New Aquitaine by Train: A 7-Day Car-Free Itinerary
by
Published on 7/3/27
How do we process your data?
We use cookies to improve your browsing experience and personalize our content. They are mainly used for statistical purposes.
Inspiration and great deals for your next low-carbon trips
Have you decided to take the train more often? Great—it’s a mode of transportation eco-friendly, practical, and comfortable ! Problem: Contrary to your desire for eco-friendly travel, Your wallet, on the other hand, isn't stretchy… Don't lose hope—it's entirely possible to take a train trip without breaking the bank. Here are all the Our Best Tips for Saving Money your train ticket!
Saving money goes hand in hand with anticipate ! It's not always easy, but if you want to find cheap tickets, planning ahead is your best bet.
Most tickets can be booked several months in advance (for TGV Inoui and INTERCITÉS trains, SNCF Voyageurs generally makes tickets available for purchase 4 months in advance). For trains low-cost, it’s possible to start planning even earlier! And for trips during school breaks, SNCF Voyageurs has announced when tickets will go on sale. To find out when to book your tickets, go to in our dedicated article !
Summary table from our book "Traveling by Train with HOURRAIL!" (page 258)
Article
Travel by train with HOURRAIL: our travel book
And to make sure you don't miss any sales, don't forget to subscribe to our newsletter (great deals and low-carbon travel inspiration, every other Thursday, delivered to your inbox for free):
Our best train deals, straight to your inbox
Via our tool for booking all-inclusive vacations, created in partnership with Verytrain, lets you save money on your trip! Specifically, you can enjoy:
As you might expect, if you want to save money, it's best not to travel at the same time as everyone else. So we recommend that you Avoid, as much as possible, times when it's very crowded (Friday and Sunday evenings, school vacation periods, etc.). For example, Saturday morning trains (excluding school holidays) are often cheaper than Friday evening trains. If your situation allows it, it might be worth a try!
The widespread adoption of telework encourages this flexibility: it’s now possible to work on TGV trains, virtually all of which are equipped with Wi-Fi and a power outlet (for a few euros extra on low-cost trains). Instead of leaving on Friday night at 1:30 a.m., why not take the 3:00 p.m. train instead?
Please note: Early-morning trains to major cities aren't always the cheapest, as many commuters take them to get to work.
We assume no responsibility for remote workers who might find other things to do on the train!
Pro tip: Some airlines even offer special deals for travelers who are flexible with their dates. This is the case with Eurostar and its offer last minute Eurostar Snap. How does it work? You choose your vacation dates (you can book 14 days before departure for London and a few days before for other cities), You get tickets at 50% off And in return, Eurostar takes care of the rest: you’ll receive your train schedule at least 48 hours before your trip. It’s a great deal if you can be flexible!
You’re probably already familiar with Ouigo, the low-cost service launched by the SNCF in 2013. The subsidiary reports that it has carried more than 110 million passengers since its creation over 10 years ago! Now, more than 50 destinations are available for budget travel.
But also consider the OUIGO Train Classique option. It’s certainly slower, but it lets you travel to Paris, Rennes, Nantes, Lyon, and a dozen other destinations for Tickets ranging from €10 to €49!
These TER or Corail trains branded “OUIGO” will take you to your destination for a very low price, though the travel time will be longer.
Another advantage: the price remains fixed from the time sales open until the train departs. Discover all destinations served by this offer.
At this unbeatable price, the service offered is bound to be different from the TGV:
Article
New OUIGO Routes: Lyon–Bordeaux Direct in 2027 and a Wave of Low-Cost Train Lines
But if your main concern is saving money, then this offer is perfect for you!
Also keep in mind the TER or INTERCITÉS, which are generally less expensive than TGV trains because they are operated under a public service contract.
And let's not forget the newcomer to Europe: GoVolta, also known as the "easyJet of rail"! What does that mean, exactly? Some tickets starting at 10 €. Amsterdam—Berlin, Hamburg, and soon Paris… These low-cost trains could very well be a game-changer for traveling in Europe without breaking the bank (or your carbon footprint). We break it all down for you in this article:
Article
GoVolta: Europe's New Low-Cost Trains (Prices, Routes, Dates)
Don't forget about price comparison sites! If you only use SNCF Connect, you won't have access to offers from other carriers, which may sometimes provide better rates and different schedules.
On certain routes open to competition (such as Paris–Milan or Marseille–Barcelona), we recommend comparison sites like:
If the trains low-cost don't suit you, the Avantage Discount Cards The deals offered by the SNCF are a great way to save money. If you take the train more than three times a year, don't miss out—you'll quickly get your money's worth out of the card!
A discount card for every profile
The price of 49 € is the same for all cards (except the Liberté card). The concept is simple: a 30% discount is available on certain routes with price caps in second class, but the terms vary depending on the fare type.
In any case, If you take a TGV trip that lasts more than 3 hours, the cost of the pass pays for itself with just one round trip ! And the icing on the cake: just know that you can let the person accompanying you enjoy the same discount.
The only downsides: the map isn't Not valid on OUIGO trains or on certain TER trains, and it is limited if you are between the ages of 27 and 59 (only round-trip trips that include an overnight stay on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday qualify for discounts).
Good to know: During "Black Week" in November, loyalty cards are sold at half price! Otherwise, you can also wait until the end of summer or May, since it is usually sold for half price (Note that if you already have a valid Avantage card, you have up to 5 months to activate the new feature).
Find all the information about Avantage discount cards here.
Are you between 16 and 27 years old? Do you take the train at least 2 to 3 times a month and have flexible travel plans? For frequent train travelers, SNCF also offers a plan that lets you travel without breaking the bank OR increasing your carbon footprint for 79 €/month.
Youth Card
How does it work? 25% off on your TGV inOui, TER, or INTERCITÉS tickets once a year. To take advantage of this offer, simply fill out an online form.
Find all the details about the MAX JEUNE offer here.
You've probably already heard of the Interrail pass, which is very useful if you're planning to travel by train in Europe. There are multi-country passes and passes that are valid only in one country.
What's the benefit of this pass? Flexibility! You can change your itinerary at any time, depending on what you feel like doing. However, reservations are required for some trains: in that case, you’ll need to pay an additional fee to confirm your reservation. For more information, visit the Interrail website.
But there are other, lesser-known passes that offer unlimited—or nearly unlimited—travel throughout Europe! Among them are the German D-Ticket, the Trenitalia Pass, the Rail Pass French… More info in our An article about the different travel passes for traveling in Europe.
And because even we sometimes have trouble figuring it all out, we've included a summary table in our book Travel by train with HOURRAIL!. It's a gift:
The Different Rail Passes in Europe - "Practical Guide" section of our book "Traveling by Train with HOURRAIL!" published by Hachette (Pages 260 and 261)
Although not widely known, this offer—available to everyone (except students)—provides a 25% discount every year on a round-trip train ticket.
A legacy of the struggles for paid time off, this annual leave policy had become outdated. In fact, employees were required to go to the train station to submit their requests.
As of recently, that's no longer the case! All you have to do is fill out an online form here to submit your request. The only requirement is that the distance of the trip must exceed 200 km to be eligible for the program.
There are plenty of great deals out there… but you have to know where to find them! Here are a few accounts to follow to stay up to date on sales:
Your favorite low-carbon media outlet is available on social media (Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, LinkedIn, etc.): we try to share as many tips and sources of inspiration as possible to help you reduce the carbon footprint of your travels.
And don't miss out on any great deals—don't forget to Subscribe to the Locomissive, our biweekly newsletter to help you travel without increasing your carbon footprint OR breaking the bank!
What better way to find out about a promotion quickly than by following the SNCF’s Instagram accounts? Good to know: There are also regular promotions on discount cards.
The Instagram account of our friends at voyagerentrain.fr, packed with great tips and tricks for train travel.
Of course, all these tips are useless if your train is sold out! And that’s happening more and more often on high-demand routes (Paris–Nice, Paris–Biarritz…), sometimes even just a few days after tickets go on sale.
The good news is that a “sold-out” train is almost never permanently sold out. Between cancellations, expired reservations, and ticket exchanges, seats become available all the time—you just have to be there at the right moment to snag them.
Here are two options depending on your situation:
- The free solution: Enable the "train full" alert on SNCF Connect. You'll receive a notification as soon as a seat becomes available, but you'll need to book it very quickly—within a few minutes.
- The automated solution: Full Train monitors available seats for you (cancellations, exchanges, etc.) and reserves a ticket for you as soon as one becomes available, without you having to refresh the page every 5 minutes. We explain the solution in detail in this article.
Just so you know, we’re being honest with you: this isn’t a trick to pay less. The price remains the one set by SNCF Connect when the seat becomes available, plus a service fee (€14.99 for a basic option, up to €24.99 for a turnkey reservation). There is one exception, however: if a train is full in 2nd class but there are still seats available in 1st class, the “class selection” option (+€5) allows you to force the search to 2nd class only—and thus, in this specific case, save money compared to the 1st-class fare. In all other cases, think of it more as a way to guarantee your trip!
What about payment? The amount is simply preauthorized on your card during the search. It’s released if nothing is found, or if you cancel before a ticket is found. Once a ticket is found, however, the request can no longer be canceled.
Article
Train Listed as Full: Our Solutions for Finding a Ticket
In case you missed the news: we're launching our app! What's it all about? The ultimate low-carbon travel app (yes, just that). In practical terms? HOORAY! and Railee are teaming up to make your trips—without a plane or a car—easier with:
The HOURRAIL! app
Thanks to the success of our crowdfunding campaign on Ulule And to all our beta testers, the app will be in your hands soon!
Article
We are launching our app: the ultimate low-carbon travel app
Article
The HOURRAIL Club: the community for low-carbon travel and slow travel
The best time to book is as soon as tickets go on sale: 4 months in advance for TGV Inoui and Intercités trains during school breaks, and 2 to 3 months in advance during regular periods. The longer you wait, the higher the prices get. Exception: OUIGO, which has a fixed fare from start to finish.
Saturday mornings outside of school breaks are generally the cheapest. The most expensive times are Friday evenings, Sunday evenings, and Monday mornings—when demand is high. Midweek (Tuesday, Wednesday), rates are also often lower.
There is no specific time that guarantees the best prices. However, the lowest fares are available as soon as tickets go on sale. If you're keeping an eye on a particular route, set up a price alert on SNCF Connect or a comparison site like Tictactrip.
OUIGO offers fixed prices from the time tickets go on sale until sales close, unlike TGV Inoui, where prices go up. This means you can buy your ticket as soon as sales open to ensure you get a seat, without paying more than you would if you waited. Tickets generally go on sale 4 to 6 months in advance.
Yes, but you have to plan well in advance. SNCF Voyageurs announces when tickets go on sale for holiday periods—usually 4 months before departure. As soon as tickets go on sale, the “Prem’s” fares (the cheapest ones) sell out quickly. Sign up for La Locomissive to get notified.
Several options without a credit card: choose a low-cost train (OUIGO starting at €10, GoVolta in Europe), book early through a comparison site (Tictactrip, Trainline, Kombo), be flexible with your schedule (avoid peak hours), and set up price alerts. The combination of “booking in advance + flexibility with travel times” is the most effective.
At €49, it pays for itself on any round-trip TGV journey lasting more than 3 hours. It offers a 30% discount on eligible trips. If you take the train more than 3 times a year for long-distance travel, it’s worth it. Please note: Not valid on OUIGO, and limited to weekends for passengers aged 27–59.
The Best Comparison Sites in France: Trainline (convenient, good coverage across Europe), Tictactrip (comprehensive, includes low-cost options)... Unfortunately, SNCF Connect only provides access to SNCF offers. It's always helpful to use a price comparison site as well.
At the last minute, prices are often high on TGV Inoui trains. Exceptions: OUIGO trains (fixed-price), TER trains (agreed-upon fares that are often stable), and sometimes remaining "Prem's" deals if the train isn't very full. The Eurostar Snap deal also offers tickets at 50% off when you choose your dates without specifying a time.
TGV tickets are priced according to the principle of yield management: prices rise with demand and as the travel date approaches. The first tickets to go on sale are the cheapest (“Prem’s”), and then prices rise. That’s why booking early is the most effective strategy. OUIGO and TER trains are partly exempt from this pattern, with more stable fares.
Article
Why is the train more expensive than the plane? Alexis Chailloux's analysis
For summer 2026, TGV Inoui ticket sales generally begin in March or April. SNCF Voyageurs announces the exact dates on its website and social media channels. To make sure you don’t miss them, subscribe to the Locomissive (our biweekly newsletter) or follow HOORAY! on Instagram (@hourrail).
Our best train deals, straight to your inbox
With all that, there are no more excuses not to take the train! So, when are you leaving?
Issue du monde de la communication et des médias, Sophie est Responsable éditoriale chez HOURRAIL ! depuis août 2024. Elle est notamment derrière le contenu éditorial du site ainsi que La Locomissive (de l'inspiration voyage bas carbone et des bons plans, un jeudi sur deux, gratuitement dans ta boîte mail !).
Convaincue que les changements d’habitude passent par la transformation de nos imaginaires, elle s’attache à montrer qu’il est possible de voyager autrement, de manière plus consciente, plus lente et plus joyeuse. Son objectif : rendre le slow travel accessible à toutes et tous, à travers des astuces, des décryptages et surtout, de nouveaux récits.
