Appendix - France 2014 - page 1550

Going on strike (en grève) is a popular pastime in this revolution-happy country.
Becausebargainingbetweenmanagementandemployeesisnotstandardprocedure,
workers strike to get attention. Truckers and tractors block main roads and
autoroutes (they call it Opération Escargot—“Operation Snail's Pace”), baggage
handlers bring airports to their knees, and museum workers make Mona Lisa off-
limits to tourists. Métro and train personnel seem to strike every year—probably
during your trip. What does the traveler do? You could jeter l'éponge (throw in the
sponge) and go somewhere less strike-prone (Switzerland's nice), or learn to accept
certain events as out of your control. Strikes in France generally last no longer than
a day or two, and if you're aware of them, you can usually plan around them. Your
hotelier will know the latest (or can find out). Make a habit of asking your hotel
receptionist about strikes, or check www.americansinfrance.net (look under “Daily
Life”).
Each day of use allows you to take as many trips as you want on one calendar
day (you could go from Paris to Beaune in Burgundy, enjoy wine-tasting, then continue
to Avignon, stay a few hours, and end in Nice—though I wouldn't recommend it). Buy
second-classticketsinFranceforshortertrips,andsaveyourvaluablepassdaysforlonger
trips.Notethatifyou'reconnectingtheFrenchAlpswithAlsace,youmighttravelthrough
Switzerland, a route that requires France Railpass holders to buy a ticket for that segment
(about €50).
NotethatFranceisnolongerofferedonEurail'sSelectPass,butitiscoveredbyone-
, two, and 24-country passes.
For a free summary of railpass deals and the latest prices, check my Guide to Eurail
Passes at www.ricksteves.com/rail . If you decide to get a railpass, this guide will help you
know you're getting the right one for your trip.
Buying Tickets
While there's no deadline to buy any train ticket, the fast, reserved TGV trains get booked
up. Reserve well ahead for any TGV you cannot afford to miss. Tickets go on sale 90
days in advance with a wide range of prices on any one route, and the cheapest tickets sell
out early; reservations for railpass holders also go particularly fast. To buy the cheapest
advance-discount tickets (50 percent less than full-fare), visit http://en.voyages-sncf.com/
en about 3 months ahead of your travel date. The first time you visit and are faced with a
map of the world, go to the “French” page, then change to “Other Countries/English lan-
guage,” and choose “Pick up in France.” Select the cheapest, non-refundable category of