St Remy Car Hire

Happy New Year to all.

We have decided to have 4 days in St Remy after having a week in Paris. I have researched Paris %26amp; are all organised, so now the questions for this area begin.

We plan on taking a train to St Remy. Where is the best town to catch a train to?

Also we are thinking we might hire a car to do day trips in the area. Where would be the best place to pick up a hire car that wouldn%26#39;t be to busy (traffic wise)?. We are Aussies that are used to driving on the other side of the road so anyone in that area in Sep 09 %26#39;beware%26#39;.

Thanks

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%26lt;%26lt;%26lt;Where is the best town to catch a train to?%26gt;%26gt;%26gt;

Avignon

%26lt;%26lt;%26lt;place to pick up a hire car that wouldn%26#39;t be to busy%26gt;%26gt;%26gt;

Avignon

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There are hire car offices at Avignon TGV station. It would probably be easiest to take the TGV to Avignon, pick up the car, and drive to St Remy.

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Trains don%26#39;t go to St-Rémy; so Avignon is definitely your best bet. Pick a car up there at the TGV station, which is a bit out of town. We recently used the Sixt company and were very happy with our car and the service.

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Thanks all.

Sydneynick, as an Aussie, how do you find driving in Europe? Do you have any hints so that you stay on the right side of the road?

Also we have been told that it is harder to get automatic rental cars, have you found that?

Catullus I will check out sixt car hire.

All suggestions for driving tips, good car rental companies, restaurants, etc gratefully received.

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The first time I drove on the right, I had to collect a hire car from Montparnasse, drive out to the Pertipherique, then one-third way round the Peripherique to head out towards Giverny. It was a bit terrifying, and I had to concentrate hard for the first day or so. I have now done over 10 000 km on the right, and I just get in the car and drive.

The hardest aspect, which still catches me sometimes, is that I want to keep my body in the same relationship to the lane markings. As I%26#39;m now on the left side of the car, this means that my wife keeps shouting at me that I am too close to some obstacle at the side of the road.

The Avignon TGV station is just south of the Avignon ring road, which is very busy. Just keep in the right-hand lane and go with the flow. Once you get away from Avignon, there is usually not unpleasantly heavy traffic on roads in Provence.

In general, Europeans do not drive automatic cars because of the high cost of petrol. The hire car companies regard autos as a luxury, and they are priced accordingly. If you can drive a manual, get one with a diesel engine. The pedals and gearshift are the same as in Australia, although obviously you change gear with your right hand.

You also need to watch out at French traffic lights. Usually, they do not have repeater lights hung over the intersection or at the far side. The traffic light is at the approach to the intersection, with a little repeater down the post near drivers%26#39; eye level. You have to stop at or before the stop line, so you can see the repeater.

In my experience, Sixt is not always the cheapest company and there have been some posts complaining about them (as well as some praising them). You might like to also check out

www.europcar.fr

www.avis.fr

www.hertz.fr

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