bulldogs

We'll be renting a car for 4 days during our stay in Provence. We'll take the train from Paris to Avignon and would like an easy pick up near the train station. During that portion of our trip we are staying in St. Remy. Our plan is to drop the car back off at the train station and then take the train to Antibes. Does this plan make sense? Does anyone have any suggestions for car rental agencies at the train station? We'll have our children with us so I'd like to make the transitions as easy as possible.

joannyc

Kemwel.com has been my rental car consolidator of choice for many years. Cheaper than going through the major car rental agencies. I've had no hassles with them, they will match/beat any price, and I always have a car waiting for me (most, if not all, have been through Europcar).

joannyc

Another thought, pic up at a non-train station office for a less expensive rental. Airport and/or train station pick-ups can be more expensive.

But, dropping at the airport or train station doesn't incur any extra charges.

cigalechanta

We droped our rental car one year because we were running late and left it the airport where we flew bck to Paris

Sarastro

I do not believe there are any in town car rental offices in Avignon where you might pick up a car and avoid the location surcharge associated with airport/train station pickups. You might ask if you can pickup at the Europcar office which supplies the cars for the TGV station located at 672 chemin de l'Aulaniere and avoid the surcharge which is usually between 30€ and 40€. This office is located near the only stop the bus from the TGV station into Avignon makes so reaching it is relatively easy.

Be careful when making train reservations as there are two stations at Avignon. Do not confuse your departure location. There are TGV departures from the old central station as well as from the TGV station just outside of town.

Christina

They have all the regular agencies at the Avignon TGV, all in roughly the same place, so just go with whatever gives you the best deal on www.autoeurope.com or kemwel.

Dee_Dee

I have done the TGV to Avignon several times and I always stay in St. Remy too. I would recommend you arrive at the Avignon TGV station - NOT the Avignon downtown station. The car rentals are all located together very conviently outside the rear exit of the station. And, as the station is new, there are nice ramps leading down to the parking lot which makes rolling luggage (and children) ever so much easier. If you haven't bought TGV tickets before, please be aware that you can buy "Prems" fares tickets on-line 90 days in advance. They are way, way cheaper than buying them when you arrive in Paris.

StCirq

There are definitely car rental agencies at the central downtown Avignon station, but it wouldn't make sense to arrive there, so don't even consider that. Get yourself a cheap PREM fare from Paris to the Avignon TGV station, walk out the door, and find your car. Every conceivable rental agency is represented there. It takes two minutes to cross from the station to the agencies. I always rent through AutoEurope and generally they get my car from Europcar.

bulldogs

Thanks for the help. Sounds like renting at the TGV station will be perfect! I'm assuming I'll be able to return the car there too and take the train from that station to Antibes.

kerouac

Most of my cars come from Europcar as well, but I have had no bad experiences with Hertz or National there either.

One hint, though: get to the agency as fast as possible after you get off the train from Paris, because 10 other customers are going to the same agency (at least during the summer).

StCirq

I've never taken the train from Avignon to Antibes, but www.sncf.fr will tell you if it's possible. You could also drive to Antibes and leave the car there at no extra cost (except for fuel).