Where to go by train at the last minute for less than 10, 20 or 30 €?

The May weekends are approaching and you haven't planned a getaway yet?

It's not too late to get organized at the last minute without breaking the bank.

But you have to make up your mind to give up on the TGV inOui and Ouigo: the few places still available in the high-speed trains are sold at a high price.

Another solution: the TER.

From Paris, they serve the five regions bordering Île-de-France.

Elsewhere in France, they provide a fine service of the territory by connecting the cities, the coast, the mountains and the rural areas.

Their strong point?

Ticket prices remain fixed, even if you buy them a few minutes before departure.

But this advantage has a downside: reservations are not compulsory on regional trains.

Unless you are one of the first to board, a seat is therefore not guaranteed, especially if you leave during a busy period.

Read alsoTrain: these infallible techniques for traveling cheaper

The regions, which manage the TER, have for the most part set up packages for unlimited travel on their territory for one, two or three consecutive days.

These tickets are often valid for groups of up to five passengers: so the more you go, the less you pay.

The day trip can thus cost less than €10 per person.

Ideal for an improvised weekend with friends or family!

If the national SNCF reduction cards (Advantage cards, in particular) are not valid in all TER, you can opt for those set up by each region.

For around twenty euros, these regional reduction cards generally offer a 50% reduction on the full price and benefit a maximum of four companions.

Read alsoTravel by TER: which reduction cards to use in the regions?

From Paris

• The Bay of Somme

Two hours are enough to reach the Baie de Somme from the capital, first by regional train to Noyelles-sur-Mer station (1h40), then by historic steam train (30 minutes).

Set up by Hauts-de-France, the TER Baie de Somme pack facilitates this trip by the sea by including the round trip by TER from Paris-Nord (or any other station in the region), as well as two days of unlimited traffic on the Chemins de fer de la baie de Somme (CFBS).

The bay is the largest colony of seals and sea calves in Europe.

Late spring and summer are the best times to observe them, particularly at the tip of Hourdel.

Only missing the pair of boots if you plan to cross the bay on foot.

How much ?

Pack TER Baie de Somme:

for adults or €11 for children under 12.

A particularly economical formula, knowing that the normal price for an adult is €86.40 (€61.40 for a round trip by TER from Paris + €25 for a 2-day ticket for historic trains).

From where?

Paris (Gare du Nord), Lille, Arras, Amiens and all stations in the Hauts-de-France region.

And also... the Château de Chantilly

On the same principle, Hauts-de-France also offers a TER Chantilly pack including the round trip from Paris-Nord or any station in the region and entry to the Château de Chantilly.

€25 for adults, €1 for children under 12.

Read alsoWeekend in the Baie de Somme, our essentials

• The castles of the Loire and the Centre-Val-de-Loire

From Blois (Loir-et-Cher), a shuttle serves several Loire castles, including that of Chambord.

Jean-Christophe MARMARA / Le Figaro

Traveling as many people as you want from Paris to the Center - Val-de-Loire?

This is possible with the Rémi Découverte Pass, which can be used in the TER and regional coaches of the Rémi network.

The opportunity to stop in the major cities of the region (Chartres, Tours, Orléans, Bourges...), to crisscross its territories such as Perche, Berry or Touraine or visit the castles of the Loire.

From Blois, a “chateaux shuttle” serves the Chambord, Beauregard and Cheverny estates.

Their timetables are synchronized with those of the train.

To find inspiration, the region has published a very complete guide of 33 destinations and tourist sites where to go without a car.

How much ?

Rémi Découverte Plus Pass: €95 for 2 days or €120 for 3 days of unlimited travel to/from Paris and Centre-Val-de-Loire.

Valid for a maximum of five people,

if there are 5 of you going. For journeys within Center - Val-de-Loire only, these same tickets are offered at €45 and €60.

From where?

Paris (Austerlitz station), Tours, Orléans, Bourges and all stations in the Centre-Val-de-Loire region.

Read alsoWhich castles of the Loire should you absolutely visit?

• Lyons and Nantes

Ouigo Classic train connects Paris to Nantes and Lyon twice as slow as high-speed trains.

Jean-Marc De Jaeger / Le Figaro

Launched in April 2022, the Ouigo Classic Trains use old Corail cars that run on classic tracks at a maximum speed of 160 km/h.

Hence travel times twice as long as by TGV.

From Paris, allow 5 hours to reach Lyon (2 daily departures) or 4 hours to reach Nantes (3 daily departures).

Along the way, these “Slow Ouigos”, which carried 1.3 million passengers in one year, serve Dijon, Chalon-sur-Saône, Le Mans and Angers in particular.

No jealousy: all passengers on the same train pay the same price, whether they book when sales open (at D-45) or just a few hours before departure.

How much ?

Single ticket

depending on the distance traveled and the date of departure.

Fixed price regardless of the time of booking.

From where?

Paris (Austerlitz station to Nantes or Bercy station to Lyon) and several Île-de-France stations (Juvisy, Massy, ​​Versailles-Chantiers and Villeneuve Saint-Georges).

Read alsoSlower but cheaper: what is the new “Ouigo classic train” worth?

In regions

• In Occitania

Take to the skies on the Pic du Midi, let yourself be charmed by the medieval village of Cordes-sur-Ciel, fill up on iodine in Agde or Sète... Occitanie wants to encourage its inhabitants to discover their territory without car.

For this, the second largest region of France, very involved in rail transport, multiplies the good plans.

A few months after launching trains at €1 every first weekend of the month, it has just created the Pass Rail Tour, a ticket that allows unlimited travel for just €10 a day.

It is valid in all TER in the region, including on the Yellow Train line which crosses the Catalan Pyrenees.

How much ?

Rail Tour Pass: €

of unlimited travel (packages of 2 to 6 consecutive days).

Trip at

.

From July 14 to August 15, 2023, these €1 trips are offered every day only to people under 26.

From where?

Toulouse, Montpellier and all stations in Occitanie, as well as the following stations outside Occitanie: Agen, Pau, Brive-la-Gaillarde, Avignon-Centre, Tarascon-sur-Rhône and Clermont Ferrand.

Read alsoWhat to do in Aveyron?

Villages to visit, gastronomy... Our must-sees

• In Normandy

Connected by train, Fécamp (Seine-Maritime) is a less busy alternative to Étretat, located 10 km away.

ARNAUD ROBIN / Le Figaro Magazine

Walk on the cliffs of Étretat, relive history on the landing beaches, spend a cultural weekend in Rouen or Le Havre... To discover these emblematic sites of Normandy, the region offers unlimited travel with the Pass Normandie Discovery available in two versions: one is valid during the week only during school holidays, the other during weekends, public holidays and some regional events (Medieval of Bayeux, Armada of Rouen...).

Available until November 12, 2023, it can be used on all trains and buses in the Nomad network.

How much ?

Normandy Discovery Pass: €20 for 2 days on weekends and public holidays or €35 for 2 days during the week during school holidays.

Valid for two adults,

.

Up to three children under 12 can use this ticket.

From where?

Rouen, Caen and all stations in the Normandy region.

And also... offers for Ile-de-France residents

If the above pass cannot be used from Île-de-France, Ile-de-France residents can count on seasonal offers combining train + coach from Paris: one-way ticket at a fixed price of €18 to the beaches of Landing, €19 to Étretat and Honfleur or €29 for Mont-Saint-Michel... Details on the TER Normandie website.

Read alsoNormandy: the 10 most beautiful hotels facing the sea

• In the Pays de la Loire

Clisson (Loire-Atlantique), the “French Tuscany”, can be reached in less than 30 minutes by TER from Nantes.

ARNAUD ROBIN / Le Figaro Magazine

Accepted on board TER trains and coaches, departmental coaches and Intercités without compulsory reservation, the Multi Aléop pass allows you to criss-cross the Pays de la Loire region with several people and without limit.

A great opportunity to set sail at La Baule or Les Sables-d'Olonne, to discover the wines of Anjou or to sail along the Loire, from Saumur to Nantes via Angers.

Good news for cyclists: as part of the "Train Loire à Vélo" operation, special TER trains capable of accommodating up to 83 bicycles are being set up until September on the Interloire line (Orléans - Nantes - Le Croisic).

How much ?

Multi Aléop pass: €30 for 1 day or €45 for 2 days of unlimited travel.

Valid for a maximum of 5 people,

if you are traveling with 5.

From where?

Nantes, Angers, Le Mans and all stations in the Pays de la Loire region.

Read alsoVélodyssée, Vélocéan, Loire à Vélo… Six ideas for cycling itineraries in Pays de la Loire

• In Alsace

On weekends and public holidays, a shuttle connects the Sélestat SNCF station to the Château du Haut-Kœnigsbourg (Bas-Rhin) in 30 minutes.

Jenifoto - stock.adobe.colm

The Alsa+ ticket offers unlimited travel over the day in Alsace or, depending on the formula chosen, within one of its two departments (Bas-Rhin or Haut-Rhin).

It can be used in the TER of the Fluo network, but also the regional buses as well as the public transport of Strasbourg, Colmar and Mulhouse.

A beautiful invitation to discover these metropolises of Alsace, but also its smaller towns (Obernai, Sélestat, Haguenau...), its Wine Route and its forests of the Northern Vosges.

How much ?

Alsa+ pass: €39.10 for 1 day of unlimited travel in Alsace (or €24.10 in a single department).

Valid on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays for a maximum of 5 people,

if you are leaving with 5.

From where?

Strasbourg, Colmar, Mulhouse and all Bas-Rhin and Haut-Rhin stations.

Read alsoDid you know?

This European country is the only one in the world where the train is free

• In the Alpes-Maritimes

Menton, the last French town before the Italian border, is served by the main TER line in the Alpes-Maritimes.

ERIC MARTIN / Le Figaro Magazine

Relax on a beach on the Côte d'Azur, take to the skies in Grasse, discover the trendy addresses of Monaco... So many activities within reach of TER to carry out in the Alpes-Maritimes.

With its Pass Isabelle Famille, the department offers unlimited travel on its main line which runs along the coast from Cannes to Menton, as well as its two secondary lines which serve the hinterland (one towards Grasse, the other - nicknamed the Train of Wonders - which runs through the Roya Valley to the Italian border).

How much ?

Isabelle Family Pass: €35 for 1 day of unlimited travel.

Valid every day for 2 adults and 2 children under 16,

if there are 4 of you going.

From where?

Nice, Cannes, Menton, Monaco and all stations in the Alpes-Maritimes department.

Read alsoThe most beautiful perched villages of the Côte d'Azur