 Poster: A snowHead
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| terrygasson wrote: |
the daytime train on a sunday would be an option, does the train stop at moutiers?
but it would mean an extra night in resort, if possible, or an overnight in moutiers/bourg |
Yes, it stops at Moutiers (and Aime).
You could overnight in Bourg at Base Camp Lodge (€61 for that Saturday night), not sure about options in Moutiers but I'd guess there will be something if you can't get an extra night in resort.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@rob@rar, cheers, have looked and there are several options, with free cancellation, to overnight in moutiers on the saturday evening if required.
will look into the eurostar sunday option as well
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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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@rob@rar, sorry, just re-read your original post and i assume it you meant the saurday eurostar service, not the travelski overnight Doh!!!!!!!!
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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| terrygasson wrote: |
| @rob@rar, sorry, just re-read your original post and i assume it you meant the saurday eurostar service, not the travelski overnight Doh!!!!!!!! |
Yes, 'm talking about the Eurostar daytime service (on a Sunday, as the Saturday services now seem fully booked). There doesn't seem at the moment to be a way of booking the Travelski Overnight service to London without buying an entire package, certainly not one-way travel-only.
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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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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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just an update for anyone planning of using the travelski night train only service, i messaged them the other day about the possibility of hopping onto their transfer service, obviously this would only work if you are staying in a resort that they have an accommodation package.
this is not available if you are only buying a one way ticket, which i would need, reply in quotes below (via google translate), not sure how you can arrange the transfer if buying a return train ticket?
its a shame as i would be staying in val thorens, they have packages to there, would have been nice to have piggybacked on to their bus, as i assume the timings leaving VT would have been synced with the train, was prepared to pay for it. no biggy though, as it is only 12 euros on the altibus, will need to find a resto or bar in moutiers for a couple of hours.
"When you book a one-way ticket, we do not handle transfers, so you will need to find a taxi or purchase a transfer yourself on the Altibus website.
This way, you can choose your own schedule".
still waiting for the group i am supposed to be skiing with on my second week in VT to get their ar!!s in gear so i can book the return tranport!!
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You can book tickets beyond that date, I booked a return ticket in April at the same time. Was expecting it ot be up to the 31st as published but I have tickets for 5th April booked. Don't know what the current limit is.
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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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Hello, Im confused about booking a train from Paris to Bourg Saint Maurice because the post above advises wait until January 26 to book April 26 trains but I seem to be able to book them already on SNCF or Rail Europe. But am I missing something? Will there be more trains released? Thank you
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I've spent a long time looking at this this morning.
I rate b-europe.com as they give clear indication of the train availability.
On there I can book up to the 29th March and it clearly states where trains are full. For anything after the 29th, it says 'booking momentarily impossible'.
I've also looked at RailEurope, and they do have trains available to book, but only ones going via Lyon, which is not the route I want to take.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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@Owlette, I looked on SNCF Connect and some of the trains in April are bookable but not others. It's a very confusing picture.
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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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SNCF also don't offer an interrail option for their discount cards, so no good to me anyway as I need to link that so I only pay for my seat as my journey has already been paid for.
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@Owlette, it all seems a bit weird this year. At least with Interrail fares on SNCF they're available as long as there are seats available - not like Eurostar where they're only available until all seats at a certain price have sold out.
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You know it makes sense.
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Yeah, I definitely feel more stressed about it this year than I have in previous years and I can't work out why.
I think it's because the trains via Lyon are bookable, but the more direct ones aren't. So it initially looks like there either aren't any alternatives or they're all sold out.
Time spent on b-europe has calmed me this morning. I can clearly see trains that are fully booked and ones that are bookable, up to the 29th. Everything from the 30th says 'booking momentarily impossible' rather than 'train fully booked'.
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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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I've already booked our Eurostar leg, to go out to Paris on the Friday. That gives us much more flexibility on the Saturday. So that seat is booked. Still need to book our return Eurostar but we're still debating whether to do Saturday night in Paris and split the journey. Coming home on the Sunday will also give us more flexibility, so we're leaning that way, but just need to commit.
At half term this year, we took the kids out of school on the Friday (I was only working Mon-Thurs) and went straight through on the Friday. We then came home on the Sunday, again, going straight through. They were infinitely nicer travel days. Much less chaotic at the stations.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Possibly as a result of new competitive pressures on SNCF and Eurostar, we think us train aficionados have a very fair - or compared to airlines, damn generous, 'rebooking' set of options. And one worth being aware of.
In order to ensure at least a seat on trains from Turin to Paris, and thence London, I had to take a punt on what would be available - and so booked ahead of schedule.
When the final timetable was released, I changed both sets of tickets, for only the price differential of the released tickets - about €20 a head on the Italy - France leg. Eurostar was no price differential.
In booking Bourg St Maurice to Paris and thence London, we did the same: booked what was shown, then changed up when the fuller timetable was released. Cost of doing so: €3 per head - again ticket price difference. The exchange is available (from both companies) until the day before travel - but obviously ticket price difference between 'early bird' and 'tomorrow' will be somewhat greater the longer you leave it.
FYI we decided to go out on the "Change at Lille but essentially Eurostar all the way " option , and are coming back on the BsM - Paris - London route on the Saturday. Price difference between the two legs - having been able to book in advance - is minimal (£15 ish), and that also includes that the BsM - Paris leg is 1st class : a split of class you can't do if booking a 'through' ticket.
And very much cheaper than finding accommodation in Bourg for the Saturday night - although admittedly you don't get the extra day's skiing
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Hi, If anyone needs a transfer from Moûtiers up to the resorts (Courchevel, Méribel, Val Thorens…), feel free to ask — I’m based locally in Savoie and often help SnowHeads with these connections. Happy to give any info or help if needed.
More details available on my website (AJS Transport Savoie).
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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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Quick question for those that have previously used the Eurostar ‘direct’ service to BSM where you change at Lille onto a train from Amsterdam:
Eurostar website blandly states that refreshments are available on the second leg but may be in the form of vending machines on some services. What was available when you used the service?
The change time at Lille is only 11 minutes so precious little time to buy anything on the station.
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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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| Owlette wrote: |
Yeah, I definitely feel more stressed about it this year than I have in previous years and I can't work out why.
I think it's because the trains via Lyon are bookable, but the more direct ones aren't. So it initially looks like there either aren't any alternatives or they're all sold out.
Time spent on b-europe has calmed me this morning. I can clearly see trains that are fully booked and ones that are bookable, up to the 29th. Everything from the 30th says 'booking momentarily impossible' rather than 'train fully booked'. |
Any idea when the direct trains will be available? Planning on getting a Black Friday deal on an Interrail pass for an Easter trip but checking things this afternoon has been confusing to say the least, trains are visible & bookable on SNCF but not bookable on b-europe 
It’s my first time booking this way, this thread is invaluable!
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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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There may not be any direct trains for the weekend of the 4th. When we went at Easter last year, we needed to change at Chambrey.
You can't book interrail tickets through SNCF anyway, so I pay them no mind. Seat reservations aren't currently available on the interrail site either. Based on past years, I'd expect the booking to go live for Easter around mid January.
Go ahead and get your interrail pass. We bought ours in the summer. There will be trains, fear not.
We've already booked the Eurostar from London to Paris on Friday 3rd, as that was bookable, but we know we want to stay over on that Friday night. Being in Paris on the Saturday morning gives us maximum flexibility for onward travel. We're also going to stay in Paris on the return Saturday and finish the journey on the Sunday.
Easter fares do sell out, but not at the same rate as half term, so you're all good.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| Owlette wrote: |
| There may not be any direct trains for the weekend of the 4th. When we went at Easter last year, we needed to change at Chambrey. |
I'd be very surprised if there were no direct trains. There have been for the past 4 years, including last year. I'm guessing the direct trains might have been too early for you? SNCF have been a bit weird with the timetable for next year, and seem to have been releasing it very late.
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| Owlette wrote: |
| Easter fares do sell out, but not at the same rate as half term, so you're all good. |
The direct Paris to Moutier trains on Saturday 12th April this year (i.e. the beginning of Easter week) were sold out by the time I looked on release day, which was probably ~08:00 UK time. I only managed to get direct tickets by keeping an eye out and grabbing some tickets when they became available 7 days later (presumably when someone cancelled or released an option).
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I think we weren't able to get a direct one last year due to the time we came in on the Eurostar. We couldn't make certain connections. It's one of our reasons for doing the overnights in Paris this time. We are already there.
Because we come from Wiltshire, we got on the first train at 6am, but still didn't manage to get into Paris until lunchtime, meaning we missed those early trains and ended up on mid-afternoon ones. Because of that, and needing to change at Lyon (so being on the slow local one for a torturous 3.5 hours) we didn't get onto BSM until 11pm. That was a rough journey. Lesson learning about going via Lyon. Never again.
We managed it better this year with the direct train, plus managed to get a seat on an earlier one, so got into BSM around 8pm, which was much better. Aiming to be in by 5pm next year (1pm for me if they release a 7am train).
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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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Probably worth mentioning that the Interrail Black Friday sale is expected to run from 25th November to 17 December.
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Thanks @sugarmoma666, @Owlette,
Going to buy the Interrail passes when they go on sale, book the Eurostar and figure out when the LNER tickets will be available…. The more I look at the rest, the more confusing it gets, maybe I just need to leave it be 
Apologies if I’m being a bit dense, but there are several trains listed on the Interrail planner, showing sold out for direct trains and available changing at Lyon. There are trains visible on b europe, either listed as not available to book (trains changing at Lyon) or sold out (direct trains).
What’s baffling is that if I look at Omio, there’s only one train visible and available to book, while Trainline has several options, only one direct. I know I can’t book Interrail seats through these sites but why is this? Either they’re available or not, no?
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| sugarmoma666 wrote: |
| Owlette wrote: |
| Easter fares do sell out, but not at the same rate as half term, so you're all good. |
The direct Paris to Moutier trains on Saturday 12th April this year (i.e. the beginning of Easter week) were sold out by the time I looked on release day, which was probably ~08:00 UK time. I only managed to get direct tickets by keeping an eye out and grabbing some tickets when they became available 7 days later (presumably when someone cancelled or released an option). |
Missed this message. Also explains why we ended up on the indirect ones last year. I am stalking this year!
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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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| MotownJunk wrote: |
Thanks @sugarmoma666, @Owlette,
Going to buy the Interrail passes when they go on sale, book the Eurostar and figure out when the LNER tickets will be available…. The more I look at the rest, the more confusing it gets, maybe I just need to leave it be
Apologies if I’m being a bit dense, but there are several trains listed on the Interrail planner, showing sold out for direct trains and available changing at Lyon. There are trains visible on b europe, either listed as not available to book (trains changing at Lyon) or sold out (direct trains).
What’s baffling is that if I look at Omio, there’s only one train visible and available to book, while Trainline has several options, only one direct. I know I can’t book Interrail seats through these sites but why is this? Either they’re available or not, no? |
Just leave it be for now. If you go back to Saturday 28th March on the interrail.eu site, you can book seats on both direct and indirect trains between Paris and Bourg. This lines up exactly with everything published and bookable on the b-europe site (which states that they've only opened bookings up to and including the 29th March). If you try to book anything from the 30th on either site, they're not available yet.
We've booked through the interrail site before with no issues. B-europe has just confirmed what they are currently showing. I only focus on those sites because that's where I can use my interrail pass. It's irrelevant what anyone else is doing around reservations as my ticket isn't valid through them. So pay them no mind.
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Thanks, I see what you mean. I think I’m just traumatised from years of pouncing on budget flights! Alarm set for 28th Jan.
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You know it makes sense.
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Jumping in on this thread - we too are doing the Paris to Bourg route over Easter - 4th April out, 11th April back.
As you say the 4th April trains are not showing yet ..... but.... I was able to book the direct return train this morning on the 11th April for the 9.11 train... so have booked that. Just need to add the outward journey when released.
298 euros for 4 adults and 3 children...... not bad at all
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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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We’re going to need an overnight in Paris, any recommendations for hotels near Gare de Lyon that won’t break the bank?
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Poster: A snowHead
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@MotownJunk, I tend to stay in the Ibis Styles Paris Bercy if I can. It's just next to the Accor Arena, so sometimes ridiculously expensive if there's something popular on there. It's about 15-20 minutes walk from the TGV platforms.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| MotownJunk wrote: |
| We’re going to need an overnight in Paris, any recommendations for hotels near Gare de Lyon that won’t break the bank? |
We're staying at the Ibis Styles Paris Gare De Lyon Bastille on the way out, and probably on the way back too. Seems like pretty good value, though I haven't been there yet to confirm.
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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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| Owlette wrote: |
| MotownJunk wrote: |
| We’re going to need an overnight in Paris, any recommendations for hotels near Gare de Lyon that won’t break the bank? |
We're staying at the Ibis Styles Paris Gare De Lyon Bastille on the way out, and probably on the way back too. Seems like pretty good value, though I haven't been there yet to confirm. |
I stayed there in the way to the Alps last January and won't be rushing back. For us, with skis, it wasn't really suitable as the lift is so small and ancient that you can just about get one person and luggage into it. Location was ok but no better than the Ibis Styles Paris Bercy. The only benefit was that you approach Gare de Lyon from the front in the morning rather than through the back.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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@MotownJunk, We've stopped at Hotel Palym in the past which was perfectly adequete and just a couple of minutes walk from the front entrance to the station. The prices were reasonable for that area compared to the hotels nearby.
A good place to eat nearby is the brasserie l'Europeen, good for fresh seafood and always full of locals when we go in there.
We've been there 3 times this year and I tend to go for the menu express which offers a set menu of 2 courses. I usually have the 6 Brittany oysters then the steak for 27 euros. Admittedly the drinks tend to push up the price a bit but not bad for cental Paris.
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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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Apologies is has already been mentioned. Interrail sale now on 25% discount. This works for us, but do appreciate for some people the point to point tickets can be better value.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@MotownJunk, we're in "Terminus Lyon" ahead of a train to Turin in Jan: €130 per twin room https://hotelterminuslyon.com/en/
We've also stayed at Hôtel Aurore , just across the road
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@sugarmoma666, @Owlette, @skichampcouk, @Arctic Roll Thanks for the suggestions, I’ll check them out… we’re travelling on Good Friday / Easter Saturday so I suspect the Ibis options will be more towards our budget! Will definitely track down that Brasserie though 
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@skichampcouk, likewise, will have a look - somewhere that someone eats 3x a year has got to be worth a few minutes at least!
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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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| MotownJunk wrote: |
| @sugarmoma666, @Owlette, @skichampcouk, @Arctic Roll Thanks for the suggestions, I’ll check them out… we’re travelling on Good Friday / Easter Saturday so I suspect the Ibis options will be more towards our budget! Will definitely track down that Brasserie though |
Same as us then. We're going from home to Paris on the Friday and then onwards on Easter Saturday. May see you onboard! If the trains play ball, the idea is for me to get the very early one out and ski Saturday afternoon, and Mr. O and the teens will follow along on a lunchtime train, arriving at teatime, having got up at a more reasonable hour.
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That’s a sweet deal! Just me and Mr M, so I sadly can’t zoom ahead… think we’ve settled on a mid morning train to Modane on the Saturday to keep things civilised but that may change.
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FAQ
