BA flight sale and UK-France ferry offers: Seven French travel updates
We also look at congestion on the roads this weekend and a new SNCF email scam
Travel news this week includes BA offers, busy roads, an SNCF scam and Irish Ferries dealsCredit: Kevin Hackert/Franck/Legros/janews/MarkUK97/Shutterstock
This weekend sees the end of school holidays in Zone B, which covers Aix-Marseille, Amiens, Caen, Lille, Nancy-Metz, Nantes, Nice, Orléans-Tours, Reims, Rennes, Rouen and Strasbourg. Many people may also be taking a long weekend to make the most of the public holidays on May 8 and 9.
France’s official traffic monitoring site Bison Futé has warned of busy traffic across the whole of the country on Saturday, giving a national “orange” warning. It warns of particular congestion on the A7 motorway in the south-east, the A36 in the Grand-East region, A13 in Normandy and A11 in the Pays-de-la-Loire. Traffic will also be heavy leaving the Île-de-France region from Saturday morning on the A6 and A10 motorways.
On Friday (May 3), a 'red' level warning is in place but only around the capital.
Rail travel updates
New SNCF email scam
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Rail travellers have been warned to look out for a new SNCF phishing scam. Some people have received emails claiming to be from the rail company containing an offer of a Carte Aventage (Advantage Card) for just €2.45, when it is usually priced €49.
The email looks exactly like those from SNCF, warns France 3, but when you look closely the web address is not that of SNCF.
Several people have already fallen victim to the scam, with one man reporting a payment of €1,580 had been stopped by his bank.
SNCF advises that if users have any doubts about an email
Do not open it
Do not click on any links in the email
Delete the email
Major disruption to Toulouse-Bordeaux-Paris line
SNCF has warned travellers of disruption at several points on the Toulouse-Bordeaux-Paris line in May.
Between Toulouse and Montpellier, there will be disruption between May 7-12 and from May 18-20.
Between Narbonne-Avignon, there will be disruption between May 8-12 and from May 18-20.
On the Toulouse-Brive and Toulouse-Agen routes, there will be disruption from May 8-12.
On the Toulouse-Pau, Toulouse-Latour de Carol, Toulouse-Auch and Toulouse-Narbonne routes there will be disruption from May 7-12 and from May 18-20.
Travellers are advised to check online to see if their bookings are affected. A replacement coach service will run on some routes.
Train strike announced in Paris
Unions have filed a strike notice for SNCF workers in and around the capital for Tuesday (May 21).
They are calling for increased bonuses for employees working during the Olympics.
Local Transilien services, as well as regional RER trains, will be affected, however the level of disruption is not yet known.
National TGV and Ouigo trains should not be impacted.
Air travel updates
BA sale on UK-France tickets and city breaks
British Airways is currently running a sale until May 14.
Deals include two-night city breaks from £149 per person (flying to Nice from London in November). Price includes accommodation and flight.
Other two-night trip destinations include Paris (from £149pp) and Toulouse (from £171pp).
Ferry travel updates
Brittany Ferries five-day short break offer
Brittany Ferries is offering travellers up to 50% in savings with its latest special offer – £186 return for a five-day break in France for a car and up to two passengers.
The offer is available on all sailings to France until October 31, 2024 including:
Portsmouth - Caen
Portsmouth - Cherbourg
Portsmouth - Le Havre
Portsmouth - St Malo
Poole - Cherbourg
Plymouth - Roscoff (from £189 return)
Travellers can take their pets from £35 each way.
The offer is also available to motorbike riders from £96 return.
Brittany Ferries day-trip to France offer
Another Brittany Ferries offer at the moment is a day-trip from the UK to France for foot passengers from £26.
The offer is available across all routes until October 31, 2024.
You can spend up to 30 hours in France and choose a same-day or overnight sailing.
Routes include:
Portsmouth to Caen, Le Havre, Cherbourg and St Malo
