Should your children be looked after by family on the other side of France? No need to deliberately go back and forth. Parents who want to accompany their loved ones on their train journey can use Junior & Cie, a special SNCF service, or call a special babysitter on the Kidygo classifieds website. Two particularly useful offers in the days leading up to the All Saints holidays which start this Saturday 22nd October. Prices, directions, advantages and disadvantages… Le Figaro do the comparison.
Junior & Cie, SNCF’s dedicated service for 40 years
Since 1979, SNCF has had its own child support service, now known as Junior & Cie. Supervision, reserved for travelers aged 4 to 14, is carried out by professional activity leaders between the departure and arrival stations. It is requested to arrive at the station no later than 30 minutes before the departure of the train, the time when the guide checks (identity of the child, labeling of luggage, etc.). Upon arrival, the person designated as responsible must have the booking confirmation and ID to pick up the child. In 2019, about 250,000 children benefited from this offer.
In which directions? While the service is available to 130 destinations during the school holidays, it is only available to around twenty cities on weekends for the rest of the year. To find out which trains are available on the desired dates, just run a simulation at juniorcie.oui.sncf. It should be noted that Junior & Cie is only offered on direct journeys and TGV inOui and Intercités, with a reservation required.
How much does it cost? From €35 per child, in addition to the train ticket. For example, a Paris-Marseille trip on the first weekend of All Saints is shown at €94.70 without reduction (€48.70 for a ticket + €46 for a Junior & Cie pass). Bookings are open two to three months before the start of the school holidays and up to four days before departure at juniorcie.oui.sncf or by calling 3635. It’s best to book in advance and plan ahead. Christmas already!
A €5 snack option can be added when booking. Junior & Cie tickets are exchangeable and refundable without deduction before departure D-16. Between D-15 and D-4 inclusive, a reduction of €10 per child per journey applies. After this period, exchanges and refunds are no longer possible. Discount cards allow you to use the service from -15%.
Benefits: Supervision is carried out by professional mediators running BAFA. a fun atmosphere on board thanks to games and workshops and the presence of other children; Most trains have a car for children for added peace of mind.
Inconveniences. some trains and destinations may be out of school holidays; trains fill up quickly on major departure days.
Kidygo. parent looking for travel babysitter
“Mom of 8-year-old girl is looking for a companion for the first weekend of the holidaysThis is the type of announcement that can be read on Kidygo, a platform that connects parents and individuals willing to accompany their children by train, but also by bus or plane. The site, created in 2014, now has about 53,000 users. To be certified, each candidate must submit proof of a clean criminal record and a presentation video and can add diplomas and certifications (BAFA, First Aid, etc.) to their profile. The meeting place is decided jointly by the parents and the guide. it can be a departure station, but also a home or a public place.
In which directions? All destinations served by train, bus or plane in France and Europe are possible, even if most of the ads are for rail travel in France.
How much does it cost? In three-quarters of cases, parents choose to pay for a KidySitter ticket. Therefore, the price varies depending on the date of travel and the time you book for your child and their companion. Another solution. offer cash compensation for a minimum amount of €30. While the site is free for parents to read and post ads, KidySitters has to charge a monthly subscription of €9.90.
Benefits: some flexibility for parents in choosing dates and destinations; for nannies, the guarantee of free or almost free travel.
Inconveniences. There is no guarantee of finding a guide on the desired dates and the risk of it being canceled at the last minute due to an unforeseen event.
This article published in October 2021 has been updated.
Source: Le Figaro
