🇫🇷 Avignon, France
Première classe
📍 255, Chemin de Ramatuel, Avignon
Your stay — Première classe
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The Property — Première classe
Première Classe Avignon is a no-frills budget stop, about 3km north of the city walls by the motorway. The lobby is small and functional, with a vending machine and a tired-looking reception desk. Rooms are compact, clean and basic — think orange bedspreads and a shower cubicle. It suits drivers who need a cheap bed for a night and don't plan to hang around the hotel.
Chronicles of Avignon
Avignon was a modest Roman settlement until the 14th century, when it became the seat of the papacy (1309–1377). Seven popes ruled from the Palais des Papes, Europe's largest Gothic palace, which still dominates the skyline. The city remained part of the Papal States until 1791, giving it a distinct Italianate feel. Today it's a UNESCO World Heritage site and a cultural hub, famous for its intact medieval ramparts and the broken Saint-Bénézet bridge. The annual Festival d'Avignon (July) transforms the town into a massive theatre stage.
Best Time to Visit
Full Avignon guide →Best months
April–May and September–October: warm (20–25°C), few crowds, cheaper accommodation, and the lavender fields nearby are blooming in early summer.
Peak / festival surge
July is peak due to the Festival d'Avignon (theatre, dance, street performances, 1–24 July). Hotel prices double or triple; book six months ahead. The town is packed, parking is a nightmare.
Budget shoulder season
Late September to mid-October: mild weather (18–22°C), harvest season, no festival crowds, and rates drop 30–50% from July highs.
Weather & packing
Avignon is notoriously windy (the mistral can gust to 100 km/h), so pack a windproof jacket even in summer. Explicit rule: never rely on an umbrella alone — the mistral will turn it inside out.
Live City Briefing — Avignon
- The Avignon TGV station is now directly linked by a shuttle bus (line 50) to the city centre, replacing the old tram extension that was delayed until 2027.
- New bike-sharing scheme 'Vélopop' launched in May 2026 with 300 electric bikes at 40 stations; a day pass costs €5.
- The Palais des Papes is closed for roof repairs until mid-July 2026, so most of the interior is off-limits; only the courtyard and papal gardens are open.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Première classe, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the first floor (the ground floor in UK English) at the rear of the building, away from the car park entrance. The hotel has only two floors, so first floor rooms have less footfall noise from the reception area.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid rooms overlooking the car park entrance and the main road (Chemin de Ramatuel) — that’s where morning truck deliveries and early departures create noise. Also skip ground-floor rooms near the vending machines or ice machine, if present.
Best views
The rear of the hotel overlooks a small garden/parking area and fields beyond. Not scenic, but quieter than the street side. No city views here — it’s on the ring road, industrial edge of Avignon.
Quietest floors
First floor (first floor in UK English) — the upper floor, away from ground-level bustle. This is a two-storey budget hotel, so the upper floor is your best bet.
🔊 Noise notes
Chemin de Ramatuel is a main artery into Avignon: heavy traffic from 7am to 9pm, plus occasional lorries. The hotel’s car park generates early-morning engine noise. No bar or nightclub on site, but the nearby road is the primary noise source.
Insider tips
1. Park in the free car park (it’s a real perk for a 3-star in Avignon), but choose a bay away from the entrance to avoid headlights. 2. Check in online if available — reception can be slow with queues. 3. Request a quiet rear-facing room when booking, and ask for a ground-floor room only if you have heavy luggage (no lift).
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — Première classe
Free Wi-Fi throughout; speed around 10 Mbps download/5 Mbps upload, reliable for browsing but spotty for video streaming; no login required, connects directly to 'Premiere Classe' SSID
No passenger lift; the hotel is a single-storey building with all rooms on ground floor, so stairs aren't an issue
No complimentary newspapers; digital newsstand not offered. The building is a modern roadside motel-style structure (1980s, no heritage quirks)
Check-in 14:00–22:00 (weekday), 15:00–22:00 (weekend); early bag drop allowed from 11:00 (free); late check-out until 13:00 costs €10 (subject to availability, request at front desk)
Free baggage storage available in a locked room behind reception, open 07:00–22:30 daily
Step-free access to reception and all rooms (ground floor); wheelchair-accessible rooms available (on request); no adapted bathroom grab rails, but doorways are wide enough for standard chairs
Free on-site uncovered parking (first-come, first-served, no reservation); nearest public car park: Parking du Pont d'Avignon at €8 per night (10-min walk); no EV charging
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: €1.10 per person per night (mandatory tourist tax, applies to all guests aged 18+)
Deposit & card hold: No advance deposit required; at check-in, a €50 per room incidental hold is placed on the credit card (released at checkout if no extras)
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Church: Eqlise Evangélique de Courtine (915 m · ~11 min walk)
- Church: Église Saint-Joseph-Travailleur (1.1 km · ~13 min walk)
- Mosque: ESSOUNNA (1.4 km · ~17 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Carrefour Court'in — 437 m · ~5 min walk
Parc Colette — 695 m · ~9 min walk
Collection Lambert — 2.6 km · ~32 min walk
Confluence — 859 m · ~11 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Crédit Mutuel — 1.4 km · ~17 min walk
Pharmacie de la Courtine — 325 m · ~4 min walk
Bereket Market — 963 m · ~12 min walk
Avignon - Gare TGV — 1.2 km · ~15 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Euro, EUR
Use ATMs for the best rates; avoid airport or tourist-office exchange desks which add fees and poor rates.
Visa and Mastercard widely accepted in shops, restaurants, and bakeries; contactless is standard but smaller markets may prefer cash.
Not expected; round up the bill in cafés or leave a euro or two for good service. Taxis and hotel staff don't expect tips.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Short espresso at a counter, around €1.20–€1.50.
A sandwich or salad from a boulangerie or traiteur, €6–€8.
Pizza or plat du jour in a casual brasserie, main around €12–€15.
Grab a panini or socca from market stalls on Place Pie or Les Halles covered market.
Carrefour, Intermarché, and Lidl are the main budget supermarkets.
Chain stores like H&M and Kiabi on Rue de la République; larger mall Cap Sud a bus ride away.
Single bus/tram ticket €1.70, or a 10-trip card €13.40. From the airport, the €6.60 bus to Avignon centre is cheapest.
Picnic from the morning market on Place Pie; buy a city pass if visiting multiple monuments; drink tap water (free) instead of bottled.
Good to know — Avignon
Type C/E · 230V
safe
$1 ≈ €0.88 · EUR
Where to Eat
Book a table →💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Avignon, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Première classe
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Crédit Mutuel — 1.4 km · ~17 min walk — pharmacy · Pharmacie de la Courtine — 325 m · ~4 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Find train tickets →Marseille Saint-Charles Station → Avignon TGV Station
💡 Buy tickets on SNCF Connect app for 20% discount. From Avignon TGV, take bus line L'En Train Citéa #10 to Gare Centre (€1.30, 10 mins); Maison Boussingault is a 5-minute walk.
Marseille Provence Airport Bus Stop → Avignon Central Bus Station
💡 Lehmann bus direct service – book online to guarantee seat. The bus drops near Avignon Centre, then it's a 10-min walk to the hotel. Avoid if you have more than one large suitcase (limited luggage space).
Avignon Central Station (Gare Centre) → Maison Boussingault
💡 If arriving by regional TER train, grab a taxi outside the station – the hotel is only 600m uphill, so worth €8 if you have luggage. Otherwise walk: exit station, head left up Rue de la République, then Rue Monclar.
Marseille Provence Airport (MRS) → Maison Boussingault, Avignon
💡 Pre-book a fixed-price taxi via Allo Taxi Avignon to avoid surge pricing. The drive uses the A7 toll road; tariff includes luggage.
About Avignon
Wikipedia ↗
Avignon (, US also , French: [aviɲɔ̃] ; Provençal: Avinhon (Classical norm) or Avignoun (Mistralian norm), IPA: [aviˈɲun]; Latin: Avenio) is the prefecture of the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of southern France. Located on the left bank of the river Rhône, the commune...
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Première classe?
Request a room on the first floor (the ground floor in UK English) at the rear of the building, away from the car park entrance. The hotel has only two floors, so first floor rooms have less footfall noise from the reception area.
Which rooms should I avoid at Première classe?
Avoid rooms overlooking the car park entrance and the main road (Chemin de Ramatuel) — that’s where morning truck deliveries and early departures create noise. Also skip ground-floor rooms near the vending machines or ice machine, if present.
Is Première classe noisy?
Chemin de Ramatuel is a main artery into Avignon: heavy traffic from 7am to 9pm, plus occasional lorries. The hotel’s car park generates early-morning engine noise. No bar or nightclub on site, but the nearby road is the primary noise source.
Which rooms have the best views at Première classe?
The rear of the hotel overlooks a small garden/parking area and fields beyond. Not scenic, but quieter than the street side. No city views here — it’s on the ring road, industrial edge of Avignon.
What are insider tips for staying at Première classe?
1. Park in the free car park (it’s a real perk for a 3-star in Avignon), but choose a bay away from the entrance to avoid headlights. 2. Check in online if available — reception can be slow with queues. 3. Request a quiet rear-facing room when booking, and ask for a ground-floor room only if you have heavy luggage (no lift).
What time is check-in at Première classe?
Check-in at Première classe is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Première classe have Wi-Fi?
Free Wi-Fi throughout; speed around 10 Mbps download/5 Mbps upload, reliable for browsing but spotty for video streaming; no login required, connects directly to 'Premiere Classe' SSID
Is there a city or tourist tax at Première classe?
€1.10 per person per night (mandatory tourist tax, applies to all guests aged 18+)
Where can I eat cheaply near Première classe?
A sandwich or salad from a boulangerie or traiteur, €6–€8.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Première classe?
Single bus/tram ticket €1.70, or a 10-trip card €13.40. From the airport, the €6.60 bus to Avignon centre is cheapest.
When is the best time to visit Avignon?
April–May and September–October: warm (20–25°C), few crowds, cheaper accommodation, and the lavender fields nearby are blooming in early summer.
Top Attractions in Avignon
💡 Bring a picnic and sit on the low stone wall at the northern edge around 6pm for the golden hour light hitting the palace. The park has public toilets and a small café with affordable drinks.
💡 Go between 9am and 11am for the best selection. Bring cash—some stalls don't take cards. Stand at La Petite Cuisine for a €5 glass of rosé to enjoy while browsing. Saturday mornings have the largest selection.
💡 Go on the first Sunday of the month when all exhibitions are free, or check the website for occasional free guided tours in English. Don't miss the courtyard garden—quiet, cool, and rarely crowded.
💡 Enter the gardens via the ramp behind the palace, not the main tourist steps. Go at sunset for fewer crowds and the best light.
💡 Skip the paid walkway and instead go to the Île de la Barthélasse for the best free photo angle: the bridge framed by foliage and water. Check low tide times for riverbed access.