TGV,
TOURS & RAIL PASSES FOR FRANCE
Offers and Tour Experiences from Rail Europe
In
France, for over 25 years, the country’s advanced network of
high-speed trains has provided comfortable and convenient travel within
the French borders as well as to neighboring country destinations. You
may be as likely to see the distinctive silver nose of the TGV in Frankfurt
as well as Paris. Rail
Europe is the largest seller of European rail products in North America,
representing
over 35 national railroads which provide smooth, comfortable and efficient
train travel in most European countries, offering a wide range of rail
passes and point-to-point rail tickets as well as tour and travel products. Now,
with recently expanded routes as well as new travel products from Rail
Europe, the time has never been better to experience
France by rail. All of the major cities of France are now connected
by the advanced TGV (Tres Grand Vitesse). Traversing the countryside
the
vineyards and fields at speeds up to 200 mph, the French TGV lets travelers
in France see more of the country in less time, in the comfort of a
window seat on the world and space to stretch out.
TGV
With the expansion of the TGV Est (East) line, France has moved again
to the forefront of rail technology. The design of the French TGV makes
it one of the fastest and smoothest in Europe (see European High Speed
Trains). The TGV Est line cuts travel time between Paris, and the eastern
France regions of Alsace or connections in Basel Switzerland almost by
half, while providing offering greater train frequency along these routes. TGV France High Speed
The TGV from Paris is one of the easiest and most convenient ways to get to any part of France, connecting with local service trains, or rental car agencies located right at most of the TGV stations. Just get off the train and pick up a car to explore the local area. At Dijon, depart the train and walk just a few steps to pick up a car and head strain down the Route Grand Crus to Beaune (see Burgundy Route Grand Crus), catch a hot air balloon ride over the – river valley. Or in Nice to discovery the sunny Azur Coast of the French Riviera.
Rail
Europe Specials and Promotions
Connecting France with the rest of Europe are the expanded Thalys and
Eurostar high speed train networks, which offer speedy direct rail service
to 17 major cities and provide travelers more than 80 round trips per
day with faster point-to-point service than ever before. A brand new
direct service from Paris to Moscow on the Overnight Train to the Russian
Federation via Berlin allows adventurous explorers to easily whisk from
the bateaus of the Seine to the marvels of the Kremlin with a stop at
the Brandenburg Gate and shopping on the Unter Den Linden in between.
Direct service is now also available on the Nice to Moscow route.
Travel is
faster on many routes. Some sample
route times on the TGV:
Paris to Amsterdam - 3 hours 18 minutes
Paris to Cologne (Köln) - 3 hours 14 minutes
Paris to Lille - 58 minutes
Paris to London - 2 hours 15 minutes (Eurostar see Chunnel to
London)
Paris to Lyon - 1 hour 57 minutes.
Paris to Bordeaux - 3 hours 7 minutes Paris to
Marseille - 3 hours 2minutes
Some of the special rail package products available for France
Rail Passes
France
Rail Pass - 1st or 2nd class unlimited travel on the French national rail
system (SNCF) with a choice of three to nine travel days within a one
month period.
France Rail 'n Drive - 2 days of unlimited 1st class rail travel in France
and a two-day Avis or Hertz car rental with unlimited mileage within
a one month period.
France Day Pass - Allows 1st or 2nd class unlimited travel for one day
(24 hours) to explore the French countryside.
The pleasure of a Eurail rail pass is that you just show up at the station and get on the train that’s going your way (see How Eurail Passes Work - Are They Worth it ). Though, for travel on the TGV you do need a seat reservation. The difference between first class and second class is that there is less competition of seats in first, with a bit of upgraded seating and luggage room.
In addition to the travel passes, Rail Europe provides popular tourist passes and sisghtseeing offers.
France Sightseeing and Tour Packages
Paris
Pass - Using
a smart chip card, this brand new pass provides extensive travel on
the city’s public transportation system and priority
entry to museums and attractions, starting from $137 for a two-day pass.
Paris Historic Tour - This guided tour includes transport in a luxury
air-conditioned coach to historic locations all over Paris including
a guided visit to Notre-Dame Cathedral, plus a ticket for a Seine River
boat tour between the Marina de Paris and the iconic Notre Dame Cathedral,
starting from $83.
Paris Museum Pass - This pass provide priority admission and free access
to 60 museums, castles, gardens, cathedrals and monuments in and around
Paris, including multiple visits at no extra charge, starting from $59.
CityRama Paris L'Open Tour Pass - Over 50 stops and four open-air bus
routes allow visitors to choose the sights worth seeing, starting from
$45 per one-day pass.
Wine And Cheese Tasting Lunch - Tastes of Bordeaux,
Burgundy, Côtes
du Rhône, and Champagne, all paired with fine cheeses, starting
from $116 per adult.
French Wine Discovery - A beginning course on French regional wines without
ever leaving Paris, starting from $47.
Guided Visit of the Louvre Museum - A professionally
guided tour of the Louvre, starting from $69.
Paris Dinner Cruise - An evening cruise in a glass-sided boat with romantic
panoramic views of the heart of Paris and an elegant meal, starting from
$143.
Paris Visite - Unlimited travel in and around Paris on the local RER,
bus or Metro, starting from $31.
Lyon Le Grand Tour - Hop on Hop off bus tours of Lyon, starting from
$27.
Loire Valley Day Tours - Take one of three distinct tours around to the
chateaux and vineyards of Villandry, Chambord or Chenonceau and Amboise,
all coupled with a taste of the local wine, starting from $211.
Marseille Le Grand Tour - Hop on Hop off bus tours, starting from $28.
Marseille City Card - Unlimited public transportation
in Marseille and free entry to more than 15 of the southern coast city’s finest
museums and monuments.
Nice le Grand Tour - discover the prime city of the Riviera starting
from $31.
French Wine Master Class - A two-hour advanced wine tasting class that
includes the tastes of Bordeaux, Burgundy, Côtes du Rhône & Champagne,
starting from $77.
All of these offers can be found through the Rail Europe website which provides detailed information about travel in France and other European destinations to make your travel experience rich and rewarding. © Bargain Travel Europe
Compare Best Hotel Deals in France on TripAdvisor
These
articles are copyrighted and the sole property of Bargain Travel
Europe and WLPV, LLC. and may not be copied or reprinted without
permission.
See Also:
PARIS
HOTELS - OPERA DISTRICT'S MOST CONVENIENT
BEST
HOSTELS IN PARIS
THREE CHOICE HOTEL BARGAINS IN NICE
CHATEAU B&B ST MICHEL DE LANES - LANGUEDOC
GERMAN ICE TRAIN – FAST INTER-CITY EXPRESS
CHRISTMAS MARKETS BY TRAIN - FROM PARIS
