Country Information

The national airline is Air France (AF) (www.airfrance.com). Flights to France are cheapest during off-peak periods – namely spring and autumn – while summer and the height of the ski season tend to see higher prices.

Various air passes are available which incorporate France. These include the OneWorld Alliance Visit Europe Pass (www.oneworld.com), the Star Alliance Europe AirPass (www.staralliance.com) and the SkyTeam Go Europe Pass (www.skyteam.com).

None.

The new Notre-Dame-des-Landes Airport, near Nantes in Brittany, is scheduled to open by 2017. The large-scale project, set to handle an annual capacity of 4 million passengers, is also known as Aéroport du Grand Ouest. In the Dordogne, the new Brive-Vallée de la Dordogne airport opened in mid-2010.

Bordeaux Airport (BOD). (www.bordeaux.aeroport.fr) Bordeaux Airport is situated 12km (7.5 miles) west of central Bordeaux in the Aquitaine region of southwest France. Tel: <p>05 5634 5050.</p>.

Lyon-Saint Exupéry Airport (LYS). (www.lyonaeroports.com) Lyon-Saint Exupéry Airport is situated 20km (13 miles) east of Lyon's city centre. Tel: <p>04 2600 7007.</p>.

Marseille Provence Airport (MRS). (www.marseille-airport.com) Marseille Provence Airport is situated 25km (16 miles) northwest of Marseille. Tel: <p>04 4214 1414.</p>.

Paris-Orly Airport (ORY). (www.aeroportsdeparis.fr) Paris-Orly Airport is located 14km (9 miles) south of Paris. Tel: <p>01 4975 1515.</p>.

Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG). (www.aeroportsdeparis.fr) Paris Charles De Gaulle Airport is located 23km (14 miles) northeast of Paris. Tel: <p>01 4862 2280 or 7036 3950 (or 3950 within France).</p>.

Lille Airport (LIL). (www.lille.aeroport.fr) Lille Airport is situated 7km (4 miles) southeast of Lille. Tel: <p>03 2049 6747.</p>.

France is easily reached from the Atlantic Ocean, the English Channel and the Mediterranean, meaning it has a large number of seaports. Cross-channel ferry services from the UK frequent the likes of Calais (www.calais-port.com), Le Havre (www.havre-port.net) and Boulogne (www.portboulogne.com/en). Marseille (www.marseille-port.fr) is the largest, busiest port in the south.

Major operators include P&O Ferries (tel: 0871 664 2121; www.poferries.comwww.poferries.com) and Brittany Ferries (tel: 0871 244 0744; www.brittany-ferries.co.ukwww.brittany-ferries.co.uk). SeaFrance was liquidated in early 2012. In the Mediterranean, Corsica Ferries/Sardinia Ferries (tel: (04) 9532 9595; www.corsicaferries.com) service Sardinia from the French mainland.

Cruise ships stop regularly along the French coast, with the Mediterranean coastline particularly popular. On the French Riviera, Villefranche-sur-Mer (www.riviera-ports.com) is used regularly for shore excursions to the surrounding area.

On France's eastern border, Strasbourg can be reached along the River Rhine from Germany. Pleasure cruises visit regularly.

International trains run from the channel ports and Paris to destinations throughout Europe. For up-to-date routes and timetables, contact French Railways (SNCF) (contact through Rail Europe, or phone 3635 from within France; www.sncf.com) or Rail Europe (tel: 0844 848 4064, in the UK; www.raileurope.co.uk). Eurostar (tel: 08432 186 186, in the UK; www.eurostar.com) is a service provided by the railways of Belgium, the UK and France, operating direct high-speed trains from London (St Pancras International) to Paris (Gare du Nord) and to Brussels (Midi/Zuid). It takes approximately 2 hours 15 minutes from London to Paris and approximately 2 hours to Brussels (via Lille).

InterRail Global Passes are valid for travel in up to 30 European countries. There are two InterRail Global Pass types to choose from: 'flexi passes' and 'continuous passes'. A flexi pass entitles you to unlimited travel on a fixed number of days during your trip. A continuous pass entitles you to unlimited travel every day of your trip. With a One Country Pass you can choose from unlimited travel on one, four, six or eight days of your choice during a month. Available from Rail Europe (tel: 0844 848 4064, in the UK; www.raileurope.co.uk/inter-rail). There are discounts for under-25s and over-60s.

Eurailpass offers broadly the same freedoms as the InterRail Passes, but is for sale solely to non-European residents. Tickets are valid for 15 days, 21 days, one month, two months or three months. Available from The Eurail Group (www.eurail.com).

The recently opened 140km (93-mile) TGV Rhine-Rhône line has quickened journey times on some international routes: Freiburg to Paris, Zurich to Paris via Mulhouse, and Germany into Lyon via Strasbourg.

Eurotunnel runs shuttle trains for cars, bicycles, motorcycles, coaches, minibuses, caravans and campervans between Folkestone in Kent, UK, and Calais. The journey takes about 35 minutes from platform to platform. Fares are charged according to length of stay and time of year and whether or not you have a reservation. For further information, contact Eurotunnel (tel: 08443 353 535, in the UK; www.eurotunnel.com).