Rail europe ticket cancellation?

I want to get my rail europe sncf point to point tickets (which i had booked through a travel agent in India) cancelled before the travel date of 28 Sep. The ticket says that it is 80% refundable. However i am being told by the travel agent that I have to get the ticket stamped by the authorities in France and then submit it to the travel agency so that they can apply it for refund. Please suggest me the right procedure or some website link/contact number where I can get the correct information about this as I don%26#39;t think the agency is being transparent with me. Thanks a lot

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Removed on: 2:17 pm, October 07, 2009

Back to Paris for a Long Weekend - Crazy?

Well we%26#39;ve been back from our vacation in Paris and Venice for just under a month now, and we%26#39;re horribly depressed. It seems the only cure is to plan another trip.

So we%26#39;re toying with the idea of going back to Paris in May for a long weekend. Flying out Thursday night, arriving Friday morning, and flying back on Monday around noon.

Any opinions from other travelers from North America who have done this? Did you feel like it was a good plan? Or did you feel like you spent too much money and time flying there for such a short period of time?

We plan on doing this trip much more inexpensively than the last one. We will be flying Air Transat and staying in an apartment. I have been looking at some on vrbo and they look great. Can you really get a decent apartment in a good location for 125 euros a night? Is it too good to be true? We%26#39;re looking mostly at the apartments in the 1st arrondissement.

Although the short period of time is not ideal, it seems it would be the only way we could manage the trip. Otherwise we would be looking at waiting for a few years to do another long trip. I%26#39;m feeling too impatient for that! Your thoughts?

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I have done this a few times i.e. on Thanksgiving week end. Also went to London for week end once. If it makes you happy and you can swing it, go for it!

Life is uncertain, better eat dessert first!

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Der pmmcTO....Well maybe you are crazy, but does it matter? Welcome to the club.

I am going to Paris for a week on 1st October and I have just booked more flights for 6th-9th December because I feel exactly like you! That will be my THIRD trip this year.

I know it%26#39;s easier for me because I live in the UK and flights are cheap, but it is all relative, I am not a wealthy woman so to me it is a lot of money, even though I do it on a budget.

Check out Centreparis for budget apartments. I think the ones in the second are very well situated. I have stayed there near rue Montorguiel and it is good.

centreparis.com/location-paris/…index.html

I just feel that life is too short and going to Paris is my pleasure in life, I just love it!

This time I am going solo, which is an adventure in itself.

Really I could do with a new front door, but that can wait. The memories i have of Paris are much better than an old door.

Many airlines are going down here so cheap flights may be a thing of the past soon. So I am making the most of life. This is something I have learned in my life.... grab your opportunities while you can.

Denise

Love from England

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I think you%26#39;ll love it. I%26#39;ve done several %26quot;long weekend%26quot; trips in the last few years timed exactly like yours (one to Dublin, one to London, one to Zurich and one to Paris), and I didn%26#39;t regret any of them.

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Ditto the other comments. We%26#39;ve gone to London for a long weekend and are planning our first trip to Paris for Thanksgiving weekend. It is do-able. I say go for it and enjoy!

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Thank you all for your input. It%26#39;s nice to know that at least if we are crazy, we%26#39;re in excellent company!

Thank you Denise for the link for the budget apartments. The one you stayed at - was it the Saint Sauveur in Montorgeuil? What is that area like? Is it safe at night? It looks like it might fit the bill quite nicely.

Thanks once again.

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We stayed in Aboukir 4 you can read review here under the category %26quot;Paris guest apartments.%26quot;

http://www.ourparisforum.com./index.cgi?board=apartments%26amp;action=display%26amp;thread=2033

I quite fancy the Saint-Savour, Greneta or Tiquetonne apartments for next year. They are just off Montorguiel which is a great market street. I loved this area, central but not too touristy or expensive. Easy transport links,plenty restaurants and shops.

Denise

Love from England

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ever since flying 26 hours back from SE Asia in 1997, I dont hesitate to book long weekend deals to Europe.... Deals being the key word! I%26#39;ve paid less to fly RTP to London for than 1 night at the hotel cost.

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pmmmcTO - yes you are crazy but it%26#39;s nice to be crazy sometimes. If you can afford it I%26#39;d say go for it. I spent a weekend in Rome once (meant to be guiding my parents around but they had to cancel - already bought my ticket %26amp; booked a B%26amp;B so I went by myself) and it was great - just try to stay on Eastern Standard Time all 3 days - maybe trying to get up %26amp; going to bed earlier for a few days before you go. I%26#39;m visiting Paris for the first time this October and staying in an apartment with Vacation in Paris - was $170US per night. I%26#39;ll post a review on the Forum once I get back.

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Hello!

I am in the same boat, travelling a bit farther from Edmonton though this Thanksgiving long weekend. I am leaving Edmonton on Thursday evening, arriving Friday morning, and leaving Tuesday morning.

I do not think that it%26#39;s too much, but it would be up to you. The last time i went to Paris, i was there for 4 days, and it was a great time. Not too long, and not too short.

I%26#39;m of the mindset that I can sleep later, sleep on planes and trains. We are even taking a day trip to London this time!

So take care and enjoy, and create a memorable long weekend, I know i will!

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Thanks for the great responses! Denise, I showed the Saint Sauveur apartment to my DH and we both feel that one looks great. So the owner is decent and you had a good experience staying at one of their apartments in the past?

Since we stayed in the 1st the last time, we%26#39;ll try the 2nd this time. Rue Montorgeuil looks fun! I%26#39;ve read from searches on this forum that it%26#39;s a great area but best to avoid Les Halles at nighttime, so duly noted.

My family thinks we%26#39;re a bit wacky going back so soon and for such a short time, but as other posters have noted, you only live once. And I further justify our decision by reminding myself that we rarely go out for dinner or spend on ourselves here at home. So a short jaunt to Paris will make up for it!

Thanks to all for making me feel better about it!

Eurostar update

Here is the latest update on Eurostar services in the aftermath of the fire that occured last Thursday :

The service has resumed on a limited schedule due to single-track operation in the tunnel. For the moment, this limited service is scheduled until Sunday September 21. 12 trains a day will run between Paris and London and 6 trains a day between Brussels and London.

Travellers holding a ticket for a journey until September 21 are advised that they will most probably experience long checking-in times, although Eurostar will strive to honour all tickets. Consequently, travellers are advised to show up at the station 2 hours before departure, and in any case, check-in will be closed in Paris at 8PM, in Brussels at 8.30PM and in London at 6.45PM (all times local).

However, if the holders of such tickets can reschedule their travel plans to a later date or find alternative connections, Eurostar will be %26quot;grateful%26quot; to them to do so. All cancelled tickets will be refunded and exchanges for journeys at dates later than September 21 will be carried out.

Feeder segments on French domestic TGVs through-ticketed with Eurostar (eg Perpignan-London via Lille) will be similarly honoured.

Travellers in France can call free of charge at 0800 130 130 for up-to-date information.

It is esteemed that reparis will last at least for 5 months.

Detailed timetable :

LONDON - PARIS

Train N° Departure Arrival Also Calls At

9078 05.22 09.03 Ebbsfleet

9004 06.55 10.57 Ashford

9006 07.27 11.13 Ebbsfleet; Calais

9014 09.25 13.02 Ebbsfleet

9026 13.22 16.57 Ashford

9028 13.38 17.03

9030 15.04 18.57 Ebbsfleet

9036 15.29 19.17 Ebbsfleet; Calais

9040 16.55 20.57 Ashford

9044 17.30 21.02

9050 19.00 22.57 Ebbsfleet

9054 19.29 23.02

PARIS - LONDON

Train N° Departure Arrival Also Calls At

9005 06.43 08.21

9011 08.07 10.29 Calais; Ebbsfleet

9015 08.52 10.36 Ashford

9019 10.13 12.17

9027 12.13 14.17

9031 12.43 14.34 Lille; Calais; Ebbsfleet

9039 14.43 16.36 Calais; Ashford

9043 16.13 18.24 Ebbsfleet

9047 16.43 18.36 Ebbsfleet

9051 18.13 20.27 Ebbsfleet

9053 18.43 20.42 Ashford

9061 20.43 22.34 Ebbsfleet

LONDON - BRUSSELS

Train N° Departure Arrival Also Calls At

9110 07.18 10.44 Ebbsfleet; Lille

9114 09.28 12.33

9132 13.25 16.44 Ebbsfleet; Lille

9138 15.34 18.44 Lille

9150 17.27 20.49 Ebbsfleet; Lille

9158 19.32 22.49 Lille

BRUSSELS – LONDON

Train N° Departure Arrival Also Calls At

9109 06.59 08.17 Lille

9117 08.59 10.24 Lille; Ebbsfleet

9141 14.59 16.17 Lille

9149 17.01 18.28 Lille; Ebbsfleet

9157 18.59 20.21 Lille

9165 21.02 22.27 Lille; Ebbsfleet

LONDON - DISNEYLAND RESORT PARIS

Train N° Departure Arrival Also Calls At

9074 09.16 13.15 Ebbsfleet; Ashford; Lille

DISNEYLAND RESORT PARIS – LONDON

Train N° Departure Arrival Also Calls At

9057 19.37 22.32 Lille; Ashford

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My paris to london ticket is for 21:13 which is after the last time they are showing.

I knew my vacation was going to have a hitch.

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%26gt;%26gt; My paris to london ticket is for 21:13 which is after the last time they are showing. %26lt;%26lt;

Remember, until further announcement, this timetable is only confirmed until September 21.

However, if it is still enforced when you travel, what day of the week would that be ? In any case, I recommend that you show up really early - 18:00 at the very last.

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Thank you for posting this information.

Do you have any idea when they will release information about travel after 21 September? Colleagues and I are booked Paris to London (morning) on 22 September and return in the evening on 24 September. We can be there early for the Paris-London leg, but not more than an hour before the London-Paris trip.

If we are have tickets for one of the trains whose numbers are listed, is there a risk of getting bumped?

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Louie, I would appreciate very much to have early information as to next week%26#39;s timetable, but, although I do work at the SNCF, I don%26#39;t ...

Eurotunnel said that they should be able to open by the end of the week the 2/3rds of the northern tunnel that have not been affected by the fire. This would increase capacity, so near-normal service could be sustained. In any case, as to your return, is it on the last train ?

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Good article in the Guardian by Andrew Martin about alternative arrangements:

guardian.co.uk/travel/2008/sep/15/rail.france

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SuperH,

Thanks for your reply. I figured it was too early to know about next week, but I thought I%26#39;d ask anyway. Our return is on train n° 9050 (originally scheduled for 19.05).

Thanks for keeping us posted!

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%26lt;%26lt;%26lt;It is esteemed that repairs will last at least for 5 months.%26gt;%26gt;%26gt; Any ideas how the schedule will be affected by 25 October? I know it%26#39;s a ways off but there might be a little bit of info. Thanks for keeping us up-to-date, SuperH!

amb

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%26gt;%26gt; I know it%26#39;s a ways off but there might be a little bit of info. %26lt;%26lt;

Unfortunately, no ... not even within the SNCF.

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I mean, there /are/ guys at Voyageurs France Europe (the %26quot;Mainline and International%26quot; department of the SNCF) who are busy working on the timetables right now, and they must have some information, but it hasn%26#39;t leaked yet.

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I received an email from eurostar that they are only offering refunds/exchanges up to Sept 30th at this point. I am sure they are still assessing damage and routes, etc

Camping

I am considering a few nights in Camping du Phare with my partner and 10 yr old daughter and, because of our shoestring budget, we need somewhere cheap (and seem to have found it!). Can anyone give advise on the distance to the beach/town (I have contradicting map refs!) and whether it is walkable, if not is there any transport? Many thanks

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Ok, so at the risk of looking mad, I%26#39;m going to answer my own question!! Camping du Phare - perfect location - pretty much in the town itself, facilities were basic - but clean and all we needed. It was the perfect place for us, being on a budget - shame about the weather!

One place I%26#39;d recommend - Val des Cimes - a tree top assault course in St Gatien de Bois, set in beautiful woodland aand only 9km from Honfleur it was enjoyed by all!!

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Removed on: 5:20 pm, October 03, 2009

What is your favorite 2 Star hotel on the Right Bank?

I would like to try staying on the Right Bank during our stay in October but I am having the hardest time picking a hotel. I think it is the hardest part of planning a vacation overseas. It really stresses me out. We would like to spend under 150 euros a night. I put up an earlier post and didn%26#39;t have much response hoping this one will bring me a bit more luck. All the hotels I really keep liking are on the Left Bank but I would really like to give the Right Bank a chance this time.

Cheers,

Magic97

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Is this for October this year or next year?

Can%26#39;t help with hotels, because we prefer to stay in apartments and - this is cheating because it%26#39;s neither Left or Right Bank - we love the Ile de La Cite/Ile St Louis.

If you%26#39;re staying more than 7 days, www.parisaddress.com has apartments on the Ile St Louis for less than €150 per night. CHANOI16 (€933 for the week) is even available for all but the first week of October 2008.

Other agencies also do apartment rentals for shorter periods.

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I saw your other post too, not trying to ignore you,, but can%26#39;t provide much help. I am not a fan of the right bank. Stayed in the first once, and it was ok.,, but out of your price range.

I have stayed with relatives in the 8th, and thats ok too, um, free always is.. LOL

What is it about the right bank that interests you in particular? Where have you stayed before?

If all the hotels you %26quot; keep liking%26quot; are on the left bank, why not just stay on the left bank?

PS. Good point by above poster, at this point you are running out of choices of nice hotels in your price range, October can be a busy month in Paris, trade and fashion shows.

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This trip was unplanned and yes it is this year. We liked the Right bank when we were there last Oct all the little side streets and it was less crowded. We just thought it would be fun to stay on the other bank this time around. I guess I will just stay on the Left there are alot of choices on that side in our price range.

Cheers,

Magic97

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I%26#39;m a Left Bank girl at heart, but a friend of mine always stays at the Hotel Paris France, (yes, that is the name) a 2 star hotel which he says is clean, neat and convenient.

www.paris-france-hotel.com

I stayed once at the Hotel Langlois in the 9th. Huge rooms for Paris. One block from a Metro stop and a couple of blocks from the Opera. I%26#39;d stay there again with no hesitation.

www.hotel-langlois.com

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At the Hotel Vivienne, 40 rue Vivienne in the 2nd, we are given a very large [and quiet] back corner room with a nice bath for €94. The staff is very helpful, and there are two computers for use by guests, one with a non-french keyboard. Close to the Grand Boulevards Metro, with two good lines; three blocks from the Bourse Metro. Plus several bus lines. They serve an excellent breakfast too.

paris@hotel-vivienne.com

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Hi;

Consider the Hotel Pratic in the Marais

http://www.paris-hotel-pratic.com/

On the Marche St Catherine, great location, newly renovated(last year) St Paul metro within 100 meters...

127 euros for a double...

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Try Hotel Chopin. Charming,well situated and less than 100 euros.

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Thank you all for the suggestions for the Right Bank I will be looking these up asap.

Cheers,

Magic97

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So far the winner is Hotel Paris France looks perfect great size rooms and the location and prices are excellent. Thank you all so much!!

Cheers,

Magic97

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Removed on: 2:16 pm, October 06, 2009

Maisons-Laffette to Paris

Can I buy a weekly train ticket to Paris city centre or would I have to buy them daily, also does anybody know the cost.

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MAISONS-LAFFITTE RER ststion is located out in transportation Zone 4 on the RER %26#39;A%26#39;. The regular one-way, point-to-point, fare between MAISONS-LAFFITTE and stations in Paris would be 3,60€. There are CARNETs (packets of 10 reduced price tickets) available at the station--28,80€.....OR...a weekly Mon-thru-Sun) CARTE ORANGE Zone 1-4 transportation pass-- CO-1-4 fare 27,50€ + 5€ %26#39;Découverte%26#39; device + 32,50€. In addition to the point-to-point RER fare, the CARTE ORANGE 1-4 transportation pass will provide %26#39;hop-on/hop-off%26#39; convenience to all other public transportation--RER, Metro, Bus, Tran, Funicular--while you are touring about in Paris. The individual RER tickets would simply provide you with RER transport and onward Metro connections within Paris. There is also the one-calendar-day MOBILIS Zone 1-4 transportation pass available--9,60€..which covers the round-trip as well as all other public transportation fares in Paris.

RATP Ticket %26amp; Transportation Pass Pricing--

ratp.info/informer/titres_de_transport.php

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Removed on: 4:21 pm, October 07, 2009

Bus St Malo to Mon St Michel & Dinard

Hi,

Has anyone done this via public transport? If so any advice re costs time and where to get bus from would be great.

Thanks

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Bus from St Vincent, by the walls in St Malo, to Pontorson (about an hour) then change at the station for the bus to Mont St Michel. The whole trip took about 2 hours with waiting time, and cost about 5 euro single, I think. Most days there is only one coach from St Malo, but they will give you the information and times in the kiosk. Coming back, we had to wait nearly an hour at Pontorson, but there is a great hotel bar opposite ! Liz

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www.tibus.fr/horaires_ligne/index.asp…

it has all bus routes for Brittany area - make sure you choose the right time table for the season.

I am doing this area this weekend for 4 days, and relying on the buses.

You can also contact the company who get back to you very promptly if you are unsure about which bus to catch. They are very nice and attach the correct timetable for you.

Hope this helps

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Removed on: 7:17 am, October 02, 2009