1. Getting anywhere (as in ANYWHERE) in France on a Sunday is not going to be easy. And getting anywhere early is going to be impossible. For that matter, trying to do anything on a Sunday is mostly just a lesson in frustration. France loves their lazy Sundays. That goes for trains, restaurants, tourist attractions, grocery stores—you name it, they’ve closed it. So what can you do? Embrace it. Sleep in. Go for a walk. Find the one café that is open, have a cup of coffee, and relax. You have seven days to choose from; do you really need to travel on Sunday? I didn’t think so.
2. Dreaming of writing long journal entries or reading up on your next destination during that six hour train ride? Think again. While it’s certainly possible you’ll end up on one of France’s smoother trains, don’t count on it. Often the rocking makes it impossible to do much other than sleep without getting a headache. If you want to hit the ground running when you arrive, get your necessary reading/writing done ahead of time, and consider it a special treat if you can be productive as well. Otherwise, just observing your fellow passengers should be entertaining enough.
3. While the French are entitled to and expect free health care, child care, higher education, and a variety of other things, they seem to have no problem being denied something as basic (at least to this American) as decent public restrooms. Expect to be charged at least 50 cents—I know it’s not that much, but it’s the principal of thing. And don’t expect soap, toilet paper, or general cleanliness just because you paid. Whether you’re at a university or a train station, always carry tissues and hand sanitizer. It’s a quick way to make this human rights violation (albeit a small one) a non-issue.
4. Youth Hostel options in certain areas of France are incredibly limited or non-existent. Especially if you are traveling during the off season, you are going to have to go off the Hostelworld/Hostelbookers beaten path. A good option is Fuaj.org—the Hostelling International site for France—but there are some things to keep in mind. You have to purchase an ~11 Euro, yearlong membership to Hostelling International, which isn’t a big deal if you’re staying at a lot of their hostels, but is still more than half the price of a night. They often have inconvenient check in/out hours, they generally lock you out of your room for most of the day, and they’re mostly inconveniently located. On the plus side, they’re usually immaculate and the staff is really friendly. Nevertheless, they are seriously lacking in character, and I would recommend planning your trip so you’re spending the night in locations that have better hostel options.
Bon Voyage!