Solo train travel

Well, I've traveled by myself through Europe and the US by train many times. Whats the issue? French TGV's have reserved seats, so you you can pick exactly where on the train you sit. A lot easier than airplane travel in my experience. And if you need to pay an "experienced" travel agent to hold your hand in the process of booking, so be it if that gives you peace of mind.

I would have no worries. Did it several times in Italy traveling for work.

Has your travel agent been to France and taken trains? Very easy to do it yourself and we can help with questions you may have.

My only concern would be having that travel agent do my train booking. With your planned "90" day trip to France, booking on your own will put you much more in control of where you go when.

My concern is that the travel agent would sell you on first class or on a Eurail pass or use Raileurope to make the reservations. All these options will cost way more money than using OUI.scnf. You can pay in €, but be sure your credit card people know you'll be making a purchase in France in €.

Trainline is also a good resource for planning and buying tickets.

For the best and most in depth info on train travel in France, go to the Man in Seat 61's Beginner's Guide to Train Travel in France. Note that it looks like there are links to the various topics, but you actually need to scroll down the page to see them. The section called "What are French Trains Like?" has pictures.

Some trips are best by fast TGV train and some are best by regional train. Some may require a bus and for some flying could be a better option.

When you do your own planning and arranging you can see and understand the options, what'll work and what won't. It's an iterative process. Where you want to go, when and how all influence each other. Doing it on your own you can easily set your own priorities.

I've been a solo traveler since my husband opted out of European travel starting in 2015. But even before that, starting in 2009, I did all our travel planning and arranging.

Full disclosure: I'm now 73 and once I started doing RS tours, train travel has been less of an issue. The last time I did any train planning was for Italy in 2017. But I went all over by train on my self-planned 6 week UK trip in 2016.

Traveling by train is one of the reasons so many of us recommend packing light. There is no one officially there to help you, so you must be prepared to get your luggage and yourself on the train, properly stowed and then get it and you off very quickly.

You will likely be required to walk some distance to get to the right platforms and there will probably be stairs up to and down from them.

I can manage all that on my own. But, I have found that the grayer my hair gets, the more offers of help I get and the more I accept them. I knew I'd reached a special place when a man in an Italian train station called me Nonna and directed me to the elevator. I do have 14 grandkids, so the shoe fit and I was thankful for the directions.

I travel solo in Europe and have taken many trains by myself, with luggage.

I always try to reserve a seat, if the train allows it.

I choose a seat that is near the luggage racks, so I can keep an eye on my larger bag.

If possible, I book my seat in a car with a WC so that I can use the facilities without being gone too long from my luggage. (Because I don't have a travel partner to "keep an eye on it" while I'm gone.)

I carry a small cable lock that, if I'm on a train that I think is "high risk," I can use to lock my suitcase to the luggage rack.

I make sure all of my "can't live without them" valuables (medicines, passport, money, etc) are in a bag that I can take with me to the facilities.

And then, my favorite part of solo train travel, is meeting new people on the train. Some of my best "encounters with locals" have been on solo train journeys!

I have four concerns/suggestions. They are (a) leave France on the 88th or 89th day and not the 90th; (b) I am more concerned with a travel agent making your reservations than I would be about you doing it mainly because the agent will like likely use Rail Europe and you will be spending more than you need to and not have the full schedule for trains though I do recognize that there is some ease in having someone else do this stuff; (c) there is no one to help you with luggage as you board and disembark the trains and often there are steps so pack accordingly or arrange to have your luggage shipped between destinations; and (d) keep an eye on your luggage on the trains and keep important items in a bag that you keep with you at your seat.

Another vote against using a travel agent for train ticket bookings, for a different reason: if you need to change your plans on the go, which might happen over the course of such a long trip, you'll need to contact your agent, which is time consuming (need to call, wait, etc) and possibly a hassle with the time difference.
I use trains a lot for business, but I refuse to use my company's travel agency to book them (even though it means I must pay first, then claim expenses later) precisely for that reason: it's much easier to change a booking in three clicks on an app, than over the phone with an agent.

In case you need one more person to tell you not to use a travel agent to book your trains for you - then here I am. Actually before I would use a travel agent for ANY part of my arrangements I'd ask her (him) how often they travel to France and get around independently (by train or other). Do you know that about your travel agent. I found out that most travel agents in the US rarely travel independently in Europe. The people on this forum know more than they do and they will often steer you wrong. The web sites listed above will give you all the information you need and anything confusing you can ask a question here and get an answer probably within hours. If you are brave enough to travel independently in France for 90 days then you should be capable of making your own train reservations.

For train travel and for other reasons traveling with one 22" or smaller rolling bag and one tote bag or day back pack is the ideal. Usually that size bag can fit between seats so you don't need to leave the bag in the luggage areas by the doors. But booking seats near the doors is a good idea in case you need to do that (also makes getting off easy). I do as suggested above and take my small bag with me if I need to use the toilet, and plan to do that not just before the train is scheduled to pull into a station.

I would watch Rick’s travel tips video on traveling by train. Check out you tube as well.

Train exit steps and the platform height at stations can often be oddly lined up. Use a little extra caution when entering or exiting a train.

You must be able to handle your luggage easily up and down steps and be able to lift it up over your seat into the overhead rack. Pack light.

The bathroom/luggage issue is real for solo travelers. It isn’t something to worry greatly about, but do keep irreplaceables with you.

Take advantage of being solo to meet and visit with seat mates and others on the train (if they are interested).

Its not like airlines, where you need to have everything locked into place months ahead of time, or where you have attendants and people around to help you find your place. Its more like a city bus service where you must stand and wait, get on and off by yourself, sometimes transfer to another train, etc., Nobody looks or cares that you're by yourself, the train doesnt wait for you to board and find your seat, and if you miss a train, there will be another one along soon enough. If you ever used the subway in New York, metro in Washington, BART in San Francisco, MARTA in Atlanta, etc., its similar to this. What a travel agent cant help you with, is learning how to navigate the train stations, understand your tickets, and read the departure/arrival boards to see where you need to find your train.

By all means read the Travel Tips section. Its all easier than it sounds, as long as you can manage your own luggage. You dont need to be concerned. I agree that it would be easy enough to find and book advance tickets on your own, but if you find comfort in using a travel agent, there's no shame in that. Just dont expect them to dig for the lowest cost options, or really know how the systems work.

The travel agent thing has been covered so I'll just add a vote to having luggage you can handle yourself going up and down the steepish stairs.

As indicated upthread you can book your seats and you can pick ones near the luggage racks. I recently traveled from Paris to the South of France (and back) on the TGV (fast train) and wound up booking First Class because it was only a few Euro more but MOSTLY because there is a line of single seats along one side with a luggage rack in the middle of the car.

https://www.seat61.com/tgv.htm#TGV_Duplex

I travel with a 22" rollaboard and had a tote bag that has a cross body strap. I placed the rollaboard on the luggage rack and had the tote at my seat with my valuables in it (as well as wearing a money belt). I try not to exceed 22# with the rollaboard but it was closer to 24 when I left home but I knew I could get that off and on the train. My only issue is going to the bathroom but on the TGV there are fewer stops so you'd choose a time to go well between stops so you can keep an eye on your luggage for that short stop time. I'm sure I'm paranoid about that but I'm not terribly experienced and it is a bit of a worry. I take my totebag with me to the bathroom.

You do need to gather your stuff and be ready to hop off when the train arrives at the station but the arrivals are announced onboard and you can follow your train along on the App (wifi available in 1st) and see where you are. The stops are quick - usually about 3 minutes so you need to be ready to go. There are usually others ready to get off as well.

I choose the trip with the fewest changes even if it is a little longer.

This is an easy way to travel!

With the exception of luggage-related issues, I've found the French trains very easy to use. I've bought most of my tickets during my trips. either online or at a vending machine, but there's considerable money to be saved by purchasing TGV and other fast-train tickets early, before other travelers have snapped up all the discounted tickets. By all means, do that yourself so you make your own decisions about when you want to travel, how long you will have to make any necessary transfer, etc. I would never want someone else to make those decisions for me.

I don't know the timing of your trip. In addition to the awkwardness of getting a not-tiny suitcase up the steps and onto the train (and off the train at the end of the trip), there is a potential problem with space on luggage racks during peak vacation periods for the French. I haven't generally had an issue except during July (haven't been in France during the month of August), but during that month I often hopped on a train at an intermediate stop and found no space at all on the luggage racks. At about 23" my bag was too large and too heavy to go overhead. If all the spaces between back-to-back seats were already full, I had to sit on one of the flip-down seats in the vestibule of the car so I could re-position my bag at every stop after I figured out which side the door would open on. That wasn't an impossible situation, but it was annoying since my assigned seat would have been considerably more comfortable.

Wrestling with luggage can also be required at some stations. Not all have elevators, so you may need to go up and down stairs to reach your platform.

My one other caution involves the TER trains running along the Riviera. Those are sort of milk runs, with people hopping off and on every few minutes. Tickets are very inexpensive. In my personal experience, those trains are popular with professional pickpockets. Unlike others, I don't worry about theft of my suitcase on a train; it would be a royal pain to replace my mostly-cheap but carefully-chosen travel clothes, but my suitcase is inexpensive and not the type to attract attention. It never contains my phone, tablet computer, or prescription medications. The purse is the real issue; protect it carefully. Be aware of the distraction techniques used by the pros, and if someone gets into your personal space, assume that it may be a theft attempt.

I enjoy train travel and travel solo (and with my husband sometimes) on them whenever I can. You have received so much excellent advice above. I am 65 and female. I will reiterate or add:
-- For me weight is as important as size. I do my best not to have my wheelie carryon size bag above 20 lbs. so I can maneuver it easily to move quickly (and not pull a muscle). I do fail sometimes, but only by a pound or two. I use a travelon small backpack, often, as the bag that never leaves my side (or back) as it has everything that is really important, and it is easier to go to the restroom with a small backpack on than even a crossbody, IMO. I don't lock my suitcase onto the train no matter where it is, because I would be the one that couldn't disengage it. LOL Plus, it has nothing in it that I can't live without. (All meds, financials, electronics and documents are in my small backpack (or attached to me elsewhere). Sometimes, when not with my large DSLR, I do use a small crossbody, but it is more aggravating in the bathroom. It depends on my trip, of course. Weight of carryon and type of personal item is important as you need one hand free to hold on as you hoist yourself into or out of some trains. Always plan to have one hand free.
--Travel agents. I find most would not know how to travel as I do, as many are used to doing group travel, cruises, etc. only. Plus, one learns more about how to travel for next time, IMO, by doing it oneself. And when something goes wrong, it was at least your stupidity not someone's an ocean away. Much easier to fix.
--If I am staying in the area of the next train station, I like to check it out ahead of time, just for peace of mind as to where I am going, etc.
**If there is any chance that you might doze off or even daydream on the train, set yourself a little alarm that will wake you about 10 minutes before you need to get off of the train. This is one of my greatest fears, riding right thru my stop.

It sounds like a wonderful trip!

Thanks everyone, I appreciate the insights you have shared with me. I will certainly not over stay my 90 days and leave closer to 87 or 88 days just to allow for unexpected travel mishaps. The luggage and carry on size and considerations are indeed helpful. I had already decided to do carry on, now I am convinced that I made the right decision. I will use the travel agent, she is in France most of the year and has lived there several times over the years and uses trains extensively. However, I the information provided will serve as a base to ask additional questions about the type of train travel booked, seat location and I certainly have learned a great deal from your ideas. Happy travels to all.

I've traveled solo a number of times around France, including train trips.

Things to remember:

Which station? In many areas, Paris and Nice for example, there are more than one train station. I always print my ticket at the station (like printing a boarding pass at the airport) then find my gate and board the train.

One trip, I had a station in mind (in Paris). I arrived 20 minutes early which is more than you normally need. When I printed my ticket I saw I was at the wrong station. I practically ran to/through the metro to get to the right station but just missed my train. I talked to a person at the station who was dressed like a conductor. No problem, just catch the next train. That train had more stops. I lost a couple hours but was otherwise unscathed.

This is equally true when getting off the train. Know which station you want. It helps to know the stations before it so you're ready to get to the door when you arrive.

Do I need to validate my ticket?:

This is my best explanation. I may still not have it completely correct. Some tickets are for a specific seat on a specific train. The good thing is you don't have to validate the ticket. If you miss the train, however, you need a new ticket for another train. I generally buy 2nd class with no seat reserved. I falsely believed these were still for a specific train and didn't need to be validated. If your ticket says, at the top, "Good for travel beginning..." (I can manage to read French but only recall it in English) it needs to be validated before you board. Watch other passengers. Most stations have a validation machine at the end of the platform (for big stations with multiple platforms) or as you come out of the station to the platform (for smaller stations).

Traveling without validating your ticket can earn you a fine and the fine can be more than the ticket. For some reason I've never been fined but I'm pretty sure I've done it wrong at least a couple times. My experience with rail staff has generally been very positive. They've been courteous and helpful to this, often clueless, traveler.

Printing a ticket at the station:

I much prefer this. I travel with a small carry-on bag and don't want to weigh it down with paper I don't need. To use the machines in stations you are generally told you need the credit card you used to purchase your ticket. That hasn't been the case for me. I've been able to locate the ticket using my reservation (that's in my calendar itinerary in my phone). I always have the same credit card but so far haven't needed it.

Travel light:

As far as I know there is no checked baggage. Often the only place to keep luggage is at the end of the car (out of sight). I think that adds a level of risk. With a small carry-on I can keep the bag with me, either at my feet or in a rack overhead. No one helps you with your luggage so you really need to be able to get on and off the train easily - IMO heavy and/or multiple bags is an undue hindrance.

Thieves:

The only time I've been cautious is on the RER into Paris and the Paris Metro. Keeping your phone secure and valuables out of sight (preferably in a money belt or similar) is a reasonable precaution. Other than around Paris, I might only be concerned in the Riviera or other popular tourist area. Still, an ounce of prevention...

As to ticket validation, please note the following which is a slight tweak/correction of what Brad has written above:
If you have been issued a print-at-home E-ticket, you do not have to validate it. Just present it on board upon inspection. This applies to the tickets of all of the following rail operators: SNCF, Eurostar, Deutsche Bahn, Renfe, Thello, Trenitalia, Italo, SNCB, NS, SBB, OUIGO, OUIBUS and ÖBB.
All SNCF print-at-station tickets and tickets bought at the station must be validated before boarding the train. The ticket validation machines can be found in multiple places at any station, usually near the station-to-platform doors and on the platform. You can only validate your tickets on the day of departure. If you print your tickets a few days early, remember to validate them before boarding the train. If you withdraw your tickets shortly before departure, the self-service machine may print the validation stamp itself in order to save you time, which, of course, means you will not have to validate the ticket yourself.