My mother-in-law and her husband are planning a trip to Provence in the fall, and want us to come along. Since they offered to foot the bill for the gite, how could we say no?
It'll be a departure from our nearly annual trips to Italy (six times since 1996, with one trip to France in '97 thrown in), but hey, why not? I think I'll have to break out my French CD courses again so I can thoroughly embarass myself again by trying to speak the language.
Have any of you used the TGV from Paris to Avignon? If so, is it better to buy tickets before we get there or after we arrive?
Posts: 291 | Location: Takoma Park, Maryland, USA | Registered: 09 October 2003
How lucky you are! If you decide not to go, let me know and I'll be happy to stand in for you!
I've used the TGV from Paris to Avignon.
We got tickets and seat reservations a few days ahead of time in Paris. As it turned out, some of the trains were on strike the day we were to travel and our train was canceled. We just got on the next available train, found empty seats and had an easy and pleasant trip.
I seem to remember reading that it's more expensive to buy the tickets in this country before you leave. You might try searching the message board for previous topics about train travel. It's been discussed many times.
It's definitely more expensive to buy tickets here, but if you're landing in Paris and going straight to Avignon, you may want the security of having tickets in hand. Remember that there are 2 stations in Avignon, the TGV outside the city and the central station. Assuming that you're renting a car, you'll want the TGV station. BTW, where is the gite, Mike?
Aloha, Ann
Posts: 1503 | Location: Sunset Beach (Haleiwa), Hawaii, USA | Registered: 16 September 2001
I'm not exactly sure where the gite is. I think it's near the Pont du Gard. Yes, we're planning to rent a car, so we'll take the TGV to Avignon TGV station, not Avignon Central.
I figured tickets would be cheaper in France. Depending on air fare, we might fly into Paris and spend a few days there (maybe on either end of the trip) before heading to Provence.
This should be fun.
Posts: 291 | Location: Takoma Park, Maryland, USA | Registered: 09 October 2003
You might want to consider renting your car now, Mike. AutoEurope is having a sale, and it matched the even-cheaper quote from Europe by Car. Be sure to check your quote too, Chris -- again assuming you're renting a car for your spring trip.
Aloha, Ann
Posts: 1503 | Location: Sunset Beach (Haleiwa), Hawaii, USA | Registered: 16 September 2001
Chris, our quote from AutoEurope was $647, and they matched Europe by Car's $588. This is for a compact (Renault Megane or equivalent) for 19 days. It does not include CDW, for which we depend on our CC.
Aloha, Ann
Posts: 1503 | Location: Sunset Beach (Haleiwa), Hawaii, USA | Registered: 16 September 2001
Not even worth looking into TGV tixs until you are within 60 days of your travel date. Before the, you can't get reserved seats and the prices you'll find are excessively high. Try booking 60 days before you want to travel and you may find one of their many special deals on offer (you can do this via www.sncf.com). Tix can be had for as low as 25 euros from Paris to Avignon this way...
With the new PREMs fares, it is FAR cheaper to buy your tickets here than to wait to get to Paris. Starting 60 days before you leave, check the www.sncf.com site regularly. GO to the Reservations page from the home page, and in the top left-hand corner the PREMs fares are listed. Paris-Avignon is almost always one of the listed ones. They are usually offered for 20, 25, or 50 euros - much better than what you'd pay waiting until you get to France. Moreover, you can print them right out from your computer, and you don't have to composte (punch) your ticket at the station.
Posts: 426 | Location: USA/France | Registered: 08 May 2002
Thanks, Mellen. That's great news. It seems like the PREMs fares are only available in the French version, not the English (at least I couldn't find it in English). Here's the link.
Aloha, Ann
Posts: 1503 | Location: Sunset Beach (Haleiwa), Hawaii, USA | Registered: 16 September 2001
Just a postscript -- I followed Ann's suggestion to check Europebycar's fares and let AutoEurope know, and they reduced our price by $88 for a 12-day rental! Thanks, Ann!
quote:Originally posted by MikeLastort: I'm not exactly sure where the gite is. I think it's near the Pont du Gard.
Wow Mike, it's so beautiful there! I've got a photo from some years back --- kids (and some adults) swim right at the Pont, and I SWEAR I saw the kid who was Cezanne's Bather
I'm jealous too! Only place my inlaws ever took us was to a mediocre restaurant on W. 72nd st. Oh well, they had a nice son!
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