What is the website that will give Americans, in translation, the best fares, viewing of schedules, explanation of the various fares, and best place pre-purchase rail tickets?
The sources of confusion be several:
1) RailEurope is designated as the %26quot;official%26quot; US site for European train travel. There has been much discussion about inflated fares, booking fees, limited fare options and discount offerings on this site.
2) If Americans Google, for example, %26quot;SNCF,%26quot; %26quot;trains France,%26quot; %26quot;TGV,%26quot; etc., and click %26quot;Translate this Page,%26quot; we are sent directly to RailEurope. We never see the fares offered on SNCF.
3) If we identify our selves as US on TVG, our TVG/SNCF sites are shut down, and we are sent to RailEurope.
4) If we stay on the SNCF site, click the British flag for translation, we are sent to TVG.
The questions I would ask are:
1) What are the facts about the RailEurope fares? Are all fares and discount options offered there as a traveler may find on the SNCF French language site?
The fares on RailEurope are quoted in the US Dollar. Is there a booking fee added at the point of purchase? Is the conversion rate inflated and/or is there a conversion fee posted, as can happen on American credit card transactions?
2) If we go to TVG, are the fares the same as on the SNCF website? Can we purchase there?
If Americans are lucky enough to be fluent in French, we can stay on the SNCF French website and get the explanations we need about our best fares, schedules and discounts. Unfortunately, most Americans to not have the opportunity to use what foreign language skills we may have to feel confident about purchasing on a foreign website.
There has been much discussion on this topic on other threads. I%26#39;m trying to bring the discussion together so our summer travelers can find their way without searching other, site specific forums.
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RailEurope adds substantial fees.
The best advice I can give is to stick with the SNCG site in French. There are good instructions at seat61.com/…20voyages-sncf.com
Or you could use translate.google.com to translate the SNCF web site into English, page by page.
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Gettig French rail info is not quick and simple. Didn%26#39;t realise that US visitors had an even more difficult time.
I use this site as it is a bit more user friendly than SNCF to find the trains you want.
http://reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/query.exe/en
Of course where you buy the actual ticket is another mass searching matter. There may be a couple of dollars to be saved, but I would rather support a site which gives me the info I need relatively easily than buy from a user unfriendly site with a minor saving.
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When we do the Google translate, we are sent to RailEurope. I don%26#39;t see the page by page. Is it different on your viewing.
I screwed up on my search topic...didn%26#39;t do my spell check. Can TA fix this, or should I start over? You guys have helped American travelers through this site, and I%26#39;m just trying to get this consolidated.
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Very interesting. When I tried it last night, it worked fine. Today, I get a translation of the SNCF page, but without the ability to enquire about trains.
According to the Seat61 web site, www.tgv-europe.com is also run by SNCF and sells at SNCF prices.
Incidentally, there can be quite a bit of money involved. Tickets bought from the US RailEurope site can be as much as 50% above the actual ticket price.
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Let%26#39;s keep taking care of our travelers, and start a new thread when it becomes less confusing. France wants American tourists and we want to travel, given what we can. All travelers are looking for our best options.
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Seat61 has been mentioned by other travelers. Can we get this info consolidated on a common thread, so US travelers can find their way through French train travel?
We%26#39;re sent all over the place when we do searches that work in other countries, and sent to more expensive sites.
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Unfortunately, because of the way that TA works, there is not much point in collecting information into a thread. Within a few days, it will be ten pages down and no-one will find it.
I guess all we can do is to keep referring enquiries to the Seat61 site. It gives clear instructions, and they are always visible.
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I agree that the seat 61 site is very helpful.
There is also a step by step guide here on TA which is great. Type in the search box here on the Paris forum %26quot;MorganB%26#39;s French SNCF Train Rail Booking Guide version 2%26quot;
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When I tried Seat61, I was, again, sent to RailEurope.
It looks like the best way for Americans to purchase a ticket is to go SNCF-Voyages, click the British flag, and never let on that we%26#39;re American. If we do, we get overcharged!
Morgan B%26#39;s instructions are great, and I think I%26#39;ll just refer travelers to his post.
As always, thanks for your input.
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You are right on target Troog. The SNCF site directs you to check a box indicating where you are located. If you check US you immediately get transfered to RailEurope. If you check Great Britain you continue on the SNCF site and can purchase tickets using your credit card. The SNCH site is difficult to use especially if you don%26#39;t know french. I printed Morgan B%26#39;s direction and followed carefully. If you purchase the tickets well in advance of the travel date the tickets are much cheaper. You can actually print out the tickets.
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