Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
ers can try for a seat at the “Easy Access” rate of €25.) Railpass holders can't book TGV
reservations at French stations within three days of departure, but can book reservations
asetickets at www.raileurope.com , ifreservations are still available. Ifthe TGVtrains you
wanted arefullybooked,askaboutTER trains servingthesame destination, asthese don't
require reservations.
Key Travel Phrases
Bonjour, monsieur (or madame ), parlez-vous anglais?
Pron: bohn-zhoor, muhs-yur/mah-dahm, par-lay-voo ahn-glay?
Meaning: Hello, sir (or madam), do you speak English?
Je voudrais un départ pour (destination), pour le (date), vers (general time of
day), la plus direct possible.
Pron: zhuh voo-dray uhn day-par poor (destination), poor luh (date), vehr (time),
lah ploo dee-rehk poh-see-bluh.
Meaning/Example: I would like a departure for Avignon, on 23 May, about 9:00,
the most direct way possible.
If you're taking an overnight train and you need a couchette (overnight bunk),
consider booking it in advance through a US agent (such as www.raileurope.com ) , even
though it may cost more.
Reservations are generally unnecessary for non-TGV trains (verify ahead as some
Intercité trains require reservations, like the Nice-Bordeaux train), but they are advisable
during busy times (for example, Friday and Sunday afternoons, Saturday mornings, week-
day rush hours, and holiday weekends; see “Holidays and Festivals” on here ) .
International trains (such as Eurostar, Thalys, Artesia, and international TGV) have
different reservation price ranges.
Validating Tickets, Reservations, and Railpasses
You are required to validate ( composter, kohm-poh-stay) all train tickets and reservations
before boarding any SNCF train. Look for a yellow machine nearby to stamp your ticket
or reservation. If you have a railpass, validate it at a ticket window before the first time
you use it; don't stamp it in the yellow machine.
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