We are taking the Viking cruise from Lyon to Avignon in April. We need to take the train from Paris to Lyon.
We need to return to Paris after the cruise from Avignon the night before we depart back to USA the following morning.
Do we need advanced reservations?
Paris to Lyon? train line?
Avignon to Paris late afternoon, arrive in Paris, transport to stay near airport, train line? Train station in Paris transport to Airport hotel? lodging near airport?
Thank you
Yes, you need to book the trains in advance. Note that there are several railway stations in Lyon, you want a train that stops at Part-Dieu or Perrache. Not one that only stops at Saint Exupéry outside the city. In Avignon there are also two stations, one in the centre where some TGVs stop, and one outside the town where more TGVs stop.
If you are staying at an airport hotel, you can take a direct high-speed train from Avignon to the train station at the CDG airport. You don’t have to go back to Paris and switch to metro, RER, or taxi to get to the airport.
Cost differences on trains from booking early rather than late are huge. The same tickets can be 4 times as much last minute.
SNCF is the rail system in France. You can purchase tickets on their website. As mentioned, purchase tickets to Lyon Part Dieu. The earlier you purchase tickets, the less expensive they are. Lyon–Saint Exupéry is a fair and inconvenient distance from city center at the airport. You can either leave directly from the rail station at CDG or at the Gare de Lyon if staying in Paris.
Thank you for all your help. I would like to clarify what you all recommended.
Paris to Lyon. Gare de Lyon to Lyon Part Dieu
Avignon to CDG airport Avignon train station (name?) to CDG train station (name?)
Any hotel suggestions at CDG?
Paris to Lyon. Gare de Lyon to Lyon Part Dieu
Or to Perrache. I don't know where you are staying, but Perrache is a bit closer to the areas that attracts tourists. But if your train only stops at Part Dieu, that is a good option.
Avignon to CDG airport Avignon train station (name?) to CDG train
station (name?)
The airport station is simply called Aéroport Charles de Gaulle. In Avignon you have Avignon-Centre in the town, and Avignon TGV a bit outside the town. Book a ticket from Avignon Centre, and it will include the short trip by regional train to the TGV station if your TGV only stops there.
Avignon city station: Avignon Centre (as opposed to Avignon TGV)
CDG: Paris Roissy Charles de Gaulle Airport (typing 'Paris CDG' normally finds it; Roissy's the surrounding town)
The Part Dieu station in Lyon is a very busy place. The signage was good at the time of my 2017 visit, but there were so many people on the concourse--from which you take an escalator up to your track--that you really couldn't move rapidly. Be sure to allow sufficient time there.
Booked Paris to Lyon
Avignon back to Paris is a little trickier. On two direct trains, leave at 10:30am and 5:00pm. There are a few others but they take 5 hours. Any other options? We are staying at Le Mas de la Rose about 45 minutes south east of Avignon
Are you using the site that Philip linked to? You might try leaving from Nimes but that is further from your hotel than Avignon. Given that you are not staying in Avignon, leaving from the TGV station is just as easy as leaving from the station in town and you might have more options. You may have to take a train to Gare de Lyon and then taxi (53€) or commuter train (RER D to Gare du Nord and change there for RER B) to CDG. The train is easy but you will have to manage your luggage.
So your suggestion is to take the train back to Gare de Lyon then take a train or a taxi to CDG?
I am suggesting that you look at all the train options available and if the one that works best with when you want to leave your hotel is one that goes to Gare de Lyon, take that one. I don't think the transfer from Gare de Lyon to CDG is so difficult that taking a train to Gare de Lyon should be off the table.
