When preparing for the holiday budget, the slightest euro can make the difference. This year, in a tense economic context, the French who plan to leaving will have to deal with a reduced budget. In 2025, the average envelope of vacationers amounted to 1,820 euros, according to an IPSOS survey for Tourism Alliance. A decreased number of almost 100 euros compared to the 2024 season.
If accommodation is one of the most imposing spending stations in the holiday budget, transport is not to be outdone. Contrary to popular belief, the train is not systematically the most expensive means of transport. A Study published this July 3 by the UFC-Que Choisir even reveals that rail can be more advantageous than expected, sometimes beating the plane, renowned for its low prices (but not for its carbon footprint…).
For your vacation, some train lines are more advantageous than the plane
According to the study, “The train shows its strength on direct journeys, including so -called radial connections». Understand, at the start, or to Paris. Among these links, three quarters are cheaper than the plane, especially for a Paris-Brest or a Paris-Lyon, respectively 64% and 58% than air transport.
“”On 14 more advantageous train connections, they are almost half cheaper than the plane: 56.80 euros against 106.50 euros on average per trip and per passenger», Details UFC-Que Choisir. In the case of a couple with two teenagers making a round trip trip from July 12 to 26, “60 % of journeys are cheaper by train than plane”.
The plane, more advantageous if you avoid large cities
However, if the rail turns out to be more economical on direct links, the equation can quickly evolve as soon as a parameter is changed: if you do not go through Paris. The study specifies that on certain links like Bordeaux-Nice, Nantes-Strasbourg or Biarritz-Lyon, The plane remains more advantageous, whether for the family of four people on vacation a week July, or for A couple who would leave for weekends in September.
In question? “”The weakness of the rail offer on these axes and the absence of a pricing policy adapted on the rail side. To this is added better price stability in the air sector regardless of the distance ”, justifies the association. As the study methodology specifies, these prices are given as an indication. Rail and air companies use Dynamic pricing. Clearly, the greater the demand, the more the prices increase.
The price difference between the train and the plane is not limited to France: it is present on a European scale. According to Climate Action Network (RAC)which relies on a Greenpeace report, Train tickets remain an average of 2.5 times more expensive than plane tickets Out of 21 links between France and other European countries. For example, on the Paris-Rome link, the average price of a plane ticket starts at 70 euros, against around 210 euros by train.
The car, a good plan … if you travel with several
Finally, the car remains advantageous for families of four people, depending on the destination. For example, a round trip Beauvais-Béziers returns to 76.60 euros per person against 103.70 euros by train and 116 euros by plane, on average. Ditto, for a Rennes-Lyon: it would be up to 58.10 euros by car against 107 euros in TGV and 151 euros per tunes. The observation is therefore final: on a third of the 48 links studied, carpooling is “systematically cheaper“Let the train or plane.
That “Explain naturally by the effect of mutualisation of costs – fuel, tolls, amortization – between several passengers, while the prices of train tickets for adolescents are equivalent to those of adults“, Note the consumer association. To rebalance the consumer choices, UFC-Que Choisir recommends developing rail links between provincial cities, capping the prices of train tickets or extending the ban on domestic flights when the train offers an alternative of less than four hours.
