Train journey Geneva -> St Raphael; direct or via Marseilles

Hi, I%26#39;m traveling from Geneva to St Raphael Tuesday morning (19/8) by train, and I had a few questions:

1) I see on the website there is the direct train that is leaving at noon time , and the train through Marseille, leaving in the morning. Since I don%26#39;t speak French, and in case I take the train that stops at %26quot;MARSEILLE ST CHARLES%26quot; would it be easy for me to understand which train I should then take to St Raphael?

2) if it%26#39;s better to book my tickets on tgv-europe.com,or just go to the ticket station at geneva and get them there? I got EUR 123.30 on the website for a 1st-class ticket. Is there a substantial difference in price when getting the ticket from the counter at the station?

3) 1st Class VS 2nd Class? since it%26#39;s a 4hr journey, is the (almost double) price justified by better seats and space in the train?

(Excuse me for the basic questions, its my first train trip in France and just want to make sure I get it right)

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Take the direct train. If you transfer in Marseille, you will be backtracking. Saint Raphael is between Geneva and Marseille. If you choose to transfer, don%26#39;t worry too much about it. The key: locate the train number on your ticket. Ex: %26quot;TGV 06818.%26quot; Match it to a train on the board in the station. The board will tell you when it leaves and what platform you need.

Train Travel Terminology -%26gt;

tripadvisor.com/Travel-g187147-c51083/Paris:…

Keep in mind there are two stations that service Saint-Raphael: Fréjus-Saint-Raphaël and Saint-Raphaël-Valescure. Take note of which station you are arriving.

Unless it%26#39;s a web-only sale, there shouldn%26#39;t be much difference in the price. HOWEVER, there is a substantial difference in price when it comes to timing. The longer you wait, the more expensive the tickets - no matter where you buy them.

It%26#39;s easy to forget that First Class and Second Class travel at exactly the same speed. The TGV is very comfortable. The class difference isn%26#39;t nearly as extreme as it is on planes.

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You will not be back-tracking if you change at Marseille, as this train station is before St Raphael on the journey from Geneva. And the 8.17 train (changing at Marseille) is scheduled to take exactly the same time as the 13.44 direct train (both are 5hrs.22minutes). There is no train at noon. So pick whichever train suits you best. http://www.sbb.ch/en/index.htm

If you choose to change trains at Marseille, you will have no problem finding the train. Look at the indicator signs for a train arriving from Bordeaux and with the destination of Nice.

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