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Old 08-04-2011, 12:40 PM   #1
 
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Default Train Ticket Questions

Hello,

I am heading off to Europe in September but I am a little confused about a few things regarding tickets and trains.
I will be using an Interrail ticket and so far I have booked my ticket from London to Paris on Eurostar - my questions are:

1. Can I book TGV tickets online using my interrail ticket?

I have visited the TGV website but their search criteria doesn't give an option for rail passes.

2. Is it more expensive to reserve train seats a few days before travel?
3. Is it true that there is a TGV route from Paris to Toulouse via Bordeaux?

I have searched online but the results show routes going via other stations and not Bordeaux. Does this service still run?

4. Is it easy to book night trains at train stations? I plan to get the train from Rome to Munich though again I haven't found any useful information.

Answers to these questions would be greatly appreciated, it's just that i'm starting to panic a little now incase I have to change my whole plans!
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Old 08-04-2011, 04:17 PM   #2
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I can only speak for #2 and #4 and this was a couple years ago.

reservations cost between 0 to 6 euro to make and can be made many days in advance

You should always reserve your night train tix as they tend to fill up fast. I would book your Rome to Munich ticket as soon as you arrive in rome.

Good Luck and Safe Travels
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Old 08-04-2011, 07:09 PM   #3
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If you're using a rail pass, simply make your reservation and then show up with said reservation stub and your rail pass - that was how I did things.
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Old 08-06-2011, 05:21 AM   #4
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Like the other said, just make your reservations by going into the train station a day or a few days before your trips. You'll show your pass (though, they won't mark anything on it) and you'll pay a small reservation fee each time.

When you get on the train, a guy will come by to each passenger and will ask to see your ticket/pass. Show it to him and he'll have you mark the date on your own pass.

Once you mark a date on your pass, you can travel on trains as much as you want for 24hrs.

As far as France to Toulouse via Bordeaux, I believe the answer is yes. From Paris, you can get to Bordeaux on the TGV in about 3.5 hours (this is a fact). When you get into the train station in Bordeaux, just take a couple of minutes to reserve your seat on a train to Toulouse (I believe it's just a couple of hours away).

Lastly, in general, since you're traveling in September you'll have missed the big tourist summer rush that happens mostly in July and August as people have to get back to school and work, usually the first week of Sept.
Trains and planes won't be as busy then, but still make the night reservations in advance when you're clear on your travel dates.

I don't believe you can reserve your seats online since you'll be holding a special paper ticket with a designated time period you can travel and they need to physically see it.


Hope it helps!
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