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The first step is to familiarize yourselves with the French Rail website at www.voyages-sncf.com.

You are always best to buy your tickets well in advance in order to get the best prices. I normally advise people to look online from 3 months before your trip and normally then you can make some very large savings on your purchases. As an example it is usually quite possible to at least get a First Class ticket for the price of a Second Class ticket. Sometimes you can buy 90 Euro tickets for only about 20 Euros, so if you are a couple of a family group then the savings can be significant.

After entering in your journey requirements you will be shown the journey times and prices for each ticket. There are several types of tickets available:

• PREMS : These tickets are non-refundable, and after purchase you print the tickets out directly on your home printer. These tickets you receive are the actual tickets so don’t lose them, and when you arrive at the train platform you go directly to your seats with these tickets.
• LOISIR : These tickets (and standard tickets) are refundable and modifiable in advance of your journey. Once you have paid for them online you will have seat numbers assigned, and you will be give a booking reference number. This reference number you must keep safe and on arrival at your departing train station, take this number, along with the credit card you purchased the tickets with, to a ticket office to have your actual tickets issued. Once you have been issued with your tickets and are ready to get on the train, take these tickets and you must have them punched in the machines on the platform – this validates your ticket (and is important).

First Class vs Second Class?

Both classes are very comfortable but I do find there is more space in 1st Class, and more room for your luggage. Also in 1st class there is a snack trolley which will pass along the carriage to serve you drinks and snacks (that you pay for). On main trunk line trains there is a dining carriage with a wide assortment of food and drinks. I find that on longer journeys I take 1st class seats, but on the shorter journey I tend to buy 2nd class seats, unless of course I can get a discounted price ticket through the website above!

Safe travels!