We (2 adults and 2 teen boys) have a 2-week trip planned to Provence and then Annecy in June. Due to a flight cancellation, we had to change our initial plans (flying into Marseilles and out of Geneva) and our now flying into and eventually out of Paris. We will need a car for the trip. I was initially thinking we would rent a car at the airport in Paris when we arrive and then drive south to the area around Avignon, but it looks like a long trip. We could take 2-3 days to make the drive--would be it worth the road trip? Are there any particular places in between Paris and Avignon where we could spend a night or two and which the kids would enjoy? They like history and outdoorsy stuff, not so interested in museums. We could also take the train from Paris to Avignon and pick up our car there, but that would add quite a bit in terms of cost--4 trains tickets plus the substantial increase in price to pick up in Avignon and drop off in Paris (which we need to do). But taking the train would give us a couple of extra days in the area--I was thinking about basing ourselves in St Remy and going to Les Baux and Pont du Gard. Happy to pay the extra if spending more days in Provence is the better choice than driving from Paris to Avignon. I'd appreciate any thoughts about which option might be best for us!
Posted by
Sweden
6447 posts
If you just want to get from A to B, or in this case P to A, take the train. It's 2:40 by train compared to a 7-8 hour drive, not including stops. Another option is to take the train to e.g. Lyon and rent the car there. Do you really need to return the car in Paris?
And for what do you need the car? A common mistake many American tourists make is thinking that having a car for part of the trip means that they have to have a car for the entire trip.
Posted by
OP
2 posts
Taking the train to Lyon and then renting the car there is an interesting idea. We actually have a wedding to attend at the end of our trip near Lyon, so we could just return the car there and then take the train straight to CDG. Will investigate that!
Posted by
Florida (previously California)
3720 posts
Have you checked to see that there really will be a substantial increase in the cost of the car with a one-way rental? And have you balanced that cost, if any, against the cost of fuel, tolls and accommodations during your 2 to 3 day drive? I'd take the train but if you want to drive, go for it. Between Paris and Avignon, I like Auxerre, Semur en Auxois, Dijon, Cluny, Lyon, Valence, and Vienne. You will travel through some great wine areas. My children (then a pre-teen and a teen) loved the town of Cluny but that was probably because my husband and I sat in a cafe/wine bar and let them wander around the town without us. They also enjoyed a chateau that was being built in the Burgundy region using 13th century methods. I forget the name -- it's been years but there is no way that they are finished already. We lived for a summer in Burgundy near Chalon-sur-Saone and there is some good canoeing in the area. Vienne has good Roman ruins. Valence is a regular place, a small city -- the kind of place where I feel like French people live normal lives without a lot of tourists and that is fun to see.
Posted by
Camano Island, WA, usa
1451 posts
I rode the train from Paris to Avignon. It was very convenient and easy; Pont du Gard is very close to Avignon. I think that the Summer Highway traffic around Paris would be something you might want to avoid. You could easily spend a couple days near Avignon and continue South to Marsaille or Nice. Study some of RS itineraries for figuring distances and time. I wouldn't dismiss every Museum in France. Some are inspirational to all ages, like the Chagall Museum in Nice. Even Jocks will enjoy the vividness of it. You can ride commuter trains all along the Mediterranean Coast.
Posted by
Paris
6919 posts
If your trip starts in Avignon, take the train to Avignon (TGV). The drive from Lyon to Avignon is unpleasant at the best of times IMO (and best avoided on summer weekends), with heavy traffic.
Posted by
san ramon, ca, usa
281 posts
We took the train from Paris to Avignon in February and rented a car. The process was soooooo easy. Considering cost vs ease, I'll take ease over cost almost every time. Although driving in France is generally easy on freeways and village roads, driving in the cities are crazy. Lots of cyclists and pedestrians, and depending on the time of day, it could complicate things. I drove in Lyon about 20 years ago and it was busy then. I can't imagine driving in it now. Best of luck with whatever you decide to do.
Posted by
Olympia, WA, USA
6545 posts
Too bad you have to use Paris for your flights when you won't be spending any time in that city. I think the Lyon option Badger suggested is appealing. There is frequent high-speed (TGV) train service between CDG and Lyon. Some of the trains go to Lyon's St-Exupery Airport, where you could get the car outside of the city and head straight east for Annency or south for Avignon. Annency is a couple of hours' drive from there, either to start or to finish your road trip.
If you choose the train to Lyon, Avignon, or anywhere else, the sooner you buy your tickets the less they'll cost. And allow plenty of time between your scheduled landing and the train departure because the tickets won't be changeable or refundable. I'd allow at least three hours, others may have a better estimate.
When it's time to go home, you could drive back to Lyon, drop the car without additional cost, and take a TGV back to CDG. Do this the day before your flight in case there's any delay (France's rail system has frequent strikes). If the flight departs late that day, you could spend the night in Paris, otherwise at the airport.
Sounds like a great trip, have fun either way!
Posted by
Sweden
6447 posts
Stopping in Lyon is a great idea. But you also don't have to rent a car there, keep in mind what balso writes about driving to Avignon from Lyon. It's much easier to just continue by train.
You could also just rent a car in Avignon, return it in e.g. Marseille and take the train back to Lyon. Rent a car there for Annecy and then return the same car in Lyon before taking the train back to Paris.
Posted by
Houston, TX
244 posts
Train it. Ive done a train there, then did a car back to Paris stopping in Lyon, Tiers and Loire Valley for some castle fun