The road from Paris

July 13, 2005 1:05 PM

What's the best way I can find discount travel (air, rail, rental car) destinations for a weekend trip from Paris?

I have three days to spend after a week in Paris and I'd like to make a short trip elsewhere in France. Do you have a trusted website (English or French language) that specializes in Paris-to-wherever travel bargains, or need I consult a travel agent for the best (cheapest) deal? Anyone with a suggested destination? I'm traveling in early September.

posted by sixpack to Travel & Transportation around Paris, France (4 answers total)

If you are renting a car, take the train from Paris to Charles de Gaulle and rent there, well outside the traffic nightmare of Paris. There are numerous rental companies there, and you can book ahead online - do a google search and pick a vendor.

I booked train tickets for use in France here with no problems.

For what it's worth you can roll up at a train station and find a destination and purchase tickets very easily. They have excellent multi-lingual touch screen ticket booths in Parisian tran stations, and excellent little booklet timetables. Each destination has it's own booklet/timetable - they are exceptionally well designed and non-confusing.

As for destination, a lot of France is worth seeing. Brittany is especially dramatic and rewarding in all weathers. The two world wars are also good jump off points for planning excursions.
posted by fire&wings at 1:51 PM on July 13, 2005

Voyages SNCF is the official French travel source, but trains are pricey. Check out the "Promotions," especially the "dernière minute" trips for some sweet (one-way) discounts. I think they get updated every Tuesday and are certainly non-refundable. I would recommend not booking your hotel through them, though, as their picks tend to be way expensive and often out of the way.

Strasbourg is often cheap that way, you might also look for Rouen or Rennes (they're the closest destinations).
posted by themadjuggler at 2:40 PM on July 13, 2005

Oh, you could also take a day (weekend?) trip out the Giverny (Monet's gardens) simply by taking the RER.
posted by themadjuggler at 2:41 PM on July 13, 2005

ryanair.
posted by ori at 2:53 PM on July 13, 2005