Train help -- Paris to Provence

I am trying to detemine what the rough fare is from Paris to Avignon or Marseilles -- I get 244 euros on the train website but an NY Times article this weekend says it is 75 euros. How can I find the straight story? Not to mention finding out the best way to buy a ticket. We are deciding whether to fly to Paris %26amp; take the train or fly direct to Marseilles and price makes a dfference. Thanks for any help.

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You%26#39;ll get the straight story from: http://www.transilien.com/GB/default.htm or http://www.sncf.com/indexe.htm

These are the two main SNCF (French Rail) web sites.

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You might check into getting a PREM fare (discounted fare). I found this info on a Fodor%26#39;s travel site - posted July, 2004 - PREM%26#39;S Fare on SNCF Eng Site. You might want to search for this - below is an short summary.

Path One:

Go to http://www.sncf.com/indexe.htm and click on %26quot;information Schedule and booking%26quot;. Click on %26quot;print your ticket%26quot;. In the 2nd paragraph: %26quot;you can print your ticket yourself Prem%26#39;s Last Minute offers or your Thalys ticket%26quot; - click on the link %26quot;Prems%26quot; and it will take you to the PREM%26#39;S site; just like the French version except everything is now in English.

Path Two:

Go to http://www.sncf.com/indexe.htm and click on %26quot;information Schedule and Booking%26quot;. Check the box: %26quot;Express reservation at the best price%26quot;, this is the trick to bring up PREMS fare. Fill in your travel information as usual and click search.

It is recommended that you start searching 6 weeks in advance of your trip, mid-week, 7am.

To select a fare: click on %26quot;Options%26quot; to specify seat preference. Click on %26quot;choose this outward journey%26quot;.

Click on %26quot;See details of your travel%26quot; and it will show the automataic seat assignment.

Hope this helps. We ended up purchasing our tickets through BETS (Budget Europe Travel Service) located in Michigan - 1-800-441-2387. Purchased a France %26amp; Italy Saverpass and Paris to Avignon/plus return was included.