The new TGV station opens in Avignon on June 10th, and is located in quartier La Coutine, some way out of centre ville. I have a Hertz car booked for pick up in Paris and drop off at Avignon station on the 12th July. My question is - does anyone know if Hertz will have an office at the new station? I don't want to drop off the car at the old one and then find some way to get to the new station. I have emailed Hertz, but of course without a response. I have also spoken with Hertz here in Australia where the booking is amde but they don't seem to know either! Can anyone help? <BR>Greg

Greg - Sorry can't help with station question but arranged rental of Hertz car in Australia for pickup in Paris and although assured by travel agent here that all insurances etc were included in the amount pre-paid before departure was hit with approx an extra $300 on my credit card for insurance if vehicle stolen, insurance to waive very large deductable gap, $10 to fill car with petrol but we reutnred it full from service station next door. Also charged an extra day's rental fee even though car returned 2 hours early! What happened to us is that girl at pickup point spoke poor English and the agreement was written in French. She said sign here and stupidly we did. Later had agreement translated at home and we had agreed to extra charges but no-one explained them to us at the time. Live and learn.

Kerry, <BR>I know the feeling! I don't think this is peculiar to Hertz, it is just something you learn over time that you need to spell everything out before you take the car. The second insurance that they offer when you pick up the car is usually covering you for the policy excess, but this is almost always covered by travel insurance so you don't really need it. Similarly, it always pays to check where the fuel gauge is when you pick up the car - if it is below the 'full' mark, even by the smallest amount it is a good idea to have them note that so you are judged by the same standard when you retrun the car. I know this, but usually can't be bothered, so have had to pay extra for fuel top-up more than once. I think you should have been able to get a refund on the extra day when you got home - this also happened to us once and we made a complaint, and received a refund. As you say - live and learn.

From all available accounts, this is a big new station that is going to change rail travel to Avignon and points south considerably (i.e., they'll be even better prepared for more passengers - - wonder if services will run even more frequently?) <BR> <BR>It seems inconceivable that major "infrastructure" services - - and car rental companies would be at the top of that list - - won't be up and operating soon after its opening - - most likely ON opening day. <BR> <BR>If you can't get information ON or before June 10, surely you will be able to get it soon after. <BR> <BR>Best wishes, <BR> <BR>Rex <BR>

Greg, I'd telephone Hertz directly and they should be able to tell you. Hopefully, a new office will make dropoffs a little more convenient than the current situation. (Pull up to train station, drop off wife and bags, drive around the corner to Hertz office, have car checked out, recirculate back through the gare into long-term parking level 10, take elevator then escalator to street level, stop back at Hertz office to drop off keys, then walk around the corner back to the gare.)

I have to respond to Kerry's account of the extra charges from Hertz. We rented two cars from Hertz on our trip to France last spring. The first we returned in Paris--Hertz has a service where it will pick your car up at your hotel within a certain distance if prearranged. We made the arrangements ahead of time and the hotel called when we arrived. Hertz did not pick the car for two days and then attempted to charge us for both the extra days and a pick-up fee. <BR> <BR>We picked up another car in Avignon. The rental office was very crowded--everyone in off the train. The agent kept insisting that I had to take the collision insurance even though I kept telling her that my credit card--Diners Club--covered it. She finally convinced me by saying that it was Hertz' policy to charge the full value of the car, in this case about $10,000, if there was even a scratch on it. When I got home and had to call Hertz about the Paris charges, I asked about that policy and was told that was not a policy. <BR> <BR>I had to write several letters to Hertz in order to get them to drop the insurance charges their agent had misrepresented to me. Fortunately, I had made notes with the agent's name and that may have been what finally persuaded them to capitulate. I pass this information on to warn you to be careful in your dealings with Hertz, particularly in Avignon. I had rented cars previously from Hertz in Italy and Spain and had no problems.

Greg, I just emailed the Avignon tourist office with the very same question and they have informed me that indeed Hertz will have an office at the new station. <BR> <BR>Here is the info they sent me. good luck. <BR> <BR>Hello, <BR>There will be car rental agencies at the new TGV Station.( For instance <BR>Hertz : phone number :33(4)90.82.37.67) <BR>The TGV station is not open yet , please contact the following office to get <BR>further information <BR>Espace TGV : 33(4).90.16.20.20 <BR>

Thanks everyone for your input. I had a look at the Avignon tourist office website but didn't think to send them an email, so thank you mh. I'll just have to convince my travel agent and Hertz here that the office will exist! <BR>Greg