News travel

Does France have a ‘golden visa’ scheme for gaining nationality?

As an EU Schengen Area country, France is affected by golden visas obtained elsewhere that allow non-EU people to work, live, and travel in Europe

‘Family discount cards’: what deals exist in France

Eligible families can apply for the card and access discounts on transport and leisure sites, but criteria apply

EasyJet fined €40,000 for refusing wheelchair passenger in France

The passenger has been waiting 13 years for a verdict

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UK-EU plan for easy work and study for under-30s: what is proposed?

Labour government reported to be open to a fresh look at the proposals as part of 'reset' of EU relationship

When will Paris metro tickets return to pre-Olympic prices?

The ticket price increased from the usual €2.15 per single journey to €4 because of the Olympics and Paralympics

Budget airline’s €499 ‘all you can fly’ year deal includes UK-France flights

The Wizz Air deal includes flights to and from Paris Orly, Lyon, Grenoble, Nice and London Gatwick. The price is a launch offer and ends tonight

15 new French destinations for Ouigo low-cost TGV service announced

The train operator also announced plans for extra trains and more comfortable carriages

Ferry travel UK to France: routes, prices and deals

We look at the different options available

Destinations, rules: All about €49 French rail pass on sale from June 5

The pass - inspired by the German D-Ticket and the UK’s 16-25 Railcard - is aiming to encourage more train travel during the summer

Baggage thefts on French trains on rise: travellers use GPS trackers

Smartphone-linked trackers are increasingly popular method to prevent thefts from luggage racks

Paris ring road will drop to 50km/h limit from September, says mairie

The limit is currently 70km/h. Critics say the reduction will ‘drive people crazy’

France and China ease visa rules - and leaders exchange presents

Chinese President Xi Jinping is on a two-day state visit to France to mark 60 years of bilateral relations between the countries

UK/France border plans 'completely unsatisfactory' ministers told

Travel operators struggling to plan amid uncertainty over launch date of the EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES) and readiness of ‘pre-registration’ app

More French train stations lose their manned ticket desks

SNCF says it will help it invest more in trains but workers say ticket machines cannot replace people

US flights, slower, cheaper trains, ferry deals: France travel updates

We also look at how a Paris-India plane turned back after alert signal raised and tourist discounts for travellers who arrive by bike or train

Train e-ticket travellers fined in France for not carrying ID

Several passengers have been fined for not carrying the correct ID on French trains despite having a valid e-ticket. What are the rules?

International train tickets for summer travel on sale in France

Tickets to Spain, Italy, Switzerland amongst others included

Unmuzzled dog on train in France sparks complaint

A former MP complained about the Golden Retriever on social media, saying a ticket inspector and other passengers failed to tackle the owner

France’s tourism mediator can help with travel disputes (for free)

The service can step in when other attempts at resolution have failed

Over-60s, families, workers: what discount French train cards exist

Cards are not means-tested and can offer reductions of up to 75%

French passport is named one of six best for world travel

The ranking counts how many destinations the passport holder can travel to ‘visa-free’

UK votes for life, electric cars, banking: 5 French practical updates

Our pick of practical articles you may have missed

Your views on American tourist’s claim that France is ‘isolating’

We asked for feedback after her video about a negative experience in Lyon went viral

America and France ease rules around ‘talent visas’

Investors - and their families - can now stay for an initial four years without having to renew formalities

Richard Branson ‘plans London-Paris train service to rival Eurostar’

Virgin is reported to be one of a number of groups looking to run trains on the newly-liberalised route

Ministry answers queries on under-18s and travel to and from France

We spoke to the French Interior Ministry to clear up the confusion over non-EU under-18s’ travel

British and Irish tourists being treated over Bordeaux 'botulism'

The UK’s health agency advises anyone who ate at the popular tourist bar to urgently contact their local emergency health services

Key dates in September to know about in France

From film festivals to rugby, royal visits and strikes, here are some dates for your calendar

Traffic, a melting runway and Philly flights: 8 France travel updates

We also look at criticism of the UK’s payout to P&O Ferries and a new discount train offer in the South-West

Tax on airline tickets to rise in France to fund train investments

The government said the increase would likely come into effect next year

New Dordogne-UK flights, Eurostar competitor?: 7 French travel updates

We round up the latest travel news affecting France

Boost in US, Canadian and Asian visitors to France this summer

Campsite holidays are also proving popular with European holiday-makers, a new report shows

Reminder: 300,000 low-cost tickets for French TGVs go on sale July 31

The flash sale is for travel in August. Travellers can also upgrade to first-class for only €1 extra

Holidaymakers in France discover hidden camera in Airbnb bathroom

The woman took the camera to the local police station and an inquiry has been opened

Easyjet plane returns abruptly to French airport for technical checks

It made a U-turn just 20 minutes into a flight between Paris and Palermo

New rail line, ferry award, snails slow tram: 8 French travel updates

Also in our weekly travel round-up: a boost for Easyjet, Eurostar introduces facial recognition software and price rises in Paris

New French flights, Brittany train boost, ferry row: 8 travel updates

We also look at plans for more competition on the Lyon-Paris TGV route

Eurostar hope, faster flight refunds, TGV row: 8 French travel updates

Plus promise of cheaper train tickets in France and Normandy trials ticketless transport

UK-France flights boost, ferry criticism: 8 French travel updates

Plus a new night train launched in France and railway network in Pays de la Loire opened up to other competitors

New UK-France flights, TGV change, tunnel closed: 8 travel updates

Plus France’s domestic flights ban comes into force and a new operator on Paris-Lyon train line

French woman takes 101-year old grandmother on epic Spanish road trip

We talk to Fiona Lauriol, who took her centenarian grandmother out of the nursing home in which she was deteriorating to go on an unforgettable road trip through Spain in a camper van

Toulouse-Spain TGV, €1 Ouigo tickets: Nine French travel updates

Plus a boost for dog owners on cross-Channel ferries, Sunday traffic jam warnings and Air France brings back Paris-Denver flights

Flights chaos, Channel Tunnel capacity boost: 8 French travel updates

We also look at Ryanair’s Rugby World Cup plan, emergency landings at Lyon airport and a black week on Paris’ metro

Easyjet boss says France strikes having ‘unacceptable consequences’

The airline’s CEO says strike disruption affected 10 million people and has written to the French government asking for improvements

France faces rise in mosquito-borne diseases, warn health experts

Dengue fever, Zika and chikungunya cases are expected to rise in the coming years. Climate change and travel have been blamed

France travel round-up: new US-Paris flights, strikes and ferry news

We also look at why one department is trialling stop-on-demand trains and the anniversary of P&O Ferries’ mass sackings

Trains, planes, ports and roads: How Tuesday’s strike will affect you

France is set for a national walkout to protest controversial pension reforms. One government minister predicted ‘one of the most difficult days we have seen’.

France travel round-up: Strike disruption, rail scam and tomato dig

We also look at P&O’s ferry problem and why getting rid of motorway toll booths is not as popular as you might think

Strikes, Eurostar offer, Brittany Ferries: Eight French travel updates

We also look at new UK/US flights to France, motorway charging points and two proposed rail services set to make city commutes easier

Holiday traffic, ferry plans, new flights: 9 French travel updates

We also look at a report flagging safety issues at the Eurostar terminal at Gare du Nord, a plea for air traffic control strike action not to affect overflights and more

Holiday travel disruption, border control: 9 French travel updates

We also look at efforts to create a single ticket for all public transport in France, a direct Perth-Paris flight, compensation for Paris metro users and more

France’s 84-year-old globetrotting ‘Tintin’ shares his life lessons

We talk to a French adventurer about his amazing life on the road, the wisdom he picked up and how he thrived on a dollar a day

‘Britons behind on new EU visa-waiver rule’: 10 France travel updates

We also look at a new France-UK air route, a train that forgot to stop (twice), a reinforcement of flight delay rights and more

Dover queue warning, flight prices rise: 7 France travel updates

Fears continue over impact of EU’s incoming Entry/Exit System, change to France-US air routes, Paris transport criticised and more

Reminder: last day to benefit from half price railcards in France

The cards entitle holders to a 30% reduction on full-price ticket fares for national and international TGV and Intercités trains, as well as other benefits

French tourism sector largely back on track after pandemic years

Train travel and campsites have been popular this year, while hotel bookings and flights are still slightly down on pre-pandemic levels

Traffic, Dover delays, new air routes: Eight France travel updates

France prepares for record traffic on road and rail, tips for saving fuel on summer car trips, Eurostar is denied boost to train frequency and more

French minister’s reaction to Dover: Don’t blame us for Brexit

Delays of up to six hours caused ministers to exchange pointed words yesterday with each side blaming the other, but traffic is now said to be ‘flowing normally’

Port of Dover queues: A one-off or a long-term problem?

Long tailbacks developed over the weekend, but a failed 2020 bid by the port for more UK government funding suggests longer term issues

French MPs and senators agree on new potential Covid border checks

The parliamentary committee introduced an article enabling the use of a ‘travel health certificate’ for people arriving in France if a new, dangerous variant emerged

French authorities say technical issue led to Dover staff shortages

The port has blamed French border police, who in turn have blamed an issue in the Channel Tunnel, which Eurotunnel says is ‘absolutely not the case’

Power cut halts all TGV, Eurostar and local trains in northern France

Traffic across the whole Hauts-de-France region is expected to be disrupted at least until late morning

Culture clash? My worries over long-awaited France to UK trip

Gillian Harvey prepares for her first return visit to the UK in four years and wonders if she is right to be apprehensive

Corsica limits access to three of its major tourist sites

Visitor quotas have been introduced to popular sites including the Lavezzi islands in a bid to ‘put environmental safeguards in place…otherwise, everyone will lose out’ authorities say

New strike calls for Paris airports in July

Unions say negotiations are at a standstill, as strikes and IT failures disrupted travel over the weekend, and more action is expected for July

No flights at Geneva airport as computer bug closes Swiss airspace

Flights in and out of Zurich airport have also been affected

How to get a French EU pet passport as a British second-home owner

Pet passports issued in France are considerably cheaper than the UK's £100 one-trip pet travel certificates. We asked vets in France if British second-home owners could get an EU passport for their pets while in France

New UK-France flights; Eurostar merger may see London-Bordeaux line

Our weekly round-up of French travel news involving trips to, around or from France

More flights, new routes: France - US air travel gears up for summer

Transatlantic airlines are anticipating a successful summer and have added destinations such as Los Angeles and Newark to their offerings

Reminder: Delays for France ferry travel and Eurotunnel at Dover

Passengers travelling to France are warned to take food and drink and ‘allow a lot of extra time’ as the Port of Dover works to deal with ‘tsunami of traffic’ and ferry delays

New UK-France flight, ferry tailbacks: eight France travel updates

SNCF develops more flexible services for rural travel, Marseille-Nice trains cancelled for Easter weekend, new France-Ireland ferry crossings added and more

Easyjet criticised for using incorrect bag sizers in French airports

Customers have complained that their carry-on luggage is being wrongly deemed too large, meaning they have to pay around €30 extra to place it in the hold

Canada, South Africa and 27 others move to France’s travel green list

Vaccinated people travelling from green-list countries need only show proof of vaccination to enter France

France’s cultural and natural variety makes it a tourist hotspot

Museums, galleries, beaches, mountains, canals, hiking, diving, driving…Nick Inman shares his thoughts on why France continues to attract so many holidaymakers

France ends pre-departure Covid test for all fully jabbed travellers

This includes people coming from the UK, the US, Australia and all other amber-list countries, who previously had to take a test within 48 hours of their trip