ParisByTrain.com

[debbiemac]

Hi Ben
I live in Australia and planning to visit France in July.
We will be staying in Beziers for a week. Is the TGV the best way to get there? How soon can I purchase tickets?
We will return to Paris for 11 days. Could you suggest the best sort of ticket to travel around the city?
Thanks for your help
Debbie

[ben]

Hi Debbie,

Paris - Bezier TGV tickets will cost at minimum 37€, purchaseable up to 3 months in advance. The Paris - Bezier TGV train will require just over 4 hours to complete the voyage.

I think it's a pretty good way to get from Paris to Bezier when you take into account the hassles of flying. The closest Airport to Beziers is Montpellier I believe (about an hour by car).

The official TGV train ticket reseller in Australia is RailEurope.com.au. I'm quite sure they will charge you a fee to have the tickets delivered to your home. You can try to avoid these fees by using the technique I've posted on buying tgv tickets without fees.

While in Paris for 11 days, if you plan on taking the Metro/RER frequently, I suggest buying a Passe Navigo Découverte for a week, then using a Carte Paris Visite for the remaining time.

If you'll be doing more walking than riding the Metro/RER, consider using carnets (books of ten or twenty) of Metro tickets known as Ticket t+. Tickets purchased in books are priced at 1,14€ each vs. 1,60€ each when bought individually. If you plan on making more than 4 journeys on the Metro/RER within Paris, per day, it makes sense to purchase some type of pass. Your options include a single day ticket (Ticket Mobilis) or a multi-day pass (Paris Visite) or a week pass (Passe Navigo Découverte). See my articles on Paris Metro and Paris RER to familiarize yourself with the various tickets and on using the Metro and RER trains.

Best regards,

Ben