Traveling to France: Obscure Holidays Can Leave You Homeless

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There are some quirks to traveling in France that you need to be aware of or you might end up stranded and homeless for a few days. Although the French aren’t the most religious people in the world, the one part of their faith they cling to is their religious holidays. We arrived in France in late May and headed straight to a great hotel recommended to us in the Loire Valley. The room was beautiful, the food was great and the owner was charming. It was a great start to our trip.

Unfortunately, when we tried to extend our stay the owner said we could only stay one night because he was booked for the Pentecost. He tried diligently to get us reservations elsewhere but every place was booked. The next day after visiting a few chateaus in the Loire we went off looking for lodgings. We spent hours looking in the Loire Valley and finally ended up getting a room in Tours, a major city near the Loire Valley. From there, we headed toward the Dordogne and were lucky to find a place in some god forsaken village around 8pm the following night.

During holiday periods and especially in July and August, train and hotel reservations should be made as far ahead as possible. Through personal experience, I’ve learned that there are holidays in France you never thought of that make it almost impossible to get a hotel room and maybe problems in getting a seat on train. Holidays to watch out for include: Labor Day (May 1), VE Day Europe (May 8), Whit Monday (May 19), Ascension Thursday (40 days after Easter), Pentecost (50 days after Easter.) Bastille Day (July 14), Assumption of the Blessed Virgin (August 15), all Saints Day (Nov 1) and Armistice Day (Nov 11).

Travel Europe by Plane: Pros and Cons

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Europe’s extensive network of railroads was once the only affordable option for traveling around the continent, but this is no longer the case. Discount airlines like Ryanair and easyJet have made jetting around Europe quicker and cheaper; in fact, Ryanair often offers sales with fares as low as under $10.

Should you use planes rather than trains? The answer: it depends. For one thing, air travel has hidden costs. Even if you do get an incredibly affordable flight, government taxes and fees bump the price up around 25 or 30 Euros. Then comes the airlines' own fees which can add anywhere from 10 Euros to 200 Euros (ex. Baggage fees, sports equipment storage, musical equipment storage, reservation fees etc.)

Planes are ideal if your destinations on your travel itinerary are far apart such as London and Vienna. Sometimes taking the train can eat up as much as 30 to 40 hours of your vacation time. These vacation hours can cost even more than spending a couple of hundred extra dollars to take a plane instead of train. In the London-Vienna case, is it worth loosing 1 or 2 vacation days to save $200? That will depend upon your budget, the length of your vacation and how much you enjoy the train ride.

Additionally, discount airlines tend to fly into secondary airports that are an hour or more outside of the city you're trying to visit. Trains, on the other hand, typically arrive in or near the center of town, and usually link up easily with the city's mass transportation system. So flying in some circumstances can cost you both time and money.

Travel Europe: For the Budget-Minded - Hotel or Night Train?

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Although your Eurail pass includes discounts on many hotels, one advantage of a Eurail Pass is that you can save on hotel expenses by taking long trips and sleeping on the train. Most European cities that are at least 7 hours apart by rail are connected by night trains.

HOTELS

The good news is, with your Eurail Pass you can get discounted rates in many major European hotels. The bad news is that the discounts almost always apply to the hotels' sky-high standard rates. The final price may still be higher than if you book on line through such services as Expedia and Priceline or find your hotel at your destination. Depending upon the quality of hotel or train accommodations you select, there is no guarantee that train accommodations cost less than hotels. The ultimate value is the quality of rest you get for money spent.

NIGHT TRAIN SLEEPING OPTIONS

SEATS are the cheapest way to travel overnight. These are airline type seats with toilets and sinks at one end of the car. Reservations cost around 13 euros. It's like sleeping on a plane, the amount of rest you get is problematic. Unless you are extremely budget-minded, spend roughly an extra 18 euros and get a couchette so you don't wander around Europe like a zombie.

COUCHETTES are the overwhelming choice of most budget travelers. 2nd class couchettes cost roughly a little over 30 euros. The compartment has two benchlike seats during the day with 3 people sitting on each side. and two  top bunks up near the ceiling. At night, the back of each bench snaps up to become a middle bunk. Couchette cars have toilets and sinks at one end of the couchette car, but no showers. Couchette cars are not gender specific and not available on all trains

SHOWERS: Some night trains offer corridor showers and nearly all large train stations have showers that are inexpensive.

Travel Europe by Train

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Traveling by train is my favorite way to travel in Europe. There is nothing I like better than sitting on my butt and doing nothing (after all, it’s a vacation isn’t it?) Additionally, people of all ages and economic backgrounds travel by train and it can be fun sharing a conversation, meal or refreshment with other passengers while leisurely enjoying the scenery. Also, trains are convenient because they take you directly to the city center.

Especially in Western and Central Europe, the trains are fast, efficient and cost-competitive with flying. High-speed trains like the French TGV, the German ICE, the Spanish AVE and the cross-border Eurostar and Thalys services speed along at up to 320 km/h (200 mph) and, when taking into account travel time to the airport and back, are often faster than taking the plane.







Unfortunately, individual train tickets are expensive, especially in Western Europe. That's why a Eurail or Britrail pass is a cost-effective option. There are many different rail passes available for Europe, and you should research your options before purchasing a rail pass. Learn more about Eurail here.

Rail Travel Tip

To save money you might also want to consider the option of taking a night train, especially for long-distance travel. You won’t be able to enjoy the scenery, but you save the cost of a hotel room. The supplement for a sleeper car, where you share a compartment of bunk beds with other travelers, generally costs much less than a hotel room, and by traveling at night you also gain an extra travel day to explore your destination. Learn more about train sleep options here.

My favorite way to travel by train is to rent an apartment in a city or town I like and then take daily train trips to other cities in the country. I don’t have to tot luggage because I go back to my apartment when the day is done. Additionally, most countries offer very economical train passes for traveling within their borders. For example, Belgium has booklets of 10 tickets for about 80 Euros (8 Euros per ticket) and you can go anywhere in Belgium on a ticket. You can go all the way from Antwerp to the far reaches of the Ardennes (no problem.) You can also stop at any city or town between your starting town and final destination as long as you document it on your ticket. What is even better is you can share the tickets in your booklet with other people. You don’t need a booklet for each traveler.

But there is a downside to train travel. First of all, it’s hard and time-consuming to reach quaint country villages by train. Also, you have to pack light because you have to drag your baggage with you wherever you go (Just like Jacob Marley in the Christmas Carol had to drag his heavy chains of sins he had forged link by link around for eternity.)

Also, trains can’t compare to car rentals when you’re traveling with little tots and babies. You don't have to worrying about keeping track of your children around busy train stations and airports or having to carry them along with your luggage when they fall asleep or are just plain tired.

The kids can sleep comfortably and undisturbed, you can stop and let them out when they get restless, and finally you can easily carry and access their needed clothes, toys and other paraphernalia. Also, a car is a practical and economical refuge from sudden rain storms.

Travel Europe: Renting a Car in Europe (Pros and Cons)

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Renting a car in Europe is the best option if you want independence and flexibility. You can stop where ever you like, whenever you like and have access to even the most remote villages and rural areas.  Furthermore, you don't have to tot your luggage around. Just leave it in your car until you get to your accommodations.

Cars are often the best option for groups of 2 or more because you only have the expense of renting one car rather than buying multiple rail passes or plane tickets. It's also ideal for families with children. You don't have to worrying about keeping track of your children around busy train stations and airports or having to carry them along with your luggage when they fall asleep or are just plain tired. 

If your itinerary requires you to travel long distances (400 to 600 miles) on given days, driving can become a burdensome chore that basically costs you a travel day (especially if you drive on generic autobahns.) It's much more pleasant to relax on a train or take a quick flight. Then, when arrive you can rent a car to explore the local area. Also, driving in European cities is difficult and not for ribbon clerks.  Parking is almost impossible to find, making a car a liability in the city. If you are traveling alone, rental cars aren't particularly cost-effective especially considering the price of renting a car and fuel prices in Europe. It takes at least two travelers to make it practical and pleasant.

Travel Europe Travel by Bus: An Off-Beat Experience

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Most long-distance travelers take the train or fly, but buses are a viable option if you want to experience something off-beat and want an intimate view of everyday life in Europe. Bus travel is not nearly as comfortable as train travel, but it’s cheaper.  Also, buses connect to small towns and remote villages that aren't accessible by train.  Expect local buses to be crowded, especially in impoverished rural areas across Europe because many local residents cannot afford a car. These buses stop wherever a passenger wants to get on or off, and travel is fairly slow. At the same time it is an entertaining experience to travel with the rural population, watch their interactions and learn a little bit about their way of life.

Bus Travel Tips

• It is always worth asking for special offers and savings before buying a bus ticket.

• Local tourist information centers can provide information about transportation options such as combined rail/bus tickets that are a significant savings over separate train and bus fares.

European Bus Companies

There are a number of bus companies that connect European cities. Below are listed 2 of your major bus options.

Busabout Explorer

Busabout Explorer offers a hop-on hop-off bus travel network around Europe and covers 30 destinations and 10 countries. Learn more about Busabout Explorer here. 

The Bus Station 

The Bus Station is the largest Bus travel portal with a ton of information on schedules throughout Europe and the World. There are three different networks or "bus stations" to choose from. Learn more about The Bus Station

Western Europe

This Bus Station includes most of major countries in Europe including Switzerland, Austria, Spain and Italy.  Learn more about The Bus Station Western Europe

Eastern Europe

This Bus Station includes the Slavic countries, Russia, the Balkans, Greece, Turkey and more. Learn more about The Bus Station - Eastern Europe

Nordic Countries

This Bus Station includes all of Scandinavia exclusively. Learn more about The Bus Station Nordic Countries here.

UK & Ireland

This Bus Station includes England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and Ireland. Learn more about The Bus Station UK & Ireland here.

Traveling to France: Beware of Rural Gas Pumps

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While driving in a remote part of Brittany on a pleasant Sunday morning we were getting very low on gas. We had driven around 30 miles and there wasn’t a gas station to be found. Panic attack! We envisioned our car sputtering to a stop on this isolated road with a day of our precious vacation shot. Finally, we came to a self-service gas station outside a small town. There was no station attendant because it was Sunday. I drove up to a gas pump and inserted my credit card. It was rejected. I tried 3 other credit cards, still no luck. We didn’t dare drive any further because we were on empty. We decided we had no choice but to stay there, whine at the evil gas pump that wouldn’t take our credit cards, and hope for the best.




Within a half hour, (I told you this place was remote), a lady motorist stopped to fuel up. We asked for assistance with our credit card thinking there most be some magical way Frenchman inserted credit cards into gas pumps that we were ignorant of. She looked at us a little suspiciously, but decided she’d try and help us with our credit card. No luck. She examined our credit card. “Ah,” she said, “This is not a French credit card. This station does not accept foreign credit cards.” Luckily, I had some cash with me and the lady filled up our tank in exchange for cash.

So when driving in remote areas of France, make sure you fill up your tank on Saturday and always carry some cash. Sometimes in remote areas, credit cards aren’t worth the plastic they are written on.

Travel to France: Beware of Speed Traps

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We were heading south toward Provence when we hit a fork in the road where we had a choice of taking a toll road or taking the free road to save a few euros. Now from past experience I've learned there is no free lunch. When you take a "free" road you pay in time and aggravation instead of euros. You may have to fight traffic, encounter a plethora of stop lights, or just get stuck on a narrow road with a low speed limit. I've learned that these "free" roads can take anywhere from 50% to twice as long as the toll roads.

Using my usual "vino logic", I decided we could repurpose the money we saved by using the "free" road to upgrade our wine at dinner. So we went chugging along this rather pleasant country road conforming to the speed limit of 90 kilometers per hour when suddenly a camera flash hit me from a post on the road. I know from experience that means traffic ticket. Looked like my bottle of wine might not be such a bargain after all. But I couldn't figure out what I did wrong. The next sign I encountered said 90 kilometers per hour.

Miles down the road, we encountered a sign saying speed limit 30 kilometers per hour and about 150 meters later a road post with a camera on it. Hmmm! Luckily, I had slowed down even though the road conditions hadn't changed at all from my last 90 KPH sign. So the moral of the story is that when on a French "free" road be ever vigilant of changing speed limits or pay a few euros, save lots of time and aggravation, and blissfully drive on a toll road.





However, revenge was mine! I had rented my car in Belgium. When I told the rental car manager what happened, he laughed and said: "Don't worry about it. The French will send the ticket and car rental information to the Belgian Ministry of Transportation for collection, the Belgian civil servant will see that you live in California and figure he can't collect, and throw the French request in the waste basket." Since I never heard anything about it again, that's what must have happened.

Previously I had rented a car in France and gotten a parking ticket. The fine was added to my car rental bill. So if you want driver diplomatic immunity in France, rent a Belgian car.