How far in advance should I book a French train ticket?
Book Early, But Not Too EarlyTickets open up for sale around 90 days before your travel date. In general, the longer your travel distance, the earlier you should book. But don't try to to book too far in advance, 90 days is the sweet spot.
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Tickets go on sale at least 90 days out and for summer season sometimes earlier. The price is about a third what you pay last minute and often less than the cost of the reservation when you have a train pass. There is not much difference between 1st and 2nd class and they both get to the destination at the same time.
For long-distance trains including all TGV, Intercités & Intercités de Nuit overnight trains, reservation is compulsory, but there are usually seats available even on the day of travel and you can buy a ticket immediately before the train departs. But there are much cheaper fares if you pre-book.
Always Book EarlyCheap train tickets are usually released by train operators in advance of the journey. Normally, this is around 12 weeks in advance, as the timetable for any particular day is normally confirmed 12 weeks in advance.
The earlier you book your tickets, the more likely you are to get the lowest fare available for the dates you want on the routes along your journey. You may book your travel up to 11 months in advance.
Reservations on the TGV high-speed trains are compulsory. We recommend you make your reservations as far in advance as possible. Please note that international TGV trains offer a limited number of seats for Interrail Pass holders.
TGV is SNCF's high-speed rail service. Carrying passengers across France on trains exceeding 300kmh, TGV train has become one of the most popular modes of transport for travelling around the country.
Trainline shows various date options side-by-side with their costs. So if you're flexible on dates and willing to travel on whichever day is cheapest, you are able to get some great savings. This is not possible with the SNCF (though their older site used to do it) or other platforms.
Higher fares usually apply when purchasing tickets onboard the train. To secure the best available fare, passengers should purchase tickets prior to boarding the train.
The percent of French SNCF trains that arrive with a delay of less than 15 minutes is at 87%, according to a study released in 2022 (read here about it in French). So 13% of French trains are delayed by 15 minutes or more. This represents an increase in lateness over the decades since the 1950s.
There is no difference in the on-board service as no food or drink is included in 1st class on most French domestic TGVs. 1st class is just nicer seating, with the option of solo seats or a face to face table for two.
For travel on TGV INOUI or TGV France-Italy trainsThere is no weight limit for your luggage, but you must be able to carry your bags and suitcases by yourself*. On TGV INOUI trains: Your cabin luggage or other compact bags should be stowed under your seat, at your feet, or in the overhead compartment above your seat.
There's no sugarcoating it: Airfare is expensive. And while waiting until the last minute might sound like a good idea, it typically is cheaper to book your flights in advance. We are seeing fewer last-minute deals than in years past, especially when it comes to flights, a Kayak spokesperson tells Travel + Leisure.