Barb_in_Ga

We'll be starting in Nice for 2 nights, then pick up a rental car and head to Provence. We're booked for three nights in Arles, then have 1PM TGV tickets from Avignon to Paris on Saturday. We'll need the rental for Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. My plan was to drive to Avignon from Arles Saturday morning, turn in the rental car at the TGV station, tour Avignon for a couple of hours, then buy a picnic lunch and board the train.

My reading tells me there is no luggage storage at the Gare TGV, so now I'm thinking I should drive to Avignon Friday afternoon, turn in the rental car and stay overnight in a hotel there. That way, I can avoid the parking issues in Avignon and visit the market, the Palais du Papes, Pont St. Benezet, and Place d'Horloge without dragging our luggage. Once we've looked around, we can claim our luggage from the hotel, and go to the TGV station.

Please suggest a pleasant hotel (up to $200USD) that would meet our needs.
Also, what is the best way to get to and from the TGV station?
Thanks, Barb

Sarastro

Assuming your rental car must be turned in at the TGV station, consider staying in Arles as planned, drive to Avignon early Saturday morning, park you car at the private lot below the courtyard of the Palais des Papes, visit the city, drive your car to the TGV station, turn it in, and catch the train.

The parking lot entrance is near the river on the northwest side of the old city walls. This is a monitored lot and safe but you might pack you car into a parking spot depriving anyone access to your trunk. If you park on the top level, the Palais des Papes or the Place d´Horloge will be less than a 45 second walk away.

http://www.palais-des-papes.com/pages/parking.html

joannay

If you do decide to stay overnight in Avignon there is a bus from The TGV station to the city, stopping just inside the wall at the main post office.

The hotel where I stayed, the Colbert, is a short walk from the bus stop on a very quiet side street. It's considerably less expensive than your budget might dictate but I enjoyed staying there. It's highly rated on Trip Advisor, or was last time I looked, if you're inclined to use that site.

http://www.lecolbert-hotel.com/

Barb_in_Ga

Sarastro--We will be picking up our car in Nice on Wednesday around 10AM, so turning it in after 10 on Saturday will cost an extra day, which would be an expensive way to store our luggage. I want to leave Nice around 10 so we can make a leisurely drive to Arles for the day, stopping in Aix for lunch and a little sight-seeing. I would prefer to stay overnight in Avignon on Friday night sans car, and do my sightseeing before we head to the train Saturday.
Thanks,
Barb

Sarastro

Understand Barb. My suggestion would be to look for a deal (try the usual on-line booking sources or call directly) at the Hotel d´Europe. It´s a wonderful hotel, very centrally located, and with an accommodating staff.

http://www.heurope.com/uk/

Christina

You might try the Bristol http://www.bristol-avignon.com/uk/index.php

It's a nice 3* hotel that is just about your budget (superior rooms around 125 euro) or less. Its location is excellent, on the main street running between the train station and the Palais des Papes, sort of in-between the two.

You could easily just take a taxi to the gare TGV, but there is a shuttle bus between the TGV station and the main train station (the one not far from the Bristol).

winnick

We also stayed at the Hotel d'Europe and thought it was great. It's just inside the walls across from Place Crillon.

ira

Hi B,

Have you asked the rental agency if they will hold your luggage for a few hours?

Barb_in_Ga

Thanks everyone for the replies. I reserved Hotel d'Europe. At 192 euro($265) it was a little more than I'd planned, but it looks beautiful!
I'll report after the trip--we leave in one week!
Barb