This questionnaire collects the information we need to help you to and from your trip.

It is an order form.  Submit it once you are ready to book your travel.  Be careful:  all travel bookings carry cancellation / refund charges.  Do not order anything until you are sure you want it! 

Prices of the things you are requesting on the “Access Package” page for your trip’s start or end city.
To get to the relevant page, go to the “Access Package” table, and select your start or end city.  

There are 6 questions to answer.  Follow-up questions are asked if you reply “yes” to any of the basic 1 - 5.
To save verbage, all questions are asked in the singular.  If two or more are travelling, we assume answers apply to both / all, unless you tell us otherwise.

• Questions 1 and 2 concern your travel to our trip.
• Questions 3 and 4 concern the ongoing travel after our trip.
• Question 5 only applies if you are flying into or out of Paris.
• Question 6 applies only if you are travelling via overnight sleeper train at some point. 
  

If you do not want our help getting to your trip’s start point, or away from its end point, read no more.
In that case, please send us a one-sentence note, to the effect, “I’ll find my own way to Monforte,” or, “I'll get out of Voss on my own at the end of the trip.”  While we may doubt the wisdom of your choice, we will happily respect it, and bother you no further.


Suggested Use

1.  Copy any of the questions you wish to answer, 1 - 6, and paste them into an e.mail.  Then answer each in some distinct manner (ALL CAPS, or bold, or whatever). 
The goal is that we be able to pick your replies out of the message, without inadvertently overlooking one.

2.  Please either answer questions that don’t pertain to you with a simple “no,” or erase them entirely.
This is our way to tell that you have seen the question, and addressed it (as opposed to not yet knowing your plans).  If you answer “no,” or erase the question, we assume you are set on this point, and stop worrying about you.  Thank you!

3.  Send your composed e.mail to us:  info@bluemarble.org.
Don't forget to tell us who you are, what trip you are on, and where you are joining and leaving your trip.

4. Do not hesitate to send us partial information as you have it.
For instance:  you know you need the pre-trip hotel in the trip’s start city, but don't yet know from where you will catch your train?  Tell us that.  Or, your pre-trip plans are set, but not your post-trip plans?  Tell us that.  It may permit us to make some precautionary reservations, and avoid your getting shut out of a key train.

To jump directly to any of the questions, click on their links. 

If you are having us issue train tickets for travel in any of Germany, Austria, Denmark, Spain or Portugal, please provide us with...

• ...your passport number___________________________ and...
• ...the final 4 digits of a credit card that you will have aboard the train with you_________________.
  Either or both may be required as ID aboard the train, to validate the ticket.  Note that the credit card does not need to be the one used to purchase the ticket.

(1) Pre-Trip Trains
(2) Pre-Trip Hotels
(3) Post-Trip Trains
(4) Post-Trip Hotels
(5) Paris Airport Tickets
(6) Accommodation on Overnight Trains



1. Pre-Trip TRAINS
Train travel directly from an airport city to the trip start point, or via some en route stop.

Would you like tickets from us to get you to your trip start?
If the answer is “no,” continue to question 2, “Pre-Trip HOTELS.”

If the answer is “yes”, please fill out questions I - IV (also V, VI, and VII if they apply to you).

I.  What is your travel itinerary (for example, “Paris - Dijon”)?_________________________________
If you are coming from London, please additionally complete the section concerning London - Paris, Brussels or Lille travel, below.  The trip from England to the continent is effectively treated as a separate journey.


II.  What is your departure date?________________________


III.  At what time would you like to travel?  Please fill in your answer below.
- If you are travelling via overnight train, there is generally only one schedule choice.  In that case, just tell us “overnight,” and fill in section VI concerning sleeping accommodation.
- If you have requested the “Ride the Bike Train Discount,” your schedule is outlined in your Access Package information.  You may still tell us your choices here, since they will be useful in the case where there is more than one bike train, or where the discount is not available.

You may answer the question in any of the following ways. 
Where two choices are given in the sentence (for instance, “around / no earlier than”), please erase / cross out whichever does not apply, or give us both times.

• “I wish to depart my starting city around / no earlier than _____________________”
• “I wish to reach my / our destination around / no later than _____________________”
• I would like to ride the “Bike Train” from Paris, if the discount is available (check here)____
• If you are making a plane-train connection:  “My flight lands at_________; please book a train departing my airport city no earlier than_________.”
  You must fill in both times:  we cannot estimate your de-planing time for you.  The amount of time you allow should take into account at least the following factors.
  (1)  Have you invested in a (higher cost) refundable / exchangeable ticket? If you have, you can risk a tighter connection.
  (2)  How painful would it be for you to buy a new, replacement train ticket (this is a function of the cost of a full-fare, walk-up ticket, plus the state of your finances).
  (3)  What is the journey time from airport to city center (assuming your arrival airport does not have a rail station)?
  Our advice:  allow ample time to connect from a flight to a train.  Remember that planes are notoriously unreliable; arrival time refers to “touchdown” time (not to the time you are finally allowed out of the metal tube); customs, immigration and baggage all require unpredictable chunks of time....
  

If you prefer a direct train (or one with the fewest possible connections), even if it means leaving a couple of hours earlier____ or later____, please check appropriately.

____ Check here for a modifiable ticket (more expensive, per the info page concerning your trip)


IV.  What class of service would you like?
Daylight train(s).  You may answer the question in any of the following ways.
If you are coming from London, please fill in section V, below, for your (separate) “Eurostar” choices.
If you are making an overnight trip, skip this section, and fill in section VI, below.

“I would like...

• ____ ...to upgrade to a 1st class seat (or seats) only if seats are available at the discount rate listed on the sheet pertaining to my trip.”
• ____ ...to take a 1st class seat in any case.”  The lowest available fare will be used.
• ____ ...to stick with 2nd class tickets.”
  

• “I would like to depart London around / no earlier than____________________”
• “I would like to arrive at my destination (Paris or Brussels) around / no later than than____________________”
• Or, “Please book a train departing from London such that it safely connects to my ongoing train”_____
  We allow an hour for the Paris station change, or for a station change in Lille if it is required.  We allow 20 minutes for the same-station connection in Lille or Brussels.  Tell us if you wish to allow more / less.

If you prefer an exchangeable ticket (more expensive), please check here_____.

Would you prefer to travel in 2nd_____  or 1st_____ class?  Please check one.
An at-seat light meal service is included on the Eurostar in 1st class.

Would you like a metro ticket to make your station change in Paris without having to buy one? Yes____ No____


VI.  If you are travelling on an overnight train, please also complete question 6.


VII.  Getting Your Pre-Trip Travel Documents
To travel by train, you often need a paper document.  We use e.tickets when we can, but they are still the exception, not the rule, on most routes.  Even when they exist, they require that you print them out and show them on board the train.  It is not enough to have identification and a code.

If you are passing through Paris, we can have your ticket(s) waiting for you there.  Otherwise, they are sent to you by some sort of traceable mail.  Our standard shipping charges are here.

Please indicate here how you would like to gain possession of your train tickets.

• ____ “I will pick them up in your Paris office”
• ____ “Please send them to my home address, the one you have on file.
  I understand that the shipper will not require a signature for home delivery, with the result that my tickets may be eaten by monsters.”  We prefer to send tickets to work addresses.  There is no recourse if a home shipment goes wrong.
• ____ “Please send them to my work address, where someone will be able to sign for them.”
  In this case, please provide us with the address you want us to use, and a phone number, required on the shipping manifest.
• ____ “Please send them to my home address, by certified mail.”  This is not registered mail, and provides no insurance if the tickets are lost or stolen.  It simply proves that we sent them.
  

Tickets needed for travel after your cycle trip with us will be delivered to you by your Trip Coordinator, without additional charge.



2. Pre-Trip HOTELS
Would you like us to arrange lodging on any night(s) prior to your trip?
For a general discussion of our European hotels, see here.
If the answer is “NO,” continue to question 4, “Post-Trip Trains.”

If the answer is “YES,” please fill in the following requests, one per city.  Section 1 is for Paris, other cities should be entered to sections II and III.

I.  PARIS (for other cities, please complete sections II and III, below)
For a general discussion of our Paris lodging options, see here.

What pre-trip dates would you like us to reserve in Paris (nights of...)?______________________________

Paris Hotel Preference
_____Our “Usual Economical Hotel”
_____Our “Usual More Comfortable Hotel”
_____Left bank hotel
_____One of our Paris guest apartments (check one:  Citron____ — Soleil____ — Petit Nuage____ )
_____Less expensive hotel (3-night minimum stay)

Room Type, if in a hotel (check one):
____ Single
____ Double (one, double bed)
____ Twin
____ Triple
____ Single bed in a twin / triple if available, otherwise single
____ Single bed in a twin / triple if available, otherwise no reservation

Check here if you prefer a less expensive room, with hall shower and WC (only available in our “Less expensive hotel,” and only available if you are booking an entire room) ____


II.  Any City EXCEPT Paris (for Paris, please answer in section I, above)

Where?__________________________
What nights would you like us to reserve?______________________________

Room Type, if in a hotel (check one):
____ Single
____ Double (one, double bed)
____ Twin
____ Triple
____ Single bed in a twin / triple if available, otherwise single
____ Single bed in a twin / triple if available, otherwise no reservation

Check here if you prefer a less expensive room, with hall shower and WC (only available if you are booking an entire room) ____

If this hotel is part of one of our “Access Packages,” please check here, to receive appropriate pricing____
If you would prefer to upgrade to a 3* hotel where one is proposed, please check here____

Otherwise, where we offer both, would you prefer a 2*_____ or a 3*_____ level hotel?


III.  Any City EXCEPT Paris (for Paris, please answer in section I, above)

Where?__________________________
What nights would you like us to reserve?______________________________

Room Type, if in a hotel (check one):
____ Single
____ Double (one, double bed)
____ Twin
____ Triple
____ Single bed in a twin / triple if available, otherwise single
____ Single bed in a twin / triple if available, otherwise no reservation

Check here if you prefer a less expensive room, with hall shower and WC (only available if you are booking an entire room) ____

If this hotel is part of one of our “Access Packages,” please check here, to receive appropriate pricing____
If you would prefer to upgrade to a 3* hotel where one is proposed, please check here____

Otherwise, where we offer both, would you prefer a 2*_____ or a 3*_____ level hotel?



3. Post-Trip TRAINS
This concerns travel after your trip, whether you are going directly from the trip end point to an airport city, or travelling elsewhere.

Would you like tickets from us for travel after your trip?
If the answer is “no,” continue to question 4, “Post-Trip HOTELS.”

If the answer is “yes,” please fill in the following section, questions I - IV.
Section V pertains only to people travelling to London, section VI only to people taking overnight trains. 
If you are making multiple pre-trip rail journeys, please reply to these questions for each of your trips....

I.  What is your travel itinerary (for example, “Como - Paris”)?_________________________________
If your final destination is London, please additionally complete section V, below, concerning travel from Paris, Lille or Brussels to London.  The trip from England to the continent is effectively treated as a separate journey.

II. What is your travel date?________________________

III. At what time would you like to travel?
- If you are travelling via overnight train, there is generally only one schedule choice.  In that case, just tell us “overnight,” and fill in section VI concerning sleeping accommodation.
- If you have requested the “Ride the Bike Train Discount,” your schedule is outlined in your Access Package information.  You may still tell us your choices here, since they will be useful in the case where there is more than one bike train, or where the discount is not available.

You may answer the question in any of the following ways. 
Where two choices are given in the sentence (for instance, “around / no earlier than”), please erase / cross out whichever does not apply, or give us both times.

• “I wish to depart my starting city around / no earlier than__________________”
• “I wish to reach my / our destination around / no later than__________________”
• I would like to ride the “Bike Train” to Paris, if the discount is available (check here)____
• If you are making a train-plane connection:  “My / our flight departs at_________; please book a train that reaches my airport city no later than_________.”
  You must fill in both times:  we will not estimate your connection time for you, since some people like to be at the airport well in advance, while others like to cut it close.  The amount of time you allow should take into account at least the following factors.
  (1)  How painful would it be for you to miss the plane?  If waiting a couple of days for the next flight and paying a change fee is not that big a deal, then cut it close and sleep in.  Though European trains are very reliable, small delays are not uncommon, and longer ones can happen....
  (2)  What is the journey time from city center to the airport (assuming your arrival airport does not have a rail station)?
  

If you prefer a direct train (or one with the fewest possible connections), even if it means leaving a couple of hours earlier____ or later____, please check appropriately.

____ Check here for a modifiable ticket (more expensive, per the info page concerning your trip)


IV.  What class of service would you like?
You may answer the question in any of the following ways.
If you are coming from London, please fill in section V, below, for your (separate) “Eurostar” choices.
If you are making an overnight trip, skip this section, and fill in section VI, below.

“I would like...

• ____ ...to upgrade to a 1st class seat (or seats) only if seats are available at the discount rate listed on the sheet pertaining to my trip.”
• ____ ...to take a 1st class seat in any case.”  The lowest available fare will be used.
• ____ ...to stick with 2nd class tickets.”
  

• “I would like to depart Paris / Brussels around / no earlier than____________________”
• “I would like to arrive in London around / no later than than____________________”
• Or, “Please book a train departing from Paris / Brussels such that it safely connects from my arriving train” [check here]_____
  We allow an hour for the Paris station change, or for a station change in Lille if it is required.  We allow 10 minutes for same-station connections in Lille or Brussels, customs / check-in time additional.  Tell us if you wish to allow more / less.

If you prefer an exchangeable ticket (more expensive), please check here_____.

Would you prefer to travel in 2nd_____  or 1st_____ class?  Please check one.
An at-seat light meal service is included on the Eurostar in 1st class.

Would you like a metro ticket to make your station change in Paris without having to buy one?  Yes____ No____

VI.  If you are travelling on an overnight train, please also complete question 6.



4. Post-Trip HOTELS
For a general discussion of our European hotels, see here.

Would you like us to arrange lodging on any night(s) after your trip disbands?
If the answer is “NO,” you are done (or continue to question 5, “Paris Airport Train).”

If the answer is “YES,” please fill in the following requests, one per city.  Section 1 is for Paris, other cities should be entered to sections II and III.


I. PARIS (for other cities, see II and III, below)
For a general discussion of our Paris lodging options, see here.

What post-trip dates would you like us to reserve in Paris (nights of...)?______________________________

Paris Hotel Preference
_____Our “Usual Economical Hotel”
_____Our “Usual More Comfortable Hotel”
_____Left bank hotel
_____One of our Paris guest studios (√ one:  Citron___ — Soleil___ — Petit Nuage___  — La Bohème___)
_____“Less expensive hotel” (3-night minimum stay)

Room Type, if in a hotel (check one):
____ Single
____ Double (one, double bed)
____ Twin
____ Triple
____ Single bed in a twin / triple if available, otherwise single
____ Single bed in a twin / triple if available, otherwise no reservation

Check here if you prefer a less expensive room, with hall shower and WC (only available in our “Less expenisve hotel”, and only available if you are booking an entire room) ____

II. Any City EXCEPT Paris (for Paris, please answer in section I, above): __________________________

What nights would you like us to reserve?______________________________

Room Type, if in a hotel (check one):
____ Single
____ Double (one, double bed)
____ Twin
____ Triple
____ Single bed in a twin / triple if available, otherwise single
____ Single bed in a twin / triple if available, otherwise no reservation

Check here if you prefer a less expensive room, with hall shower and WC (only available if you are booking an entire room) ____

If this hotel is part of one of our “Access Packages,” please check here, to receive appropriate pricing____
If you would prefer to upgrade to a 3* hotel where one is proposed, please check here____

Otherwise, where we offer both, would you prefer a 2*_____ or a 3*_____ level hotel?


III. Any City EXCEPT Paris (for Paris, please answer in section I, above): __________________________

What nights would you like us to reserve?______________________________

Room Type, if in a hotel (check one):
____ Single
____ Double (one, double bed)
____ Twin
____ Triple
____ Single bed in a twin / triple if available, otherwise single
____ Single bed in a twin / triple if available, otherwise no reservation

Check here if you prefer a less expensive room, with hall shower and WC (only available if you are booking an entire room) ____

If this hotel is part of one of our “Access Packages,” please check here, to receive appropriate pricing____
If you would prefer to upgrade to a 3* hotel where one is proposed, please check here____

Otherwise, where we offer both, would you prefer a 2*_____ or a 3*_____ level hotel?


Getting Your Post-Trip Travel Documents

No question to answer here:  tickets needed for travel after your cycle trip with us will be delivered to you by your Trip Coordinator, without additional charge.


5. Paris Airport Train

Would you like to pre-purchase tickets for the airport train that runs between the airport and Paris’ city center, or reserve an airport shuttle transfer?  Discussion can be found here.

If you would like the airport train, please tell us how many tickets you would like (they are good for travel in either direction), and which airport you are using (Charles de Gaulle or Orly).


6. Accommodation on Overnight Trains

VI.  Overnight Train(s).
If you are taking an overnight train at some point, please tell us about your desired on-board accommodation.
Please indicate your order of preference, marking each acceptable choice with a number:  1, 2, 3....
“I / we would prefer....

• _____...a 2nd class couchette
• _____...a “Comfort Couchette”
• _____...a berths in single-sex quad or triple sleeping car cabins.
  Only one of these two cabin types will be available on any given train.
• _____...a berth in a double sleeping car cabin (not available to solo travellers within Spain).
• _____...a berth in a deluxe double sleeping car cabin.
• _____...a private single sleeping car cabin.
• _____...a private deluxe single sleeping car cabin.

- If you would prefer to share a cabin with someone from your trip, and are willing to go either UP_____ or DOWN_____ a comfort level to do so, please check accordingly.  If you are willing to do either, mark a “1” and a “2” to indicate your order of preference.
- If you are willing to share with a trip-mate of opposite gender (and prefer this to sharing with strangers of your gender), please check here_____.

If you would like to nuance your reply in some way (for instance, to upgrade on one train but not on another), please comment here:

Thank you for taking the time to fill out this form.  
An updated account statement reflecting your requests will be e.mailed to you.

Call whenever you have questions.

The Friendly, Occasionally Helpful, in Any Event Harmless,
Blue Marble Staff, and Their Bikes