planningtravel

I will travel from Marseille to Avignon and Avignon to Toulouse.

I plan on staying near the train station. Am I better off with a hotel and train tickets to Avignon TGV or Avignon Gare?

I need a hotel where my tour company will pick me up, I have sent them emails but they have not replied about there pick up hotels. I'm bboked on a day tour with
Provence Reservation.

Thanks in advance.

PalenQ

There are shuttle trains from Avignon-TGV station to Avignon-Centre train station so take faster trains from/to the TGV station.

planningtravel

I'm not so concerned about the Marseille to Avignon ticket. I did check the Avignon to Toulouse schedules. If I buy a ticket from Avignon to TOulouse I leave 30 mins later and arrive in Toulouse at the same time with one change of train in Montpellier St-Roch with an 11 minute transfer time. If I travel from Avignon TGV I need to connect on a TER train and then continue on the same two trains I'd take from Avignon gare.

So, the question is....

Which area of Avignon is better to stay in? Near the TGV station or by the Gare?

Also, do I need to book TER and IC trains in advance?

Thanks.

DebbieDoesDulles

I can recommend Hotel De L'Horloge near Centre Ville Station, it's also close to the Provence office and they pick up at the hotel. (Great tour company by the way)

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic..._Provence.html

greg

Avignon TGV station is in the middle of nowhere. Just look at the map. With all the train timing info you found, what keeps Avignon TGV station in contention? I would also stay in the middle of the walled city.

PalenQ

Also, do I need to book TER and IC trains in advance?>

No for TER trains -can't even reserve I think -most IC trains are optional but some require reservations.

Check these sources for good info on French trains:

www.budgeteuropetravel.com; www.seat61.com and www.ricksteves.com.

Again it is easy to get to Avignon-TGV station from the older Avignon-Centre station -shuttle trains to meet and greet all TGV trains but as greg said there is nothing around the TGV station so you want to be near the Avignon-Centre station if taking trains from either station.

kerouac

There <b>are</b> a few hotels near Avignon-TGV now, but it is indeed in the middle of nowhere.

planningtravel

Thanks, I booked a hoel near Avignon Centre Gare.

kerouac

You did the right thing.

Christina

That TGV station is on a major highway and an industrial area.

kerouac

It is not at all on a major highway -- it is about 500 meters from the Avignon périphérique. The industrial area is on the inner side of this roadway, but the train station is isolated on the outer side. The hotels that are there are along the connecting road.

Christina, you really enjoy adding negative information to just about every subject, even when it is not correct.

kerouac

I suppose this is part of the "word of the year" subject: "post truth."

mjs

Kerouac is correct. No hotels within easy walking distance to the Avignon TGV but several including a Novotel near the Avignon Centre Gare