Avignon to Paris...no train...?

Old Jul 22nd, 2006, 01:05 PM
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Avignon to Paris...no train...?

I really need help from you Fodorites who are familiar with using the trains in France...I have never booked one.

I am trying to book Avignon TGV on Oct. 28 to Paris, Gare Lyon seems to be the station that comes up (we are not going to the airport). Only time available seems to be late day. Just to check I kept moving the date all the way forward to the 25th...with same result, no A.M. trains. I really want to travel on the 28th as that is when our apartment rental starts in Paris.

We thought it made sense to take the train up to Paris rather then driving. Leaving Avignon at 22h does not seem appealing.
Am I doing something wrong...or is that the case. Thanks for the help...I really feel out of my element when it comes to travel that you are not "driving" yourself and in complete control of.
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Old Jul 22nd, 2006, 01:15 PM
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From Avignon TGV station there are departures on Oct.28.06 at

07:09 (arr. 09:45 - no change required)
07:31 (arr. 10:55 - change in Lyon)
09:09 (arr. 11:51 - no change required)
10:09 (arr. 12:50 - ditto)
10:31 (arr. 13:55 - change in Lyon)
13:01 (arr. 15:41 - no change required)
14:01 (arr. 16:41 - ditto)
14:28 (arr. 17:55 - change in Lyon)

and on and on.

WK
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Old Jul 22nd, 2006, 01:22 PM
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I found several trains in the AM. You may need to change the "time" in your request.

This is just one example:

AVIGNON CENTRE 08h31 Coach 49111
AVIGNON TGV 08h44
PARIS GARE DE LYON 11h51

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Old Jul 22nd, 2006, 01:26 PM
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There is also an 11:58 departure from Avignon TGV that is listed as a bus to Avignon Centre where the TGV leaves at 12:33 (arr. 16:01) - and others leave from Avignon Centre that you might want to input it as departure station also.

I suspect what could have thrown you is this: The site only displays trains for an hour or two following the departure time you stipulate, but it shows a new 20:01 departure on all pages because it wants to promote it - hence the purple color. That doesn't mean there are no trains between the latest listed and that new 20:01 - just adjust the departure time and click again, you'll get them all.

WK
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Old Jul 22nd, 2006, 01:57 PM
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Thanks to all of you who were good enough to reply to my problem.

I am going to give it another try on the sncf site. I did put departure at 8 in the morning just so I could see all the departing trains even if I chose one in the early afternoon. Don't know why all I could get was 22h...which I read as 10:00 P.M.
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Old Jul 22nd, 2006, 02:43 PM
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<< ...all I could get was 22h...which I read as 10:00 P.M. >>

You interpreted that correctly. I wonder if the website is giving funny results for a travel date which is more than three months away, perhaps (I didn't think so - - but grasping at straws here).

Best wishes,

Rex
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Old Jul 22nd, 2006, 03:01 PM
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Thanks Rex for the input....I am at my wits end....always getting the same result. Search shows trains available on the 28th of October...when I chose the 10 AM train and proceed...the only train that next shows up for my request is one for departure at 20h01....very exasperating.
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Old Jul 22nd, 2006, 03:44 PM
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The problem may be that you can't book train tickets this far in advance.

Search for MorganB's name here to find his excellent guide to using the sncf web site.
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Old Jul 22nd, 2006, 03:58 PM
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Underhill is correct. You are trying to book beyond the 90-day limit. Even though one of the morning trains shows on the SNCF site, if you actually tried to book it, the only choice you would be given is the late evening one because it is an iDTGV rather than a standard TGV. You can book an IDTGV 120 days (or sometimes more) in advance.

Enter a date 90 days or a little less from today and you'll see a full slate as listed by WallyKringen.
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Old Jul 22nd, 2006, 04:00 PM
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One more thing. When you're ready to book, you may find PREM'S (discount)fares are available. You print PREM'S yourself. However, leave France as the default country and do NOT choose cnacellation insurance or you won't be allowed to print them.
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Old Jul 22nd, 2006, 05:12 PM
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Finally....an explanation for the problem...thanks so much to Underhill and others. Actually I had printed and read MorganB's great instructions but must not have remembered the 3 month part.
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Old Jul 23rd, 2006, 10:35 AM
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Hi lowcountrycarol... for years now (way before being online) I have been buying my rail passes from Budget European Travel (BET) in Michigan, via telephone. Even though I've been online quite a while, I still prefer to deal with them on the phone. If you leave a message, they are very prompt about returning your call.

They only deal in European train tickets and passes - no tours etc...

Both Brian and Linda are very knowledgeable, being that that is all that they sell. They are friendly, the service is personal, and they are always a pleasure to deal with.

I have never bought individual train tickets from them, but I have bought numerous rail passes from them. Sometimes I buy tickets at my destination for short day trips if I am planning longer (more expensive) train trips using my rail pass.

If you want expert help for schedules, prices, train reservations etc.. give them a call. It's entirely up to you if you want to pay a few dollars extra and purchase your tickets from them or get them on yourself on line.

It sounds like you are only looking for tickets for that one way trip from Avignon to Paris on the TGV, but they can still give you all of the information that you want.

They have train schedules on their site too.

http://www.budgeteuropeantravel.com

1-800-441-9413 or 1-800-441-2387

If this sounds like a 'plug', it is - that's how much I enjoy dealing with them! Never an error or incorrect information in the 12-13 years I have been dealing with them.

Have a great trip.

Nina

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