Traveling to France

Tips, Timelines, and Suggestions

First, thank you so much for joining us for such a special occasion! We know that destination weddings can be intimidating but we are determined to make this process smooth and easy for everyone. Below you will find transportation related information. If you still have questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out and we’ll be happy to help you.

What do I need to know about traveling to France?

  • December 2024 — This is your earliest opportunity to purchase your flight. As a general rule, the earlier you buy your flight, the cheaper it will be. Right now, a round trip flight from LAX or SFO to Bordeaux in December averages $1300. This is including one layover and will take 13-14 hours of travel time. If you’d like to save money, here are a few suggestions:

    • Fly into Paris and train down to Bordeaux

      • A direct flight from LAX or SFO to Paris in December is $900 and about 10 hours. You can fly straight there, hang out in Paris for a couple days, and then take the train down to Bordeaux. It is a 2 hour train ride and a train ticket is $50

    • Purchase your flights separately

      • Splitting your arrival and return flights can save you money or, at the very least, divide up your expenses. A one-way nonstop flight to France is ~$450. You could purchase that first, so that you spot is secured, and purchase your return flight at a later date (at the latest 1-2 months before December 2025)

    • Use Credit Card Points

      • If you have a credit card, chances are you have a reward system. This means that you can use points/miles to get your flight(s) at a reduced price (or even free if you travel as much as we do lol). If you’re not sure, reach out to us. We’d love to help!

    • Fly into a cheaper city in Europe

      • It’s always a good idea to turn this event into a full on vacation and check a city off your bucket list! Sometimes it is hundreds of dollars cheaper to fly into cities like London, Amsterdam, or Stockholm. Once you are in Europe, the price to fly from one European city to another usually ranges ~$50-$100

  • June 2025 — This is the latest you should submit your application for a passport if you do not already have one. Submitting your application by this month, whether you are applying for the first time or renewing, will ensure that your passport will be mailed to you with enough time before the wedding.

    • Passports through the post office cost $130 and are the cheapest option for obtaining a passport

      • You can learn more about the process and schedule your passport appointment with the post office here

  • December 2025 — This is around the earliest that you can purchase a train ticket if you decide to fly into Paris (like we are before the wedding festivities) and then train down to Bordeaux. France allows the purchase of train tickets only a few weeks in advance so this is going to be the best (and cheapest) time to purchase