Booking tickets on the TGV...help!

jwb1

I need to travel to Bezier in France in mid-September. Plan is to fly to Paris (De Gaulle) and get the TGV from there to Beziers.

Now, the TGV schedules all show a train leaving De Gaulle at 3.53pm and getting to Beziers around 8.45pm....perfect....

But....

I have tried countless websites to try and make a reservation on this train but all to no avail. The websites either say (a) there is no such train (!!!); or (b) seem to prevent selecting Ireland as the country of residence.

Has anyone out there successfully booked a TGV ticket from Ireland? If so, can you direct me to the magic site?

Thanks!

penexpers

Have you tried this site?

http://www.tgv-europe.com/en

Ponster

jwb1 wrote: »

Now, the TGV schedules all show a train leaving De Gaulle at 3.53pm and getting to Beziers around 8.45pm....perfect....

Where did you get that information ?

There are the closest times I can find....


15h20
17h16

jwb1

Ponster wrote: »

Where did you get that information ?

There are the closest times I can find....


15h20
17h16

PARIS CDG AIRPORT(AEROPORT CDG 2TGV) TO BEZIERS - LEAVING ON Monday 14/09/09 - JOURNEY TIME 4h,51m From £59.00

Departure Arrival Train
AEROPORT CDG 2TGV - 14/09/09 15:53 BEZIERS - 14/09/09 20:44
MORE DETAILS

I'm beginning to think that the problem is either (a) you can't book TGV from Ireland (ridiculous if true); or (b) there is something peculiar about my PC configuration which is causing is this problem - I suspect McAfee....I should turn it off and see what happens....

jwb1

penexpers wrote: »

Have you tried this site?

http://www.tgv-europe.com/en

Ponster

Go to the official site : http://www.voyages-sncf.com/

Purchase the tickets using a creditcard - You can pick the tickets up at the station at CDG using the same card as was used to purchase.

AFAIK you can book a TGV from Ireland but you can't have the ticket mailed to you - you must pick up in the station.

Ponster

I just tried again and it seems to be working fine.

I can't select the country of residence as it's Ireland by default (from where it was asked on the very first page).

jwb1

Ponster wrote: »

I just tried again and it seems to be working fine.

I can't select the country of residence as it's Ireland by default (from where it was asked on the very first page).

Hi...thanks for taking the interest...which site are you referring to here? The "voayages sncf" one or the "tgv europe" one?

Ponster

"voayages sncf" is the 'real' site while the other is via a third-party company but who are licenced to sell TGV tickets. The French national train company (sncf) never mail tickets outside of France.

Did you manage to get either working ?

penexpers

Ponster wrote: »

"voayages sncf" is the 'real' site while the other is via a third-party company but who are licenced to sell TGV tickets. The French national train company (sncf) never mail tickets outside of France.

Did you manage to get either working ?

Ahem

Date : 2009.08.06 at 10:19:45 CEST

-- DOMAIN NAME --

Name.......................... : tgv-europe.com
Creation Date................. : 2007-06-01 17:26:10
Registration Date............. : 2007-06-01 17:26:10
Expiration Date............... : 2010-06-01 15:26:12
Lang.......................... :

-- OWNER --

Name.......................... : SOCIETE NATIONALE DES CHEMINS DE FER FRANCAIS S N C F
Address....................... : 34, rue du Commandant Mouchotte
Address....................... :
Address....................... :
Address....................... : 75014
State......................... :
City.......................... : Paris
Country....................... : FR

And I have had tickets mailed outside France before. IIRC it involves tricking the booking system somehow.

penexpers

Using tgv-europe.com I was able to go through the booking process and enter my address in Ireland. You should also be able to select to pick your tickets up at the station.

BTW you are redirected to tgv-europe.com when you enter Ireland as your country of residence on voyages-sncf.com, along with a note that says voyages-sncf.com is "dedicated" to residents of France.

Ponster

Ponster wrote: »

Purchase the tickets using a creditcard - You can pick the tickets up at the station at CDG using the same card as was used to purchase.

This is Very very important.
You will need to remember your pin for the card also when collecting the ticket.
Dopey me had my card but couldn't remember the pin number-it asks you this but not to charge you secondly,it just asks you probably as verification.
Without the pin you may aswell not have the card.

We met a very nice person at the ticket desk who sorted it out for us but if we had met someone on an off day,they were within their rights to ask us to pay again for a new ticket and we would have been screwed.

So bring your card and remember your pin!

jwb1

....this is a real "find"....

http://www.seat61.com/France-trains.htm#How%20to%20use%20voyages-sncf.com

JB