website to book french trains to sjpdp

[rosiexamanda]

Hello Pilgrims!, Can anyone suggest to me the best websites to book a train from Paris CdG to Bayonne? I am travelling to but i believe i only need to book to Bayonne and from there I can get a train on the day to SJPDS without prebooking...?), So far i am having trouble knowing how best to book in france though! any help primarily focusing on the lowest price would be gratefully recieved!! Rosie

 

[Bradypus]

The UK subsidiary of SNCF - the French state rail company - is probably your easiest place to search and book:
https://uk.voyages-sncf.com/en/#/

It might well be cheaper to travel into central Paris by train/metro on a separate ticket and just book from a mainline Paris station to Bayonne. No need to pre-book the CDG to city centre part. The further in advance you can book the better your chance of finding discounted rail fares.

 

[Tincatinker]

This website http://www.seat61.com/index.html#.VwKthBIrKi5 is the best IMHO for explaining the wonders of train travel and unraveling them pesky 'foreign' websites

Edit: Do look at Eurostar London to Paris & then Paris to Bayonne it saves two hours of airport security / unspeakable coffee and the shlonk back into Paris from CdG

 

[Mark Lee]

Hello Pilgrims!, Can anyone suggest to me the best websites to book a train from Paris CdG to Bayonne? I am travelling to but i believe i only need to book to Bayonne and from there I can get a train on the day to SJPDS without prebooking...?), So far i am having trouble knowing how best to book in france though! any help primarily focusing on the lowest price would be gratefully recieved!! Rosie

In 2013 I took the train from CDG all the way to SJPdP with train changes in Bourdeaux and Bayonne. I did not pre-book, and got my ticket that morning, but I'm sure that wasn't the best or cheapest way of doing it.

 

[Roger Deee]

I did a search "train Biarritz to stjpdp" and got a rail europe website. Booked online for about 12us.
I got a code to enter into a ticket machine at the station to secure my ticket on arrival at the station, simple (I hope).

 

[Felipe]

I am quite familiar with transportation in Paris, but still find the transfer from train to metro in big, busy stations a hassle. Last time I used the "Air France cars" from CDG to Montparnasse, and it worked like a charm. Very relaxed, and the time was more or less the same. Only problem: the ticket machines did not accept any of my credit cards, but I found that you can pay directly to the driver.
On the other side, the "Compendium of Useful information for the lost Pilgrim" (available in this same forum), recommend going to Massy station (this is the other side of Paris, in the suburbs) and catch there the train coming from Montparnasse. The point: no transfers, no metro, just a single direct travel from CDG. I have not tried it, but it seems logic.

 

[Robo]

I am quite familiar with transportation in Paris, but still find the transfer from train to metro in big, busy stations a hassle. Last time I used the "Air France cars" from CDG to Montparnasse, and it worked like a charm. Very relaxed, and the time was more or less the same. Only problem: the ticket machines did not accept any of my credit cards, but I found that you can pay directly to the driver.
On the other side, the "Compendium of Useful information for the lost Pilgrim" (available in this same forum), recommend going to Massy station (this is the other side of Paris, in the suburbs) and catch there the train coming from Montparnasse. The point: no transfers, no metro, just a single direct travel from CDG. I have not tried it, but it seems logic.

That's what I did. Air France Bus to Montparnasse. Stayed nearby. TGV the next day.

I booked the TGV here. https://www.captaintrain.com/en

 

[rosiexamanda]

Thank you I wonder how far from Paris CDG is Paris Montparnasse? My plane gets in at 1015 so I am wondering what time I could get there to viola train as its much cheaper to go to SJPDP from Montparnasse... And I can just get a bus there from the airport can I? Sorry trying not to panic ha

 

[rosiexamanda]

How much did it cost you?

In 2013 I took the train from CDG all the way to SJPdP with train changes in Bourdeaux and Bayonne. I did not pre-book, and got my ticket that morning, but I'm sure that wasn't the best or cheapest way of doing it.

ow

 

[rosiexamanda]

Should I book the air France bus ticket also?

That's what I did. Air France Bus to Montparnasse. Stayed nearby. TGV the next day.

I booked the TGV here. https://www.captaintrain.com/en

 

[rosiexamanda]

That sound good thank you I will try it

I did a search "train Biarritz to stjpdp" and got a rail europe website. Booked online for about 12us.
I got a code to enter into a ticket machine at the station to secure my ticket on arrival at the station, simple (I hope).

at

 

[rosiexamanda]

Rosiexamanda, you must be very attached to the English weather, if you want to book french rains prior to coming to SJPP!

I know, I know, it is a misspelling. But it's funny

 

[rosiexamanda]

H
ahaha!!

 

[Robo]

Should I book the air France bus ticket also?

You just buy it at the Airport. At the ticket machine. Though the bus location is not easy to find and poorly signposted. Down a flight of stairs...

 

[rosiexamanda]

Is the main station Montparnasse? How long would it take me to get there from CDG? Thank you

The UK subsidiary of SNCF - the French state rail company - is probably your easiest place to search and book:
https://uk.voyages-sncf.com/en/#/

It might well be cheaper to travel into central Paris by train/metro on a separate ticket and just book from a mainline Paris station to Bayonne. No need to pre-book the CDG to city centre part. The further in advance you can book the better your chance of finding discounted rail fares.

h

 

[rosiexamanda]

Thank you

You just buy it at the Airport. At the ticket machine. Though the bus location is not easy to find and poorly signposted. Down a flight of stairs...

you

 

[NavyBlue]

Yes, it's the main Montparnasse station ("Grandes lignes").

Time from CDG to Montparnasse is estimated at 1 hour 15 minutes by the operator http://www.lescarsairfrance.com/lignes-horaires/ligne-cdg-aeroport-paris-gare-montparnasse.html

As they say, this is an indicative value, which may vary (heavy traffic at commuting hours, "snail operations" organized by some corporation etc.)

 

[billmclaughlin]

On the general issue of booking French & other European trains, consider Captain Train on the web or via their iPhone app. I've had consistently good experiences.

https://www.captaintrain.com/en

 

[basquelady]

This website http://www.seat61.com/index.html#.VwKthBIrKi5 is the best IMHO for explaining the wonders of train travel and unraveling them pesky 'foreign' websites

Edit: Do look at Eurostar London to Paris & then Paris to Bayonne it saves two hours of airport security / unspeakable coffee and the shlonk back into Paris from CdG

I booked our tickets London to Bayonne yesterday. Eurostar to Gare du Nord, metro to Gare Montparnasse then TGV to Bayonne.

 

[whariwharangi]

SNCF (the service provider) website
http://www.sncf.com/en/passengers

If it ever asks what country you are from tell it you are from France.

TGV and Intercites trains require a reservation. You can get a reservation at the station just prior to boarding.

TER trains are commuter trains and it is not possible to reserve a seat. Tickets for TER trains are good for 90 days. The cost is the same regardless of purchase date.

Service from Paris to Bordeaux is TGV. It is usually TGV service from Bordeaux to Bayonne but sometimes the connection is made via a TER train. Either way you can purchase the fare from Paris to Bayonne on one ticket.

Service from Bayonne to SJPdP is TER train.

The site doesn't like Paris to SJPdP so buy ticket Paris to Bayonne and Bayonne to SJPdP.

 

[whariwharangi]

Paris CDG to Montparnasse

Take RER B train from CDG to Station St Micheal.

Walk from RER station to Metro line 4 station St Micheal.

(note there are three places where RER B connects to Metro line 4 ... St Micheal seems to be the least complicated)

Take Metro line 4 from St Micheal to Bienvenue Montparnasse.

Walk from the Metro station to the Montparnasse TGV station.

Allow approximately an hour from airport to train station.

Alternatively take Air France bus from CDG to Montparnasse.

The main advantage of RER/Metro over bus are frequency of service and avoiding potential for traffic jam.

CDG and Orly:
http://www.aeroportsdeparis.fr/

Paris Transit Network
http://www.ratp.fr/plan-interactif/carteidf.php?lang=uk

Paris RER/Metro route planner - SNCF Transilien
http://www.transilien.com/itineraire/rechercheitineraire/init

RER B - Paris
http://parisbytrain.com/rer-b/

Paris Metro Line 4
http://www.paris-metro-map.info/paris-metro-line-4-map/

Air France Shuttle Bus with service from CDG to Orly airport (#3) and to Gare Montparnasse (#4)
http://en.lescarsairfrance.com/

Paris Gare Montparnasse
http://www.gares-en-mouvement.com/fr/frpmo/accueil/

 

[whariwharangi]

I did a search "train Biarritz to stjpdp" and got a rail europe website. Booked online for about 12us.
I got a code to enter into a ticket machine at the station to secure my ticket on arrival at the station, simple (I hope).

That means you are planning to go from Gare Biarritz to Gare Bayonne and from Gare Bayonne to SJPdP. Just to confirm you are aware this is two trains.

 

[Lynda6798]

Hello Pilgrims!, Can anyone suggest to me the best websites to book a train from Paris CdG to Bayonne? I am travelling to but i believe i only need to book to Bayonne and from there I can get a train on the day to SJPDS without prebooking...?), So far i am having trouble knowing how best to book in france though! any help primarily focusing on the lowest price would be gratefully recieved!! Rosie

@rosie I booked train from CdG to Bayonne through http://www.raileurope-world.com/

 

[Maxie]

I'm from the UK I booked online with Loco2. Collect ticket from machine at the station takes a couple of mins , very simple. The site shows you how and what machine to use.

 

[Keith Hearn]

I can second billmclaughlin's recommendation of Captain Train. I use the android app for planning train/bus travel while in France, and it works quite well. My wife and I will be continuing our Pilgrimage this summer, starting at Conques and hopefully getting to Moissac via Rocamadour. I've already used Captain train to figure out how to get from Moissac back to Grenoble (where her mother lives), and it found a very reasonable route involving regular train, and TGV and a bus that will get us there in less than a day.

 

[Stellaluna]

I booked through the Rail Europe website direct from CDG to SJPdP via Bordeaux and Bayonne. The price is reasonable and it is an easy trip; off the plane and onto the train - no need to go to Montparnasse, etc.

 

[whariwharangi]

Is the main station Montparnasse? How long would it take me to get there from CDG? Thank you

h

No Montparnasse is not the main station. Paris has 6 train station plus CDG and Massy.

Gare Montparnasse is front and center here because TGV trains leave from here to Bordeaux and Bayonne more frequently than they do from CDG 2 and Massy.

Intercites trains to Irun (and Bayonne) leave from Gare d'Austerlitz.