We need two TGV tickets from Paris to Avignon for Sept 27, 2013. I've read the section on train travel in RS's France, have been on the sncf, bahn, tgv, and iDGTV websites, and think I am ready to book, using thhe sncf.com site. A few questions: 1. Aside from a rail strike, we plan to use the tickets. The PREM tickets are 50 euro for two. Is that second class, nonrefundable? We are ok with 2nd class vs 1st class. We each travel with a carry on and a backpack. 2. There are several Bare de Lyon departure options: Paris Gare de Lyon (75) Paris Gare de Lyon A (75) Paris Gare de Lyon Rev (75) Gare de Lyon Banlieue (75) Do we the first one? 3. How much ahead of time should we arrive for an 1107 departure?
4. Departing from Rue Cler area, how much time should we allow on a Tuesday morning to get to Gare de Lyon? Is taxi best option? We will be leaving Paris (Champ de Mar Hotel/Rue Cler area)
Posted by
London, United Kingdom
4684 posts
1) Prem tickets will be second class (unless they say "Premiere Classe) and nonrefundable. Being nonrefundable is pretty much the point of Prems tickets. 2) I think the first one. I don't know what the "A" and "rev" refer to. (Was that a typo for "RER" which is the cross-Paris suburban rail?) "Banlieue" means suburban rail. 3) There's no check-in time for domestic French rail, you can just run down the platform and jump on the train. Remember that if you have traditional card tickets (as opposed to online printouts) you will have to stamp them in the yellow machines at the near end of the platform before boarding the train. 4) You will probably be faster by metro than taxi. From rue Cler I would recommend taking Line 8 from Ecole Militaire to Madeleine and then the express Line 14 to Gare de Lyon. Line 1 at Concorde is much slower.
Posted by
Kansas
1175 posts
I've never been able to book TGV tickets beyond 90 days in advance of travel. The 50 Euro Prems are a bargain and are 2nd class tickets, nonrefundable. Not all trains to Avignon have the 50 Euro tickets available so do some practicing on the SNCF site. We always allow plenty of time to get to any rail station but Rue Cler is not far from Gare de Lyon I would try to arrive at least an hour ahead of departure to orient to the station, figure out how to read the scheduling board, and double check the train number on your ticket and track number. If your train goes beyond Avignon, and most will, make sure you know the end destination since that destination will be listed on the board, not just Avignon. If you are comfortable with the metro use that, otherwise have your hotel arrange for a taxi. If you can print out your tickets at home, choose that option to avoid any long lines at the station.
Posted by
OP
Rochester Hills, MI, USA
33 posts
Thank you for both replies. Very helpful. Phillipyes a typo, should have been 'RER'. We will Paris Gare de Lyon, go with the PREM, and plan to take the metro. GeorgeI, too, was surprised I could access Sept 27, 2013, as it's actually 92 days (if I counted correctly). I will double check that the option I'm looking at allows exit at Avignon; I believe it did. We will print out our tickets from home; is it OK to use 'France' as 'Ticket Collection Country'? I seem to recall RS advice, in one of his books or elsewhere, saying to change from France to another country (UK?) to keep everything in English....but I've read so many posts, I may have that advice mixed up with another topic!