Whether you travel to Cannes, Marseilles or Paris, getting around France by train is fairly manageable. Familiarize yourself with a few French phrases, pack a baguette and get ready to see France on French Railways, or SNCF.
Contact Rail Europe at (877) 257-2887 to book travel on French Railways, or book through their Web site (see Resources below).
Pick up your ticket at the station if you book online. It is a common misconception that you cannot purchase tickets while in the United States. Simply indicate that you will pick up your ticket once you are in France.
Use the following phrase to request your ticket from the ticket counter, or "guichet": "Je voudrais retirer mon billet, s'il vous plait" (I would like to pick up my ticket, please). Present your printed itinerary with the corresponding reference number, and the agent will assist you.
Book a trip on the superfast TGV trains to take a longer trip within France. You can book online at Rail Europe before you leave the United States or at your departure station. A trip from Paris to Marseilles takes a little over 3 hours.
Purchase a France Railpass from Rail Europe before you travel to France. Book a pass to suit your travel plans. The France Railpass and the France Saverpass are the most popular.
Cash in your dollars for euros when you get to France, or use your ATM card to withdraw money at the widely available cash-withdrawal machines. You may get a better exchange rate in the United States or once you arrive in France, depending on the current value of the dollar.
Speak French inexpertly while in Paris, and you can expect to be corrected. However, the inexperienced linguist may fare better in the more-tolerant provincial regions. You can generally expect to find English spoken in most major train terminals, but do not expect to find written instructions in English.
Keep your voice down while traveling on the Metro or any of France's regional trains. It is considered very rude to disturb others, even in a large crowd.
Remember to always say "bonjour" when entering a store or shop and "au revoir" upon leaving. The French, particularly Parisians, consider it a "faux pas" to not offer a simple hello upon entering a room.
