delvino

I'm printing out maps of CDG in order to facilitate the logistics of arrival via American and departure vis CDG TGV. Looking at Terminal 2 of the CDG airport map, I see "Gare TGV-RER2" to the right (looking at the map) of terminal 2a.
Where exactly do we get our luggage and then catch the TGV to Avignon?

Also, looking at Microsoft Autoroute, I see 2 train stations, both named Gare d'Avignon.
I would like to print the map that shows the route out of Avignon in detail, from the car rental agency. Here is what I'm seeing.

One Gare d'Avignon, shows all of the car rental agencies near it. That station is on Boulavard Saint Roch. Although I ordered my car from AutoEurope, I don't see this rental agency but I do see Europacar. Are these the same?

The other Gare d'Avignon is off of Route du Confluent; however there are no rental agencies identified.

My Train ticket (PREMS)only indicate avignon TGV and the auroeurope address indicates Avignon TGV Railstation Gare Courtine.

Anyone able to clarify both the Airport Terminal questions and the Train station & rental car questions? Thanks.

I'm leaving tomorrow.

kappa

I cannot be too much of help especially I have never taken TGV from CDG and nerver rented a car in Avignon but I can tell there are 2 railway stations in Avignon, the one you are arriving, Avignon TGV and Avignon Centre just outside the wall of the "old town" of Avignon. Rue Saint Roch by Avignon Centre so probably you have to get from Avignon TGV station to Avignon Centre by a shuttle bus. I did it once and it took about 15 minutes to get to Avignon Centre. Actually the bus got us off just in side the wall.

delvino

Wow Kappa,

If what your saying is correct, this is BAD NEWS. I thought I'd secured the correct Avignon Station with the correct Autoeurope car rental station.

Has anyone else experienced this? I'll call autoeurope tomorrow (they off today), but this does not sound correct.

Thanks.

kappa

I hope I have not given you a wrong information. I know there are some TGV go to Avigon Centre but most goes through Avignon TGV (obviously). I wrote from memory so i will check and come back.

wombat7

We got the TGV from CDG a month ago and then picked up a car at Avignon station - booked through Autoeurope.

There are two stations in Avignon and you need to pick up yoru car from the Avignoin station - call Autoeurope tomorrow and get it changed. We made a couple of changes by email and phone and we very impressed with their service - so it's not much of a hassle.

As to getting your luggage - pick up from the carousel, clear immigration and customs and then walk to the TGV station - just turn to the right as you come out of customs and keep walking. Stay in the building itself you will see signs.

You have preassigned seats on the train which also give you a carriage number. Before the train comes into the platform the TV screens on the platform tell you the order of the cars (for example it could be that carriages 1-3 will be in zone A - so you walk to Zone A of the platform and you are in the right location for when the train gets there).

Avignon TGV car rental - all the car rentals are together on one side fo the station (I forget which side but it is sign posted) - walk out and then go to te car rental.

I would strongly suggest printingout a mappy (or equivalent) to get you out of the car rental. We did this and still had a little detour.

We droppped the car off at Avignon and then picked up a slightly larger car to drive to Paris and dropped that one off there - if you are doing a Paris drop-off post again - We had "fun" on that drop off.

kappa

> We got the TGV from CDG a month ago and then picked up a car at Avignon station - booked through Autoeurope.

There are two stations in Avignon and you need to pick up yoru car from the Avignoin station ..

Above is a bit vague but I suppose Wombat arrived at Avignon "TGV" Station and not Avignon "Centre" Station. If there were rental car agencies at Avignon TGV Station (I did not pay attention but there should be), I hope you sill have time to change the pick-up point. Otherwise it won't be a disaster. You still can pick it up by Avignon Centre station, only you have to move from one station to another by taxi or by shuttle bus.

delvino

Thank you Wombat for the details on both the Airport CDG/TGV instruction and the Avignon TGV railstaion and car.

My auto pickup does say Avignon TGV Railstation, does that make a difference? The operator for the rental is Europcar, hadn't clarified that before.

I'll call autoeurpoe tomorrow to validate and change if necessary.

I'm being particularly detailed on the logistics of this trip as our last car adventure to Paris (through Normandy & Lyon)was full of delays due to getting lost. Because of the lost time, we bypassed several key points on our route as we were running out of time. I'd rather that not happen again. Especially the car pickup after a long flight and then train ride. I'm sure we'll be anxious to get to our hotel in Gordes and relax.

kappa

OK, let's start again.

You said
" One Gare d'Avignon, shows all of the car rental agencies near it. That station is on Boulavard Saint Roch. Although I ordered my car from AutoEurope, I don't see this rental agency but I do see Europacar. Are these the same?"

"That's Avignon Centre.

The other Gare d'Avignon is off of Route du Confluent; however there are no rental agencies identified. "

That's Avignon TGV where you are arriving.^

"My Train ticket (PREMS)only indicate avignon TGV and the auroeurope address indicates Avignon TGV Railstation Gare Courtine"

So Autoeurope has an agency in Avignon TGV = Courtine. If you are renting a car from Autoeurope, then you don't need to go to Avignon Centre.

wombat7

Should have read the orignial post a litte more carefully:
"My Train ticket (PREMS)only indicate avignon TGV" - that is what my PREMS said and I was at the TGV station on Route de Confluent

While the renatl agreement is with AutoEurope - they get the best rate from other agencies - for example on one of our legs we rented from Hertz - it was in the fine (very fine) print of our agreement with AutoEurope (as was the additional drop off charge for a Paris drop off)

delvino

Kappa, Thank soooooo much.

I appreciate the effort you've gone through to assist me. Now I can move on and plan routes through Burgundy (part of the whole Provence/Rhone/Burgundy/Paris adventure.

AnselmAdorne

delvino, just to make sure you can picture this, the Avignon TGV station is on the southern outskirts of Avignon. Your TGV from Paris will pull into the station on the north side of the building. You will walk down a ramp and then walk into the station itself, underneath the tracks you just arrived on. Go straight through the station (you're heading south now) and when you walk out the station, you will be looking down into the rental car lot. All of the major agencies have rental desks there. Your rental agreement with Autoeurope should indiccate which company you are using.

When you pick up your rental, the agent will give you a little card to open the automatic exit gate on the parking lot. You will be heading north at that point. Follow signs for Avignon Centre, then turn right (east) on Rocade Charles de Gaulle. (A ring road around Avignon.) Then look for green destination signs for Cavaillon, and then follow the N100 and you're on your way towards Gordes.

Safe travels.

Anselm

kerouac

All of the car rental agencies in Avignon have an agency at Avignon-TGV, which is in the suburb of Courtine. And AutoEurope usually supplies its cars through Europcar (even though I always rent through them and in Paris they have been giving me most of the cars through Budget recently). And even if Avignon-TGV turned out to be the wrong place, the shuttle bus from Avignon-TGV goes directly to Avignon-Centre. So there is no way to go wrong.

delvino

THANK YOU Everyone for sme great detailed instructions. We are off later this afternoon.

All the clothes are laid out; will pack this am, as well as the maps & books that are coming along. I won't lug the Paris book as well pull on on a Monday am and leave Wednesday for Chicago (via Boston).

We've been to Paris before and will putter around this time; no specific sights we need to see.

I'll file a trip note on my return.

Thank you again!!!! DAJ

CarolineM

bookmarking

flsd

So, delvino, how was the trip? As I'm also interested in taking the TGV to Avignon and renting a car there, I'm hoping to hear all went well.

austin_safari

Is two hours sufficient to land, fetch luggage, and catch a TGV train from CDG? Arriving at 9:30 am via American Airlines.

Thanks!

kerouac

Just barely and not always.

indytravel

When I do this I'm happier with 3 hours. I've done it in as little as 1 hour but you never know with CDG.

American uses Terminal 2 Hall A.

I've found it best to ignore the signs to the TGV station. These signs all point to the curb where you catch a shuttle bus. If you get on the shuttle bus in front of Hall A you'll make stops at Halls C and E, loop around and make a stop at Hall F, then stop at the TGV station.

Instead I follow the signs to Hall C, walk through Hall C continuing through it to the TGV station. Not only is it faster to walk but I don't have to load my luggage on and off the shuttle bus.

Here's a link to a map of the airport.

http://paris-cdg.com/maps.html

kerouac

It is completely true that you should look at the terminal map and run your way through with a cart rather than take any shuttle. Of course you will want to kick and crush a certain number of people along the way.

MorganB

Heres a better map of Terminal 2 :

http://www.airchive.com/Timetables%2...CDGmap0204.jpg