Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
5. USING THE INTERNET
It is always worth looking online for special offers or better rates when booking
travel. All the main airlines and ferry companies have websites. For train travel visit
rail europe.com or the SNCF website,
www.sncf.com
.
6. BY TRAIN
The TGV Mediterranée high-speed train takes just three hours to travel between Par-
is and Marseille, with stops at Avignon and Aix. The journey time to Marseille from
London is under 7 hours, including a change from the sub-Channel Eurostar service
to TGV in Lille.
7. AUTO-TRAIN
With this service, your vehicle is checked onto an overnight car-carrying train, while
you travel on the train of your choice, paying a normal fare. You collect your car from
its destination the next day. Destinations from Paris include Avignon, Toulon, Mar-
seille, Fréjus and Nice.
http://autotrain.voyages-sncf.com
8. BY ROAD
Avignon, gateway to Provence by road, is around 1,000 km (640 miles) from the
Channel ports. The fastest drive, via France's Autoroute du Soleil, takes around 9
hours and costs around €70 in tolls. Avoiding toll motorways (
péages
) lengthens the
journey time by 6 hours.
9. BY RIVER
The most romantic and stress-free way to arrive in Provence is on a Rhône river
cruiser. Many cruise lines operate luxury, full-board river cruises between Lyon and
Avignon.
10. CELEBRITY-STYLE
Helicopter flights from Nice to Monaco and Cannes are quite affordable and an ex-
citing way to start your holiday.
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