France Rail/Drive pass
 

Hello all,
My husaband and I are thinking of buying this pass...does anyone have any experience with it? Is it good for TGV trains as well as the regular trains? Do I need to make reservations in advance for the TGV?
thanks!
Rachael

Yes it's good for all trains in France, including TGVs, which do need reservations before boarding (pass covers rail fare but not reservations). An ideal pass for folks wanting to mix train and car - pick up car from AVIS at station and return it without fee at hundreds of other AVIS offices, including many in French stations as they have the license for SNCF Train 'n Auto programs. If you have any questions i'd call BETS (800-441-2387), the RailEurope agent i've dealt with for years - they are experts - ask for their free European Planning & Rail Guide that has a chapter on French trains - rail map, itineraries, etc.. For example take the TGV bullet train Paris-Avignon, tour around Provence by car and then blast back to Paris. Note the more car days you want the more you should look at straight up car rental.

Thanks so much PalQ!!! I think we will most certainly purchase this type of pass!

PalQ gave you great info. We have purchased numerous train passes from BETS and have always been pleased with their expertise and service.

The only problems that we have had with the Rail and Drive passes, all in France, was having to wait at either the Avis office or the train station for our reserved car, after we have arrived from Paris on the train. We've waited for as much as an hour and a half for the rep and the car. This has happened four or five times.

One we drove the rep back to his office and after dropping him off and arriving at our nearby destination, we realized that the gas tank was only l/2 full. A very expensive problem.

Luckily we knew exactly where the office was, and went back to get the remaining gas. It was closed for 'midi' and we had to wait. Then he insisted on driving us around to check to see if the gas guage was stuck as he was 'positive' that the tank was full when he gave it to us. Our mileage proved he was wrong and he filled the tank.

Another time, a huge charge for the rental appeared on our Visa bill when we returned home. Lots and lots of correspondence later, they finally agreed that the pass had taken care of the car and they finally credited our account.

We've also been charged by Avis for gas, even though we filled up just before returning it.

All of the above incidents happened using the Rail and Drive pass, but could happen with a straight rental also.

Would we do it again ... you bet. We've had too many good experiences with the Rail and Drive passes. In fact I have a call into BETS right now for a September pass. Enjoy your trip.

Hi rm,

Before buying any sort of pass, enter your itinerary at www.railsaver.com and click "only if it saves money".

For the Rail/Drive Pass, check rental rates at www.novarentacar.com and www.autoeurope.com.

((I))

While I am almost always negative on the purchase of a rail pass, the Rail/Drive pass can be clearly a good idea if your plans call for multiple one-day car rentals - - since these are almost always a bad bargain on their own. It can be the equivalent of free train travel days.

Best wishes,

Rex

Agree with Ira, particularly if you are dealing with RailEurope. And Rex's observation is very interesting and good.

rmreiman:
I've bicycled and driven all over France several times - where are you going - i can suggest good places to train to and rent cars if you havn't done the research yet.
A classic example is to take the TGV train to Rennes from Paris and then pick up the car to drive thru Brittany to Mont St-Michel and then over to the D-Day area in Normandy and return car at Caen train station to blast back to Paris. Or train to Avignon, drive to Nice and train back. I really think it's a great program - the cost of gas and tolls on auroroutes being so astronomically high the train can save money and time, letting you slowly drive through a compact area.

Hi All,
Thanks for your help. We are planning on arriving in Paris, then directly taking a TGV train to Dijon, where we are staying for 5 nights. While in Dijon we want to rent a car for 1 day to travel to some of the surrounding vineyards.

After our 5 nights in Dijon we plan to take another TGV train to Avignon and spend 4 nights there, again renting a car 1 day to explore the Vacluse.

Lastly we will travel by TGV train back to Paris and spend the last 4 nights of our visit there. I have calculated that if we get the Rail&Drive pass (purchasing 1 extra train day) it should cost $510, which I think is the best deal. Hopefully we won't have too much trouble with the car pick-up!

Any suggestions for how this itinerary would work better? Thanks for everyone's help!!

Rachael

With PREM fares, you can probably cut the total train cost down to $100 p/p if you go from Paris to Dijon and Avignon to Paris. You could turn your sightseeing days into travel days like this:

TGV Paris-Dijon
Dijon: 4 nights
Rent car, check out of hotel, drive around region, ending at Lyon (2 hrs enroute).
Lyon: 1 night
Drive to Avignon (2 hrs enroute), around region ending at hotel. Check in. Return car.
Avignon: 4 nights
TGV Avignon-Paris
Paris: 4 nights

From Dijon head south on the signposted Route des vins Bourgogne - the Burgudny wine road that goes thru such famous wine towns as: Gevrey-chambertin, Vougeot, home of the presigious Clos de Vougeot wine house, and Nuits St Georges - you can go onto Beaune - a great old town and regional wine capital and then take the autoroute back to Dijon (probably about 30 miles Dijon-Beaune). I think you plan is just perfect. Dealing with PREM fares is viable but then you're locked into a certain train with non-changeable, non-refundable tickets - if you miss train or decide to go later not possible. Railpass can be used on any train any day, but still obligatory reservations on TGVs with passes. Can also use pass to go to either Paris airport from Paris if you have a day left over.

My suggestion to go south into the wine country and on to Lyon was so you could avoid backtracking to Dijon, then having to (pay to) cover the same ground on the train.

As General Patton said when asked why he rarely retreated, "I don't like paying for the same real estate twice."

Thanks for your help. Perhaps we will consider driving from Dijon to Avignon after all. Again, thanks for all your input!
Rachael

Ditto to Robespierre's advice about driving thru - and then you really realize the benefits of a rail/drive pass - pick up at one station, drive thru nice rural areas and drop it off at another station to board a bullet train to your next destination. The Route des vins Bourgogne keeps going after Beaune via Macon, another luminary of Burgundy wine monnikers. As they say in France, Bonne route!

ttt

Note that cars under this program must be reserved at least 7 days in advance to guarantee availability at the location you want. Some categories (i.e. automatics) are in limited supply. Call AVIS 800-331-1084 to check on availability and tell them code 6A - means you're buying a rail 'n drive pass.

PalQ, you rule! :) thanx from me too! I've always hunted for cheaper ways to go down to the Camargue [I live in DC].... flight+train option sounds like it would be fun

Wild horses couldn't keep me from the legendary Camargue - a dusty region - to see the famed 'wild horses' of the camarge you'll see several signs out front of a mas (ranch) offering pony treks, with old or young plugs, out into the outback to see the wild horses of the legend.

gigirnc:
If doing the Camargue and rail 'n drive you could take the bullet train Paris (or right from the airport) to Avignon or Arles and pick up a car then and then do the short drive to the Camargue. then return the car and bullet train at speeds of up to 186 mph to Paris or the airport. Or drive the car to Nice, etc. and return it there at the station. Car days are 24-hour periods; train days midnight to midnight except for overnight trains leaving after 7pm - then it's one day on a pass only.

thanx again PalQ! I so wish this msg thing sent e*mail alerts when somebody responds in the thread you've made comments in... :( can't believe it's been almost 3 years... good advice tho!