Avignon TGV - taxis?
 

We are due to arrive at Avignon TGV at 11:25. Our Europcar rental is to be picked up at the Courtine office, which we've been told is less than 2 km away. Since the Courtine office closes at noon, we want to be sure taxis are readily available at the Avignon TGV station. We are aware that there is a Europcar desk at the TGV station, but there's a 40 euro charge for that convenience. So we'd prefer to go to Courtine if that's reliably doable. Comments, please.

I think you're taking a significant risk that they will be closed by the time you get there - 35 minutes isn't really very long and what if they close a few minutes early?.

Yes, TGV trains are usually on time - but being 15 minutes or so late is not unknown by any means. And by the time you haul your luggage out of the train, drag it to the taxi line, get a cab and then drive to the office you may be too late. What is your back-up plan if this happens?

I would spring for a few more euros and make sure of your car - but then on vacation I am risk averse - don't need the agita of worrying about tight deadlines like this.

I have had to wait for taxis to show up at Avignon TGV, as other passengers had snapped up the waiting ones before I reached the taxi stand. (It's pretty well marked; just flow the signs in the station.) As it turned out, it was only a 10 minute wait, but it happens.

If I were in your situation, I wouldn't risk that tight a connection between the arrival of the train and the closure of the office in Courtine.

€40 or no car -- how risk averse are you?

If you miss the noon deadline, the office opens again at 14:00. Have lunch.

I have picked up at the Cortine office before with the same thing in mind, saving the location surcharge. The shuttle bus used to make one stop between the two train stations and that one stop was on the backside of the Cortine Europcar office.

I don´t know if the shuttle is still running, I think they switched it to a rail car shuttle but you can inquire, and if it is, you´ll only pay a couple of euros.

If you don´t make the office in time, go have lunch as kerouac suggests.

Oh geeze -- you didn't mention the office re-opens in 2 hours. No big deal. I'd personally probably walk around and have lunch and not even <i>try</i> to make it there before noon.

I returned to the Courtine office once by mistake, I didn't realize there was another a site right at the station. They drove me to the station, very nice service! But you can't count on that.

Really it's only 1.3 km between the two you could easily walk it although if you have baggage of any size, you probably don't want to. For 40 euro, just risk it, what's the worst that can happen? You wait 2 hours, and that's probably unlikely as there probably will be a taxi there.

Bottom line: Our train arrived on time and the taxi stand (at least 10 cars) was a minute walk from the tracks. The taxis are right next to the car rental offices. We took a two-minute taxi ride to the Europcar office at Courtine. No problem at all. And they often stay open well past noon. We left at 12:15. And saved the 40€ charge for picking up at the station.