Can I travel with my receipt for a residence permit?

It depends on whether you are renewing a permit or applying for the first time, and on which document you hold. Most applications are now made online on ANEF, so you will usually have one of these:

• Filing certificate (attestation de dépôt) — Renewal: Not enough to travel; First application: Not enough to travel
• Extension certificate (attestation de prolongation d'instruction) — Renewal: Yes, with your expired permit and a valid passport; First application: No
• Favourable-decision certificate (attestation de décision favorable) — Renewal: Yes, with your previous permit or visa and a valid passport; First application: No

If your prefecture still issues paper receipts (récépissés), the same logic applies: a valid renewal receipt, together with your expired permit and passport, lets you return to France; a receipt for a first application does not.

Careful: the document must still be valid on the day you come back. If it has expired while you are abroad, you will need a new visa from the French consulate in the country where you are.