Buying a rail pass for your vacation up to 6 months in advance can save you even more if the price of fossil fuel goes up because your travel costs are fixed at the time of purchase.
France Rail Passes - The Full List
Here is a list of all the Rail Passes available for France, including the multiple country passes for folks who wish to travel outside France.
I recommend first class for those who like a little more room and far less crowded conditions on popular routes. The cost is only 20% more, and you often get 25% more seat width.
The France Railpass and Saverpass allows only three days of travel in a month. Note that you can purchase up to six more days with your pass. But, if you are thinking about taking some very short trips, especially one-way trips, it's likely that you'll be better off buying point to point tickets at the station before you leave. A railpass day only saves money if the trip is fairly long.
