[firefly2327]

Hi All

I've been checking out discount cards for rail travel and am a little confused. Can someone please confirm whether the SNCF Escapades card only gets discounts on rail journeys on weekends, and on distances of at least 200k? It sure looks that way to me.
If this is the case, does anyone know of any other discount rail cards for those in their 30's? Thanks.

 

[_Sarah_]

Yes, it seems that you're right:
La Carte Escapades est destinée aux personnes ayant entre 26 et 59 ans ; les réductions sont valables pour tout aller-retour de plus de 200 km effectué sur la journée du samedi ou sur celle du dimanche, ou comprenant une nuit du samedi au dimanche sur place.
...people between 26-59 years: the reductions are valid for all return trips of more than 200km made on Satudays and Sundays during the day, or including a Saturday night through to Sunday (if the train goes through the night).
http://www.escapades-sncf.com/carte/avantages/default.aspx

You also earn miles (s'mile points) for each euro you spend, which you can use as they accumulate.

These are the only cards there are:
- Child
- 12-25 years
- Senior 60+
- Escapades

 

[Bevdeforges]

Yes, it seems that you're right:
La Carte Escapades est destinée aux personnes ayant entre 26 et 59 ans ; les réductions sont valables pour tout aller-retour de plus de 200 km effectué sur la journée du samedi ou sur celle du dimanche, ou comprenant une nuit du samedi au dimanche sur place.
...people between 26-59 years: the reductions are valid for all return trips of more than 200km made on Satudays and Sundays during the day, or including a Saturday night through to Sunday (if the train goes through the night).
SNCF Escapades - Les avantages de la carte

You also earn miles (s'mile points) for each euro you spend, which you can use as they accumulate.

These are the only cards there are:
- Child
- 12-25 years
- Senior 60+
- Escapades

Tiny "précision" on your translation. I think the part that says "ou comprenant une nuit du samedi au dimanche sur place" is kind of like the airlines - a round trip ticket where you spend a Saturday night in the place where you're going. So you could leave Sunday and return the following Sunday and get the reduction using the card. (The card is only good on round-trip tickets and I take it that your travel has to be done on the weekends.)
Cheers,
Bev

 

[hils]

I just checked as well for you - you can call up the sncf site in English btw. But anyway, this is what I found ....


Throughout the school holidays, TGV trains are running with 100% low fares! Tickets on sale from 1 June...


Low fares guaranteed!
TGV trains are running this summer with all tickets on sale at Prem's prices, which means low fares for all, first and second class. What's the deal? Fares start from €22 single. Where can you go? To a selection of destinations across France. When can you travel? The offer applies to the last train on Fridays and Sundays every weekend and every day throughout the summer, from 1 July to 4 September 2011.
Book your tickets now!
Tickets are on sale from 1 June to 1 September in stations, SNCF shops, by calling 3635 (34cts per min incl. VAT), from SNCF-approved travel agencies and at www.voyages-sncf.com(new window)

Hope that's of interest to you,

H

NB EVERY DAY THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER

 

[hils]

You might find this site of interest too : Interrail Pass (Global Pass) - Information, prices and purchasing for Interrail Pass (Global Pass)

H

 

[firefly2327]

Thanks all for your comments. I was hoping I was wrong about the conditions of the card. I hope to travel home regularly, likely on a Friday afternoon and therefore a discounted journey from Nancy to Paris would have been very nice. Rail travel in France seems very expensive indeed.
At least the summer travel may be a little better.

 

[_Sarah_]

You could be right Bev Frankly the conditions are a bit confusing, to the point that my hubby wasn't even sure what was meant !

 

[hils]

You could be right Bev Frankly the conditions are a bit confusing, to the point that my hubby wasn't even sure what was meant !

You CAN display the site in English.

H

 

[hils]

I've just done a quick check for you on the Interrail site. If you buy the monthly pass for 8 journeys nancy-paris it will cost £283 as compared to £40-41.50 per journey - a saving of £40-50/month, so it might be worth checking out for your needs.

H

 

[firefly2327]

Hi all. Thanks for all the help and suggestions, they're all appreciated.
I contacted the company that provides the SNCF Escapades card, RailEurope by e-mail. They've been very helpful, plus I now have it all in writing, just in case they try to deny what they've told me!
It seems that the SNCF Escapades card is not restricted to travel on any particular days (yay)
Secondly, while the website suggests that the card cannot be used online to book tickets and you'd have to go to the travel centre in London, or book by phone (incurring a fee of £8), you can purchase the ticket at the local station in France. They weren't sure about whether the latter would charge a booking fee, but if they do I can't imagine it would be so steep as £8.
This makes me feel a little better about travel options now, especially since booking my trips home 3-4 months in advance is not something I've ever done

 

[firefly2327]

Here's the original responses from RailEurope
Thank you for your email.

"The only SNCF rail card that would be available would be the Escapades card. This card does not specify travel on any particular days. You can find details here: Escapades Card, French rail discounts | Rail Europe
Discounted fares can only be booked by 'phone with us, which would incur an £8 booking fee. You can also purchase the discounted fares locally at the station."

I then asked "So if I may use my SNCF Escapades card to purchase my ticket at the local rail station in Nancy (or elsewhere in France), how far in advance must I book it and secondly, will there be a booking charge?" and received the following
reply:
"Tickets on French trains can be booked up to 3 months in advance. I'd recommend booking early to get the best fares. Unfortunately, as we do not manage the station - you would be booking directly with SNCF - I cannot advise if a fee is charged. As far as I am aware, there is not, but I cannot guarantee this."

 

[hils]

Hi all. Thanks for all the help and suggestions, they're all appreciated.
I contacted the company that provides the SNCF Escapades card, RailEurope by e-mail. They've been very helpful, plus I now have it all in writing, just in case they try to deny what they've told me!
It seems that the SNCF Escapades card is not restricted to travel on any particular days (yay)
Secondly, while the website suggests that the card cannot be used online to book tickets and you'd have to go to the travel centre in London, or book by phone (incurring a fee of £8), you can purchase the ticket at the local station in France. They weren't sure about whether the latter would charge a booking fee, but if they do I can't imagine it would be so steep as £8.
This makes me feel a little better about travel options now, especially since booking my trips home 3-4 months in advance is not something I've ever done

well done

H