Hello,
I'm trying to take advantage of PREM fares and purchase tickets now for July. We will be traveling to St. Remy de Provence after spending several days in Paris. I've read Morgan B's very helpful post but need a little advice before I click "buy".

We are staying on L'Ile St Louis in Paris. What would be the best station for us to choose for our departure to Avignon?
I think that I should choose Avignon TGV as the station for arrival. Could someone confirm that?

I am trying to navigate on the french speaking version of the scnf site because as other posters noted, if you choose english it defaults to the raileurope site. From my intermediate level french perspective, it appears that tickets purchased may be exchanged, but not refunded.

Can anyone tell me if the following text translates to "First Class: Can be exchanged under some conditions, with a fee of 10 euros if exchanged over the Internet, and 15 euros for other methods of exchange. Non refundable. Payment online. Ticket to be printed myself. Exclusive Internet price."

>>1ere classe : Echangeable sous conditions, avec frais de 10 euros si vous échangez sur Internet, 15 euros pour les autres modes d’échange. Non remboursable. Paiement en ligne. BILLET À IMPRIMER VOUS-MÊME. Tarif exclusif Internet. <<

Not sure about this part: A saisir, dernières places disponibles !
but I think it means BUY NOW, GOING FAST!

Is 117.80 euros a good price for the trip?

It seems like I need to buy this, print it and bring it with me. Am I on the right track here?

Thanks for any help!
<:-0

<<What would be the best station for us to choose for our departure to Avignon? >>

Trains to Avignon depart from Gare de Lyon. There are no options.

<<I think that I should choose Avignon TGV as the station for arrival.>>

Avignon Centre is near the old city walls and is preferable if you are staying in central Avignon. However, you may not have a choice as most TGVs will only stop at Avignon TGV.

Your translations are correct.

<<Is 117.80 euros a good price for the trip?>>

What price level does this represent and for how many people? If these are PREMs they usually are the an excellent value but PREM prices start at 25€. iDTGV tickets are available up to 6 months in advance and prices start at 19€.

<<It seems like I need to buy this, print it and bring it with me. Am I on the right track here?>>

Yes but if you wait, prices will rise quickly particularly when you see the words: <i>A saisir, dernières places disponibles !</i>

If, on the sncf site, you say you're from the UK, you'll still get English but not Raileurope. Opt to print or pick up your tickets in France (as opposed to having them mailed to the UK).

Sarastro answered your other questions. The Avignon TGV station has all the car rental offices and is not far from St. Remy.

Thank you for the great feedback. Glad to know that I haven't forgotten all the french I learned in school! The price I quoted was for 1st class for 2 people, one way for the early train at 8:46. I can't tell if they are PREM, but they came up as the best price for that day.

I think I'll print these, and buy them right away since it doesn't sound like the price will go down.

The price will not go down and if you can print them, they are most likely either PREMs or iDTGV tickets. Otherwise you will need to pickup your tickets at a rail station in France.

Sarastro,

I just bought them and they are printing. We ended up taking the next train at 11:16 and got both 1st class tickets for 85.80 euros.

Thanks again!

Avignon TGV is the best station for anybody renting a car, because the car rental places have long hours 7/7. Avignon Centre is better if you will not be driving at all, but as mentioned above, not too many of the TGV trains go there -- maybe about 20% of them.

In any case, there is a shuttle bus at Avignon TGV to take people into town.

Thanks Kerouac,

We haven't rented the car yet, but it's a help to know that we can get the car right at the station.

Of course, if you are spending a few days in Avignon before driving elsewhere, you shouldn't get the car until you are ready to move on.

If you want to wander right from the first day, not a problem -- even though parking "intra muros" is generally a total nightmare, parking along the walls just outside the inner city is free and easy.

Looks like the OP is heading to St-Rémy after picking up the car. That's easier from the TGV station than from the central station (though for the record there are car rental agencies at both stations).

As has often been mentioned on this part of the forum, try www.tgv-europe.com, also an official SNCF site that operates in English. You can pick Canada or Australia as your country to avoid a Rail-Europe bump as well as the UK. It doesn't matter in terms of getting the tickets; print them out if permitted or go to an SNCF station or boutique upon arrival in France to get them.

Southam,

Thanks--I'll remember that for next time. (Although then I wouldn't get any bragging rights with DH for conducting the entire transaction en francais!)