Fodor's Travel Talk Forums - CDG to Provence Area

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CDG to Provence Area

Will be flying in to Paris CDG Airport and am now considering taking a TGV to Avignon (Provence) and renting a car to visit this area for 1 week. How do I get from CDG to the appropriate train line to go to Avignon? After reading various posts, I understand this is the best place to rent a car. Thank you.

DJ, You can get this TGV right AT the airport. Just look for the signs that say "navettes" (shuttles) to Gare TGV. Best wishes, Rex

Wow, thanks Rex. That makes it much simpler to not have to leave the airport to hop the train that will take me to Avignon. Silly question, what is "Gare" TGV? Also, this is one of the high speed trains that take around 2 1/2 hours, is it not? On the flipside of this, when my week is up, I would like to return the car to Avignon, and take the train into Paris, where I will stay for another week. Will this same trainline take me into the city proper? Where will it drop me off? I will be staying either in the 6th arrondisement or on the Champ- Elysees (Marriott). Thank you again.

Hold on there Rex. The TGV station is right in the CDG terminal (or at least one of them).

The "Gare TGV" (TGV station) is right inside Terminal 2. You will most likely land in Terminal 2 as well. From there to Avignon is 3:10 hrs. On the way back, the TGV will take you to Gare de Lyon in 2:38 hrs.

the TGV new station is away a bit from Avignon and it is much less expensive to book your car from the states.

DJ Just last month we flew Chicago non-stop to CDG Terminal 2. Rex is correct The TGV station is right in Terminal 2 (near the Sheraton Hotel) We took TGV to Nimes, rented a car from AVIS and drove to Arles where we were based for 8 days. I think the departures were more convenient in Nimes but many people suggested Avignon. Cost was 66 Euros roundtrip each. Rental car was a Ford Focus 4 door hatchback which cost about $200/wk + tax + gas which we booked right on Avis website. Even after our overnight flight the train was very relaxing. Quiet and smooth. Gare is the French term for train station. In the station they show on an electronic message board what track your train will be arriving on. 15 minutes prior to that if you go down to the track they will have a smaller messge board which shows where you need to stand to board your particular car. When the train comes you get on your car and go to your seat. It's that simple. Our return worked out just as well. After you return to Paris you can take the "local" train from CDG. Good Luck!

To: Joe G Ah, greetings to another Chicagoan. Thanks for the detailed info. If I may impose a bit more on this knowledgeable board; if the alternative is available from our return from the Provence area, I would prefer not to return to CDG but to train it into Paris. Is this easily done? The thought of going to CDG and then needing to take a train BACK or a shuttle/taxi BACK into Paris seems redundant to me. Thanks again. DJ

DJ: I should have specified: Gare de Lyon is IN Paris.

I would rent a car at Paddington Station,best service

DJ, Jules is correct. Check out the official French website for train reservations - www.sncf.com - click on the English version and start familiarizing yourself with the reservation system. The earlier you book the cheaper the cost - usually. There's a phone number to call as well 011-33-892-35-35-39 you will hear French spoken initially but then someone will come on to speak English. The hours are French time 7AM-10PM. Try the website first. For some reason they send tickets to anyplace in the world except North America. When you do purchase tickets on line they ask you to check a box for pick-up in France or mail. You are supposed to check pick-up in France. I mistakenly checked mail. I put my full address and added USA and believe it or not I received the tickets at home via regular mail in 5 days. If you get to this point and have more questions check back on this thread - I or someone else will help you. Joe G.

Thank you all, I'll be copy this into my file and begin perusing the sncf site. Hey Hojo, Paddington Station???? Sound more like London to me.