KEY POINTS:
There's no shortage of airlines offering flights from Auckland via Asia or the US to Paris, with connections to any of the other major French cities.
Fares vary depending on the season and the airline. In the high season, from mid-May through August and December to mid-January, airfares are about $200 to $400 higher than in the low season (from mid-January through February, and October to mid-November).
To get the best deals, shop around and compare prices.
Garuda currently offers low-season flights from $1800, while most Asian airlines' Paris fares fall into the $2000 to $2400 bracket and include a side trip within Europe.
To find your way around and out of Paris's two airports, Charles de Gaulle and Orly, check out www.smartweb.fr
SEEING THE COUNTRY
By air
If time is an issue, the domestic airline Air Inter links most urban centres, at discounted prices.
By train
The French Railways system (SNCF) offers the most time- and cost-effective way to get around France - especially the Train Grande Vitesse (TGV), which can whiz you from one end of the country to the other at speeds of up to 300km per hour (for details see www.raileurope.com).
The SNCF also offers France Rail'n' Drive passes, starting at $175 for three days' unlimited train travel and two days' car rental. Check out www.voyages-sncf.com
By metro
The easiest way to cover large distances within Paris is by underground Metropolitain and its sister system, the RER. Launched in 1900, it is one of the world's oldest forms of public transport that still functions. The metro network is massive, super-efficient and wherever you are in Paris, a station is never far away.
You can buy individual tickets, a "carnet" of 10 tickets or a daily pass. There's also the weekly or monthly Carte Orange travel pass, which may be more economical. Other passes include metro-bus combo passes, or Paris Visites, which are exclusive to foreign travellers. Paris Visites are valid for up to five days' unlimited use on this city's entire transport network and can be bought online before you enter the country, at www.parismetro.com
By car
Rental cars are generally cheaper if you book them outside the country. For longer sojourns, some car companies (www.europebycar.com) or local manufacturers offer tax-free leasing programmes, which can save you a fortune. If you have small kids, consider Europcar - they rent out baby seats and related auto paraphernalia.
GOING "INTER-STATE"
By air
RyanAir (www.ryanair.com) operates cheap charter flights from France's major and regional airports to other European destinations. A bonus is that you can rent a car via their website. Easy Jet (www.easyjet.com) offers a similar service.
By train
The Eurostar TGV will get you from Paris to London via the chunnel in just three hours. To check out the timetables, costs or book tickets, go to www.eurostar.com. A similar service, Thalys, commutes TVGs between France, Belgium and the Netherlands (www.thalys.com).
By car, bus, boat
Renting or leasing a car is expensive.
Consider the ferry to Britain or Ireland or use the bus-boat-bus combos Hoverspeed runs from London (,a href="http://www.hoverspeed.com">www.hoverspeed.com).
- Detours, HoS
