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Hello friends,

I’m planning my first trip to Europe and would love some guidance. I currently live in the United Kingdom and am planning a 4-day trip to France and possibly another destination before heading back to London.

Could you suggest the best travel pass for this journey? I’ve heard about the Interrail Pass, but I noticed it requires seat reservations for many trains. Is it worth purchasing, or are there better alternatives for a short trip like this?

Additionally, any tips for creating an itinerary would be greatly appreciated! I’d love to know about affordable backpacker-friendly accommodations, places to stay, and must-see attractions in France and nearby destinations.

Looking forward to your recommendations and suggestions. Thanks in advance for your help!

You'll have to do that math yourself. Long-distance fares are dynamic, so there's no way of telling what would be cheaper. (I'm guessing that you mean that by "better”.)

There are some good suggested itineraries here https://www.interrail.eu/en/plan-your-trip/trip-ideas

Feel free to use one as a starting point, then adjust it to suit your plans. If you post your planned itinerary here, I’m sure we can offer advice.

As ​@rvdborgt says, you need to do the maths yourself to find out what the cost of tickets would be vs Interrail. You can search tickets prices for UK/ Eurostar/ France (and lots of others) on Raileurope.com. It’s not the best place to buy tickets, but it’s a good place to see prices.

If you are buying in advance and get good value tickets, that will beat Interrail. 

 

Thank you for the information!

I’ll definitely compare the cost of direct tickets versus the Interrail Pass to find the best option.

My entry point will be Paris in the first week of December, and I’m planning to stay there for just one day. Since it will be winter, could anyone suggest the best destinations to visit for 2–3 days after Paris before heading back to London?

I’d greatly appreciate any recommendations or suggestions to make the most of my trip.

Thanks in advance!

If you only have 4 days total, I think I would pick one other destination as a maximum.

Strasbourg will be lovely in December - with Christmas markets etc. Very popular, and only a couple of hours from Paris. Perhaps if you want to add a second destination, you could break your journey in Metz, Nancy or Reims before an evening Eurostar?

A slightly warmer alternative to Strasbourg would be the Mediterranean. How about a sleeper train to Nice? You could then stop somewhere like Lyon on the return journey.

But above all, don’t try to fit in too many destinations!

If you only have 4 days total, I think I would pick one other destination as a maximum.

Strasbourg will be lovely in December - with Christmas markets etc. Very popular, and only a couple of hours from Paris. Perhaps if you want to add a second destination, you could break your journey in Metz, Nancy or Reims before an evening Eurostar?

A slightly warmer alternative to Strasbourg would be the Mediterranean. How about a sleeper train to Nice? You could then stop somewhere like Lyon on the return journey.

But above all, don’t try to fit in too many destinations!

Thank you so much for the thoughtful suggestions!

Noted your advice about not fitting too many destinations into the trip.  Strasbourg sounds like a nice choice, especially with the Christmas markets! It’s great to know it’s just a couple of hours from Paris.

The sleeper train to Nice sounds very exciting and a great way to experience the Mediterranean in December.

I’ll prepare a schedule based on your recommendations. Thank you once again for your time!

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