Book your summer travel from today

THE RACE to buy cheap rail and air tickets for the summer in France starts today - with both Air France and the SNCF unveiling discount offers for the holidays.

The French rail operator is taking bookings for journeys between July 3 and August 30 since this morning, with an estimated 20 million people expected to make a rail journey in France during the summer months.

The Intercités network - long-distance trains that are not TGVs - has a promotion called "Happy Hour" offering 50% off selected tickets.

TGV tickets have also gone on sale, with the cheapest from Paris to Marseille, Bordeaux, Rennes or Nantes costing €25 each way.

This time last year, the SNCF sold a ticket every three seconds - and the cheapest for the summer holidays will disappear fast.

Meanwhile, Air France has unveiled a new range of discount fares for domestic flights operated by its subsidiary, Hop.

Single tickets start at €49 for travel between Paris Orly and most of France's regional airports.