1st time FIP user

[noodles]

Hello, i am travelling across France and will be utilising my FIP and coupon

I have applied for an SNCF coupon and will be travelling in September from St Pancras to Nice, a few days in Nice, then Nice to Cannes with a few days in Cannes, then Cannes to Lyon Part Dieu, a few days in Lyon then back to St Pancras.

This is what i understand so far :

1) I have a FIP card.
2) I have requested an SNCF coupon and understand its validity period.
3) I know i need to make seat reservations.
4) I have sent a journey planner request to bookmyrst.com and await a reply, i sent it 5 days ago !!

Assuming if i dont get a suitable reply from bookmyrst.com then i will book tickets myself but i need some guidance...

I know i need to book eurostar using International Rail Travel on 0333 003 0423

I know i need to make reservations with SNCF and can do so over the phone or in person in France but i want seats reserved before i leave UK, so does anyone have a number for SNCF for me to ring ? I am happy to buy the PRIV tickets at stations in France.

Can anyone giude me please.

Thanks.

 

[92002]

Hello, i am travelling across France and will be utilising my FIP and coupon

I have applied for an SNCF coupon and will be travelling in September from St Pancras to Nice, a few days in Nice, then Nice to Cannes with a few days in Cannes, then Cannes to Lyon Part Dieu, a few days in Lyon then back to St Pancras.

This is what i understand so far :

1) I have a FIP card.
2) I have requested an SNCF coupon and understand its validity period.
3) I know i need to make seat reservations.
4) I have sent a journey planner request to bookmyrst.com and await a reply, i sent it 5 days ago !!

Assuming if i dont get a suitable reply from bookmyrst.com then i will book tickets myself but i need some guidance...

I know i need to book eurostar using International Rail Travel on 0333 003 0423

I know i need to make reservations with SNCF and can do so over the phone or in person in France but i want seats reserved before i leave UK, so does anyone have a number for SNCF for me to ring ? I am happy to buy the PRIV tickets at stations in France.

Can anyone giude me please.

Thanks.

SNCF don't have a UK Office now However various private agents like Festiniog and other will make bookings for you at various rates. The interail sitee can also make reservations and they too charge a supplement.Have recently used both and they seem the most reasonable for supplements. Many othets out there though.

 

[30907]

This number was quoted recently
00 33 1 84 94 3635 and select English

https://www.sncf.com/en/customer-service/contact-us/telephone

 

[Mag_seven]

And of course all you need to know about FIP in France is in the "France – SNCF" section in this document:

https://www.raildeliverygroup.com/files/Publications/services/rst/RST_Travel_Tips_For_Europe_v56.pdf

 

[noodles]

SNCF don't have a UK Office now However various private agents like Festiniog and other will make bookings for you at various rates. The interail sitee can also make reservations and they too charge a supplement.Have recently used both and they seem the most reasonable for supplements. Many othets out there though.

Thanks, i have also now sent Ffestiniog a journey plan, does the interail require me to purchase a railcard in order to reserve a seat ?

 

[noodles]

This number was quoted recently
00 33 1 84 94 3635 and select English

https://www.sncf.com/en/customer-service/contact-us/telephone

Perfect, thankyou

 

[92002]

Thanks, i have also now sent Ffestiniog a journey plan, does the interail require me to purchase a railcard in order to reserve a seat ?

No don't think so. They are just acting like a travel agent, but you need to register on the site.

 

[noodles]

No don't think so. They are just acting like a travel agent, but you need to register on the site.

Hello, i have tried to book reservation with the interail site and it asks for my interail pass details.

 

[Andypandy1968]

Don't use Myrst, they are worse than useless..
Ffestiniog won't be able to book seat reservations only, you have to do that locally once you are in France. If you are using coupons you will only need seat reservations, not tickets, on the TGVs

 

[skyhigh]

No don't think so. They are just acting like a travel agent, but you need to register on the site.

You can't any more, as far as I'm aware

 

[rvdborgt]

This number was quoted recently
00 33 1 84 94 3635 and select English

https://www.sncf.com/en/customer-service/contact-us/telephone

"Select English" = #85
Explained in French of course.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 18 Jul 2022 ==

Hello, i have tried to book reservation with the interail site and it asks for my interail pass details.

If you want a FIP reservation, then don't go to the Interrail website. You'll pay way too much.

 

[noodles]

Update,

I contacted Canterbury rail yesterday (Sunday) by email and the very helpful guy, Phil Nicholson, sorted it all for me and today i got my tickets.

1st day - St Pancras Eurostar to Paris Gare du Nord, change and then Gare de Lyon TGV to Nice, few days in Nice.

Then Nice to Cannes using TER, a few days in Cannes, then Cannes to Marsailles using TER and on to Lyon Part Dieu on TGV, a few days in Lyon.

Then Lyon to Paris Gare de Lyon on TGV, and on to St Pancras on Eurostar.

Cost less than £105 each including fees, for me and my wife, STD class, reservations on all except for TER, we have coupons too.

An excellent service from Canterbury rail, i also contacted Ffestiniog and Bookmyrst (6 days ago) neither of which have replied so i probably wont use those 2 agencies in the future.

So with these FIP tickets and coupons and great hotels in London, Nice, Cannes and Lyon we have got 14 days in France for less than £700 each which i am very happy about.

Thanks all for the advice.