Tips on booking rail passes

TRAVELLING by rail around France can be a great way to see the many regions of the country.

And you will also arrive in different towns and cities rested and ready to head off to explore, instead of looking to de-stress after being stuck in a car all day.

For UK travellers it is quite simple to book tickets through the English-language version of the SNCF website.

You can easily buy tickets for routes across France and then pick them up from either the automatic ticket machine, or one of the counters.

For travellers from the US it is not possible to buy tickets through the SNCF website.

One of the most well known websites that allows you to book tickets is Rail Europe, which not only provides details of the French rail system, but those in other European countries.

A basic pass allows you to travel for any four days in a month, and there are also deals for young travellers or those aged over 60.

Another site that provides similar information is Rail Pass, it is clearly laid out with a simple step-by-step option available if you are not sure which tickets will suit you.

It is best to take some time planning out your route, look to have a guidebook and map close to hand so that you can work out distances and if places are worth stopping off at.

On some trains it will be necessary to book a seat, especially on long distance routes, but also check if your pass allows you to take advantage of the ‘7.00pm rule’.

If your journey begins after 7.00pm it counts towards the following day of travel, which means you get 29 hours of travel instead of 24, and will only use up one day of your pass.

And if France is only likely to be a part of your trip around Europe, and you need to travel a long distance, look out for overnight trains where you can book seats that recline or have private sleeping quarters.

A rail pass will provide you with the flexibility to stop off at places that you may not have thought to visit, and they offer some good deals especially if you are looking to travel extensively.