holidays in France

Holidays
by Train

Many people would prefer to travel by train, not only is it a relaxing way to travel but you actually get to see the country as you pass through. What's more it is an evironmentally friendly form of travel.
Travelling by train through France is very straight-forward and the trains have extensive luggage space. You can pre-book tickets through Rail Europe Fares & Schedules and as you will see below the journey should prove quite straight-forward. When you check the schedules you will be advised if you have to change and if so where. For Conducted Train Tours Click here

Obviously, the important thing is to decide where you want to go! Most hotels, camp sites, holiday villages etc. will provide you with their nearest rail station.

As you will see from the map on the right, there is an extensive network serving France. This map shows only the major routes so don't worry if your destination is not shown.

Eurostar leaves Saint Pancras International station, London; Ebbsfleet, Kent or Ashford, Kent. directly for:
  • Lille
  • Disneyland Paris
  • Avignon
  • Paris Gare du Nord.
If your particular journey requires a change of trains at Lille this presents no problem. There are four platforms and indicator boards will show you which platform your train departs from.

If travelling on beyond Paris it is most likely that you will have to change to another station. Paris Gare de l'Est is a 10/15 minute walk but other stations will require transfer either by Metro or taxi.

Allow plenty of time for any transfer - at least an hour, preferably 2.

Far better to arrive a little early and stop for a coffee, than arrive late and miss the train.

 		French rail network
Paris Metro map Use of the Metro is not included with main-line tickets.

Metro tickets can be purchased at the ticket office or self-service machines so you will need to have Euros available or else a credit card (tickets are under 2 Euros each but self-service machines will still accept).

Metro lines are identified by a line number and direction (the last station on the line.) The table below provides directions.
Gare d'Austerlitz
Follow signs M5. Direction Place d'Italie
Alight Gare d'Austerlit.
Gare de Bercy
Follow signs RER line D. Direction Melun/Malesherbes 2 stops)
Then line M14. Direction Olympiades ( 1 stop - alight Bercy)
Alternatively alight Gare de Lyon and walk 600 metres.
Gare de Lyon
Follow signs RER line D. Direction Melun/Malesherbes. Alight Gare de Lyon (2 stops)
Gare Montparnasse
Follow signs M4. Direction Porte d'Orléans. Alight Montparnasse Bienvenue
Gare Saint Lazare
Follow signs RER Line E. Direction Haussmann Saint-Lazare. Alight Saint-Lazare (1 stop)
Gare de l'Est
Walk to Gare de l'Est (approx. 10 minutes). Leave station onto Boulevard de Denain. Turn left into Boulevard de Magenta. Turn left into Rue du 8 Mai 1945.
The following stations are accessible with a single change of trains:
*Angers:  *Agde:  *Agen:  *Aime la Plagne:  *Aix en Provence:  *Angoulême:  *Annecy:  *Antibes:  *Avignon:  *Belfort:  *Besançon:  *Biarritz;  *Bordeaux;  *Bourg St. Maurice: *Brest:  *Caen:  *Cannes:  *Chalon sur Saône:  *Chalons en Champagne:  *Chambéry:  *Champagne Ardenne:  *Clermont Ferrand:  *Dijon:  *Grenoble:  *La Rochelle:  *Laval:  *Le Creusot:  *Le Mans:  *Les Aubrais/Orléans:  *Libourne:  *Limoges:  *Lorient:  *Lourdes:  *Lyon:  *Marseille:  *Metz:  *Montpellier:  *Moutiers:  *Mulhouse:  *Nancy:  *Nantes:  *Nice:  *Nîmes:  *Perpignan:  *Poitiers:  *Quimper:  *Reims:  *Rennes:  *Rouen:  *St Pierre des Corps:  *St-Raphaël:  *Strasbourg:  *Toulon:  *Toulouse:  *Tours:  *Troyes:  *Valence:  *Vannes: 
French Train Schedules...

Car Hire

Cheap Travel Insurance...
Holiday suggestion:
EUROSTAR
London, St Pancras
or
Ebbsfleet
or
Ashford
to
Lille 		TGV Lille to Nice HOTEL LITTLE PALACE**
from €39 per night
Excellently located in the center of Nice, 3 minutes walk from the Promenade des Anglais, the sea and 2 minutes from the railway station. The hotel, fully air conditioned, offers all modern amenities. 		HOTEL NATIONAL***
from €35 per night
The National Hotel enjoys a strategic location in central Nice. This city hotel is very conveniently located for the Nice main train station 		HOTEL NEGRESCO*****
€245 per night Built in 1912, overlooking the famous Baie des Anges, and classified a National Historic Monument in 1974, the 5 star hotel Negresco in Nice is one of the few remaining private palaces still existing in the world. Jeanne Augier, owner and chairwoman, has created a unique living museum based on her desire to share her passion for art with her clients.
Page footer
HOLIDAYVIEWER.COM
email:info@holidayviewer.com