Interail Manchester - Nice

[Hacienda DJ]

Hi Everyone,

Looking for some help being a virgin to Interail pass.

What I'm nervous about is on the Int websites I must reserve seats on my high speed trains? Is this correct because it bumps the price up.

Also on the dates I want to travel the seats on the Eurostar London - Paris are full booked. If I go direct to Eurostar I can get on it no problem so confused.

Also if any has done this journey and wishes to share some doos ans don'ts I would love the info.

We will be using a 4 day pass and day 1 can get us to Nice in 13.5 hrs.

Thanks

 

[Ant1966]

Hi Everyone,

Looking for some help being a virgin to Interail pass.

What I'm nervous about is on the Int websites I must reserve seats on my high speed trains? Is this correct because it bumps the price up.

Also on the dates I want to travel the seats on the Eurostar London - Paris are full booked. If I go direct to Eurostar I can get on it no problem so confused.

Also if any has done this journey and wishes to share some doos ans don'ts I would love the info.

We will be using a 4 day pass and day 1 can get us to Nice in 13.5 hrs.

Thanks

I'm not an expert by any means, but will have a go at answering your Qs as best as I can. Ive travelled on SNCF a lot, but mainly 10-20 years ago.
The Eurostar issue is that there are a limited number of Interrail passholder ticets on each Eurostar (maybe none on the most popular ones, not sure?) and when they are gone the train will show as sold out on Interrail. Gnerally with E* the cheapest advance tickets if you book early enough are probably just as cheap as the passholder fares anyway. With Eurostar, book as early as possible is very good advice.
French High Speed trains (TGVs) have a similar quota I belive, although more availble and a fair bit cheaper. But you are correct, they all need booking in advance, with a supplement. Spain, Italy, Sweden are similar.

Its just something you have to accept with Interrail in these counties, Spain in particular is a pain as there are really no alternatives to the high speed lines ansd (last time I was there) you couldnt even make Interrail Res online! (Fond memories of a 2 hour queue at Atocha to make a res)

It IS possible to travel Paris Nice avoiding TGVs, or at least used to be, on comfortable loco hauled TERs Paris<>Lyon<>Marseille<>Nice Takes a lot longer though, prob not possible in a day from Knutsford.

If you havent found it yet Seat61 is a great resource: https://www.seat61.com/how-to-use-an-interrail-pass.htm#reservations

 

[30907]

Passholder seats to Paris do sell out, particularly 1st class and mid to late morning.

Seats to Lille are more likely to be available, though maybe not at 11.04 which is probably around when you want to travel, and would allow you to get to Nice that day.

You may have to consider breaking your journey overnight in France.

EDIT: Yes, you need a reservation for each TGV. the EUR10 fares are pretty restricted, but EUR20 will be available as long as there are seats.

 

[Hacienda DJ]

I'm not an expert by any means, but will have a go at answering your Qs as best as I can. Ive travelled on SNCF a lot, but mainly 10-20 years ago.
The Eurostar issue is that there are a limited number of Interrail passholder ticets on each Eurostar (maybe none on the most popular ones, not sure?) and when they are gone the train will show as sold out on Interrail. Gnerally with E* the cheapest advance tickets if you book early enough are probably just as cheap as the passholder fares anyway. With Eurostar, book as early as possible is very good advice.
French High Speed trains (TGVs) have a similar quota I belive, although more availble and a fair bit cheaper. But you are correct, they all need booking in advance, with a supplement. Spain, Italy, Sweden are similar.

Its just something you have to accept with Interrail in these counties, Spain in particular is a pain as there are really no alternatives to the high speed lines ansd (last time I was there) you couldnt even make Interrail Res online! (Fond memories of a 2 hour queue at Atocha to make a res)

It IS possible to travel Paris Nice avoiding TGVs, or at least used to be, on comfortable loco hauled TERs Paris<>Lyon<>Marseille<>Nice Takes a lot longer though, prob not possible in a day from Knutsford.

If you havent found it yet Seat61 is a great resource: https://www.seat61.com/how-to-use-an-interrail-pass.htm#reservations

Thanks. I'm looking at booking tickets next few days, travelling mid August. Ive not left to late have i ?

 

[Flying Snail]

I'm not an expert by any means, but will have a go at answering your Qs as best as I can. Ive travelled on SNCF a lot, but mainly 10-20 years ago.
The Eurostar issue is that there are a limited number of Interrail passholder ticets on each Eurostar (maybe none on the most popular ones, not sure?) and when they are gone the train will show as sold out on Interrail. Gnerally with E* the cheapest advance tickets if you book early enough are probably just as cheap as the passholder fares anyway. With Eurostar, book as early as possible is very good advice.
French High Speed trains (TGVs) have a similar quota I belive, although more availble and a fair bit cheaper. But you are correct, they all need booking in advance, with a supplement. Spain, Italy, Sweden are similar.

Its just something you have to accept with Interrail in these counties, Spain in particular is a pain as there are really no alternatives to the high speed lines ansd (last time I was there) you couldnt even make Interrail Res online! (Fond memories of a 2 hour queue at Atocha to make a res)

It IS possible to travel Paris Nice avoiding TGVs, or at least used to be, on comfortable loco hauled TERs Paris<>Lyon<>Marseille<>Nice Takes a lot longer though, prob not possible in a day from Knutsford.

If you havent found it yet Seat61 is a great resource: https://www.seat61.com/how-to-use-an-interrail-pass.htm#reservations

The only operator that has limited quotas for interrail reservations is Eurostar, both on UK - Continent routes and routes on the mainland (formerly Thalys).

On TGVs there are a limited number of €10 reservations and once they are sold €20 are available until the train is full.

 

[Flying Snail]

Thanks. I'm looking at booking tickets next few days, travelling mid August. Ive not left to late have i ?

If you can find any Eurostar availability for interrail reservations then book immediately.

 

[30907]

If you can find any Eurostar availability for interrail reservations then book immediately.

Do a test booking here, you don't need a pass number.
https://www.b-europe.com/EN/Booking/Pass#TravelWish
Tues to Thurs looks OK for mornings in 2nd.

 

[Hacienda DJ]

Thanks everyone. Im going to break my journey into 2 legs, ataying over in Paris for a few nights. More options this way

 

[30907]

Thanks everyone. Im going to break my journey into 2 legs, ataying over in Paris for a few nights. More options this way

Sensible - Lyon would be another sensible split point.