SNCF: should you book your tickets for spring holidays and May bridges today?

From January 22, the SNCF ticket office opens for journeys from March 31 to May 11, 2025. With school holidays and public holidays, tickets should sell out quickly. Booking in advance guarantees savings, but be wary of dynamic pricing.

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Spring holidays and May holidays still seem far away, but as the saying goes, the train doesn’t wait! From this January 22the SNCF ticket office opens for travel from March 31 to May 11, 2025including the TGV Inoui and Intercités, and even until July 4 for Ouigo trains. A period when reservations risk flying awaybecause the spring school holidays begin on April 5 (zone B) and end no later than May 5 (zone A).

For trips scheduled between May 12 and June 12, 2025, you will have to wait until February 12 to book. Small detail not to be missed to optimize your leave: in 2025, the public holidays of May 1, 8 and 29 fall on a Thursday. By taking just 5 days off, you could enjoy 32 days of rest. An excellent opportunity to organize your spring getaways now and maximize your vacation.

Book your spring train tickets in advance to pay less

Like every year, it is the first come, first served rule. Responsiveness will therefore be essential if you already have travel plans in mind. Booking in advance not only guarantees a place on the date and time of your choice, but also saves money. According to a study published on January 6, 2025 by Trainline, a train and bus reservation platform in France and Europe, book 11 weeks in advance allows you to benefit from discounts of up to 50%.

Be careful, however, with dynamic pricing: the higher the number of people connected simultaneously, the more ticket prices increase. In short, supply adjusts to demand. So, if everyone books their tickets as soon as they open, prices risk skyrocketing. To avoid this, you can, if possible, place an option on your journey in order to monitor price development. Another tip: go directly to the station, where tickets can sometimes be cheaper than those offered online.