Title: France Rail Passes and Train Tips from Rick Steves
Headings: France Rail Passes and Train Tips
France Rail Passes and Train Tips
Are rail passes a good value for France?
How do I see whether a rail pass makes sense for my trip in particular?
Train Fares: France
What are my options for rail passes that cover France?
Do I need to make seat reservations on French trains?
What do rail passes cover in France?
Any tips for buying point-to-point train tickets in France?
What if I need help with my Rail Europe order?

Content: Aside from the extra reservation fees required for certain classes of train (see above), rail passes for France cover most travel on trains operated by the SNCF, France's national railway. Rail passes do not, however, cover these privately run trains: Thello: Thello operates the only direct night train between France (Paris or Dijon) and Italy (stops include Milan, Verona, and Venice); they also run the only daytime trains on the Milan–Genova–Nice–Marseille route that don't require a change at the border. ( These trains may show up as "EuroCity" or "EC" on some schedules.) While the Eurail Global Pass will get you a 25 percent discount on Thello trains (also works if you have either a Eurail France Pass or Italy Pass), this doesn't beat most advance-purchase deals — for the best price, buy your ticket months ahead (or consider flying ). TGV OUIGO: These discounted TGV services operate on limited routes, and work somewhat like a no-frills airline (e.g. they limit luggage size and seat selection, and require early check-in). Trains on the island of Corsica and those between Nice and Digne (just buy tickets in stations as you go).