# Cheapest way to get to France **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 19, 2006, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheapest-way-to-get-to-france/349028 "2006-03-19T19:57:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2006, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheapest-way-to-get-to-france/349028/21 "2006-03-20T17:19:16Z")
> [@Johnny L.A.](#): > > Go someplace where there are a lot of Bush lovers. Announce what a poor job the President is doing, that we should get out of Iraq, that we never should have invaded Iraq in the first place, etc. > > When someone says, 'Why don’t you go back to France! :mad: ’ tell him that you will if he buys you a ticket. Yes, but the OP presumably wants a **round-trip** ticket. ---
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2006, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheapest-way-to-get-to-france/349028/22 "2006-03-20T17:59:31Z")
> [@flight](#): > > We were thinking we would rent a car from Paris or wherever we landed rather than fly or take the train. It actually looks to be significantly cheaper, even when you factor in gas. Are you sure of it? I assume you know that gas in quite costly in France. Did you also factor the relatively high highway toll? Did you check the price on the french railway site, or on the company I didn’t remember the name of that sell the tickets in the USA with a significant premium? Did you take into account the convenience of a much quicker travel, especially after a long flight? The regular fare for a Paris—\>Avignon trip is 92€ or 75€, depending on the train and it takes 2 hours and a half. There are also direct TGVs from CDG airport. And if you reserve well in advance, you can buy a non-exchangeable, non-refundable “Prem’s” ticket for a significantly lower price. For instance, I checked randomly the Prem’s ticket for June 5, and there are tickets sold for 40€, 50€, 59€, 64€. I somehow doubt renting a car could be cheaper than 80€ (or even 130€) for both of you. ---
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2006, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheapest-way-to-get-to-france/349028/23 "2006-03-20T18:04:40Z")
On the other hand, as I wrote above, if you intend to stay for one week and visit the area, and can afford it, I’d recommand renting a car (in Avignon, not in Paris), because it will will way more convenient to go to various interesting places (villages, small towns…). ---
**Author:** ![Necros](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/necros/32/11086_2.png) [@Necros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Necros)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2006, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheapest-way-to-get-to-france/349028/24 "2006-03-20T18:49:58Z")
> [@clairobscur](#): > > I somehow doubt renting a car could be cheaper than 80€ (or even 130€) for both of you. We were in Paris in January, and rented a car from Hertz so we could drive around Normandy. We did it the right way, renting over the Internet, as opposed to doing it in Paris. Still, with full (drive-it-into-the-Seine-and-walk-away) insurance plus all the myriad taxes, I think it ended up being just under 200€ for one day. And that didn’t include gas. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2006, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheapest-way-to-get-to-france/349028/25 "2006-03-20T19:36:53Z")
> [@GorillaMan](#): > > I very much doubt driving a hire car from Paris would work out much cheaper, if at all. 900 miles, with petrol costing over twice American prices, plus motorway tolls which I think will be around the €100 mark? To be precise it’s 690km including 670km on motorways, should take 6 hours and 28 minutes, and the toll costs are €42.80. See what I mean about ViaMichelin? ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2006, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheapest-way-to-get-to-france/349028/26 "2006-03-20T19:59:59Z")
> [@jjimm](#): > > To be precise it’s 690km including 670km on motorways, should take 6 hours and 28 minutes, and the toll costs are €42.80. > > See what I mean about ViaMichelin? Hah, the AA says it’s 681km, but takes over seven hours. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2006, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheapest-way-to-get-to-france/349028/27 "2006-03-20T20:11:49Z")
> [@GorillaMan](#): > > Hah, the AA says it’s 681km, but takes over seven hours. Yeah, but they’re just taking it one day at a time. ---
**Author:** ![flight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bbce88/32.png) [@flight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flight)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2006, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheapest-way-to-get-to-france/349028/28 "2006-03-22T06:38:17Z")
> [@clairobscur](#): > > Are you sure of it? I assume you know that gas in quite costly in France. Did you also factor the relatively high highway toll? Did you check the price on the french railway site, or on the company I didn’t remember the name of that sell the tickets in the USA with a significant premium? Did you take into account the convenience of a much quicker travel, especially after a long flight? > The regular fare for a Paris—\>Avignon trip is 92€ or 75€, depending on the train and it takes 2 hours and a half. There are also direct TGVs from CDG airport. > > And if you reserve well in advance, you can buy a non-exchangeable, non-refundable “Prem’s” ticket for a significantly lower price. For instance, I checked randomly the Prem’s ticket for June 5, and there are tickets sold for 40€, 50€, 59€, 64€. > > I somehow doubt renting a car could be cheaper than 80€ (or even 130€) for both of you. Gas, yup, it’s double the price or a little more. Didn’t know about the highway toll, but we will probably be taking the scenic route. Yup, checked the French rail site. The convenience isn’t a particular issue as we will probably spend a night or two in Paris after the flight. The prem ticket is new. That would actually make it worthwhile. Thanks for the info. Without that we are looking at 4 train tickets (though the return trip turned out to be much cheaper). Four rail tickets are a hell of a lot more than one week rental of a car. Enought that it will probably cover the other associated expenses. Plus you get the bonus of a little more freedom of movement. Last time I was in France I was a bit more restricted as I relied purely on public transit. This all might change with the Prem ticket though. Thanks again for that info. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheapest-way-to-get-to-france/349028.md?page=1)