Jon

I am planning to travel from Paris to Avignon on April 22nd (Monday). I want to take a specific TGV train that leaves at about 14:30 (non-stop). Is it necessary to buy a ticket in advance, or at that time of year on a monday can I just buy my ticket when I arrive in Paris 3 days before I leave?

Bob Brown

In my experience, 3 days should be enough lead time. But don't cut it too thin. You might look at the French national web site, www.sncf.com, and check on a few connections to Avignon for 3 days in the future and see if tickets are still available.<BR>I honestly do not know if the SNCF will simply add another passenger car if the originally scheduled cars are full.<BR>One would think that the system could just add a car to a full train and open up more seats. But I don't know the availability of rolling stock.<BR><BR>

Jon

Thanks for the suggestion. Any other thoughts?

beth anderson

on a Friday in early September (still traveling season) I walked up and bought a ticket, right there in CDG. No probs, no waiting, nothing.<BR><BR>unless you are really risk averse, you could do the same - I doubt you would have problems. <BR><BR>Beth

Joanne

Jon: We did the reverse trip last May. We bought our tickets at the train station in Arles, where we were staying, three days in advance and reserved our seats. When we got on the train in Avignon, a woman was sitting in my husband's reserved seat. She moved and there was no problem, but the reason I point it out is that our car was full and she ended up standing in the snackbar for the entire trip. This was only a week or so later than your planned date of travel, so perhaps you should buy your tickets in Paris a few days in advance of your departure. <BR><BR>j