Buying train tickets in the U.S.

If you arrive in Paris or Nice you can take the TGV (bullet train) to Avignon. The TGV trip is a little over 2.5 hours from Paris , and about 3.5 hours from Nice, if you get a non-stop train. It is fast, fairly inexpensive and a very pleasant way to get around and see France.

Paris to/from Avignon:

Departs from Paris: "Paris Gare de Lyon"

Destination: "Avignon TGV"; do NOT go through or to "Avignon Centre"; the trip takes about 2 hours 40 minutes.

First class in the TGV is larger, and a bit better - the price difference between coach and first class is sometimes minimal (on the French site,) sometimes a lot. You might save a lot of money by buying your tickets early.

To buy tickets in the U.S., the TGV schedule and tickets are available online at: http://www.raileurope.com/us/. Once you are on the website click on train tickets. This website will also deliver the tickets to any US address. (Note: You will need to book two separate tickets - one each way - plus you will choose your departure and arrival terminals in Paris.) TGV tickets can be purchased on the U.S. site approximately 60 days before the departure date. All trains are non-smoking

The TGV train terminal is located in terminal 2 at Charles de Gaulle airport. If you take the TGV in Avignon, you can go to central Paris (Gare de Lyon); or you can take a different train and go directly to Charles de Gaulle airport. At the airport, to get to your airport hotel you can take a hotel shuttle (navette); to get to your departure terminal there is an airport "navette" (shuttle) that makes the rounds of the terminals.

There are several TGV train stations in downtown Paris, e.g. Gare de Lyon if you are traveling south to Lyon, Avignon, Marseille, or Nice.

French rail sites:
http://www.tgv.com/FR/
http://www.voyages-sncf.com/leisure/fr/launch/home/

It does seem possible to save more money when buying through the French rail site (SNCF). However, this site is not easy to navigate, but it does seem to be cheaper.