There is no faster, more economical and environmentally friendly way to travel France than by using its extensive high-speed railway system. What many tourists do is fly into one region, for example, Paris, its capital and then use the TGV to visit other regions of the country.
Traveling at speeds up to 187 miles per hour, in short, “this thing is fast” as one American passenger phrased it when comparing it to the Amtrak system. All cars are non-smoking and the ride is smooth and as a result, extremely quiet.
Imagine traveling from Paris to Nice, as an example, which is approximately 425 miles and equal distance from New York City and Blacksburg, Virginia in little more than 5 hours. If you were to drive the same distance, it would easily take you 9 hours.
Fares for TGV’s Paris-Nice journey start at €19, which is $24.00 USD. If you were to add up your tolls on the Autoroute, also known as the Péage along with your gas, which is of course 2.5 times that of US’s gas, that same trip would cost you approximately $35 to $40. And the best part is that while you are on the TGV to wherever in France you most want to be, you can read a book, have a conversation with your friends, eat and drink (including wine, beer and spirits) and take a nap if the mood strikes you.
If you think TGVs look anything like Amtrak, you must see and experience one. Colored fabric adorn both 1st and 2nd class seats and the café resembles more something from a futuristic science fiction film. Tickets may be purchased at the station, known as a gare, in whichever city from which you wish to depart. If you prefer to book via the Internet, this is done easily as well.
Routes for the TGV exist between many cities including, but are not limited to:
• Paris to Avignon
• Paris to Bordeaux
• Paris to Calais
• Paris to Lyon
• Paris to Nice
• Paris to Rennes
• Paris to Strasbourg
• Paris to Toulouse
