Marseilles trip

[acer56]

Hi to all. I am new to this forum I want advice on how to use my international travel coupons when I travel from London to Paris on the Eurostar and then from Paris to Marseilles. do I have to book trains in advance or can I just pay on the day.

Thanks for your replies.

 

[Haywain]

Short answer: you must book in advance for Eurostar and it is strongly advised to do so for TGV services.

 

[acer56]

Help!! I am finding it difficult to understanding how to use my FIP card to book a journey on Eurostar and on TGV. can anyone point me in the right direction please.

 

[mike57]

Hi to all. I am new to this forum I want advice on how to use my international travel coupons when I travel from London to Paris on the Eurostar and then from Paris to Marseilles. do I have to book trains in advance or can I just pay on the day.

Thanks for your replies.

This doesn't answer your question, but...

If you are not planning on spending time in Paris beyond changing trains, then a good (better?) route is Eurostar to Lille Europe, and then SNCF from there to Marseilles, there are a few through TGV services each day which skirt around the east of Paris, so if you can make the timing work you then have a 'same platform' change at Lille Europe instead of having to get from Gare d'Nord to Gare de Lyon on the Paris Metro.

 

[Haywain]

The RSTL site contains a lot of useful information about travel with FIP coupons, linked here.

 

[acer56]

The RSTL site contains a lot of useful information about travel with FIP coupons, linked here.

Thank you

 

[acer56]

Can I book train travel to Marseilles by using eurostar website with my FIP card?

 

[bb21]

Can I book train travel to Marseilles by using eurostar website with my FIP card?

No.

I don't think you can book FIP fares online for Eurostar either unless things changed recently (someone will correct me if so I'm sure). Best bet is to come to St Pancras yourself and book in person. Price is £34.50 per person each way but this is quota controlled so may sell out quickly on popular trains (weekends in July/August for example). There are some agencies who can also book them for you subject to a booking fee (£10 per booking from International Rail which is the recommended one from RSTL if I recall correctly).

I believe for TGV trains there is a French SNCF number you can call to book the reservations on the phone (English speaking service) but can't recall it off the top of my head. You can also turn up at the station and book it at the ticket office during opening hours, but beware the queues at busy stations can be horrendous at busier times. The reservation costs €1.70 for trains classed as off-peak and €10 on peak services (based on demand not travel time), both in second class.

 

[acer56]

No.

I don't think you can book FIP fares online for Eurostar either unless things changed recently (someone will correct me if so I'm sure). Best bet is to come to St Pancras yourself and book in person. Price is £34.50 per person each way but this is quota controlled so may sell out quickly on popular trains (weekends in July/August for example). There are some agencies who can also book them for you subject to a booking fee (£10 per booking from International Rail which is the recommended one from RSTL if I recall correctly).

I believe for TGV trains there is a French SNCF number you can call to book the reservations on the phone (English speaking service) but can't recall it off the top of my head. You can also turn up at the station and book it at the ticket office during opening hours, but beware the queues at busy stations can be horrendous at busier times. The reservation costs €1.70 for trains classed as off-peak and €10 on peak services (based on demand not travel time), both in second class.

Thanks

 

[TEW]

Booking via phone for SNCF is much easier. The number is on the RSTL website. Booking at a ticket office seems to produce mixed results if using a coupon. It's not an issue getting the FIP discounted fare but getting just the reservation fee seems to be much more difficult.