Barnum 66,

It may not help you now, but for future reference here is how to book in English and find the same fares as on SNCF. Go to www.tgv-europe.com (run by SNCF). To keep the site in English and to keep from being bumped to Rail Europe, choose Great Britain as both your country of residence and the country in which you will retrieve your tickets. Don't worry. If you get a Prem's fare, you print the tickets yourself. For any other kind of fare you can pick up your tickets at any SNCF station or boutique in France (even though you originally picked Great Britain).

Tims... Tried this...site under construction. Thanks for your reply. Will check tomorrow...

Tried the above site, TGV-Europe, found good fares, and just as I was getting ready to purchase, the site timed out on me. Tried to get back on, and now I get the "site under construction" answer. I have never had this much trouble booking train tix in France. Seems they want to make it difficult now.

When I use the SCNF site (French) do I leave the country set as France? There is not listing for USA.

okay, I'll say this again -- if you insist on getting(retrieving) tickets in the US, you cannot buy from the SNCF website. This is not difficult, it is just obvious, they will not mail you tickets in the US (barring odd exceptions where people said they did even though it is not their policy). If you can read the website it clearly states that the country is where you retrieve tickets. That is the question they ask. So you cannot put in the USA.

Barnum66,
Yes, leave it as France...you might want to note that it is SNCF, not SCNF. I don't mean to be picky, but might be helpful to you.

What are your travel dates? If given, you might find some kind person who will take the time and personally check some things for you. Yes, there are many nice people on Fodor's.

Joan

Okay, finally I did it. Have my email confirmation. Will pick up my tix when I get there. Thank you so much. Now for one more question. I want to pick my car at the TGV station in Avignon. When I look the locations on the Avis website they list: TGV Prem & Gare TGV Mediterranee. Does anyone know the difference? I tried to call the Avis 800 number, and waiting forever to get a person who knew? Finally gave up....

I thought there was only the TGV Mediterranee..perhaps I am wrong? Auto Europe doesn't even call it that!

Are you certain that you want Avis? Most of us use the www.autoeurope.com site Would you like to compare prices before making your choice?

Joan

Okay, you folks are changing my thinking every day. I did indeed check out the AutoEurope site,and was pleased to see that they offer automatic transmission, albeit at a slightly higher price. I am willing to give them a go, but have any of you requested automatic, and actually gotten it when you arrived?

Yes, always. I have an automatic that I am picking in Avignon at the TGV station on 4/20. I have never had a problem.

Joan

Will give it a whirl. Thanks again for your help. The thought of having an automatic makes up for the increase in cost. We have used Avis since 1998,and never had a problem, but then we never had an automatic.

Booked with AutoEurope. You are making our trip better by the day. Thanks.

We have used Avis since 1996. Now we will have to change our routine.

They may even offer you an upgrade when you get there..does happen, often.

The forums can be helpful. New things come out all the time and people passing the info on can be very helpful...what these forums are all about!!

Continue to enjoy your planning...

Joan