One thing about PREMS -- they are not transferable or refundable. If you miss the train your only recourse is to get in line and buy tickets for the next one. Generally not a problem, but remember that as a risk, particularly if connections are close.

I just checked the TGV-Europe site, and it would not let me see schedules for CDG TGV to Avignon. A message came up that said that route does not exist.

We took the TGV out of the airport to Lyon in 2004. Is that no longer possible? When I type in just "Paris" it shows me a schedule to Avignon. The train leaves from Gare de Lyon. Am I doing something wrong?

MAP, I am taking the same route..CDG/Avignon..You must put Roissy for the departure..Here is an example..

ROISSY(95)depart
to
AVIGNON TGV

MAP, I am doing the same route..

You must put Roissy(95)-- departure
to Avignon TGV

In this post:
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...to-avignon.cfm
I wrote step by step instructions for using the TGV-Europe site (in English.) My steps worked perfectly and I was able to print my tickets at the end of the booking process (they were PREMS tickets.)

Hi All,

www.voyages-sncf.com has changed its procedures a bit.

If you start to type Roissy, it will give you a menu from which you can select
"Aeroport Paris Roissy Charles De Gaulle (CDG 2) - Gare TGV".

Bookmarking thank you

Thanks all - I was looking at a site that did them in Australia [where I am] then posted them to me - but via this post I found the PREM tickets - and also was able to print them immediately. Sensational so thanks to all

David

I too have been looking at the TGV europe site and can purchase and print PREM tickets etc. looking at Paris to Avignon. When I looked at the seats allocated coach 3 (I found a link to a map, through Fodors) they are in a dual smoking/non smoking car. Is this correct.

Do they still allow smoking on the trains? When I selected other seats it now allocates coach 13. Are there that many coaches, as the train map only goes up to 8.

These are 1st class seats or do you think I should go for 2nd. Your thoughts are most appreciated. As I am a first timer on Europe trains

All TGV trains (and all the SNCF trains for that matter, I think) are no smoking inside the entire trains now so not to worry. You might see some smokers get off on the platform at each stop for a quick smoke and then hop back to the train.

1st class is a bit better, of course larger and tends to be quieter. If the price is right go for it. However, many here think 2nd is good enough. Myself I take 2nd usually but sometimes you find much discounted 1st class tickets online. When you are very tall (I am not) or the travel time is long, you might prefer 1st class.

TGV trains are usually coach 1 to 8 (A) and sometime 11 to 18 (B) are added. You cannot go between A and B. 1 - 3 and 11 - 13 are 1st class and the rest is 2nd. Self-service Bar/Café is located in the coaches 4 and 14. That's most of the case BUT maybe I have seen somewhere coaches 1 to 10. Am not sure.

Uh oh, didn't realize that you can pick seats and I have just printed my tickets, "voiture 18, place 82".

Do I have the last seat in tha last car?

You can check it out to within a reasonable degree of accuracy here:

http://www.trainweb.org/tgvpages/formations.html

No more smoking on trains in France. Doesn't mean it doesn't happen. In 2004, we took an overnight train from Milan to Paris and it was non-smoking -- in France at the time, the trains still had smoking sections, but it had, by that time been banned in Italy (although banned, didn't mean people didn't smoke between cars). By 2005, smoking was banned in France on TGV trains, and beginning January, 2006, smoking was banned on all trains in France.

Success!

Thank you all on Fodors, I have just now purchased 6 1st class tickets to Avignon at less then half the price the travel agent quoted us.
The step-by-step guide to the TGV Europe site given here was invaluable, prices the same as the French site and I didn't need to translate.
My friends are amazed and now we can splash out the savings on some very nice food and wine!
Merci!

A la Sante,CinCin..aussie..:cat2