We will be in Arles for 5 days in late October. We will be arriving via the TGV from Paris and I have already booked our tickets from Paris to Arles and back. However, for the short day trips via train - to Avignon, Aix-en-Provence, Niem etc - should I also make our train reservations in advance before we leave, or should we wait until we arrive in Arles to do so? It would be more convenient/flexible to simply wait until we are there ..... however, if there there any significant savings (Prem rates, senior rates etc) to be gained booking them now, plus getting specific trains, I'd be prepared to do so. Thank you!
Posted by
Texan in CA
4415 posts
Gordon, I'm so glad you were able to get your tickets! Your savings would only be about 40,00E for both of you, round-trip, by buying in advance - so, while 40,00 isn't chicken scratch, no real need to get your tickets in advance for these routes, because they don't offer any really great savings fares on them. ALL FARES GIVEN BELOW ARE ONE-WAY - There are two stations in Aix-en-Provence it'll ask you to choose from: Arles > Aix-in-Provence "CENTRE" is just over 2 hours for MOST trains and costs 18,90E. Look carefully at these trains - some are over 3 hrs long and involve 2 changes AND a bus! However, Arles > Aix-on-Provence "TGV" trains are just over 1 hour long and you CAN get "Discovery Senior" fares - you'll have to check on their availablilty yourself using your dates of travel...(the trains I looked at show Sr Discount fares of about 20E vs 30E for regular fares) The "TGV" station transfers in Avignon, and the "Centre" station transfers in Marseilles............For Arles > Nimes, it's a 24min ride; reg. tickets are 7,70E and Discovery Senior", where available, are 5,80E - not much difference! So, you'll probably feel comfortable buying all of your tickets there at the time of travel - in one case, it's a little more money (40,00E), but unless you're prepared to purchase them NOW, you won't be able to get those fares anyway...******Go to http://www.tgv-europe.com/en/train-ticket?hid=JAY******to check your train schedules and fares. If you have any problems please post again!
Posted by
OP
Kenora, Ontario, Canada
29 posts
Thanks Eileen! A friend. Gord
Posted by
OP
Kenora, Ontario, Canada
29 posts
Eileen (and others). I just checked the train schedule from Arles to Avignon to see the freuqnecy of service, and it is good, but I noticed there are several train stations in Avignon to which one can arrive. Everything from Avignon TGV station to Avignon downtown station. If you were arriving for a day of sightseeing in Avignon, what station would you choose for arrival? Thanks for your help.
Posted by
US Pacific Northwest
10344 posts
"If you were arriving [from Arles] for a day of sightseeing in Avignon, what station would you choose for arrival?" The Avignon Centre-Ville station in the city center, not the Avignon TGV station in the suburbs.
Posted by
Texan in CA
4415 posts
Sorry, Gordon - b/n playing with this demon-possessed netbook and a new kitten trying to help me type I left out the Avignon run...absolutely what Kent said...as usual ;-) Have a really great trip! Come back and let us know how it was...