Not so - maybe 30-35 euros with a PREM fare - even less.>

How would you advise someone coming on a trans-Atlantic flight to do with non-changeable non-refundable PREM fares that you tour - how much fudge factor time should they build in because it they miss that specific train they would have to buy a full fare ticket - so how much time would you advise if going the non-changeable non-refundable route.

It is easy to tout these Prem fares at 39 euros but at the same time you should also point out the drawbacks of such tickets and how you should leave lots of time in case planes are late - to just say it costs 35 euros is not telling the whole story.

And planes at CDG are IME often late - not because they land late but at times land in the middle of the tarmac and have buses take you to the terminals. My French friend flew back recently and she said it took an hour once the plane landed in the middle of the airport till they got buses into the terminal.

So how much time would you recommend if going the non-refundable non-changeable ticket route to be safe? I'd say 4 hours or so - what do you think?

Not so - maybe 30-35 euros with a PREM fare - even less.>

How would you advise someone coming on a trans-Atlantic flight to do with non-changeable non-refundable PREM fares that you tour - how much fudge factor time should they build in because it they miss that specific train they would have to buy a full fare ticket - so how much time would you advise if going the non-changeable non-refundable route.

It is easy to tout these Prem fares at 39 euros but at the same time you should also point out the drawbacks of such tickets and how you should leave lots of time in case planes are late - to just say it costs 35 euros is not telling the whole story.

And planes at CDG are IME often late - not because they land late but at times land in the middle of the tarmac and have buses take you to the terminals. My French friend flew back recently and she said it took an hour once the plane landed in the middle of the airport till they got buses into the terminal.

So how much time would you recommend if going the non-refundable non-changeable ticket route to be safe? I'd say 4 hours or so - what do you think?

>>there are direct trains from Lyon Airport to Avignon-Centre that take 1.5 hrs<<

Ok - you're correct. There are trains at:
11:25 & 1:24 to the Center station
1:40 to the TGV station

I was only looking at the TGV station schedule


>>and in France you check your bags all the way thru to Lyon airport - no dealing with them in Paris as several recent posts have said (much to my surprise).<<

Last time I booked a United FF ticket to CDG and then an AF regular ticket to elsewhere in France, I had to re-check my bags. But that was about 6-10 years ago. Maybe things have changed.

>>Stu - Trains do not run every two hours from CDG to Avignon TGV according to www.bahn.de - the first three links in the morning do but between noon and 5pm there are no direct trains<<

Direct trains on a week day in April
lv 10:00
lv 11:40
lv 1:58pm
Lv 4:58pm


>>but trains that take about 5 hours all told from CDG to Avignon-TGV<<

Trains with 1 change that don't change in Paris (station change there)

lv 11:58 - 4 hrs 40 mins
lv 2:09 - 4 hrs 36 mins

Stu Dudley

Stu - the 1:58pm did not show up on the www.bahn.de schedule for the date I put in - thus I said a gap of five hours.

Anyway the Marseilles airport may have more regular and quicker trains to Avignon than Lyon.

The OP has probably given up on the trip by now thinking it is far too complicated! ;^)

Hahaha...I was just thinking that ParisAmsterdam! First time to Europe and I'm realizing pressing the "easy button" isn't very realistic! :) We elected a guided tour package to make it easy for our first trip...maybe I can have the guide meet us in Las Vegas LOL!

I'll be checking out the partners on my airlines for using FF miles and also times of trains, etc. in late October if they are up yet.

Thanks everyone -- glad I spurred such a lively discussion on my very first post!

Michelle

Train schedules rarely change much so put in a dummy date - be specific as to the day of the week however as weekend schedules may be different from weekday ones - and you can pretty well bank on their being similar trains for your day several months later.

How hilarious!! What a piffing contest!! Reminds me of living in NYC where the first order of conversation at a cocktail party was how you got there--took the A train to and transferred, etc.!! LOL
As for me--CDG to TGV/Avignon

<<the CDG TGV to Avignon train which could cost $100 or so.>>

Not so - maybe 30-35 euros with a PREM fare - even less.>

I love how folks just throw out those PREM fares - 30 euros and do not mention that they are not nearly always available and to get much be booked months in advance and even then on some popular trains they may not be available - and they cannot be changed nor refunded - important factors to mention when advising someone landing at CDG and planning on taking a train to know.

Since they are non-refundable nor changeable if you plane is late and you miss the train you are out and have to buy a full fare ticket, if available to go to Avignon.

So just saying it will cost 30-35 euros is in the perfect circumstance - those tickets may or may not be available and if so you have to put a lot of fudge factor time in at CDG in case your plane is late.

Well in St Cirq's defense he/she may not know that those PREM tickets are non-refundable or changeable and may not know that they are not nearly always available, etc. But I think when mentioning those tickets as the salvation when landing at an airport you should outline the conditions and planning for a place to be late.

Another option is to fly to LHR, take the underground to London city airport and fly direct to Avignon with Air France. These flights are part of the AF attempt to compete with the low cost airlines and it costs about £115 one way. It doesn't fly every day but maybe worth checking out AF5143.

Decided to stay in Paris for a couple of days before going to Avignon. Staying at the Renaissance Paris Arc de Triomphe Hotel. Looks like I will be taking the rail from Paris Gare de Lyon into Avignon. New question: our hotel in Avignon (Hotel Novotel Avignon Centre) is near the Avignon Centre station, which takes an hour longer than the train to Avignon TGV. Should I go ahead and go to the Centre, or would I save time going into the TGV and taking a shuttle? Thanks!