My wife and I will be going to France starting end of April. We plan on spending time first in Paris and then taking the TGV train to Avignon. We will rent a car in Avignon and stay in Arles. The problem is that the other part of France we want to see is the Loire Valley. What is the best way to go from Arles to Tours??? My thought was round trip TGV tickets Paris/Avignon. Then after arriving back in Paris immediately do TGV round trip tickets to Tours. I have no idea if this is the most practical way to travel. Anybody have any ideas?
Posted by
California 🦋
5294 posts
Steve,
Check this website for transportation options & details: http://www.rome2rio.com
There is a TGV train from Avignon to Tours but it only runs once daily and it will take 4 Hrs, 10mins.
My thought was round trip TGV tickets Paris/Avignon.
Check prices & schedules and decide what is more convenient for you.
If you take the TGV directly to Tours, you won't have to worry about transferring trains in Paris.
Posted by
US Pacific Northwest
10344 posts
I get the same results as Steve, note the time he gave is just the train travel time, the total travel time will be longer (checking out of hotel, getting to the train station, waiting for the train, etc on the other end).
Many long distance train routes in France go through Paris, not direct.
You want to see the Loire Valley, not the Loree Valley.
You could also train to Marseilles and then fly to Tours. You could compare the fare differences. Probably about the same travel time as the all train itinerary.
If you want to take the French high speed trains (TGV), you must reserve in advance, and the lower train fares are available starting 90 days before your travel dates, but the lowest fares are only available for a limited time, and some American travelers have had difficulty using the French train on-line site.
Or you could keep the rental car and drive to the Loire Valley, a car gives you more flexibility in visiting the chateaus there, check to see what the total cost would be for the drop off in the Loire Valley. You probably would want to drop the car off in the Loire Valley and take the train back to Paris, assuming Paris is where you would want to end up.