What is the Best Way to Travel in France? A Detailed Guide for Tourists
Regardless of whether you’re a tourist or living in France, commuting is very important to fully experience what the country has to offer. So, the answer to what is the best way to travel in the country depends on certain factors. Some of them are:
- The time you have to spare
- The budget you’re operating on
- The location you’re traveling to
Knowing the specifics will help you make an informed decision about the mode of travel to choose. But for this article, let’s look at the three most popular ways in which you can travel around France.
Travelling France by Bus
Prior to 2015, only international companies passing through the country used to travel by bus. However, the bus routes are now expanding their reach. The SCNF is now operating buses in routes where trains cannot travel.
If time is not a problem, and you want to keep commuting costs to a minimum, choose buses. Inter-city travel might take you several hours through this medium, but you will save a lot of money in the process. Do check out https://free-lookup.net if you’re looking for a number lookup service for any purpose.
Travelling France by Plane
If you have limited time and can shell out a fair amount of money, then taking a flight is your best bet. If you choose to travel to Paris, you will have access to two airports in the city. Roissy-Charles-de-Gaulle is located 25km north of the city, and Orly is 14km to the south. Both these airports are linked by shuttle buses and railways.
If you’re planning to come from abroad, catching a flight is no doubt the best way to travel to Paris. Not only are you saving time, but you are also making the journey more convenient. Other cities like Nice, Marseille, Strasbourg, Lyon, and Toulouse have international airports. They all have good links to Paris through the flight system.
Travelling France by Train
French rail travel is the best way to travel around the country. Due to the TGV, it is very fast and convenient to travel around France by train, and it is also quite affordable if you book early. You don’t have to arrive at the station hours before boarding a train or deal with strict baggage rules.
So, taking into account the check-in and cab time in the case of flights, the actual travel time is quite high. However, this is not the case when considering trains. The railway system is the most popular way to travel around France.
The train service can become quite expensive if you’re late in securing your ticket or have an emergency. However, SCNF has implemented several schemes to make traveling more affordable for people. It has several loyalty programs that you can take advantage of, and they are as follows:
- Avantage Jeune: for people aged 12 to 27
- Advantage Senior: for senior citizens aged over 60
- Advantage Week-end: for people aged 27 to 60, traveling during the weekend.
- Advantage Familie: for family travels
So, What is the Best Way to Travel In France?
Now that we have covered the three most popular ways, you have all the information you need to decide which model is best for you. The best way to travel around Paris is surely through trains due to their accessibility. However, you can also opt to rent luxury cars or cab services if you want. These services can often be more convenient based on your location and destination.
But, if you’re considering inter-city travel, then choosing either one of the trains or airways will be the best option for you. Not only will you save time, but you will also have a more convenient journey. Buses can be used if you’re traveling overnight or going somewhere trains don’t operate but do keep in mind that they take several hours.