 Poster: A snowHead
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Folks, I'm trying to source tickets for the "couchette" train from Paris to Moutiers (intercite de nuit) however I am drawing a blank. The Eurostar-affiliated TGV is more expensive and less comfortable as we are travelling in a pack of six and looking to therefore have the entire couchette to ourselves. I had heard it was a reasonably priced offering but I can only see overnight tickets for in excess of 120EUR per person and these don't appear even to be couchette seats.
Can anyone give me any pointers on where I can source tickets? It isn't for March so I suspect I'll not be able to book until three months in advance but need to know my timetable options!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@Astraeus, I think Corail Lunea is the service you need. Look on the sncf website for timetables.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Hi, the key to getting them cheap is to book as soon as they become available. Have a look on the snowcarbon website for an idea of timetables, although they might be a few minutes out because they are usually based on the previous years times. You're right about generally only being able to book three months in advance, I do nt think you'll know timetables for certain until then, but I did that trip last year and it leaves Paris around 11.30pm as I recall. For info the cheapest couchette tickets would be the non flexible ones and if you get them the minute they go on sale they should be about 29 quid each (single).
Good luck
Shippo
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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http://en.voyages-sncf.com - (NB: Not UK) I had no problem sourcing tickets at €25, or €50 for First. Unfortunately, booking for collection from the UK appears to direct you to what was RailEurope's timetable system, with no couchette trains that I could see.
According to the quick search I did, your train will leave Paris Gare d'Austerlitz at 23.12 local and arrive Moutiers a little after 7 a.m. local.
Absolutely crazy that SNCF can rip off the UK customer and provide a worse service at the same time, but surprised? Nope. Hopefully someone with a bit more nous than I can help you with that quandary.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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To get the best prices, make sure you don't select the UK site (I believe there may be booking commission added as it goes through Rail Europe?), and as ticket delivery is by email, France is the country for delivery of tickets.
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@Astraeus, as mentioned above: to get a decent price for the overnight couchette train, you need to book early - as soon as tickets go on sale - especially if you're travelling at peak times or weekend.
I stay up to midnight and book as soon as the tickets appear.
Always best to go mid-week and out of peak season if you can.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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| nailzstomp wrote: |
http://en.voyages-sncf.com - (NB: Not UK) I had no problem sourcing tickets at €25, or €50 for First. Unfortunately, booking for collection from the UK appears to direct you to what was RailEurope's timetable system, with no couchette trains that I could see.
According to the quick search I did, your train will leave Paris Gare d'Austerlitz at 23.12 local and arrive Moutiers a little after 7 a.m. local.
Absolutely crazy that SNCF can rip off the UK customer and provide a worse service at the same time, but surprised? Nope. Hopefully someone with a bit more nous than I can help you with that quandary. |
I can find them for €69 outbound and €131 inbound and leaving Paris thirty minutes earlier but I can't find the ones you refer to. Do yours run on a Friday night?
SnowCarbon looks to be a decent website and it's probably a case of booking Eurostar now whilst it is cheap and then making sure I'm around 90 days before travelling to book up the couchette.
...at a loss to understand why there isn't a "skyscanner" for the rail network...
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@Astraeus, that was actually for a Friday night in January - I was more looking at times for you rather than prices. Which is 22.56 departing Paris, don't know where I got 23.12 from. Definitely an Intercités de Nuit though.
As for why there isn't a Rail "skyscanner", the thought did cross my mind whilst looking it up...
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Time horizon for booking
Departures in March up to 9th March - booking is open now. I saw a price of about 54 euros for Friday 6th March - single journey.
Departures from March 10th - they move to the usual three month booking horizon.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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@Astraeus, when are you trying to travel?
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You know it makes sense.
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14-21 March 2015.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Poster: A snowHead
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Yes, book out and return seperately when they become available. Don't wait till the return is 3 months. If you catch the cheap tickets it is cheaper that way.
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FAQ
