figured out how to book tickets on the sncf.com site. I was just confused about the differences between the classes and WTH berth, single, double, T3, T4, couchette etc mean. The raileurope site actually had a good description of what it all means.
I looked into flying with with easyjet and ryanair but with cost of getting to the airport, and paying the excess luggage weight fee it comes out a little more expensive. The 1st class on TGV duplex is about 40 euro more for two people, so I might just do that so I can get a nice upper deck seat for the 6 hour ride.
I couldnt book an overnight train yet. I think I can only book a reservation 60 days in advance.
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I just booked from Paris to Monaco on the sncf website. Even though I had to do BabelFish to translate the page (since I couldn%26#39;t get the English to stay on) I think I did it right . And I saved 100 dollars over the American website.
Now some questions..that may also help you, bboy.
Where do I pick up the ticket? Since I did the pick-up option, and printed my reservation information, do I go to Gare de Lyon..since the train leaves from there? And from what I understand, since I used an American credit card, there will be no way that I can pick it up at an automatic machine, so need to get it from an actual person.
The train leaves from Gare de Lyon. From the map, it looks insanely busy. Any tricks to finding my way to the right platform?
Also, we arrive about 5:30 pm in Monaco. Is there a way to have a taxi waiting for us at the station to take us to our hotel?
I%26#39;m very excited about going to Paris and the French Riviera..but mortified about making my way on trains and such with barely any knowledge of the language. (The trip was a last minute surprise from my darling husband...who forgot a few details...like getting from place to place.)
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