Transport Guides
Getting around France usually comes down to trains versus a car, and airport transfers versus Eurostar. These guides walk through the actual booking flows, prices, and trade-offs so you can pick the option that fits your route, not just the default.
Asking for Directions in French
The exact French phrases for asking where something is and understanding left/right/straight-ahead answers without panicking.
8 min read
Beauvais Airport to Paris: 2026 Official Shuttle Price & Times
Official Beauvais shuttle to Porte Maillot: 2026 confirmed €17.90 price, 1h15+ schedule, and how it really compares to the bus and train alternatives.
8 min read
Best Ferry Port to Corsica: Nice, Toulon, or Marseille?
Crossing times to Corsica range from 5 to 17 hours depending on your mainland port. Here's which one actually matches your Corsican base.
8 min read
Book French TGV and OUIGO Without the SNCF Gotchas
Booking trains in France: SNCF Connect and OUIGO fares starting from €25, seat choices, luggage rules, and the booking mistakes that catch travelers out.
13 min read
Corsica by Train: Is the Chemins de Fer Worth Planning Around?
A narrow-gauge line links Ajaccio, Bastia, and Calvi through Corsica's mountains. Here's the real schedule, fares, and whether to build your trip around it.
9 min read
Dordogne Without a Car: What's Actually Possible
The Dordogne's villages line the river, not a rail map. Here's what genuinely works without a car, and why most people should just rent one.
8 min read
Driving in France: Tolls, Crit'Air, Speed Cameras, and Rules Tourists Miss
French autoroute tolls run about EUR0.104/km, and Paris to Nice costs roughly EUR95 in tolls alone. Here's the tolls, Crit'Air sticker, and speed camera rules that trip up visitors.
6 min read
eSIM or SIM Card for France? A Short-Trip Guide
For most short trips to France, an eSIM is the easiest way to stay connected. See why 10-20 GB usually covers two weeks and when a physical SIM wins instead.
11 min read
Ferry or Flight to Corsica: Which Should You Book?
Ferry from Nice starts around €24 and takes 5-8 hours; flying averages €121 and 1.5 hours in the air. Here's which actually wins for your trip.
8 min read
French Rental Cars in Plain English: Autoroutes, Crit’Air, Insurance
Renting a car in France: when it makes sense, what insurance actually matters, how tolls work, and the low-emission zone rules most tourists miss.
15 min read
Getting to Basque Country: Trains, Flights & Driving
Direct TGV, a Bordeaux connection, or a flight into Biarritz: the real trade-offs for reaching France's Basque Country, and what you'll need once you're there.
9 min read
Getting to Brittany from Paris: Train, Car, or Fly
The TGV to Rennes takes 1h25 and beats flying on almost every Brittany route. Here's the honest breakdown of train, car, and flight costs and times.
10 min read
Getting to Occitanie: Trains, Airports & Transport
How to get to Occitanie and move around it: Toulouse-Blagnac airport, TGV links from Paris, Carcassonne's budget airport, and the region's train routes.
8 min read
Getting to the French Alps: The Complete Guide
Geneva, Lyon, or Chambery: which gets you to your resort fastest, from a 60-90 minute Chamonix transfer to a 2.5-3 hour Trois Vallees drive from Lyon.
10 min read
Hauts-de-France Travel Guide: Lille, Arras & the Somme
Flemish city streets and the Somme's 72,000 WWI memorial names, both under 1h15 from Paris by train. What's worth it, and how to get there without a car.
9 min read
How Many Nights in Strasbourg? A Quick Answer
How many nights to spend in Strasbourg: our recommendation by trip length (1 to 3 nights), plus exactly what to prioritize if you only have one night there.
14 min read
How to Get Around France: Train, Car, Bus & When to Fly
Train beats plane on most France routes — but not always. When flying between French cities makes sense, and how to pick between TGV, car, and bus.
14 min read
How to Get Around Paris: Metro, Buses, and Tickets Explained
A practical guide to using Paris public transport without getting confused by tickets, zones, airport fares, or easy-to-miss validation rules.
12 min read
How to Get from CDG Airport to Paris (Train, Taxi, Uber Explained)
The easiest ways to get from Charles de Gaulle Airport to central Paris, with honest advice on the RER B, taxis, Uber, buses, luggage, scams, and late arrivals.
14 min read
How to Get to France: Airports, Eurostar & Ferries Compared
CDG, Orly, Beauvais, Eurostar, or ferry? Compare all five ways to get to France by travel time and price, and pick the gateway that actually suits your trip.
8 min read
How to Ski France Without a Car: The Real Guide
Five rail gateway stations reach France's ski resorts by train and shuttle. Here's how to plan skiing in France without a car, so booking goes smoothly.
11 min read
Is a Rail Pass Worth It for France? The Honest Math
A 4-leg France trip: point-to-point tickets run about EUR230, an Interrail/Eurail pass plus reservations runs about EUR230-270. Here's the actual worked math.
9 min read
Is Corsica Worth It Without a Car?
Corsica is built for road trips, but the internal train and coastal buses cover more than you'd expect. Here's what works without a car, and what doesn't.
7 min read
Loire Valley Without a Car: Châteaux by Train & Bike
Visiting Loire Valley without a car is doable. Best train base towns, châteaux within walking or cycling distance, and what you genuinely can’t reach.
8 min read
London to Paris on Eurostar: What Differs From a CDG Flight
Eurostar from London to Paris is more than a flight swap. How station flow, luggage, border checks, and Gare du Nord arrival actually work.
15 min read
Lyon to Annecy: Train, Bus, or Car
Direct trains take about 2 hours and cost €20-45. Buses are cheaper but slower. Driving is scenic until you hit Annecy's old town parking. Here's the honest breakdown.
8 min read
Nice Airport to City Center: Tram, Bus, Taxi, or Transfer?
Nice Airport to the city center compared: Tram 2 costs about EUR1.70 and runs every 7-9 minutes, versus a EUR32 fixed-fare taxi. Full breakdown by traveler type.
9 min read
Orly to Paris by Metro, Bus, or Taxi? The Best Route After You Land
Landing at Orly and not sure how to get into Paris? Metro Line 14 takes under 30 minutes -- here's what actually makes sense for your time, luggage, and budget.
8 min read
Paris to Lille: Train or Flight? The Honest Answer
The direct TGV covers Paris to Lille in about an hour, with roughly 20 trains a day and fares from around €16. Here's why flying isn't worth comparing.
7 min read
Paris to Nice: Train or Flight? The Honest Comparison
TGV takes 5h40-7h and starts around €19-39; flying takes 1h35 in the air but 4-5 hours door-to-door once transfers are counted. Here's which actually wins.
6 min read
Private Airport Transfer vs Taxi in France: Which Is Actually Worth It?
Compare private transfers and taxis for CDG, Orly, and regional French airports -- real prices starting from €32, booking tips, and when each option wins.
7 min read
Somme Battlefields Without a Car: What's Actually Possible
No train reaches Thiepval, Beaumont-Hamel, or Vimy Ridge, and the memorials sit 15 to 40 minutes further by road. Here's what a car-free visit actually takes.
9 min read