Take the earliest train that you can and pack a bottle of champagne, sandwiches and cakes for the journey. Drink the champagne after the Tunnel and before Paris and then sleep for an hour before you hit the Rhone Valley.
Remember you arrive at Avignon Central, not the TGV station so don’t try to hire a car from the wrong place. The Grand Hotel by the station is fine and the walk through the city gates and up to the Palace is easy and interesting. The café on Rue Saint Michel at the corner of Rue Paul Manivet opens early on Sundays and has the best coffee. Enjoy!
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